New Year's Day. Time to set goals, make resolutions, whatever you want to call it. These days I try and live in the moment as much as possible, with humility and gratitude. That doesn't mean I am without ambition; it just means I don't wanna miss what's happening NOW.
There are a lot of things I want to do as a runner and an athlete, but my physical fitness is in a precarious state. The muscle imbalances I had BEFORE my accident have been exacerbated, so my lower back keeps going into spasm. What that means for me is at least a week of compromised training every time it happens. I have a stretching and mobility routine I use whenever it happens, but it still means time off from my "real" training. As I write this I am at the tail end of a week and a half of rehab from my last back problem. I'm still not able to run, and it's making me crazy.
So what am I gonna do about it? Well, a couple things. This week I have an appointment with a physical therapist; she's going to tell me if I'm healthy enough to ease back into running. If not, she's gonna help me plan what I have to do to get healthy enough. I'm cautiously optimistic.
The other thing I've done is set a goal. Saturday, May 11 is a few days before my 54th birthday; my goal is to once again run the entire 11 miles of Leif Erickson Road. I'm gonna take off from the Thurman trailhead at around 2:00 PM; you're welcome to join me if you want. It's not a race, just a friendly little run.
Showing posts with label metabolic training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label metabolic training. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Here's that setback you ordered...
Monday I went for my longest post-accident run yet: six miles. My stamina was decent, and my pace was slightly faster than before the accident! My injured foot felt fine during the entire run.
The trouble started when I stopped running. Within fifteen minutes of finishing my run my right foot was on fire. This was the most pain I've felt since the accident. I had already been walking with a slight limp; now it had become very uncomfortable to walk. My first thought was that I had simply overdone it, and I needed a little extra rest and a more measured daily running regimen (shorter, more frequent running workouts).
As the week wore on it became obvious that the situation was worse than I thought. The ache in my foot didn't subside very much, even with no running. By the end of every work day the pain was pretty bad, though still not bad enough to resort to my prescription pain meds (I'm hesitant to take narcotics unless I'm in agony).
Yesterday there was a post on my Facebook page from a running shoe company regarding tendinitis of the foot. The symptoms described in the post (dull ache in the top of the foot that subsides during exercise) almost exactly described what I am feeling. The more grim news: treatment calls for NO RUNNING for "at least two weeks" and more likely for much longer. Damn, I just got started again. Okay, so it's time to make another recovery plan.
This morning I was chatting with a friend who is a doctor and an avid runner. She was aghast that I'd been running at all. Her recommendation: I shouldn't run for the rest of the year, and switch to other methods of metabolic training until the foot stops hurting. Damn.
Fortunately I have access to a lot of options. ADAPT Training has some machines I can use, including ellipticals, rowers, and Versaclimbers. I will also continue to take the regular ADAPT classes: integrated metabolic training on Mondays and Wednesdays, strength training on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and flexibility/mobility on Fridays. These classes are very scalable to one's physical challenges, much more so than any other exercise program I've ever seen. I'm also going to put in some miles on my bicycle while the weather is still good, and dig into swimming. Now is a great time for me to go take some swimming lessons and strengthen up my technique. Aside from that it's RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
I knew that recovering and resuming the life I love was gonna be a long haul. I knew that there would be challenges and setbacks. The important thing for me is to stay positive and stay busy. As long as I can keep moving around and keep smiling I will be fine. I am still very aware of how lucky I am, and still grateful for this dangerous opportunity to be a better person.
The trouble started when I stopped running. Within fifteen minutes of finishing my run my right foot was on fire. This was the most pain I've felt since the accident. I had already been walking with a slight limp; now it had become very uncomfortable to walk. My first thought was that I had simply overdone it, and I needed a little extra rest and a more measured daily running regimen (shorter, more frequent running workouts).
As the week wore on it became obvious that the situation was worse than I thought. The ache in my foot didn't subside very much, even with no running. By the end of every work day the pain was pretty bad, though still not bad enough to resort to my prescription pain meds (I'm hesitant to take narcotics unless I'm in agony).
Yesterday there was a post on my Facebook page from a running shoe company regarding tendinitis of the foot. The symptoms described in the post (dull ache in the top of the foot that subsides during exercise) almost exactly described what I am feeling. The more grim news: treatment calls for NO RUNNING for "at least two weeks" and more likely for much longer. Damn, I just got started again. Okay, so it's time to make another recovery plan.
This morning I was chatting with a friend who is a doctor and an avid runner. She was aghast that I'd been running at all. Her recommendation: I shouldn't run for the rest of the year, and switch to other methods of metabolic training until the foot stops hurting. Damn.
Fortunately I have access to a lot of options. ADAPT Training has some machines I can use, including ellipticals, rowers, and Versaclimbers. I will also continue to take the regular ADAPT classes: integrated metabolic training on Mondays and Wednesdays, strength training on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and flexibility/mobility on Fridays. These classes are very scalable to one's physical challenges, much more so than any other exercise program I've ever seen. I'm also going to put in some miles on my bicycle while the weather is still good, and dig into swimming. Now is a great time for me to go take some swimming lessons and strengthen up my technique. Aside from that it's RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
I knew that recovering and resuming the life I love was gonna be a long haul. I knew that there would be challenges and setbacks. The important thing for me is to stay positive and stay busy. As long as I can keep moving around and keep smiling I will be fine. I am still very aware of how lucky I am, and still grateful for this dangerous opportunity to be a better person.
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