I went running today for the first time since before my surgery. Things were going great for the first mile and a quarter. My toe didn't really hurt, and I was feeling pretty good.

Then I got a leg cramp. I've never had one before from running. I talked to my sister, and she thinks it's because "the surgery changed the biomechanics of [my] running". That sounds feasible. I was trying to run normally on the bad foot, but I'm sure I wasn't.

But it was a good start. I ended up, according to Map My Run, running about 1.4 miles then walking 1.6. Next time I expect to do better. I don't have much time to get ready for my 10K.

I just saw the doctor this morning about my foot. He says it's healing nicely, and I got a less bulky bandage that makes it a little easier to walk.

He also told me that I should be able to start running again in about six weeks. So, to celebrate my return, I'm going to do the Boo! Run for Life on October 12th, a 10K to benefit the Dean R. O'Neill Renal Cell Cancer Research Fund.

It should be fun. West Potomac Park is a nice, easy 10K course. It's flat and there's plenty of room. And it will be good motivation to get me running again.

A summary of the race is up at Washington Running Report. The two high school kids who ran in shorts and no shirts passed me about a mile in - I was pretty sure they were insane then, and I remain convinced of it now.

The results have been updated - 41:07 was my clock time, but 40:38 was my actual chip time. That is, from the time they said, "Go" until the time I crossed the finish was 41:07. But the from the time I crossed the starting line until the time I crossed the finish was 40:38.

Crap. Now I have to run another one and get under 40 minutes.