"Almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster. There are an estimated 1 million cases each year in this country. Anyone who has recovered from chickenpox may develop shingles; even children can get shingles. However the risk of disease increases as a person gets older. About half of all cases occur among men and women 60 years old or older."
I especially enjoy the line about, "...as a person gets older...". Anyhow, shingles also causes a condition termed postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). The pain associated with PHN is often severe and debilitating, and usually occurs in the area of the shingles rash, even before the rash appears. In my case, the pain and rash developed on the inside of my left knee, and was promptly debilitating. As a runner having no initial outward signs, my immediate thought was MCL or meniscus! However, upon seeing the rash (about a week after the onset of pain), I immediately sought treatment from my dermatologist.
After a course of anti-viral medication and too many weeks without running/cycling (I still weight-trained, skied, and played ice hockey in pain), I'm happy to announce my return to the roadways this Spring! Sure I missed the New Bedford Half Marathon (a participatory goal for 2012), but the RMS Cross Country Club begins the Spring training session next week...and I am psyched! I walked "The Loop" today and it looks great...free and clear of debris and unusually dry for this time of year.
The mind is a complex thing...
While I was in recovery, I found myself battling with a sort of depression that I felt attempting to steal away my spirit...my vigor...my zest if you will. I'm not sure if it was the result of disease, a reduction in physical activity, or simply the fact that I am now a 40 year old man whose life is statistically half in the rearview mirror. Rather than one cause, my hunch is that it was more of a combination of factors. But it's been a funny thing...I've actually had to force myself to "get back on the horse" with regard to my level of physical activity. It's sort of a bummer to look back to December and think that my training runs were exceeding 10 miles, while today I'm back to building base mileage with runs of less than 4! Cape Cod Half Marathon...I shall return!
So here is what I'm thinking...
While history has an important role in determining the choices we might make and the sort of person we are and might become, it serves no good purpose with regard to the mindset needed for effective training. To me, it's all about looking forward to achieving specific, trackable, attainable, and realistic goals. I've narrowed my training focus to answering 3 simple questions:
Where am I now?
Where do I want to be?
How do I get there?
My next race will be "Louie's Run" in New Bedford. The goal...5K in under 22:21!
Hope to see you there!