"Ain't Nothin' Gonna Break-A My Stride" - Dealing with A Running Injury
Hey there running peeps. How is your week? Are you enjoying some milder temps? Are you getting ready for a spring race?
I was all ready to write a note sharing excitement about a race that I was to run this coming weekend in Myrtle Beach. There were fun plans to run with a high school buddy in an effort to kick off race season and enjoy a nice long run down memory lane.
Myrtle Beach was where I went for spring break and beach week after graduation. You know, it’s where I “cruised the strip” in the good old days. I am sure nothing much has changed in 25 years. Right?
Well, as it turns out, my spring running and racing has hit the pause button. I am going to call it my “spring reset.”
A week ago today, I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and a cracked bone spur. If you are reading this, you may have had this yourself or know someone who has had it. It is a common injury or condition and I am by no means crying the blues or feeling sorry for myself. I lost out on some race registration and will miss a few runs as the weather gets warmer and things begin to bloom here in DC.
Even though there has been a change of plan, I wanted to share a few things that have come up for me in the last week as gentle reminders.
Listen to your body. If you have a constant or nagging little pain, pay attention to it. Whether it is calf, hamstring, foot, or low back, it is important to pay attention. I sadly, waited over 4 months to get checked out. I thought I could make my pain go away on my own, but it turns out, I needed a little extra help. Just listen to your body and don’t wait so long to get checked out by a medical professional.
Keep a positive attitude. Sure this injury is bit of a bummer. I lost out on race fees and and will miss some running with friends. However, I am gaining some time and energy to work another things. I only have one more week that I can’t bike or waterjog. Looking at the big picture, I am only taking 2 weeks off (per doctors order) and it is all good. Each day, I am spending time doing other things that bring me joy. That’s not a bad thing.
Do the work. So I am in physical therapy for the next month. The reason for my plantar fasciitis is because my calf, hamstring, glutes and hips were all out of whack. Well, now I need to address those issues with physical therapy and get stronger. The funny thing is, I thought I had been doing all the right things but sometimes muscles don’t fire and other muscles overcompensate. Therefore imbalances happen. So my workouts will look a little different for now until I get stronger in the areas that need some work. This little setback is only leading to s stronger comeback.Here is to ultimately not running with pain!!!
So, over the next month, ain’t nothin’ gonna break-s my stride. :) Things may look a little different but on the other side of this, I will be ready to rock and roll. I wish all of you a good week and happy running.
Sometimes, the person telling you this may be yourself.
I am linking up with Coach Debbie , Running on Happy, Confessions of Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, Fauxrunner , Run with Pugs
