Back in 2019 I ran my very first HM and my second and my third ... in the space of just 5 weeks 🙈 I was utterly hooked and felt invincible!!!
As I walked over to get a results printout for that third HM (a PB I might add💪), I was suddenly unable to weight bear on my left foot. Long story short, I had a stress fracture of the second metatarsal and was unable to run for virtually five months.
I was going mad; stressed and miserable and my goto release (running) was unavailable as I hobbled around in an orthopaedic boot! From somewhere came the idea of dusting off my old bike (which had been sitting in the shed for about 15 years). I believe that bike absolutely saved my sanity (though anyone watching my first wobble round the housing estate would have very much questioned the wisdom of this move🙈). It got me out in the fresh air again, I had new challenges, found new strava segments and bling and a focus which was also helping to keep me fit.
In 2020 I exceeded my cycling target of 3000 miles for the year and this year I finally got to ride the 100k charity event I signed up for back in 2019 for motivation (cancelled many times by Covid).
Then on Sunday I rode the Flat 100 South (postponed from the end of July because of the heat). It was a 105k ride across the dykes, through the fens. It was a far cry from most of the running events I have entered; much quieter with just 85 riders across all three distances. As always I had a target - I wanted to finish in under 5 hours elapse time (yep, it's a time consuming activity) and beat my ride time from the charity night ride. I did both✅What's more, I suffered none of the ill effects of the night ride (sore neck, painful undercarriage, nausea, lightheadedness and migraine - not sure why I wanted to do another 100k when I read that list😍) - mostly by constant wriggling, eating and drinking. I was really chuffed to come 10th out of just 31 riders doing the 100k, but ... wait for it ... I was the fastest female!!! Not bad considering I don't even have a road bike and wouldn't dream of risking a tangle with cleats; I'm very much an amateur at the cycling game!!!
So, although those 5 months on the injury couch were really, really hard ... they were not entirely in vain. Cycling has proved a great activity to plug between my runs and has satisfied my desire for more stats and more challenges too 😄.
Should you ever find yourself in the unfortunate position of an extended period on the IC ... I guess you could make lemonade ... or maybe you too might discover a brand new passion while the runs are waiting 😊. Injury or not, I'd recommend cycling as a great cross training activity to complement running(in nice weather at least 😎).
Has anyone else been fortunate enough to get anything positive out of injury or did I just drop lucky?
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linda9389
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I had 3 months on the IC back in 2019, when I fell whilst out walking and fractured my ankle, tore the ligaments up the outside of my right foot and also sprained my wrist ( which made it a bit of a bug**r when using the wrist crutches). I did this at the end of June just after my first 10k when I was on a bit of a high. And I had just signed up to do 50k total running through July !!! So I emailed them and they said “ you can do it walking if you like..”
I too had the dreaded ortho boot and was very lopsided which gave me bum ache on the other side and then I was trawling Amazon and found a “ leveller upper” . It was sort of like those things you can get to make your shoes less slippy on icy surfaces so I purchased one and never looked back.
It fitted over your ordinary trainer and made it the same height as the moonboot. So I could then walk about almost as normal and without having to use the wrist crutches so that saved my poor wrist and also my back
Then I became determined to walk 50k in July so I worked out how much I needed to do every day and really got competitive. And I managed to walk 75k during my convalescence in July. So I signed up for 75k in August ( I had to wear the boot for 6 weeks which took me into mid august). And then I was wearing an ankle support.
I walked further and further each day and in different directions.I picked blackberries galore,elderberries then rosehips then sloes.
I made blackberry and apple jam, crumbles, pies, rosehip syrup, elderberry port, then sloegin. And rediscovered my love of foraging and winemaking. AND I managed to walk 100k not 75k in August.
My daughter started taking me to work with her and dropping me off so I could walk back along the other side of the river on the Tarka Trail and one morning it was so lovely that I just thought perhaps I could do C25k week 1 and I did very carefully. And that was it then - I was back!! 😁
Ahh yes, that's certainly better than lemonade, sounds lovely😎
I wasn't supposed to walk in my boot (although I had to for work) but I do rememberr how awkward and tiring that lopsided gait was! Yours was an ingenious solution to that problem.
I too used C25K to come back (although a fast track version so I could get thru a HM training plan in time for an event I'd signed up to ... as impatient as ever ... 🙈)
Good post from you Linda9389, I have been a cyclist from since I was 7, during my teens I went very long bike rides, got married but didn't do so much cycling until my son got a bike, I then started doing long bike rides again until my mid 60's but cut down the distance and only cycled once a week as I still do on a Sunday morning, but the bike rides are not nearly as long as they used to be, now around 5K to 17K compared to 70K in my "hayday " of cycling.
That's why in 2018 I started running with C25K and only bike ride from the beginning of May to the end of September on a Sunday morning.
