When my Bath HM bib number arrived on the doormat several few weeks ago. I picked it up and put it through a shredder without even looking at it 😥
The Bath HM is my nemesis. I’ve lost count but I think this might have been my fifth or sixth attempt to get to the start line. I’ve done several other HMs but this particular one eludes me. I got to week 4 of a HM training plan for this one and then had to ditch it because of an injured hip 🤬
But my DNS yet again has given me some pause for thought about my running and why I keep getting injured. I seem to have lurched from injury to injury since February 2022 when I hurt my back. It took ages to heal, then I had shin problems and the last hiccup, a hip issue. Grrrrr, I’m so frustrated.
Some of these injuries were my own fault and not necessarily running related. For example, I overdid an exercise that aggravated my hip, I ran long runs in shoes that needed replaced, I overdid it in the garden….. you get the gist.
But my recent hiatus got me also thinking that perhaps there’s something going on with my orthotics. Over the years I’ve been running I seem to have had an awful lot of niggles, pains and injuries. I’ve kept notes of each and every run I’ve ever done(yes I know 🙄) and there are loads of “right knee a bit sore afterwards, left ITB achey”, blah blah. I do all the right things and cross-train and do strength exercises but I seem to get injured very easily. Could it be the orthotics?
I’ve been wearing orthotics for seven years now and see my podiatrist every year for a check and adjustment. He is a big supporter of my running and is always very encouraging and, with his expertise, helped me achieve my first HM.
However. His offices are a fair bit away and so I can’t see him regularly. It is also hard to get an appointment for those “help” moments when something doesn’t feel right. I had to wait weeks for my last appointment and I was becoming increasingly frustrated with my shin problem and so I ……..*whisper* saw another podiatrist 🙀
This new guy is a sports podiatrist and comes recommended. He’s local to me too which would make a big difference. And he’s a runner! He seemed very professional and knowledgable. But here’s the thing. He gave me different feedback from my usual podiatrist. Two professionals with different approaches and different solutions. What should I do? For example, my first chap tells me that I have slightly flat feet. The second chap tells me I don’t have flat feet at all and that I don’t need so much support. The orthotics look very different. What do you do? Who do you go with?
When I started to recover from my hip injury and needed to ease back into running I thought it was a perfect time to try out the new orthotics. With my injury history I felt I had nothing to lose. So, with the guidance of my new podiatrist I started with 1 minute run/1 minute walk intervals and have built up from there. It seemed I was starting again with C25K!
I had double anxiety on every run because of the hip as well as the new orthotics. Will they be ok? Will they make things worse? I can’t say the runs were relaxing and I felt anxious throughout, but the longer I didn’t have any after affects from each run then the more confident I grew and the anxiety eventually disappeared.
On Tuesday I did a 30 minute continuous run. Whoop whoop! This was the longest continuous run I’d done since August and it felt fab 🤗 Today I did it again. Oops!
It’s a very slow comeback but I’m in no hurry. In a way, it’s like starting from the very beginning and I have everything crossed that these new orthotics will make a difference. To be honest there is still a little frustration. Earlier this week my husband and I drove along one of my long run routes. I sighed and said how much I missed the long runs. As my most faithful supporter, he replied, “you’ll get there”.
And you know what? He’s right. I will.
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Irishprincess
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Very interesting IP. It sounds like a fresh face was a good idea. Sometimes it’s good to have a 2nd opinion. It’s funny how I’m told I need support shoes and yet when I walk in wet feet my footprints show good arches. Maybe it’s due to the running gait being slightly different.
Good luck with the new orthotics and your reintroduction to running. We will be rooting for you.
You’re right Dexy, I guess our gait is different when we run. It is weird that I can walk miles in ordinary shoes without orthotics and have no aches or niggles at all! But both podiatrists have at least confirmed that I do need some kind of orthotics.
So great to read that you are making progress IP! Interesting about the orthotics as I also moved to less support a couple of years ago and felt much more comfortable after my runs.
As for me, I still feel as though I am predominantly on the injury couch - although I am technically allowed to run, I am still having issues with my upper hamstring.😖 We think it’s a tendinopathy now causing the problem (following on from a small tear I have recovered from🤞) but my physio has referred me for a scan to have a closer look.
I had worked up to 30 minute runs but because there were still issues I have just taken a couple of weeks off and will venture forth again at the weekend with a little run- walk. It is so frustrating but like you, I will get there - and can’t wait to get back to my long runs…eventually! 🤞🙂
You have been on the old IC for a long time Sandra but it looked as if you had put that behind you so I’m sorry you are still having problems.
My hip issue is tendinopathy and it’s probably been the longest to heal injury I’ve ever had! Recovering from tendinopathy can be tricky because we should exercise and strengthen the area but not do too much to aggravate things so it’s a fine balance. You’ve probably been told the same thing.
Fingers crossed the scan shows nothing and let’s look forward to our long runs again 🤞x
First; so great to read that you are back out there running IP; I know, I know 🤞🤞🤞🤞☘️! I miss your stories 🙂
Tricky things arches. They can move up and down!!
