Wk 8 R1: worst run ever but I learned from it!

[Ellieashbeckbeans]

Posting this a few days late but started a new physical job and my body basically was not used to it. Next day tried to run and OH MY GOD! A lot of tension on my middle back became very tight and painful halfway through run. Ended up jogging very slowly with a pain level in mind that I would stop at but I managed to crawl to the finish. I 100% should have stopped but it seemed okay.

The next day I thought I was having a heart attack. Pain pain pain through my chest every time I breathed. If not for coronavirus I would have called 999. 111 said call 999 but I couldn’t face catching corona if it was nothing. Did some reading and realised I’d strained my muscle in my chest. Took some painkillers and PRAYED it would be fine by the next day. It was! It really was a muscle strain. It’s recovering though.

I’m Taking a few days off to recover til my next run! I’ve always been very wary of knee pain and niggles and never ever run on any slight discomfort because I’m very afraid of hurting my knees or ankles. But not so concerned about tightness or back pain (because it stretches out pretty easily). I’ve never worried about shoulders and upper back before!

I guess I’m posting my FAILURE as a warning to anyone else about taking all kinds of discomfort seriously! Better to take a few days off than live the horrible hours of worrying over a potential heart attack. The fear... it was terrifying! I am close to finishing and I think I just wanted it done! I’ve learned my lesson now! I’m taking a few days off, doing stretching and yoga and relaxing! Lesson learnt!

Hopefully other people can learn from my mistakes!

[linda9389 Graduate]

Poor you! Hope you and your body settle into that new job. I was running the other day and startrd to feel chest pain. It was on the right so I told myself it was OK, but it was still concerning. Just before I finished the run I remembered all the chest stretches in my pilates class the previous day 😀

You're right though, we should listen very carefully to our bodies when we run, especially in the early days; niggles are to be monitored but pain is definitely a warning we need to understand before knowing whether to run or not.

Hope your next run is altogether more enjoyable and less stressful! So close to graduation now ...