One year update

[Dannywayoflife]

I just wondered Kirk. I wont even be attempting to run till the new year as then I'll be around 14 months post op and pretty well healed. You may well be right that fast bursts being too much in the beginning I might have to start out by running a mile or so and get sorted with that before attempting any intervals.
Thanks Danny

[stephen1254]

I appreciate the update. I'm at about the 3 1/2 month mark and was just thinking this morning that I don't even think about the hip most of the time. I've gotten into my "low stress on the hip routine" as just the way I exercise. I just got back from a 6 mile hike and those hikes create no adverse reactions whatsoever - no stiffness, no pain, no nothing.

While I was doing 70.3 distances pre-op I'm not thinking in those terms anymore. I want to run again, but I'm thinking more of working up to 3 or 4 times per week, at maybe 5 miles a run. The big change for me is that instead of waiting for a full year to start out, I'll likely start at 6 months (my Dr. says I can start now). I will start with exactly what you did, a walk - run, and see how I feel. I'll base progression on a lack of pain - running shouldn't hurt.

The most difficult thing right now is that I feel fine, even though I know I'm not fully healed. I have been sooo tempted to add just a little more weight to the leg press machine, but fortunately my common sense tells me not to. It's just hard to listen sometimes! Damn common sense......

[einreb]

To be honest, I can't imagine doing any kind of interval training or speed work.  That kind of stress would make the tissue completely flip out.  When I try to run harder than an easy pace, that is when it goes straight into irritation / inflammation / pain mode.

For what its worth... I'm post op 16 months and only recently started doing hard interval sprint training on the bike (not running).  I simply did not have the confidence that my body was ready for it until recently.  I realize this is very different than running/sprint training, but I think the important thing is waiting a few months for certain activities may be time well invested in the long term.

[Dannywayoflife]

Thanks for the info mate. I'm certainly not in the push hard too soon camp. I'm not going to do any high impact till next year and then I'll ease back in.

[bilateralbliss]

Thanks Kirk for all the practical advice, makes so much sense.

[KirkM]

It is important for everyone to take my experience, and that of anyone else, with a great deal of latitude and interpretation for their unique situation.  There are those who take a couple of years to get back to their own "normal" in athletics and then there are aliens like Cory Foulk.  It is great to listen to others who have gone before you, but never at the expense of listening to your own body.

The true conservative approach, in my opinion, is Mr. McMinn's.  And, after my "moderately" aggressive approach, I understand it completely. 

Although I am pretty sure I have not crossed any dangerous lines, I feel what I did was as aggressive as I could get away with. It would certainly have been less frustrating and painful if I had possessed the patience (intelligence?) to take it much slower. 

I'm a "test myself" addict.  In some situations it is a great trait.  It allows you to achieve above and beyond.  In other situations, it makes you a blithering moron.  It is a narrow fence to walk and often difficult not to fall into the yard of morons.  In my own defense, I immediately throttled back every time my body gave me a "knock it off, dumba$$" signal.  I wasn't happy about it, but I did back off.

So, be smart, be careful, and most of all, be attentive to the signals you get.

Best to everyone.

Kirk

[hernanu]

Really good post Kirk. I'll try to make it to Hawaii despite the ugly photo you posted of the site :o .

[Woodstock Hippy]

Congratulations Kirk, on your race and your comback!  I'm at around 8 months, ''running'' 4 to 5 days a week and hoping to resume my multisport carreer next spring at American Zofingan.  I would love to meet you for Honu but I'll be keeping my runs to the shorter distances from now on and I don't plan on racing until until I can get my pace down from the 9:30 miles I'm running right now.  I can do it and I plan to be at Lavaman in a year or two so maybe we can hip hop along together at that one.

One thing, you're one of the small number of people who can say that they raced with Lance in his short but interesting second triathlon carreer.   I listened to the race on the Hilo radio station. 

[David]

What you all (athletes & not) need to consider with this procedure is much more than the eye sees.  There are many muscles being detached and reattached during this operation.  When you start to rehabilitate they all don't cooperate in order.  It is a slow process for these neurons to come back and learn the process once again.  Slow running is one thing, fast running is another.  Other muscles take over and compensate for weaker ones when you are trying to do more than is tolerated, thus, weakness, soreness, fatigue, pain and all that comes with that. Injury to a muscle that is overworking to compensate for another and such.  Listen to your body is the main key. You are not supposed to be at any one level of recovery at any one time. There are many variables involved, pre-surgery fitness, nutrition, stress, weight, etc.  Overall strengthening is a big key.  Do other things to strengthen your stabilizing muscles and your hip will be great.
On that note...doing my first sprint tri Sunday and am going to go all out... :P
D.

[KirkM]

D -
Too funny...

WH -
Yep, raced with Lance.  Even passed him on the bike... Of course, he was on the way back and I was still on the way out, but I can always say I raced with Lance Armstrong and passed him on the bike.

[David]

Thanks for the appreciation Kirk...
Kinesiology  tape on my calf...
Voltaren on my ass...
Shaved specialties...
Ready to go...
D...

[Woodstock Hippy]

Good luck, Dave.  What race are you doing?

[Big Bill]

Big Bill here.....Can you believe it ????   ::) I forgot that I had yet another ANNIVERSARY......#4 just passed on 7/9/12....time flies when all is well(knock on metal....or wood or something) !!!  Still doing well in the gym ,in the pool and all around activity level. Went to a basketball practice with my 9 year old and i can still hoop (at 57)!!! I am very grateful to have my active lifestyle back after resurfacing. A shout out to all my old resurfacing buddies,especially Spencer....hang in there bro and wow us with your journey to recovery!

                Big Bill....Cormet Anterior Surface Hippy, Dr. Kreuzer 7/9/08

[hernanu]

Big Bill, great to see another Cormet guy doing well. Sounds awesome.

[hipnhop]

Kirk, thanks for your post. I am back to running. It is almost six months for me.  I am doing 6 miles at a easy 8 - 9 min/mile pace.  Anything faster really bothers me and I feel it on the run. I completed a sprint and Olympic distance with a slow run.  I didnt place but at least I finished.  I am doing a walk/run strategy for my IM at 9 months post op.  I am giving myself 11 minute miles. If I finish faster I walk the remaining time. I know these strategies usually fall apart but at least I won't try to run the whole thing.

After this IM I think I am going to call it a wrap. Just Sprints and whole bunch of Aquavelos.  Although the BHR is made for active lifestyles, I am getting the feeling it is not made for 30-40 miles per week of pounding.  When they come out with that device, I will be the first one in line. Keep updating us and thnaks for the motivation and realistic thinking. 

I would hate to see you in a race. I might have to flatten your tires.

Hip

[Canadian-Ice]

Hi HipnHop,

Could you maybe being a bit premature to give up on running as you like? Any running within the first year or two can be limited. Where's the pain, is it more muscle related, or related to the device itself?

CI