Help please

[crash]

G'day all, I'm stuck and need help

Its been 7 weeks nearly since my operation ( Hernia) and I just cant get back into the grove again. I've been doing slower shorter runs the last 3 weeks but it just aint coming back. Do I start from scratch??? Its frustrating to say the least, mentally and physically. Yes the pounds are slowly coming on, not a whole lot ( maybe 4-5) but, yeah, any thought suggestions??? My gaol race will be the Vancouver Energizer Run Nov 2 , do I just go out and register and commit????

[ultraslacker]

It's only been 3 weeks. :) Your body needs more time to regain the fitness that you've lost. Keep at it, and it will come back!

Also, your body remembers the training you did before, so I find that it's always easier and faster to get my fitness back than it was the very first time I did it.

I like the idea of registering for something to keep you motivated!

[kab]

I've been through this a few times recovering from injuries, childbirth, and surgery. I recall it being very frustrating but in retrospect I was likely expecting to just be able to pick up and run, and I realize now that my expectations were unrealistic. It just takes a while. Hernia surgery looks like a little thing on the outside but there is a lot of deep healing that needs to take place over weeks and even months. Perhaps your body needs the energy to heal and it trying to tell you to take it easy a bit. The energizer as I understand it is a 5 or 10k. Nov 2 seems like a good goal to aim for.
It might help to try an alternate activity between your runs to keep your activity up and avoid the feeling of weight gain; swimming?, cycling?

[toobusy]

So start from scratch! It will give you a better idea of where you are NOW, and you will build it back quickly

[Jwolf]

7 weeks is a long time and it will be essentially like starting over. I've read it takes about twice as long to regain fitness as is does to lose it, but for me it always takes much longer.

So cut yourself some slack and just take it easy-- maybe even an accelerated learn-to-run program. It won't take you as long as a new runner because some long-term adaptations will still be there, but aerobic fitness needs to catch up.

[DonnaRigs]

Recovering from surgery sucks, and one of the biggest reasons it sucks is because most of the recovery is happening where you can't see it. Because of that, things look "okay" from the outside, so you feel it's time to start pushing. You really need to listen to your doctors as far as what they give for recovery prognosis - you don't want to do damage to the inside suturing or healing sites by pushing too fast, too soon.

I've had two abdominal procedures (appendix and c-section) and both times I felt ready to go far sooner than the doctors said - but what held me back was a friend that did tear some op sits open by pushing it. It's just not worth it. So, grit your teeth and binge watch a few seasons on Netflix and give your body plenty of time.

[crash]

First 5 k non-stop run since surgery. Might seem like a not such a big deal to some, or just a short distance, but to me, its a great mile stone, seeing 7 weeks ago I could barely walk 50 m. Thanks to all for your love and support, you know who you are

[Jwolf]

Awesome. It will come back. Patience...

[scrumhalfgirl]

Awesome. It will come back. Patience...

it will indeed! even if you are back to square one, it will come back more quickly than when you gained the fitness the first time.

[eme]

Glad to hear that you are back out there. Recovery sucks, especially when it is summer outside! I hope that your return to running goes well