Max Riffner

The Parlor

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Recovery Road

It was finally time last night to go lift at the gym. My night schedule had cleared, and my Achilles tendon no longer throbbed while walking up stairs. Since I would like to run sometime this year, I needed to go strengthen my leg muscles, as I believe that weak calf muscles are somewhat to blame for my condition (when the calf muscles are weak, the tendon has to work more).

Stretching out felt like I was in Dark Knight Returns (...every muscle aches, screaming in pain… I’m such an old man). I arrived at the gym and instantly wanted to run away; it is the only place where people dress in sweats yet do their hair, put on makeup, and spray themselves down with cologne/perfume (and I have seen guys in makeup there).

A brisk walking pace on the treadmill for a mere five minutes began that familiar burning in my tendon, so I stopped my warm-up prematurely. It was time to hit the weights. Leg curls, toe raises, and leg lifts were all on the menu, causing me to walk out of the place looking like a Crumb comic character…

I want to race at least once in 2004. Hopefully, this will help get me there.

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