After completing Week 6 of Running Mate's 5K101 training program, my running buddies and I were looking ahead to week 7, where you continually run for 20 minutes. Coach C told us we were almost at 3 miles! We were thrilled--this is what we had been working so hard for! Because we were awesome, we decided not to complete Week 7 and 8--we were THAT close to our goal, why not skip ahead and do it??? I remember that run clearly--once we passed the 20 minute mark I thought my legs would disjoint from the hips. Sort of like the action figures kids tear up by pulling the legs off, and you can see the rubber band that hooks the torso to the legs.... My muscles were burning and my toes were completely numb. Cardio-wise I was perfectly fine--no "catches" in my side, no chest burning, no huffing and puffing. I kept repeating "God, make my legs strong, God make my knees strong, God make my hips strong" because I had been reading the Bible the night before and Nehemiah 6:9 jumped off the page at me. It says:
For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
Nehemiah was rebuilding the temple, and he navigated an obstacle course of people, problems, and anything else Satan could send to stop him from finishing what he had been called to do.He was at wits' end, so he prayed this prayer--Strengthen my hands. I know as horrible as I felt during that run that my prayer was answered and I finished those 3 miles. If I had been relying on myself and my ability I would have stayed in the bed that morning! My running buddy said that she kept repeating "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!" (Philippians 4:13) And that is how we made it--the power of prayer!
Since we made this milestone, we decided to run 3 miles every run. And then I decided that if 3 days were average for running, then 4 would be even better! I could hear Chariots of Fire theme music! Reality hits--it was a BAD idea. Our first mistake was getting ahead of our training plan. Our second mistake was changing our focus from minutes to miles. Beginning runners--no matter how badly you want to increase your mileage, DON'T! 7 weeks into running is not enough to start trying to run longer distances. As I continued running 3 miles, I noticed the bone below my knee hurting, in fact it hurt so much that it was sore to the touch. On one run I could only make it to the end of my road (0.8 miles) and then I started hobbling. I researched the Internet and I came across a Google image of a man touching his leg in the same spot mine was hurting.
Click, click....I diagnosed myself. Per anserine bursitis. I was shocked--only senior citizens or nursing home patients get bursitis. I read the treatment for this condition--take time off! Two weeks! I started an argument with myself.
"Time off? Are you serious?"
"You have to...it is the only way to get better--rest."
"Rest isn't going to help me run my first 5K."
"Maybe you can't run it."
"Maybe I will punch you in your face!"
I decided since I was going to inflict bodily harm on myself, I needed to stop this senseless dialogue. I am a person of action, so I made an appointment with the orthopedic doctor and decided he could tell me something specific and I wouldn't have to keep guessing. He diagnosed me with per anserine bursitis. I told him time off wasn't an option. He said he could give me a cortisone shot, which I gladly took. It didn't hurt at all, and by the time I went to bed that night, my pain was gone. I did take off the rest of that week, except for walking. The doctor also recommended buying new running shoes--I was still running in the old pair from several years ago. Injury one--done! Maybe this would be all I would encounter, and if it was, well, injuries weren't impossible!
If I could give just one piece of advice to someone wanting to run, it is don't overdo it. Your body needs time to adjust to the strains of running. Your lungs are always ahead of your joints, so don't push yourself to go farther and faster even if you feel like "I got this." If you are doing a C25K or 5K101 program, do what it says when it says for you to...these people that develop these are EXPERTS. Listen to them. I would love to hear from any of you about your first running injury!
Since we made this milestone, we decided to run 3 miles every run. And then I decided that if 3 days were average for running, then 4 would be even better! I could hear Chariots of Fire theme music! Reality hits--it was a BAD idea. Our first mistake was getting ahead of our training plan. Our second mistake was changing our focus from minutes to miles. Beginning runners--no matter how badly you want to increase your mileage, DON'T! 7 weeks into running is not enough to start trying to run longer distances. As I continued running 3 miles, I noticed the bone below my knee hurting, in fact it hurt so much that it was sore to the touch. On one run I could only make it to the end of my road (0.8 miles) and then I started hobbling. I researched the Internet and I came across a Google image of a man touching his leg in the same spot mine was hurting.
"Time off? Are you serious?"
"You have to...it is the only way to get better--rest."
"Rest isn't going to help me run my first 5K."
"Maybe you can't run it."
"Maybe I will punch you in your face!"
I decided since I was going to inflict bodily harm on myself, I needed to stop this senseless dialogue. I am a person of action, so I made an appointment with the orthopedic doctor and decided he could tell me something specific and I wouldn't have to keep guessing. He diagnosed me with per anserine bursitis. I told him time off wasn't an option. He said he could give me a cortisone shot, which I gladly took. It didn't hurt at all, and by the time I went to bed that night, my pain was gone. I did take off the rest of that week, except for walking. The doctor also recommended buying new running shoes--I was still running in the old pair from several years ago. Injury one--done! Maybe this would be all I would encounter, and if it was, well, injuries weren't impossible!
If I could give just one piece of advice to someone wanting to run, it is don't overdo it. Your body needs time to adjust to the strains of running. Your lungs are always ahead of your joints, so don't push yourself to go farther and faster even if you feel like "I got this." If you are doing a C25K or 5K101 program, do what it says when it says for you to...these people that develop these are EXPERTS. Listen to them. I would love to hear from any of you about your first running injury!
GREAT ADVICE! My pain became awful when I was taking Accutane(Isotretinoin). I had no idea what was wrong with me. I thought I was over-training. It was painful to get out of bed in the morning. It didn't take but a minute on the Internet to figure it out. I was not warned by my dr. or the many pages of warnings I was required to sign, that Accutane affects your joints.
ReplyDeleteThe effects are supposed to go away when you stop taking the medication but I still had shoulder and foot issues and ultimately stopped running. Until recently (2 years later) I thought I had permanently damaged my body with Accutane. At the encouragement of my friend and favorite Blogger and my super-duper husband, I decided to start running again this summer. I started strengthening with yoga which really helped the shoulder issue and I'm trying to do the running by the book (form, training plan, stretching, cross-training). So far it's going well! No pain!
I have been trying to push the time/distance, but now that I've read your warning...I'll slow down...but I don't want to :)