Wow, that's a lot of cycling! I'm pretty late to both running and riding. I agree with you though - cycling is for the good weather months! Here's to many more of those 😊
Almost one year to the day I went out for what turned out to be my last run for 16 weeks.
Not a running injury, but a back injury that stopped me running, made me misreable, not very nice to be around, and made it impossible to walk in the beginning.
Weeks of osteopathy had limited success over the initial getting me somewhat mobile until I was lucky enough to find a good physio who'd worked with national league football teams. A progressive strengthening exercise program got me to the point where I felt ready and able to start running again.
I too used c25k again and completed week 1 on Christmas Day- a brilliant Christmas present.
I regraduated mid February, a stronger runner, a more confident runner second time around. I honestly feel my running is now in a much better place now than it would have been otherwise.
I also now know a brilliant physio whom I wouldn't hesitate to use again in future. In fact I saw him recently for a shoulder injury - this time sustained on a fall whilst running.
I don't ride, apart from a brief "friendship" with an exercise bike when I was unable to run, but have only admiration for what you have achieved.
You can find positives in everything if you look hard enough
I totally agree with you with respect to the new perspective on running after an enforced period of abstinence; a whole new appreciation of what we have, how important it is and how we should treat it with a degree of respect and privilege.
I'm not sure I could ever befriend an exercise bike - part of the joy of cycling is the feel of the air against my face, the sights and sounds and smells of the outdoors ... it is so much more than the push for exercise itself; I feel an exercise bike would have all the appeal of a treadmill 😄!!!
Hence my use of the word friendship in double quotes 😂
And exactly what you say about cycling is a huge part of why I love to run. The exercise bike served a purpose when even walking more than a kilometre was a challenge. I can't imagine any scenario under which I would "befriend" a dreadmill
I've used a treadmill on a handful of occasions where I absolutely couldn't get outdoors and wanted to stay on plan - and I hated it for all the reasons I imagine you hated that exercise bike 😄
I got a good road bike on the bike to work scheme August last year (just paid off last installment). I did intend to use it regularly but running has kind of taken over.
I went for my first run since my 3/4 marathon last weekend and noticed a few niggles.
After reading your post, I think I will split my sessions between the bike and running again.
Unfortunately I'm self employed or I think I would be all over that bike to work scheme 😄😄I hope your niggles disappear quickly, but it does sound like a bit of patience just now would pay dividends. Good luck and speedy recovery wishes xxx
Oh I remember that so well linda9389 , and it was brilliant that you were able to find a new passion when you couldn’t run.
I was so pleased when the physio said I could cycle after my skiing accident stopped me running in 2020. Although I didn’t take it quite to the same extent.
100K and you were first lady, that’s fantastic. Very very well done.
Ohh, and I remember your skiing accident too! I may go skiing again next year and my biggest fear will be something happening that affects my running 😍
You’re amazing! linda9389 as you know I’m not very good at cross training but I would like to commit to doing something once a week other than running 😍
I hate cross training per se too! Strength work with reps is a total turn off for me but luckily I love the riding and am increasingly enjoying long walks. I know I don't get the same benefit as I would with strength work but I do get lots of other benefits - with enjoyment top of the list 😍
Well done on cycling, it becomes slightly addictive doesn’t it. I have done some cycling, and completed an 87 mile ride
But im a nervous cyclist, as i havent fully mastered taking my hands off the bars. I can indicate, and just about scratch my nose, but reaching down to get a water bottle is beyond me - risk of heading for the hedge 🙈
A few years ago, bought a tandem with the OH (I'm on the back). We entered a local sportive and came in 1st, averaging over 25mph ( woild have been quicker but ran out of gears.) On the back suits me, as its easy to put power down, while the OH deals with steering.
Cycling is great for cross training, as its not weight bearing. (Tweaking the saddle height so you don’t have a sore ar*e is another skill youll have acquired too! 🙈)
Ohhh 87 miles is a long way - 140km!!! And first place, averaging over 25mph is amazing!!!
I am using a hydration vest I originally bought for running for the longer rides - it holds more and has none of the issues of hunting for the bottle holder to put the bottle back after a drink!!! Daydreaming is my greatest risk factor when it comes to ditches and hedges 😄
I do keep meaning to experiment with the angle of my saddle because I am not at my most comfortable at the end of 100 miles!!!
You have had an incredible time and come back all the stronger for it? My longest stretch in the IC with an injury was 12 weeks...but I was not really allowed to do any thing other than walk gently !
I just used that time to keep strong and mobile by using selected sitting or standing exercise for stamina and strength, and renewed my passion for writing and for water-colour painting, not physical, but certainly mental exercise
You certainly found a delicious recipe for those lemons... well done you!
