I caught it

I caught it. Yep, that weird achy pain was something after all called perennial tendonitis. I'm not going to get all dramatic on you and tell you all the dets (yet) but since the marathon I have tried to stay off of it as much as possible.



(Source)



Let me tell you it sucks not running.
I knew it was a release but I never knew how big of a stress release it was until I couldn't do it! Now, my podiatrist said I could run but it had to be less then half marathon distance with an emphasis on not pushing it. Since I don't want to inflame anything anymore I rather stay off of it and I have been exploring other realms of fitness.

I tried the elliptical and biking but my perennial tendon was still being used so that didn't work. I did some weights (which I love-after a good run) but my heart rate wasn't elevating. So I decided to swim... When I asked my doctor what to do in the interim he suggested swimming. Of course I scoffed at him as all the pools are closed. Luckily, the Bird pointed out an aquatic center near by that I was oblivious to.

So after work we headed to pool. I was kinda intimidated at first. There were about 14 lanes and all but two were occupied by swim teams. Well, the Bird and I grabbed some noodles and spent the next hour and a half in the midst of teenage swimming angst while "running in water" from one end of the pool to the next. I might have been splashed and almost kicked more then once but whatever I was getting my workout on. Actually I had to really focus on my core to "run" because I kept tipping over.

Although my heart rate didn't go up like it does for a run I felt great. I was starving after the swim and felt so, so relaxed. It was a really cool change up. The next day my quads hurt. I wasn't expecting that but I am happy to know something was defiantly getting worked on. So until my next appointment to the podiatrist you'll catch me in the pool amongst hundreds of kids getting my jog on.

Rock on.

What do you do in the face of injury?
How have you adjusted your normal routine due to an injury?

To Run or Not To Run. That Is the Question.

I have been pretty pumped about the Atlanta Marathon for the past month. I figured out my weaknesses during training and I felt strong as ever. Problem is two weeks ago on a casual run my ankle started hurting. I stayed off of it for a week but a slight lingering pain remained. The next week I went on an easy 10 miler and the pain came back. So much that two days later I went to the doctor.

Honestly, I was horrified. The thought of not being able to race made my stomach flip. And...the thought of injuring myself for months wasn't any better. I thought I would get answers from my doctor but he was a dud. He took an x-ray and saw nothing (AMEN) but he couldn't tell if there was a stress fracture or the like (which I get). But he had no advise. I flat out asked him if I could run in 6 days. His reply, "I would just rest." I asked again, I wanted a solid answer -can I run or will I injure myself more? He again encouraged resting and said to stretch. When I asked what type of stretches to do he goes, "oh, I don't know I'll have to look on the computer." At that point, I said screw it! The man doesn't know what he's doing.

I took things into my own hands. I stayed off my feet the entire week. Literally, no night time walks, I got to work early to park close to my building. I wore an ace bandage, compression socks and I iced at lunch and bedtime. I did everything I possibly could to try and heal myself.





















The night before my race my ankle looked fine. No bruising, no swelling (there never was) just pain after I jogged those two times followed by a lingering pain.

I tossed and turned with the idea of running the race the day before. Maybe my ankle was injured, or maybe it was healed. Not knowing killed me. I decided I would try the race but promised myself the moment I felt pain I would take the DNF bus (trust me, this was not an easy promise to make with myself.)

I went into marathon number 2 as strong and prepared as ever but completely unaware if my ankle would betray me.

As I neared the start line the lingering question remained, to run or not to run?

Have you been in a similar situation? What did you do?

Marathon Training Part II

 

The day after my ten mile run my inner thighs hurt as well as my right knee.
Trust me, I've ran where everything hurts. But this was new, only my inner thighs?
 So I looked it up.

 

image 1.

The pain was right where the "vasus medialis" is. Now, I have no idea what this is or what it does so I goggled.

Cause Google knows everything...

 

According to Livestorng:

The vastus medialis muscle is one of four quadriceps muscles. It is located on the inner part of the front of the thigh. It attaches to the medial aspect of the femur and runs along the inner front down to the base of the patella, or kneecap, via the quadriceps tendon and by the patellar tendon onto the tibal tuberosity. The lowest part of the vastus medialis, called the vastus medialis oblique (VMO), achieves its maximum contraction during full extension

The vastus medialis works along with the vastus lateralis to stabilize the kneecap. The VMO helps to keep the kneecap in its grove, which is located on the lower part of the femur, by pulling it inwards. The vastus medialis muscle, along with the other quadriceps muscles, also extends the leg at the knee to a straightened position.

Hmm, inner thigh and knee pain. Sounds like I'm in the right direction.

 

Per Cross Fit Survival

Weakness in the Vastus Medialis muscle is thought to contribute to chronic knee pain, or “runners knee”.

Ok, so I do think I found the culprit.

Here is one exercises I am going to incorporate with my shin exercises to see if it helps out.

via Livestrong

Basic VMO Exercise

Before performing advanced VMO exercises, specialists on the Sports Injury Clinic website suggest checking to see if the muscle group is functioning properly. Sit with your legs extended in front of you, with a towel placed under the back of one knee. Start with the knee slightly bent. Place your fingers on your VMO, and press down against the towel to extend your leg. If the muscle is activating correctly, you will feel it contract under your fingers. If you don't feel the VMO contract, it may not be strong enough for weight-bearing exercise. This sometimes happens after anterior cruciate ligament surgery. Continue practicing the towel pressing exercise until the muscle gains strength. Perform 20 repetitions every day.

 

"How often do you get aches and pains from running?"
"Do you shake them off or do you look for ways to fix the problem?"

Shin Pain

So I don't have shin splints, yet but the muscles around my shins constantly hurt after a run. I have taken precautionary measures in attempts to alleviate these pains such as doing these nightly streches:

Link here

The heel drop:

Link here

I've invested and wear compression socks and sleeves

 I ice after every run. But no mater what I do I still have terrible muscle pains around my shins. My shoes have been professionally fitted (I was there for well over an hour discussing every every shoe option). Now the above do help but damn, last nights run was brutal. I woke up and I swear I feel like my shins are giving birth.  Not that I know what giving birth is like. But they feel fine then a wave of a pain comes and it literally makes me want to drop to the ground  and wrap my arms around my poor shins then crawl around whining  until the pain goes away. Ugh, sucks. I need to do more reading because this pain, well its unacceptable. I want to enjoy my runs injury free and not OD on ibuprofen...

Any thoughts out there?