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June 13, 2006
Frustrated
Before I launch into a frustrating account of the past week, I want to thank everyone who has commented on my blog, and everyone who continues to read it in spite of my inconsistency in posting and my inactivity. I am leap years behind in my blog reading, but I plan to catch up this week (I am anxious to read about how things are going for Dawn, Paige, Beth, Alison, Carrie, Amanda, Blondie, Barb . . . and so many more!).
So I have been wallowing in a pool of frustration lately. I have also been getting extremely lazy on the rehab front. While I understand that icing, drugs (anti-inflammatories), massage, etc. are all necessary in order for my ITB and hamstring to heal, I have been slacking. I seem to find a million excuses not to ice, or I simply forget. I don't like drugs (D.A.R.E. was useful for at least one proud graduate). I don't have time for a massage and I HATE - with a capital "H" - using the stick and foam roller. The speed bumps in my right leg are fairly amazing and they are the recent bane of my painful existence - they need the foam roller on a daily basis. Okay, so I am being totally dramatic!
I miss running and racing right now, and I know I need to get myself motivated to do all of the above things in order to get myself back out there. Every day is valuable rehab time and doing nothing will not relieve this injury/injuries. Of course, "testing" my leg 3-4 times/week with 1 - 1.5 mile runs is NOT helping, and I am publicly vowing to quit testing my leg for at least the next 5-10 days.
I am cross training, but I have not been as consistent as I think I should be - except for the past 2 days. I was a super star in the gym . . . some might even say that I looked like an "after school special" on TV with my compulsion to move from the elliptical to the stepmill (this thing ROCKS) to the bike. I performed my homemade 77-80 minute cross-training circuit with vigor and excitement, which, I must admit, could become quite addictive. Once I start running again, I plan to incorporate more cross training (maybe run 5-6 days/week and cross train the other two). My body seems to respond really well to cross training (all of my 5K and 10K and marathon PRs have come after months of cross training with only 6-8 weeks of real running thrown into the mix).
I am rambling and mumbling . . . I will try to update more often. Since I am finally getting into a cross-training regimen, I mise well write about it :) I can also blog about the fascinating things that occur off the roads and inside the gym . . .
Happy running to all!
Posted by bridget at June 13, 2006 7:50 PM
Comments
Bridget it is good to hear from you. I know that you probably already have this but these stretching excercise were the only source I used to get me back on track. They are from running times online health and injury section:
http://runningtimes.com/rt/articles/?id=6099&c=6
You're right girl, those machinces can be addictive!!! keep it up.:)
Posted by: Dawb at June 13, 2006 9:32 PM
I can relate to your frustration. I had an ITband issue that lasted for almost 2 years. It turned out that the source of my ITB pain was my hip flexors. Now that I'm doing exercises that focus on my hips the ITB pain has FINALLY gone away. Check into it! Good luck on cross training and make sure you take care of that ITB - I know it sucks, but it will be worth it when it's better! :)
Posted by: Annette at June 13, 2006 10:59 PM
i'm so happy you've broken your silence! good for you for getting back into the gym when i'm sure all you want to do is get out on the roads. i'm going to hold you to your "no-testing" word.
way to go!
Posted by: carrie at June 14, 2006 8:46 AM
Bridget, hang in there. Looks like Annette has realistic experience both in terms of orders of magnitude of the problem (2 years) and for having found a positive solution.
If you relax about it you will find a solution relatively quickly. 20 web-less years ago, when I was frustrated and discouraged with chondramalacia, there was nothing of the literature and background there is today. No availability. No exchange. But all the knowledge and help in the real (and virtual) world, will be of little use if you don't practice a little patience and self-loving discipline :) All the best, corrado.
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at June 14, 2006 10:58 AM
I know when you are frustrated "hang in there" is the last thing you want to hear - but it's about the best advice I have! Try and stay positive!
I had a very troublesome ITB that took a while to get better but it responded best to stretching, icing, self-massage. Foam roll that thing into submission! Good luck!
Posted by: Beth at June 14, 2006 4:25 PM
Yeah, I can't say enough about the foam roller. It cured my only IT band injury almost immediately and it has prevented any and all ITB trouble since then. I'm surprised you don't like it, because I actually look forward to it because it feels good to make the pain go away (even if it requires adding a little extra pain first). It's not like you need to do it for a long time, just a few rolls on each side...
I think that no matter what you do right now (whether you foam roll as much as you should or not) you will eventually get healthy and this will all just be a minor blip in your running career. I had to take two years off, and I eventually came back with more motivation than I could ever possibly need and broke all of my PRs. You're going to be fine. Crosstrain all you want, and enjoy it as much as possible, but don't be too hard on yourself for any of this (other than maybe the "testing" of your leg, which probably isn't a good idea - I lectured Becky on this yesterday...).
I think I might get struck by lightning for saying this, but I actually prefer crosstraining to running right now.
Posted by: Alison at June 15, 2006 9:42 AM
Bridget -
Not too sure how bullriding would fit into your cross-training, but that's about as exciting as it gets in Idaho - was here for work this week. I think the best solution for your frustration is to come to Seattle and visit your twin sister!! I miss you!!!! You can climb Mt. Rainier with me...that's a work out. Love you =)
Posted by: Twin Sister at June 16, 2006 5:19 PM
Bridget just stoping by to say hello
Posted by: Dawb at June 23, 2006 6:17 PM