Just a thought really - having been a member on this forum for a good 18 mths now, which might be useful for those starting out on the programme and who plan to make running a part of their life. 🏃🏽♀️🏃🏻 It's a sad fact that time on the dreaded injury couch (whether for injury, illness or twinges etc) is inevitable at some point on the journey. 😩I think very often we are tempted to keep running at all costs; we have a programme or training plan to stick to so we HAVE to get out, twinge or no twinge! If we don't run we feel guilty! But one thing I think I have learned along the way, is that even on a plan I have to listen to my body and sometimes that extra K or faster pace just has to wait! There are definitely aches and pains which just come and go (especially in the early days) but also there are times when we should just stop and take an extra days rest and see whether that grumble settles. I know I have tried to be really disciplined with my running and it takes a lot for me to miss one, but it is ok to miss a run (or runs), to heal and get better, to get over an illness. Running really is a 'change for life' and we have all the time in the world really. 🙂 Happy running!
P.S. Not on the injury couch at the moment btw - just my musings!
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Sandraj39
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Thanks for this. I've not had any injury .....yet, but certainly feeling like I'm fighting of a cold. So along with the icy pavements, your post has confirmed that I should just relax tonight!
Yeah...I ummed and aahed last night with the beginnings of my head cold/coughcold. My body said no and I acknowledged it then stubbornly went... Wasn't too horrendous. But when I got back I felt awful... Ate some amazing tea lovingly prepared by daughter 2 then sat and shivered for a bit ...Lemsipped up and went to bed...
So my weekend run may be off...I will listen to my body
Thanks for your post. I'm on the Injury Couch for a few days as after trying the first Bridge to 10K my Achilles' tendon was twinning. Haven't run since Monday and am missing it dreadfully, but I know I need to give it time. At least I managed to get to the gym on Tuesday and today. Going up to Haworth this weekend so probably no running but might do a couple of walks on the Yorkshire Dales.
Walking backwards is a good stretch exercise for twangy legs 🙂 I found that out when dawdling about waiting for the dog
Currently been on the IC for a whole week! 😫😝☹️ I have managed two good dog walks though so not been totally off my legs 😊 My legs are ok, just my face that's dodgy 😷
Oh, misswobble - I read your post the other week! Hope things get back to normal soon. Your fall sounded horrible☹️😖. I fell a few months ago. No excuse - just fell over my tired big feet at the end of a run, doing a stunt roll that Tom Cruise would've been proud of! Luckily, just a few grazes and bruises and huge relief that nobody was around to see me!🙄
I agree, There have been times I've not felt up to running and you just have to go with it and get back out there when you can. If you push yourself too much you might do serious damage, better to err on the side of caution I think
Totes agree Sandra, great post. I am sitting here on the couch, can't wait to get back out there, but I feel that when eventually I do, my running will be all the sweeter for it. 😀🏃🏼♀️🏃🏻🏃🏼♀️🏃🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Happy running to you.
The IC is irritating but at times necessary. Like you say you can feel a bit of pressure to carry on running but listening to your body gives the best result 🙂🏃👟
Today marks the first missed run of the week (hoping to keep it to only one, but we'll see). Managed to pull a muscle (not DOMS, very used to those) at the gym. Deeply frustrating, but if long term I want to carry on running, taking a few days off now is better than months off later.
Great post.... been on the IC a couple of times.. and you are so right.. listen to your body..it is wonderful for letting us know what is what. When to wait and when to try things out!
Missing runs can be so hard, as you say, but being strong and waiting a bit longer... that is the way to go
So true. I learned the hard way by running through when I really should have stopped, resulting in 10 weeks out. It took me a long time to distinguish gremlins telling me something was hurting from my body telling me something was hurting. I still don't always get it right (although try to err on the side of caution these days - being injured for so long was so miserable)!
Great post, think it's always good to remind people that they could rest up a few extra days if they need.
Sounds very like me - thirteen weeks following a calf tear in the 'early days' of running😕 It made me listen to my body, especially as I had to ease myself back in to running quite carefully.
Excellent post Sandra, and spot on. Of course, the difficult bit is knowing the difference between "just something minor I can ignore" and "something that feels minor but will develop to something major if I ignore it".
The occasional visit to the IC is probably an inevitable tool to help us develop the ability to make that differentiation. The alternative is to treat everything as serious and never push ourselves, and that would be a shame.
Totally agree about that 'should I or shouldn't I' dilemma. I do find that now I am running longer distances there are odd little aches which come and go sometimes, throughout the course of a run. I will also 'choose' those days when I feel strong and am having a good run, to push myself - not something I would do on one of those 'heavy leg' runs! 🙂 Today was a definately a good run day for me, so I pushed the pace a little!🏃🏽♀️
I know what you mean about having a plan and sticking to it no matter what. I have been lucky enough to not be injured despite going out for runs with shin niggles or hip niggles, but Tuesday I overdid it and instantly knew that I needed to give my body time to recover, so I skipped Thursday training for the first time since - I'm not sure - June maybe! Three months ago, thar would have made me uneasy and afraid that I would not be able to get back out there. But that is not an issue anymore. I am gradually becoming more and more confident in my identity as a runner and I simply can't imagine not running.
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