How was everyone’s weekend??
I’m ready to tell you what I was training for…
In January I started gettin the bug for a big race and looked for a half. My first half was a horrible and wonderful experience. (You can read aout it here.) I was so excited for that race and trained and ate and did what I thought were all the right things. However, due to what I’m thinking is poor runninig form, I thought I was going to have to saw my leg off at the end of it. If there had been a first aid tent, I would not have finished the race. I had horrible IT Band problems during and after. I worked with my trainer friend on my legs and I’ve been able to run races from 3-5 miles since then with no problems, but I wanted more! So I started training for the Great Bay Half.
Last Sunday and the Sunday before, I did 6 miles on the treadmill. I also have been really good about speed workouts, tempo runs, and strength training. I wanted to do this RIGHT so I wouldn’t hurt myself again. Last Sunday, late afternoon, my hip started bothering me. Not IT Band pain, but a achey hip/lower back pain. I took it easy for a few days thinking that I needed some rest. At the end of the week, I was still in pain, so I contacted my friend. After some email exchanges and a frantic phone call (started with “please please please please please don’t tell me to stop running. Please.”) He said “You know, Michelle. There’s a distinct possibility that your body is not suited for distance running.”
WHAAAAAAAA?
When I picked myself up off the floor, he continued to tell me that I don’t necessarily have to stop running, but I will have to do many corrective exercises so I don’t tear my body apart for it. He specializes in injury prevention and rehab, and I completely trust him to help me, especially after his help with my IT Band.
My hip/lower back are still in pain, I haven’t run in almost a week. I am all about listening to my body and its talkin to me loud and clear right now. I’m going to try a few miles tonight. But I have made a decision to not push it and stop training for the half. I had not signed up yet (universe? were you telling me something?) so there’s no $ lost. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t really bummed out about it.
I DO still have the Wild Rover races coming up, starting this weekend, and I’m really excited about those!
Have you ever had to back out of something you really wanted to do?
I’m sorry about your hip. It’s best to listen to your body and allow it to recover. There are always more races. Feel better!
Thanks! I hope I don’t sound whiny about it, because I’m really not. Not whiny about my hip… maybe a little whiny about not doing the half
I can completely relate! Last year, I got a stress fracture in my left foot and had to back out of 4 races! One of which was a fun trip to Dallas for the half marathon there with a girlfriend and our husbands.
Did your friend mention that it could be your psoas muscle? Since it’s your hip and low back, that’s my initial thought.
Hope you feel better!
Thanks! He thinks it may be a sacroiliac joint issue. I’m seeing him Saturday and he’ll probably run me through some tests, but I will bring that up! Thanks for the tip!
Bummer about your new hip pain! I hope you get everything figured out, even if it means lots of “other” exercises to keep you out there running!
I haven’t had to completely back out of anything yet – well, one 5k a few years ago because of an infected fire ant bite that let to IV antibiotics…but that’s a whole different story…
I was sidelined from running for 5 months once because of a nasty ankle sprain. I had already registered for multiple half marathons, so I ended up walking all of them! To be honest, it sucked – walking is rough on your feet! But it was good to still be out there, even if I was literally the LAST person to cross the finish line in one of the races.
Hope you get this figured out soon!
Thank you! It helps to have a friend who knows what he’s doing
I had signed up for the Boston Marathon as a charity runner a few years ago but ended up having some serious health issues and I had to bow out of the race. It took me a long time to get back into running, but my health and my body were more important. You may miss this one race, but isn’t it better than never being able to race again because you pushed yourself too hard?
Oh yes. And I felt so bad telling my cousin who was going to run it with me, but she said “I don’t want this half to put you out of commission. I need you as my running buddy.” Made me feel SO much better. Thanks!
Awww! What a bummer– but good for you for listening to and respecting your body. I didn’t run my first half a few years ago because of similar issues. I was disappointed (and a bit embarrassed– I told a bunch of people I was running it, and then had to tell them I was un-running it), but ultimately I saved myself a ton of stress and possible injury… Which meant I could figure things out and run a marathon a few years later.
Well that gives me hope! I want to run one so badly!!!
I don’t think I am necessarily “suited” for running in so far as I don’t have the lean runners body and that can impact my knees and to some extent slow me down. What does that mean for me? I need to cross train to prevent injury, listen to my body and accept the fact that I am never going to win a major race. And I am cool with all of that! I may not be your typical runner but I’m going to be the best runner I can be!
I hope that you are able to find a happy distance that you can train for is the 1/2 is something your body wants to handle right now. Maybe you can focus on 5ks and get really good at those?
Thanks! I don’t think I’ll be one of those people that have multiple marathons under their belt, but I really, really want to run one someday. I’d especially love to run Boston.
But I think you’re right, I may become the master of the 5K
Just when I was starting to feel sorry for myself about the SAME pain, and not running for a week — It’s not great news, of course, no pain is, but it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one with issues. What kinds of leg work are you doing?
I personally find yoga to be helpful and just today I found these stretches that help manage my back pain:
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-241-285–13543-0,00.html
Good luck – I look forward to reading about your progress!
Its always good to hear that you’re not the only one! I do leg lifts for my piriformis (sp?), one-legged squats, one-legged deadlifts, walking sideways with the rubber band thing. Basically trying to strengthen the outsides of my legs and hip flexors. I’m not really into yoga but I’ll check out some stretches! Thanks!