When I first started running there were two very specific things I kept hearing that I was sure were either myths or legends. The first was that after a while you will experience a "runner's high" that will have you craving more. The second was that taper runs/weeks were so hard to get through because you have excess energy that you want to burn so you crave the run. "Hogwash" I thought to myself as I struggled to complete my 5 minutes of running and looking forward to my 1 minute walk break. "Who loves running that much" I wondered,and I'm pretty sure I used my outside voice as I did so.
Then I finished my 5km clinic, racked up a few races and started running longer distances. I am pretty darn sure that I have NEVER experienced a "runners high". I have never had a sense of euphoria after finishing a long run or race. I have cried, almost collapsed, hugged my husband a little too tightly and analized every minute of every race. I have soaked my feet and my legs in epsom salts and hoped for a speedy recovery. But I have never felt like I could or should just go run it all again. I have never felt like I was on some kind of emotional high. Maybe that only happens when you run a marathon? Or maybe it really is just a myth to keep people like me running, searching for more?
What I have had happen is I have totally caught the bug of fitness. I want so much to look like the athlete that I am. This is due to a few years of inactivity followed by a few years of illness that made me unable to do even the simple things. When I started to work out again I did so by setting some fairly lofty goals. Do a triathlon, check. Do another triathlon, check. Learn to be a better runner, check. Hire a swim coach, check. Become a better cyclist, check. Take some spin classes, check. Run a 1/2 marathon, check.
I look at this list and I am so pleased with myself and what I have managed to accomplish. Yet I know that I have more. I want to run the ATB and I want to beat it. I want to walk away from that race with my head held high and a smile on my face. I want to complete an Olympic Triathlon this year, a half ironman triathlon next year, and a full ironman distance triathlon in 2014. I know that I am not getting younger so it is ever more important to stay healthy and strong while training for these goals. To that end, I looked for a better gym that would lift me up and help to make me stronger and more competitive.
I joined Hi End Fitness and I believed that they were going to help me. I started my journey with them just before Christmas and all the while continued swimming, continued spinning and indoor cycling, doing hot yoga, running and training with the Running Room Hamilton, and seeing my massage therapist and chiropractor. I wanted to do all that I could to make sure that I was/am doing my part to keep my body in shape and ready for the demands that I am putting on it.
Then it happend. I tweeked a little muscle in my thigh near my groin. I tried to ignore it and hope that it would just go away as it didn't hurt when I was exercising or running. But it was bothersome and I was beginning to become more and more aware of it. I had to admit that I was worried and that I needed to give myself permission to take a break. Funny thing was, I did have all this pent up energy and I did feel like I was going a bit stir crazy. And the only thing I stopped was running for (2), count them (2) scheduled short runs. Could it be? Could the myth about not wanting to take time off be true? Had I crossed over into the realm of folk lore or had I experienced one of the things I was warned about right from the very beginning?
I saw the chiropractor today. He assures me that this is something that we can get right back on track and that I can do my scheduled workouts, including my runs this week. I don't mind telling you that I took a big sigh of relief when I heard this. Now I can put my fear and anxiety on the back burner where they belong and get back to chasing my goals. Maybe I will experience a runner's high and I will know that all the stories they told me were true. Maybe I will just keep chasing it and accomplish some more pretty amazing things along the way. Who knows? And actually, who really cares?
Monday, 27 February 2012
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
follow my own advise?
I am starting to get worried. We are a mere matter of weeks away from Around The Bay. I have definitely tweaked a bit of something in my leg and this is uncomfortable but not insurmountable. I have to trust my instincts, trust myself, and trust my body. I have to listen to the advise that I would give to my friends. I have to do for myself what I would tell others to do.
I believe that the best way to rehab this leg is to get in the water a bit more. Be VERY consistent with the stretching and Yoga classes, and put in a few more small runs every week. Since the snow and ice came I have been less than excellent at getting out running with dog every morning. We go out, every day without fail, but we have walked more mornings that were designated for running and I think it is starting to show. I have also found that with work getting busier, it has been tough to fit in as much water time as I would like. Excuses? Yes. Reality? Yes. But so what? I have to find the time. I have to make the time. I have to buckle down and get consistent. I just have to "do it".
Now, for the mental part. This Sunday was a routinely scheduled long run. The distance was 21.5km. Long yes, but completely doable since I have completed this distance more than once, and raced it almost back to back. I know I am capable. And yet........in the middle of the run I had a meltdown. My body caught a chill. I got hungry and couldn't get enough food in. I got shivers and could not stop them, and I cramped up in all of my joints. It was the hardest run I have had since last year's ATB.
I am hoping that it is a one time thing that I will get over. I am hoping that taking the above noted steps will keep me in fighting shape and that I will get to the start line healthy and strong. I am hoping that blowing up before the race is a sign of good things to come and that it means an "incident" free race.
Today I worked out with my trainer Justin and he told me "that was the best workout yet". It made me feel good. I would like to carry that feeling with me for the next few weeks. I wonder if I can "save" that in my memory bank and call upon it when we hit the hills on race day?
