First the good news...

[Tikiczocky]

...did my first post graduation run, yesterday - 4.5k in 33 mins! No Laura motivation, my own special playlist to help me bounce on at more even pace...I'm definitely getting there & I love this running thing and what I've achieved!

Now the bad news - I can't alternate feet when climbing the stairs, can 'feel' my left thigh when I stand up and sit down, change direction when walking, etc...this has been getting progressively worse for the last three weeks. Bah...

I know how this happened (having dug around on t'internet)...I have self diagnosed (don't you just love folk who do that) a bit of IT band syndrome. It is entirely self-inflicted (even if I might have a slightly dodgy leg, hip, whatever it is about my body that might lead to this - yet to be determined) ...I now know that I should not have ploughed on through and ignored the after effects of running, getting worse after each one, from week 7! (It doesn't hurt when I run, just makes me wince, a lot, post-run and now all day, every day, when I move in certain ways!).

This is what I did wrong, I think...

-I was desperate to complete the programme, running every other day, in spite of my body's gripes.

-I often squeezed out an extra few minutes on the end of each run, because I wanted to push myself harder...duh!

-I decided that hills (the beast, I call it, and it's sister, the not quite so beastly), steep up and down, were a good idea, around week 7...shortish but bloomin' tough...because I wanted to push myself harder! duh!

-I took to running on trails (great for the knees, but less so for a body not strong enough for the rotation, jarring, etc.)

-I, perhaps, didn't warm up and down quite as well as I had in the early days (guilty as charged)

and

-in spite of probably knowing better, I didn't do enough stretching, strengthening and flexing exercises on the rest days...

So...now I am on the injury bench - I know that I have to force myself to stay there until I can alternate feet on the stairs again (I really don't want to cease now but can't see how I have any choice). I can see that, if I don't do this, the result will be a longer cessation! I don't want to lose this momentum, but daren't push myself to long-term injury couch. Besides which, part of my motivation to continue and improve this level of fitness is getting the most out of a planned family snow-sports holiday in March - will be rubbish if I can't bloomin' stand on the board/skis!

My graduation post was tainted with more relief for having got to the end of the programme rather than celebration of my achievement! I let myself down there and certainly didn't feel like celebrating

So...lesson learnt! bah, but probably predictable...my personality allows for this kind of thing to happen!! KittyKat put up a great post yesterday...really made me think about where I go from here, when there is a here to go from. Back with the snails, I think...less is more!

Upside...I like snails x

ps...if you recognise yourself, above, beware!!!!

[misswobble Graduate]

You'll probably be fine tomorrow. When I run I often get this walking downstairs like Frankenstein's monster scenario first thing in the morning. It's just your body telling you that you had a hard work out. I think after a rest day you will be ok. If not, take another rest day.

Good luck and fingers crossed you'll be fine by the time your next run comes around

[Tikiczocky Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Thanks missW! I love your optimism.

I would always say that I'm an optimist and have put that Frankenstein's monster thing down to the same, but have got to the point where I wonder if it really should happen...it wouldn't happen if I didn't run - I'm old-ish and may have been a little creaky in the mornings at times, but not to this extent. I would expect a bit of stiffness after a hard workout, but I'm now unable to bear weight on my left leg, mostly required when using the stairs, which is often (bloomin' office, bed and loo upstairs, rest of life downstairs!!)

I think I have been pushing just too hard and am going to let myself back in gently, slowly and do shorter distances...I am not going to attempt Wonder Woman status anymore. lol

So..crossing fingers here too

[Hidden]

Oh yes, and me too ! 4 weeks on injury couch post grad with an ankle injury caused by new shoes and over enthusiasm. I am much more circumspect now, slowly working my way to 7.5k. My new mantra is Consolidation ! Consolidation ! Starting this as a total non running 50+ yr old I have learnt that small incremental improvements are possible. Big distance pushes are bad for me... Go carefully but don't give up !

[Pigivi]

If it doesn't heal in a couple of days maybe go and see a sport injury specialist (often a physio) - a good way to find one with a good reputation is asking local athletics, running or rugby/gaa/soccer clubs. I went to see one for a hamstring problem and was really happy I did!

[Pigivi in reply to Pigivi]

and congratulations on graduating! Missed the post the other day!

[useitorloseit Graduate in reply to Pigivi]

Me too. Been away from computer, so I missed your big moment. Well done! Sorry to hear you've picked up a sore leg. Have some rest - I would think at least a week - from what I've read on here you won't lose much stamina - and then perhaps do some gentle short runs to ease back into it.

[Tikiczocky Graduate in reply to useitorloseit]

thanks Pigivi & Useit

[Tikiczocky Graduate in reply to useitorloseit]

Hia Usit! How are you? Hope you're managing to find enough you time to get out and do a bit of running and that things are going okay. Thinking of you. x

[useitorloseit Graduate in reply to Tikiczocky]

Home for a few days and leaving my sister coping with dad in the hospital. I never stop thinking about them for a minute though. Had a good run yesterday morning - 30 mins of normal in a crazy whirlwind of a world at the moment.

[misswobble Graduate]

I'm 57 in a few weeks time. I take no medications except for a fish oil capsule every day to try and keep my joints lubricated.

I don't have a GP, and physio's and such like are out of my price range, so if I hurt myself it's RICE, and a pain killer. Fortunately that's been ok thus far. Fingers crossed

[AncientMum Graduate]

I could have written this post too. If you hurt, stop running until you don't hurt, then you can restart. The odd post run ache is one thing, but definite pain iin the same place is something completely different. If you're feeling either rich or desperate then see a physio and get sorted out quicker ( it's money well spent in my experience.) It's the curse of the graduation run. We think we're invincible, overdo it and suffer the consequences. Just chalk it up to experience and concentrate on recovering. Really hope you're feeling better soon, the Frankenstein shuffle is no fun!