The long road back

I knew it was going to be tough.  It always is.  Coming back from a major race, almost 3 months ago, and still fatigued while recovering from surgery wasn't going to be easy.  I've started off slowly with 20 minutes runs or turbo sessions.  In the last 12 days I've completed 11 sessions and am looking forward to tomorrow's day off.  But just to give me another challenge, I've come down with a cold and if phlegm produced energy I'd selling it to the National Grid.
But it's the psychological side that is "playing with my head".  I'm under strict instructions from my coach to take it easy as the hernia was only 7.5 weeks ago and damage can still be done and going back for a repair would set me back a long way.  The pace I am running at is slow and whilst I'd like to run faster, where I am in my fitness it would be foolish to try and push it.  I actually feel embarrassed shuffling along the street when three months ago my pace would have been 1 minute per kilometre quicker. Having said that I don't think my lungs would cope with anything faster at the moment.
Yesterday I returned to Chatelherault for my first run with the club.  They gave me a few minutes head start but soon the group overtook me as I shuffled along.  Johnny stayed with me and was good to have some company.  At the half way mark we all regrouped.  Mark then stayed with me for the second half and I was very grateful as it was a tough second half.  I was increasing my running from a flat run of 34 minutes to a hilly trail run of 45 mins.  It was so good to catch up at the end over coffee and cakes and I'd been missed so much I was told to pick up the tab!
Later that day my right foot, the one I have issues with, really started to hurt.  I wasn't aware of going over on it but I elevated it, put ice on it, took ibuprofen and paracetamol and eventually switched to wine!  I wore a compression sock which gave some comfort but my coach and sports therapists both thought it was just the shock of going back on uneven trails.  Unreal when you consider the extreme trails I encountered while running 205 miles and had no such pain - although by the end the hard skin on my feet was agony.  I swapped my run for a turbo session today and I'm pleased to say my foot is feeling a lot better.  Based on today's appalling weather I'm so pleased I was indoors.  Hat's off to anyone battling in those weather conditions.
My weight has increased from below 137lbs to 153lbs so I'm looking healthier although I need to lose the fat and put on some more muscle.  The gym is not on the schedule yet but I'm looking forward to getting started.  I think it will be a few months before I begin to feel normal but you have to be patient on the long road back.