"We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.”
Kenji Miyazawa
My last two runs were not easy, but each for a very different reason. Yesterday I ran my 6K tempo and although I am pleased with my time and I mostly felt good, the humidity was 100% so I felt like I was running in a cloud. I'm not even exaggerating, that really was the humidex factor! Luckily, it was relatively early in the morning and not too hot yet. The great thing is that I got through this run and never even coughed once...my lungs are doing so well with this humidity, which is not how it usually went. Yay for running and my increased lung capacity!
Not so yay...near the end of my run yesterday I felt a very very mild pain on the right side of my knee (oh no, not the IT band). It went away immediately, so I just chalked it up to my new running shoes. Howevah! Today I was wearing a pair of broken in shoes and the pain started almost right at the beginning of the run. At first, it remained very very mild, so I didn't worry too much, I just thought I'd make sure to keep my pace very slow. Slowly, the pain increased and after about 3K I decided to walk a few meters, then I stopped and stretched and then off I went again. No pain...yay...pain again...not yay :( so I did it all again, run for a bit, walk for a few meters, stop and stretch. It's not that it was super painful or anything, but I'm really really trying to be smart about this and not push it...although I still did my whole 8K with the stop and stretch incorporated.
One very cool thing that happened this morning is that I ran into (pun not intended) my super sister-in-law who was doing her 29K long run this morning!!! So I ran with her a bit, which was so amazing. She was on her 25th K at this point and she looked great...I am so proud of her and I can't wait to cheer her in when she runs her first marathon in early September. Go Ju!
Okay, so back to me :) ...I put some deep cold on what I believe is my IT band and will baby it for a few days. No 10K tempo tomorrow and Friday is an off day that will remain off (at least off of running). We'll see how I feel Saturday, but for sure I'd like to do my long run on Sunday, especially since I'll be in Moncton, New Brunswick! Hopefully, I'll be able to take some pics :)
If anyone has some advice on how to prevent this mild pain from turning into full-blown IT band syndrome, please do tell. It doesn't hurt when I walk and after I'm done, only while running for now. Thanks.
Cheers!
14 comments:
Sorry to hear your injured, foam rollers are great for streaching out the thighs, which in turn can help the IT band, so I was told by a pyhsio, hope that is of some help.
I'm with Kat. FOAM ROLLERS for sure!!
I second the foam roller. Mine has been a life saver when it comes to my IT band. Make sure you are running on even surfaces as much as possible - a slope in the road aggravates my ITB, as do hills. Hope it is a-okay for the weekend!
Encouraging on the IT band ... keep roling and stretching and hopefully that does the trick! I'm so spoiled by lack of humidity here...not that I'm complaining :). Have a great day!!
I'm glad to hear that your lungs are doing well and you didn't cough while you was running. The humidity is 75% here next to the Mediterranean sea!
Sorry to hear the mild pain which you felt on the right side of your knee. Did it begin after you had run fast down hill? Be careful Anne! stretching is important.
I've read that another running woman is going to run her first marathon in September :) Good luck!
100% humidity???? I'm not going to complain about our measly 80% humidity in that case :-) Good for you for getting it done in that kind of weather.
As for the IT band, I'm also going to recommend the foam roller and LOTS of stretching. Also, ask your trainer about ways to strengthen your upper leg muscles.
Sorry about the IT! Do you have a foam roller? Give it a try. Also--massage if you can get one! Good luck.
ROlling on the foam roller, religiously, several times a day and stretching the hips REALLY helps!
FOAM ROLLER, that's the answer. I just read a blog about a guy who was injured only once during his long running career and from that day on, he used the foam roller and was able to keep running. I was getting lazy about it and not using it religiously, until I read that article. Now I'm back to rolling every night, even if I'm not having any issues. Good luck!
I totally believe in the foam roller and I see others are writing the same. I use it for many things and it works wonders! It is worth the cost if you don't have access to one. Like Meg above I use it issues or no issues.
Oh ouch! I hope the pain goes away! Like the others, I recommend foam rolling and stretching.
Okay, now I'm going to have to get a foam roller! Stealing the advice given to you!
I feel you on the 100% humidity! :)
If you're gonna continue with the long-run on Sunday, wear the broken-in shoes.
Then, early next week, resume breaking in those new shoes.
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