Dear Diary,
I was injured for a long time, so I went to physical therapy. It was good. I learned stuff.
Then, 8 weeks and 7 sessions later, I had learned stuff but not really healed at all.
Then I noticed that my credit card was maxxed out from charging the physical therapy visits.
So I decided to stop going.
Then, last Saturday, I decided to run in spite of my injury.
This is how it made me feel:
Cinnamon showing New York City how G*dd*mn good it feels to run again!
Saturday, 9/22 – 4 miles of cavorting with the Hash
Sunday, 9/23 – rested, nervous about yesterday’s 4 miles
Monday 9/24 – took a slow 2 mile jog (about 11:00 pace)
Tuesday 9/25 – rested
Wednesday 9/26 – 5 miles with the hash (too fast-my knee hurt)
Thursday, 9/27 – Worked, no running
Friday 9/28 – Sick! Ran anyway, 3 miles 10:00 pace
Saturday 9/29 – 6.77 miles at about 10:30 pace
Sunday 9/30 – 1.5 miles 10:00 pace
The main difference? I had changed my form to run more forward, on my toes. On the advice of my Physical Therapist I’m now back to running with the stride that came naturally to me, further back on my midfoot.
The PT never told me to start running again, but I feel that my mental health is at an impasse and will decline rapidly if I don’t. I also think I’m at a place in my therapy where I’ve worked out almost all the tightness in my quads and ITB, which my PT said were the main contributors to the problem. This new/old foot strike pattern is also definitely one of the big keys here, and as long as I remember to relax and strike back farther the knee pain stops altogether.
What do you think? Is this a bad idea?
Yay – glad you are back at it! Surprisingly, what I noticed from that photo, however, is that you are running in performance shoes (aka racing flats for non-neutral runners). I am willing to put money on the fact that if you invest in more supportive shoes, your knees will thank you for it.
Mint recently posted..Breaking News!
Those are Mizuno Elixirs – a light weight stability trainer, not flats :)
Love that photo! It took me about a year to run more mid-foot versus really bad heel striking but it definitely has produced less injuries and feels more efficient.
Congrats on being back on the roads!
Sassafras recently posted..Sassafras’s Training Log – 9.30.12
That photo is epic! I bet if you ease back into things and behave that you will be ok. Fingers crossed!!!
Salty recently posted..Salty’s Training Log – 9.30.12