I have been told that I have high arches and that orthotics are not for me. So when another physio said that my injured foot was quite flat, an alarm bell rang! I managed to see my regular physio and she said that something must have happened to make the arch flatten out, and sure enough she found damage to a tendon which runs under the inside of the ankle bone. A few exercises and bits of sticky tape later, I was out running again…arch restored. It is annoying that something quite minor can keep us IC for a ridiculous length of time.
That’s interesting about your arches BC. I had no idea they could move up or down!
To be honest I was surprised when my first podiatrist told me I had flat feet because I had already done the “wet footprint~” test and it showed that I didn’t. But who am I to argue with a professional!
Anyway, time will tell. I know I need to take things very slowly which can be frustrating but you know all about that too!
The one advantage of having lots of injuries is that you learn a little bit as you go along! I could have saved myself a few weeks of messing about if I had had the confidence to say “my arch doesn’t usually look like that, so we need to fix that problem” ..which is what my super physio said straight away when I eventually saw her. My wet footprint test shows a heel then a big gap before the pad in front of the toes.
Yes you're right about learning so much about our bodies as we go along. Before running I had no idea where these muscles were in my body and I had never heard of many of them before.
You clearly have a great physio BC. Don’t let her move away!
I would not be running now without her help. It’s funny how the injuries spread up your legs as you progress. Hamstrings and quads were ok until I tried to run faster!!
Correct orthotics make a huge difference. I've had knee pain, nothing awful just an ache and there, both knees since my 30's, I saw an authorised guy in 2019 soon after starting running and after about 3 days suddenly realised my knees no longer hurt! It was magic, straighten the feet, straightens the knees, straightens the hips and so on, my shoulders and back no longer hurt too. I have 2 pairs now, the old ones are still good for every day wear and the newer ones live in whichever pair of shoes I run in 😁.Here's hoping your new ones continue to keep your niggles and injuries away. And yes.....you will get back to longer runs
That’s such a great story Sue. It makes sense that if our feet are not right then everything else struggles.
I don't need orthotics for everyday wear, only in my running shoes and the weird thing is I can walk for miles in ordinary shoes with zero aches! In the summer I walked a very long way in sparkly sandals (not intentional and it’s a long story 🙄 😂)
That's fantastic! A fresh pair of eyes to look at you, and a whole new you emerges! Whoop-whoop! Its great to hear!Enjoy a whole new running journey full if new injury free experiences. A PB beckons, and I won't mention the "B" HM, but next year...That medal round your neck 🥳🎊🎊
That’s what I keep thinking of Teresa. A race (haven't done one for soooo long) and crossing the finish line and then some lovely bling around my neck 🤗 Happy days indeed 🥰
I too have no doubt you will return IP 💪 I have an ankle middle that has reared its ugly he’s after a year or so and I’m seeing a podiatrist/chiropractor this morning. It’s a very deep intermittent pain somewhere in the subtalus area. I stupidly went back to the track on Tuesday for a session with the club as the pain had stopped after two weeks of rest but next morning I could feel it again. I do hope something can be done as I’m missing vital track training at an important point in the schedule.
Anyway that’s more than enough about me. I’m so glad to read that you’re well on the way back to your long runs and who knows maybe that elusive Bath HM might be a reality next year! Good luck 👍
Oh Brian, I’m sorry to read that about your ankle. You must be so frustrated. I’m not training for anything so can only imagine how you feel about missing some sessions.
Good luck with the podiatrist. They can work magic and here’s hoping that’ll happen in your case 🤞🍀 Let us know how you get on.
Thank you IP I’ll keep you posted here. I think I’ll just need to rest it more tbh. At least I have the gym to fall back on and I’ve started reformer Pilates so that will help too. I have my third session this afternoon which I’m looking forward to.
Oh I really hope the new approach can get you sorted and you can finally get to your Bath HM. Very frustrating for you but sounds to me like things are looking up,certainly worthwhile sticking with the new podiatrist I think . 🤔 crossing my fingers all improves,30 mins is great so onwards and upwards eh 😘xxx 🏃♀️💪🤞
I've managed 2 x 3 miles and 1 x5 miles this week, a better week than recently and got my fastest parkrun in a while yesterday, so getting there I think !! Xxx 😘
So frustrating for you, all those attempts to do Bath HM - it made me feel quite sad thinking of you putting your bib through the shredder!Sounds like you are making good progress though...there's always next year! 😉
I have also had my fair share of the IC, but am carefully building up the kms. I'm adding in some jeffing on my long runs, and trying to improve my cadence, which is supposed to help prevent injuries. I have had a return of achilles tendinopathy on the back of my left heel, but the faster cadence seems to be helping it more than the exercises the doc prescribed.
Good luck with building the distance back up, sounds like you have got this! 💪
The first Bath bib I received I kept for ages but put it away in a cupboard and was so upset I couldn’t even look at it for years! Since then I’ve grown a thicker skin about not being able to do a race 😂
Good luck with your running and recovery too, it sounds as if you’re managing very well 👍
Your husband is right IP, you will get there. Baby steps maybe, but so far so good and maybe you’ve uncovered the root cause with that new podiatrist. I really hope so - and as for the Bath Half, it’s going nowhere so one of these years you’ll find yourself on the start line wearing a bib; not shredding it. ❤️
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A change of focus and rethink of goals...... possibly a HM 😁