So I am back running again. A few games of soccer and a couple trots down the local trails and I am feeling pretty good again. Of course my conditioning died off a bit during my hiatus, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
I went for a run on the beach in Carpenteria the other day, it couldn't have been more than a few miles but it is amazing how much running in sand kicks your ass. I stayed mostly in the wet sand, which is firm and in some cases even ran on the rocks. It wsa a beautiful late afternoon run with the sun hanging low in the sky and the tide just beginning to turn. There were a fair amount of people fishing from the shore and the usual late afternoon beach goers.
Even though it was still early May and in the late afternoon on the beach it was still rather warm and I was sweating profusely by the end of the run. That suited me just fine because I ditched my shirt and took a plunge into the ocean, which was cold. A cold plunge is great for post workout recovery and five minutes in the water gasping for breath from the shock of temperature change was just about the right amount of time.
Considering how sore I was the next day, I can't imagine how much worse it would have been without that recovery plunge. Soreness or no, it is good to be back running again.
