I haven't posted on here for ages but still enjoy reading posts about other runners achievements,particularly those just setting out on this programme.
Lately everything has become a real struggle. I don't enjoy running even though I still force myself to go it has become a chore more than a pleasure. On top of that I appear to collect a new injury niggle every other week. Right calf, left knee but the main one is a sharp pain in the top of my foot between my big and second toes. It starts of manageable but after 4 or 5 Km I have to stop as it is really sore. It soon came down but its so frustrating.
In the past I have done HM distance , thought nothing of doing 10K but now a gentle 5K is a struggle.
Apologies for the moaning but just wanted to get it off my chest to a bunch of like minded people who know how frustrated I am at the moment.
Written by
Pete1w
Graduate
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Oh goodness. So many folk feeling just as you do right now. So many reasons why too.Illness, injury, the pandemic and everything in between.
You may find that many of the niggles are arising from tension; in your whole body even, which is carrying the feelings you have.
Why not, just as many of us have and are doing, repeat C25K again. I did, ( and I too was running at HM level), and it really helped.
If you pop into Catch-Up Corner ( posted now every week, you will find so many like minded folk there). If you begin again, there is no pressure at all, you know you can do it... you take it at your own pace, you get in some strength and stamina work to get those aching muscles back into shape. Loads of new ideas on the amazing Strength and Stamina forum.
I honesty think you will find it useful, you clearly want to run again. because you are here you have posted. The first steps may be the hardest but it will be worth it
Do stay with us and maybe as the post suggests. time for new beginnings...finding the joy again?
Thanks for your kind reply. I did consider starting again and may still do. This toe injury / pain is a worry though. I start running and it it feels OK nut after 4/5K it's really painful. I think starting running / walking may be the way forward as it might take away some of the stress on the affected area. Thanks again and I'll certainly check out those links you sent.
I've looked all over the Internet and YouTube but can't find anything specific to what's going on. I'm lucky that I can access physio at work so they could very well be getting a visit soon.
My own visits to a physio have been of immense use to me. Often the reason for a problem is from a cause you'd not work out by yourself (or by consulting Dr Google).
Not sure on the pain, obviously, but could be something to do with the shoe fit, many upper foot ones are.
The words that stands out to me in the post are “force myself” did you ever enjoy yourself running? If so, maybe step it back a bit, take a week or two of walking instead, find some new routes to run, set some achievable goals and little rewards for hitting them. I know a couple of people who don’t ever like their run… but they do like their post run coffee as they walk through the park.
I used to love my morning runs. I get up at 5.15 a.m. and run before work. Even though it often made me feel tired towards the end of the day it felt good that I had been on my run and it set me for the day. I'm also finding now that because of all these little silly injuries I'm not running as much and so am not feeling great because I'm missing out. That leads to overeating which leads to making my running more of a chore thus setting a vicious circle.
Interesting… I’d try a couple of weeks off with some strengthening work around all those niggles if it was me. Also I’d chuck some. HIIT workouts to burn those calories.
Hi Pete. I can really relate to how you are feeling. I have had various leg niggles, which tend to manifest themselves mainly in my knees, on and off for nearly 3 years. I have been for physio, sports massage and to chiropractor. All say nothing fundamentally wrong with my knees and it is down to muscle imbalance. I do the exercises I have been given religiously every day although I know that things like driving and sitting, both of which I have to do at work, do not help. I have managed to pretty much get myself right for a few months only for issues to start again for no apparent reason. They don’t totally stop me doing things, which I’m grateful for, but it means I can’t perform at the level I want to and I’m always trying to build up to the level of fitness I want to be at – it’s like a big game of snakes and ladders with mainly snakes! Interestingly when I started C25K it seemed to help, possibly because it was making my glutes work a bit more than when I walk and also because of all the brilliant advice on this forum. I do get tired with people saying I do too much, as I climb, swim, dance and have an allotment, but I’m so careful not to overdo things, make sure that I balance things (like digging with alternative legs); I don’t want to sit around, I enjoy being active!
I think wise Oldfloss may have a point about the tension we all carry around in our bodies but I’m not sure that there is an easy answer to that as exercise is my stress relief which is a bit difficult if you are having to take it easy due to injury – a vicious circle.
It really was a comfort to read your post and find I’m not the only one. Don’t give up. I think by persevering we are still doing our bodies a great favour. Wishing you all the best to get back to that 10K.
Thanks for your message. It's so frustrating isn't it. Interesting that you've got an allotment because that's where I've just come back from so it's not as if I sit around doing nothing all day. I'm on my feet at work all day so I'm sure that doesn't help. I just have this niggly toe / heel thing going on that stopping me running. I'm pretty sure all my other aches and pains are age / life related. I've googled and YouTube'd but I know that's the worse thing to do as I'm now convinced it's plantar fasciitis. I need a professional to have a look. I do tend to be a bit mardy when I can't do what I want so I know I need a diagnosis quickly...A quick story..... I took my mum to a physio as she was struggling to walk and she was convinced it was her knee. After a physio session it turns out to be sciatica manifesting in her knee. Good luck with your niggles and have a great summer up at your allotment.
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