I am strong and I believe that I have done what is right and good. Now I just have to shut up and listen to my own damn self so I can run a good race.
I believe that the best way to rehab this leg is to get in the water a bit more. Be VERY consistent with the stretching and Yoga classes, and put in a few more small runs every week. Since the snow and ice came I have been less than excellent at getting out running with dog every morning. We go out, every day without fail, but we have walked more mornings that were designated for running and I think it is starting to show. I have also found that with work getting busier, it has been tough to fit in as much water time as I would like. Excuses? Yes. Reality? Yes. But so what? I have to find the time. I have to make the time. I have to buckle down and get consistent. I just have to "do it".
Now, for the mental part. This Sunday was a routinely scheduled long run. The distance was 21.5km. Long yes, but completely doable since I have completed this distance more than once, and raced it almost back to back. I know I am capable. And yet........in the middle of the run I had a meltdown. My body caught a chill. I got hungry and couldn't get enough food in. I got shivers and could not stop them, and I cramped up in all of my joints. It was the hardest run I have had since last year's ATB.
I am hoping that it is a one time thing that I will get over. I am hoping that taking the above noted steps will keep me in fighting shape and that I will get to the start line healthy and strong. I am hoping that blowing up before the race is a sign of good things to come and that it means an "incident" free race.
Today I worked out with my trainer Justin and he told me "that was the best workout yet". It made me feel good. I would like to carry that feeling with me for the next few weeks. I wonder if I can "save" that in my memory bank and call upon it when we hit the hills on race day?
I am strong and I believe that I have done what is right and good. Now I just have to shut up and listen to my own damn self so I can run a good race.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
feel that twinge?
Since starting running/swimming/biking for the purposes of racing and competing in running races and triathlons, I have been lucky. I was smart enough to listen to those around me and to hear their advise. I learned from others.
I have surrounded myself with people that have been in the sport for much longer than I. I have carefully progressed in speed and distance. I have done the training required at the recommended intervals, distances, paces, and what not. I have run flat, run hills, done speed work. I have used a coach in the pool to get better speed and form. I have worked hard on the bike both indoors and out. I have trained my body to be stronger and more resilient. I have built a team around me to make sure that I have the support I need to make it to the start lines of races I want to make it to.
I make sure to strength train in the gym and in Yoga class. I make sure to stretch and to cool down and warm up before each workout. I make sure to visit a chiropractor and a massage therapist so that I can catch any little twinges or pings before they become big problems. To date, I have been lucky and I have remained injury free, but not without minor aches and pains that needed to be worked out. I hate to talk about it though, because I fear that saying it out loud will curse me and bring on an ailment.
To that end, I am very worried about talking out loud about a tightness in my left hip flexor that makes me feel like my pelvis is a little twisted or torqued and that I need to crack the left hip. I know there is no bone where it feels like this, but still, it feels like when a knuckle needs to be cracked. I don't have an appointment booked until next week and I wonder if I should use my skill set and base knowledge to "rehab" this twinge, or if I should book an appointment with the chiropractor? I wonder if I pay this too much attention will it get worse or better? I wonder?
So with all this in mind I took a day of "rest" today and hope that I magically wake up feeling like my good old self tomorrow. In the meantime I cross my fingers because the training for Around the Bay takes us 20km's this weekend. And, today I just signed up for my 2nd Road To Hope 1/2 Marathon in Hamilton in November. I have big plans, and I do not want any pangs or twinges getting in my way.
And that's about all for today. 'night
I have surrounded myself with people that have been in the sport for much longer than I. I have carefully progressed in speed and distance. I have done the training required at the recommended intervals, distances, paces, and what not. I have run flat, run hills, done speed work. I have used a coach in the pool to get better speed and form. I have worked hard on the bike both indoors and out. I have trained my body to be stronger and more resilient. I have built a team around me to make sure that I have the support I need to make it to the start lines of races I want to make it to.
I make sure to strength train in the gym and in Yoga class. I make sure to stretch and to cool down and warm up before each workout. I make sure to visit a chiropractor and a massage therapist so that I can catch any little twinges or pings before they become big problems. To date, I have been lucky and I have remained injury free, but not without minor aches and pains that needed to be worked out. I hate to talk about it though, because I fear that saying it out loud will curse me and bring on an ailment.
To that end, I am very worried about talking out loud about a tightness in my left hip flexor that makes me feel like my pelvis is a little twisted or torqued and that I need to crack the left hip. I know there is no bone where it feels like this, but still, it feels like when a knuckle needs to be cracked. I don't have an appointment booked until next week and I wonder if I should use my skill set and base knowledge to "rehab" this twinge, or if I should book an appointment with the chiropractor? I wonder if I pay this too much attention will it get worse or better? I wonder?
So with all this in mind I took a day of "rest" today and hope that I magically wake up feeling like my good old self tomorrow. In the meantime I cross my fingers because the training for Around the Bay takes us 20km's this weekend. And, today I just signed up for my 2nd Road To Hope 1/2 Marathon in Hamilton in November. I have big plans, and I do not want any pangs or twinges getting in my way.
And that's about all for today. 'night
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