When I had my 1,000 mile giveaway, a requirement for entry was to ask me a question. Any question. And I promised to answer them in a series of posts. Here are questions 51-55 ...
OrangeBlossom asked, "What was your first running injury? Did you run through the pain for a while and then take a break or did you just push through?"
My first running injury was a cyst in my ankle joint. It started to cause me pain about four weeks before my first marathon. And yes, I ran through the pain. And it was a dumb thing to do.
I thought that I could muscle through anything, but after my last long run before the marathon, I could barely walk. I went to the doctor and he suspected a stress fracture and sent me for an MRI. He told me that if I ran, I risked shattering my ankle. I told him that I had trained for 16 weeks and wasn't going to miss the race. (Yes, I realize the stupidity in that.)
Despite my attitude, I did go get the MRI. Unfortunately, the results didn't come back before the race, so I didn't see any good reason NOT to run. I made it to start line, but about six miles in I was already feeling the pain. I knew that I had to be conservative in order to finish, so I walked the first minute of every mile and ran the rest. Then at mile 16 or 17, the cyst ruptured and I was convinced that I had shattered my ankle. I could barely move. I called J and told him that I was going to be much later than expected, but that I would finish. I walked the next four miles. Then just after the 22 mile marker, my foot went numb. I popped two Advils and ran the rest of the race.
It was an incredibly dumb thing to do. And I wouldn't recommend it.
Momma Twitch asked, "On days that you don't want to run (which I'm sure are few and far between), how do you get your self going? What do you tell yourself?"
Usually, all I have to tell myself is that I won't regret running, but I will probably regret skipping it. I run five days a week, so if I am really not feeling it, I almost always can rearrange my runs or swap my rest days.
And if that doesn't work, I pull out an old picture of myself. Seeing the old me definitely keeps me motivated.
amomontherun asked, "What is your most embarrassing running experience?"
I'm not really sure that this is embarrassing, but it's the best I have. (And it could have turned out to be REALLY embarrassing.)
During the second 20 miler of marathon training last fall, I was wearing my pink cheetah skirt with a pair of underwear that I had not worn to run in before. Everything started out fine. G and I headed away from her house and a half mile later, disaster struck.
My underwear were completely off my butt. What could I do? I tried to pull them back up, but they wouldn't stay. I couldn't bear the thought of dealing with that for 20 miles. It would be horrible. Suddenly, I knew what to do. I told G that I would be right back. I ran off the side of the road and found as much cover as I could. Off came the running skirt. Off came the crappy underwear. Back on went the running skirt.
And I continued running.
Elizabeth asked, "What is your recovery routine?"
Drink some water. Eat some food (if I can remember to). Take a shower.
I wish I put more effort towards proper recovery, but I already feel like my running schedule takes up a lot of time and as soon as I walk in that door, my mommy hat goes back on and I am on-call. Maybe when my kids are older and more self-sufficient I'll make time for things like stretching, ice baths and massages ...
Parker_4 asked, "You run so much. Do you struggle with injuries?"
Fortunately, no. I have had injuries in the past (when my mileage was MUCH lower), but I have gotten over that whole "run through the pain" thing. I train smarter and slower and listen to my body. If I need a rest day, I take it. If something feels "off," I take the appropriate measures to remedy it before it is a real issue.
OrangeBlossom asked, "What was your first running injury? Did you run through the pain for a while and then take a break or did you just push through?"
My first running injury was a cyst in my ankle joint. It started to cause me pain about four weeks before my first marathon. And yes, I ran through the pain. And it was a dumb thing to do.
I thought that I could muscle through anything, but after my last long run before the marathon, I could barely walk. I went to the doctor and he suspected a stress fracture and sent me for an MRI. He told me that if I ran, I risked shattering my ankle. I told him that I had trained for 16 weeks and wasn't going to miss the race. (Yes, I realize the stupidity in that.)
Despite my attitude, I did go get the MRI. Unfortunately, the results didn't come back before the race, so I didn't see any good reason NOT to run. I made it to start line, but about six miles in I was already feeling the pain. I knew that I had to be conservative in order to finish, so I walked the first minute of every mile and ran the rest. Then at mile 16 or 17, the cyst ruptured and I was convinced that I had shattered my ankle. I could barely move. I called J and told him that I was going to be much later than expected, but that I would finish. I walked the next four miles. Then just after the 22 mile marker, my foot went numb. I popped two Advils and ran the rest of the race.
It was an incredibly dumb thing to do. And I wouldn't recommend it.
Momma Twitch asked, "On days that you don't want to run (which I'm sure are few and far between), how do you get your self going? What do you tell yourself?"
Usually, all I have to tell myself is that I won't regret running, but I will probably regret skipping it. I run five days a week, so if I am really not feeling it, I almost always can rearrange my runs or swap my rest days.
And if that doesn't work, I pull out an old picture of myself. Seeing the old me definitely keeps me motivated.
amomontherun asked, "What is your most embarrassing running experience?"
I'm not really sure that this is embarrassing, but it's the best I have. (And it could have turned out to be REALLY embarrassing.)
During the second 20 miler of marathon training last fall, I was wearing my pink cheetah skirt with a pair of underwear that I had not worn to run in before. Everything started out fine. G and I headed away from her house and a half mile later, disaster struck.
My underwear were completely off my butt. What could I do? I tried to pull them back up, but they wouldn't stay. I couldn't bear the thought of dealing with that for 20 miles. It would be horrible. Suddenly, I knew what to do. I told G that I would be right back. I ran off the side of the road and found as much cover as I could. Off came the running skirt. Off came the crappy underwear. Back on went the running skirt.
And I continued running.
Elizabeth asked, "What is your recovery routine?"
Drink some water. Eat some food (if I can remember to). Take a shower.
I wish I put more effort towards proper recovery, but I already feel like my running schedule takes up a lot of time and as soon as I walk in that door, my mommy hat goes back on and I am on-call. Maybe when my kids are older and more self-sufficient I'll make time for things like stretching, ice baths and massages ...
Parker_4 asked, "You run so much. Do you struggle with injuries?"
Fortunately, no. I have had injuries in the past (when my mileage was MUCH lower), but I have gotten over that whole "run through the pain" thing. I train smarter and slower and listen to my body. If I need a rest day, I take it. If something feels "off," I take the appropriate measures to remedy it before it is a real issue.
10 comments:
The underwear story isn't TOO bad but it's still kinda funny! Thank goodness for the little shorts under the skirts!
LOVE that you train "smarter"
Nothing is worse that underwear that will not stay where it belongs!!
totally agreeing with the answer to your last question. we're are not only stronger runners now, we train smarter too =)
love the underwear story!
I need to work on my recovery too! That is so awesome that you don't have injuries plus you play things smart!! Thank you for the underwear story in made my day!
Ha! A similar thing happened to me this summer and I enjoyed commando running so much I adios'd running in underwear altogether, something I never thought I'd do. After all, my shorts all have liners, so why double up?
I agree with your response to injuries. My first year of running, I had numerous aches and pains. Now, in my second year, none. I attribute the injury free state to training smarter which means listening to my body during runs and taking rest days.
Oh my word! What a warrior you are on number 1! Holy cow! And the underwear?? Hehe. Thanks for the giggle!
I'm just as impressed as Meredith, on 1. THat is a FIGHTER...and although, it may not be smart...I absolutely LOVE it! I'd like to say, i've learned my lesson but I don't think I have. Training for 16 weeks, there are few things, including injury that could stop me from getting to that finish line.
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