Finally back to running!

   After 6 months of non-running I got to run a 1/4 mile today on the track.  God I love running!

   On September 12, 2010 while on a trail run at Devil's Den State Park with a group of friends on a fun trail run.  I tried to run/hop/jump over a fallen tree......I didn't make it.  I fell two feet to the ground with all my weight on to my right ankle and rolled it with a loud snap.  After laying on the ground for a couple of minutes and catching my breath from the excruciating pain coming from my ankle I realized that I had to get back to the car 3 MILES AWAY!  Tony Rogers who was running with me tried to help me but I was to big to carry and our cellphones did not work.  So I had to walk with a large stick as a cane that Tony found for me back to the car.  I made it 3 hours later and went to the hospital ER after a quick stop at home for a shower.  At the ER the staff told me nothing was broken and that I had a sprained ankle.  They gave me an ace bandage and some Tylenol 3 and told me to set up an appointment with the Orthopedist in the morning.

    That was 6 months ago.  I ended up having an MRI and finding out that I had torn almost all of the ligaments and tendons in my ankle.  This destruction meant surgery.  I had surgery to repair my ankle on December 19th.  The repair consisted of  75 Kevlar stitches a skin graphed from a cadaver and another 100 dis-solvable stitches to close the whole thing up.  I got to ride on a cool scooter and did lots of PT with Stephen Joseph (He is very good if you need physical therapy).

    Now I am back to running......slowly and little bits at a time but back running and it feels so good.  My goal for the year is to not get hurt again and be able to run longer and stronger than ever.  I really want to run the NYC marathon this year and another 100 mile race in the fall.  But for now it is a 1/4 mile at a time.  As Tom says slow and steady wins the race...for now.

Jeff's Bio

My name is Jeff Genova and I am a runner.  Sounds like AA, well I am an addict.  I love to run.  I love the freedom.  I love the people.  I lust for the trails.  But sometimes I love it too much it takes over my life and I need to check my priorities at the door and reign my zest back in.

I have been running for 18+ years.  I started after an injury forced me to retire from my first love Lacrosse where I looked at running as a punishment.  I remember the first day I went out for a run for pleasure and not for punishment.  It was after about a 1 year layoff of any exercise and was far from being in good shape.  I made it 1/4 mile and I was spent!  Since that time I have run five 100 mile races (two of which I only made it 93.5 miles and 99.1 miles but, that is a story for another day).  I have run 26 marathons in 15 states with my last at the Boston Marathon this last April with Tom.

I am currently on the mend from ankle surgery this past December.  I received 75 Kevlar stitches and a skin graph from a cadaver.  The surgery was the result of a two running accidents.  I get to start back running on Monday March 7th.  I can not wait!  I have a goal of running a 100 mile race this fall and the blog will be a great place to tell everyone about my road from zero to 100 miles.