The itch needed to be scratched, so I parked my bike on the high banks of a river overlooking the ominous attractions of Tokyo Disney, and started running. I didn't get far, and I didn't get far fast, that's for sure, at about half a kilometer my left knee was aching with the ITBS pain, not full on, but it was present enough to scare the bejesus out of the wary mind that was attached at the brainstem to my fragile body parts below. I held on for a bit, risking the full return of the injury, but I was curious, so I needed to keep going...I made it about 1km at most before returning to my bike. I stretched a bit along the windy highlands, and went back to peddling. Immediately two things were stacked up against me at this point, well three if you want to consider I was about 4 miles away from home: 1) my legs, though overall OK up until my run, felt fatigued and achy, with the sharp ITBS pain lurking behind every bend. 2) the wind that had been at my back on the way over to kasai renkai park, was now howling into my face as if the hand of mother nature herself was intent on pushing backwards into the きゅうえどがわ (Ex-Edogawa) waters that lay leisurely lapping beneath the towering trail my tires were upon. Getting home had just become more of a chore.
I wouldn't say I worked up a sweat from a jog that probably seemed to onlookers as if someone was watching Without Limits in slow-motion, but maybe it was enough to tire me out in the face of such strong winds. The nip-o-meter was diving into the negative celsius spectrum, and home was, ever so slowly, slowly approaching...I crossed the river hoping that the exposure to extra sunlight would help generate energy akin to photosynthesis as I peddled along; I subsist on a diet of mostly vegetables after all, my skin should have made this genetic leap long ago. On the way, I passed something I had given up on ever finding again on the fair streets of Tokyo: A beer vending machine! The last time I had been in Tokyo was about 6 years ago, and I was fascinated by the fact that vending machines were so prevalent, and held a treasure-trove of such varied goods to vend, so much so, that if you could think it, somebody probably already found a way to put it in one somewhere. Though, over the course of 6 years they had phased these beer machines out, I guess finally coming to the conclusion that teenagers don't necessarily respect the authority of a sticker telling them they have to be 20 years old to drink while the steady blinking light next to the coin slot awaits their change. I made note of the location, and plan go back for a photo-op soon enough.
When I made it home, my legs were fatigued, and my knee was mildly irritated by the days exertion. Higdon warned about pushing too much this week, that's part of what gives it the charming name of Zero week, because you're literally supposed to do next to no running. The body is considerably damaged in a long distance run, most notably, after a marathon. Muscles & ligaments really need to heal, and rest is the best way that happens. I guess Zero week is coming to terms with your limitations after a big race, and reconciling the good standing relationship you once shared with your legs. It took about 3 days since the marathon for my knees to begin to forgive me for what I put them through. I'm sure we'll be back on good terms in no time, but I was in a bit of pain there for a spell. It still hurts my knee to stand up from a sitting position, or even to sit down actually. Steps are cruel too, though down is worse than up. Today was a tell-tale terrifying warning sign that too much too soon could break that fragile mending process I'm currently in. I went into a stretch + ice + ofuro routine after the ride/run and this morning I'm feeling fine, but I'm not going to run today...today is a rest day.
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