Can anyone recommend a good pilates DVD for runners please?

[northernlass1965]

Merry Christmas everyone!

I'm still on the IC and too busy to get to the gym and wondered if anyone could recommend a DVD for pilates that will help me to reduce my chances of injury in the future.

I've got a repeat calf strain that has after one week settled down again, in that I can walk comfortably on it, but know that as soon as I run it will flare up again. I haven't rested enough before now (the longest period was two weeks) but it resurfaced when I ran again.

I haven't been doing stretches as I read that you're not supposed to stretch injured calf muscles. So one week in, with no pain on walking, what should I be doing?

Thanks all and hope everyone's looking forward to Christmas!

[misswobble Graduate]

I left mine alone for 3 weeks. Didn't do anything but ice it. It seems daft that you can walk ok doesn't it, but try and run on it and no way Jose!

Pilates is very good. I would like a DVD too. It will be interesting to hear what peeps recommend.

[northernlass1965 Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Hi MissWobble, it's always good to hear from you. When I'm feeling downcast because I can't run I think of you, and how you fought your way back from injury to run again, and feel encouraged!

I went to the GP for a referral for physio but I will have to wait 6 to 8 weeks! I could pay £60 to go to my local private clinic but there are only rookie physios available at short notice - there is no availability till early January for the experienced physios. But I suppose even that's better than 8 weeks. Jeez!

In the meantime I've ordered a cheapo DVD off eBay - Pilates for Athletes (wishful thinking) - so I'll let you know if it's any good.

One question, before I go MissWobble - you only need to ice your leg etc while it hurts, right? I have not iced mine since it stopped hurting when I walk.

[rmoo]

I'm not sure about what exercises you should be doing for your injury. But with regards the Pilates question, I love the Blogilates videos on YouTube. She is very talky but it is quite distracting rather than annoying as you feel like you're about to die (in a good way) and you marvel at how she can keep talking without sounding out of breath!

She has a beginners calendar on her website to follow to ease you in.

[northernlass1965 Graduate in reply to rmoo]

Thanks Rmoo - I haven't been on this site for a week as I've been ill with winter lurgy and not able to do anything - even Pilates - but thanks so much for this recommendation. I will give it a go! I know what you mean about feeling as if you're dying - Pilates is really hard!!!

[northernlass1965 Graduate]

Just done Pilates for Athletes and it was really hard. Or maybe I'm just a big ninny :-D. I couldn't do it all as directed as you need weights and blocks for a lot of the exercises. All well and good but I don't have room for such things in my tiny flat! I'm going to try Blogilates videos on youTube next and see how I get on with those.