Next month marks 21 months (659 days) since my Achilles surgery.
For a sprinter, this has been one of the greatest tests of patience. Learning to let my body recover at its own pace—without re-injuring it or undoing everything my surgeons worked so hard to repair—has been far more challenging than I ever imagined. When people tell you to “be patient,” it almost sounds too simple. Trust me, patience has been the hardest part of this entire journey. It took months just to walk properly again, let alone jog. Only after that could I slowly begin the long road back to sprinting. Even now, I’m not at full speed. Today, I completed one of my first high-intensity speed edurance workouts at about 70% effort, and thankfully everything felt great. If all continues to go well, I still plan to give myself another 12 months before putting on a pair of spikes and testing what 100% really feels like. If there’s one lesson I’ve learned through this recovery, it’s this: be patient, eat well, and most importantly, sleep well. Healing takes time—but if you respect the process, your body has an incredible ability to recover.
Todays workout 200m, 200m 250m, 200m.
A 250-meter sprint is often described as the point where a sprint stops feeling “fast” and starts feeling “painful.” It’s only 50 meters longer than a 200m, but physiologically it is a very different event.
Here’s why:
1. The energy systems change dramatically
200m: Mostly powered by the ATP-PC system and anaerobic glycolysis.
250m: You remain near maximum effort for another 6–10 seconds, placing much greater demand on anaerobic glycolysis and beginning to involve aerobic metabolism. Those extra seconds produce a disproportionate increase in fatigue.
2. Lactate and hydrogen ions accumulate rapidly
The “burn” isn’t actually lactate itself, but the buildup of hydrogen ions that accompanies high-intensity anaerobic metabolism.
During a 250m:
Your legs begin to feel heavy.
Arm drive becomes harder to maintain.
Coordination starts to deteriorate.
The final 50 meters can feel as difficult as the first 200.
The 250m is an excellent preparation for the 400m because it teaches your body how to maintain speed when fatigue begins to take over.
Next year, my workout will begin to get closer testing the 400m….my main event. The 400m (aka 1/4 mile) is one of the most physically and mentally demanding events in track and field !
today was the 1st time I tried running a 300m at ~ 70% intensity with flats (no spikes this year, not ready for that ) since Aug 2024.
