IMFL happened. I followed coach's guide to recovery. I started building back up for Dopey. That thing that sounded like a good idea in April: run 4 races in 4 days for a total of 48.6 miles. Don't get me wrong, it's gonna be fun! But I'm putting it in writing: I'M NOT DOING IT NEXT YEAR.
This is my first event I'm doing coach-less (in 2 years). Kind of. I worked with coach last year for this event and I pretty much copied the previous year's workouts.
But this year, something went wrong.
16 days till the first event.
It started a bit ago, my calves were tight. Hell, they are always tight. Then the consecutive days of running began. I haven't run 2 days in a row since I trained for Dopey last year. Actually, the last time I ran 2 days in a row was at Dopey. My calves and my arches have been bothering me.
Saturday I participated in a clinic conducted by AVC Endurance on running drills. I didn't think anything of it and went through the clinic without issue. Well, I mean the coach told me multiple times to slow down, but no major pain issues. If you are interested in seeing some of the drills broken down. Check out the highlights they put together.
After the clinic I went on to complete a double digit run. Part of it I ran with Smitha the not so "Faux Runner".
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| Donuts for a job well done! |
Sunday I rolled out of bed and could barely walk. I do think some of it was from the drills, but you know that 'achy feeling you get after a good workout of muscles you haven't used in a while' feeling. I wasn't sure how I was going to complete my 18 mile run but I really suck at quitting aka: I'm stubborn and not very bright. I met up with Sarah and Stephanie and knocked out 10 with minimal whining. After discussing the run from Saturday we all concurred that I didn't really need 18, 15 would be fine.
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| Best running friends! |
Sarah and Stephanie headed off to their commitments and I finished my run. I decided to check out a "new to me" route. Blah blah blah... 17.4 total on Sunday.
I texted one of my favorite massage therapists and she told me she had an opening Monday after work. Book it! Something huge is up with my legs and this 'thing' cannot become an injury.
I tried to heal myself with latkes (the first and only latkes I have eaten this Chanukah). A nice night with the family Sunday. And despite my best efforts, I didn't even manage more than a 1st degree burn playing with hot oil.
Monday morning was our last iAthlete Yoga session at Inspire Yoga. Lots of attempts to not do an impersonation of the Tin Man. I'm not sure I succeeded.Work, then massage time. Renee (my go to) worked on my calves and my feet for an hour if not more. Consensus: My calves are in pretty rough shape but not emitting heat (that's a good thing) and my plantar fasciitis is trying to make a reappearance after not having issues for 9 years. Renee isn't just a massage therapist, she too is an endurance athlete/Ironman/crazy in her own way athlete. We talked about what I wanted to do this week between Thursday and Sunday: 3.1, 6.2, 10 and 20 mile runs. The first one I was going to try was 20 miles on Thursday. General consensus...this is a bad idea.
How am I going to keep this nagging issue from becoming an injury? I'm going to try and not be stupid and stubborn. I have gotten some great runs completed and Dopey is all about fun with friends, pictures and medals. I cannot risk injury right now. I have plans for my legs. Lacrosse season starts in February and IM Louisville is less than 10 months away!
I going to kick up my swimming. Already on the schedule was a swim today. I've been checking out the masters swim at Agnes Scott College run by Blue Iron Coaching. Today was just as good as the others and I even got a compliment while doing my drills!
Wednesday was already scheduled as a rest day. Thursday may now be a bike trainer day and I may try running on Friday, but only if I'm pain free. 16 days to race. I have a greater risk of doing damage than reaping benefits from running on pained legs.
And of course there's this:
My new mantra:
And if you celebrate:
Merry Christmas!!!!
LOL. I wear compression tights to work, keep a water bottle in the freezer and have a trigger ball under my desk. No more plantar fasciitis. And when I am really motivated I go to the office gym and foam roll between meetings :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm not the only one!
ReplyDeleteThe good thing about massage therapy is that you are providing relief in a natural way. I think it's much better to have your own massage therapist, who understands your injury and knows the way of your body. Anyway, that’s a nice post, Shawna! I hope everything works out well for you. All the best!
ReplyDeleteEmmett Fletcher @ CK Physio