Typically when I am presented with a conflict I spend hours at once trying to fix it. I work hard, get it fixed, and go on with my life.
Running injuries are not like this at all. This year I have had a few injuries, specifically right toward the end of the year. I enjoy running a lot, and I overdo it sometimes. When I had a hurt heal I took a month off. I felt much better when I came back. I hit the ground running and started doing 7 mile runs daily. I thought because I could do it before that I could do it now. I forgot to listen to my body.
For the past week or so my knee has been bugging me. It doesn't hurt unless I'm running. I make it about 1/8 of a mile and it starts to hurt. I know, I must be doing it wrong. I must be running wrong.
I have tried a ton of different form suggestions that all lead to the same thing: knee pain. It sucks to say this again, but I am going to have to take another break. I guess it will be another month. I need to ice it more(I don't have an ice pack). After this I need to come back slow. I am strongly considering starting out doing 2 mile runs every other day and increasing by 10% per week. I have never followed the 10% rule. I need to though. I want to come back stronger than ever. I want to cross train on my off days.
So the thing that has been on my mind: Is this a set back? At first it sounds like it. Looking at it with a more open mind, I feel that it is an opportunity to start fresh and follow the rules of my body. I know things will get better. I just need to be more patient. I really want to be good at running, but I am slowly learning that over-training and hurting myself is not a good way to be a better runner.
Appalachian Breeze
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It was hard to imagine moving away from Hawaii. There is something about
the energy of the land that makes me feel alive, refreshed, relaxed, at
peace….. ...
I've been struggling with a couple of running injuries as well, both from overtraining, not listening to my body. The first was top-of-the foot pain from transitioning to minimalist footwear running far too rapidly. I finally took 6 weeks off of running and did some biking and swimming to let it heal. Thank goodness for triathlons. I am currently fighting achilles tendonitis due to pushing myself way too hard after being away from running for 8 weeks due to a rib injury (log story). I thought it would be fun to compete in a turkey trot in bare feet. Because I was trying to make an unshod statement, I pushed myself almost an entire minute/mile faster than typical race pace. Oops. Anyway, I wanted to share a link that Alan Thwait, an inspiring barefoot reflexologist, shared on a recent post about a free ebook... http://thwaits.wordpress.com/2010/11/24/the-zen-of-running/ This may be the direction I need to start taking.
ReplyDeleteCheers.
Nathan
inbetweenmytoes.com