You are right - I did come back stronger from that injury, both mentally and physically. Even now, when a run is tough I remind myself how lucky I am that I am still able to run. That is usually humbling enough to shake me at least part way out of whatever mental dip I am falling into 😊
For me running has both mental and physical rewards; I know exactly what you mean about nurturing your mental health whilst on the IC and you certainly focused on nurturing yours 🥰
what a great achievement, well done 👏 I dusted off my bike in 2019 as a challenge to get to 50k from Shake-and-run, who is a big cyclist, in exchange for her doing C25k. She’s still running but the bike has been consigned to the garage again. I just don’t find it particularly enjoyable!
Sorry to hear that Sandie 🙁. Never mind though, running is your game 😀👍🏃♀️
My OH bought me a second hand bike to help me keep fit when I got a stress fracture. I couldn’t use it for quite a while but once the healing was going well I took it for a spin.,Gawd I was a bloody disaster on it 🫣. I stuck with it but each time was awful as I was just terrible on it 😫. It was too big for me and really heavy
I’d love to try again with a lighter bike that fits me. One day ……. 😀
What a brilliant positive post Linda! I can see why you absolutely needed your bike, and why you threw all that pent up need to run into your riding. You are a winner; no surprise that you turned out to be great on bike and off!
There is a lot of great biking territory around here, but I can’t see room in my life for running and Molly walking and biking, and while ever I can, I really want to run. I think that I perceive biking as a threat to my running (Mrs BC suggested I buy one!) in terms of taking up available time and energy; that is probably completely crazy…I may need a good shrink as well as a good physio! Maybe I am just getting old 😂
I know what you mean about time! I have found that physically I do better with two days rest between runs, particularly if I'm running longer distances. Being able to ride on one of those two days definitely helps stop me running when I really shouldn't 😍
Hadn’t thought of that! I do leave two days after a hard run (eg steep hills) but I must admit that a 5k, a hill run and a long run this week was quite tiring. Maybe I will give the hills a rest until after GSR.
What a fantastic response to getting injured - and congrats on being First Lady in the 100K!
My response to being on the IC has unfortunately not been so energetic. I used to be a software developer so to take my mind off not being able to run, which happened a couple of times this year, I began learning a new programming language each time. Oddly, one thing guaranteed to make the body battery indicator on my Garmin go up is me sitting at my desk writing computer code. 😂
Haha! I can well imagine the stress coding in a new language may have caused (for my sins i have a lot of IT stuff in my past) 😍 Beating the IC is as much a mental challenge as a physical one thouhg, so that was probably a very good approach 😊
Congratulations on becoming First Lady linda9389 ! 🎊 Can't say I've got anything positive out of being injured, other than realising I don't want to give up running.
Congratulations! What an achievement😀. A real feat of endurance 💪😀👍. Extra special, and the icing in the cake, has to be being the fastest female 💪. Yahoooooooooo 🌪🔥👊✊
I hope you’re well rested by now and plotting your next adventure 🙂
I kept to my word and went out for a 20k/1 hour ride last evening. I gota bit delayed as I had to find my gear and then pump my tyres as they were a bit flat.
I enjoyed it very much but should have gone out earlier, some of the roads here are very narrow and twisty and should have really been gone on when it was brighter as I could have had a few mishaps.
One thing I didn't miss was the taste of flies 🤢🤮🤮..
I was also shocked at how little I had used the bike, only 138km since August 21 😳!
wow! I always thought of you as a cyclist and runner ever since I came onto the forums. So, it’s amazing to read.
As you may know, I have a similar story and when I reached my goal of running a weekly (and ultra slowly) 10k, I began to have some metatarsal issues.
During the 4 month IC, I started rowing. And then, with newly acquired zero-drop and wide-toe-box running shoes, I started training up my running again, keeping up my rowing.
So I I can now say:
2021 gave me a weekly 10k run
2022 gave me a weekly 10k row
2023 will hopefully mean I do both.
Now, where’s my bike … maybe I should give that a try! LOL 😂
Out of adversity .., every cloud... and all that; yes, cycling was just an accident for me 😍. I have no idea how you would fit cycling into your busy schedule though CBDB - you already do so, so much, you already achieve so much 💪
What a fab post! As a lapsed cyclist I totally understand your passion for the two wheels. There is nothing quite like pushing those wheels round on a nice clear road, challenging yourself up a hill, coasting down the other side. Katnap and myself used to cycle hundreds of miles on our mountain bikes, including 5 London to Brighton rides during the ‘90’s. Since having kids, moving to unfamiliar busy Midlands roads and Katnap’s rabdo problems, it’s taken a back saddle but it would be nice to get back to it one day. You’re lovely post is a reminder that there is life outside of running and we shouldn’t stress if an injury is limiting what we can do. Congratulations on all your wonderful achievements on your sturdy steed! 🥳👏👏👏
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