I try to keep my mind from thinking about the half marathon I signed up to run in July while on a runner's high! I guess running is something that is directly gratifying for me - it very clearly improves my stamina & endurance and tones up my body. At every next run, I can challenge myself to running longer although I have not consciously worked on my running speed except on the treadmill 5k.
Running is addictive.
Running is liberating.
Running is joy, confidence and meditation combined.
I made some mistakes that I have paid for painfully - shin splits are NOT fun!!! Every time Chittu wanted to sit in my lap, I'd have to beg him to please be gentle, which really he does not much understand. I ran on the road to save 10 minutes of morning madness.
When I started out running initially I religiously ran ONLY in Lalbagh where I found a trail soil - i.e not tarred/ paved ways. Running on sand is much softer on the knees than running on the road. Later after I had about 3 10k events under my belt, I became an over confident missy. I started running the moment I stepped out of my apartment complex, ran past the civil court, the metro station, the MG Road artery, pretty bouganvilla lined bungalows with Porsche's parked outside their towering gates, past the cubbon park walkers and a road that made me momentarily forget I was in India. Honestly I was loving it!
And then came the shin splits that made walking a single step after a short period of sitting very painful. There was also the pain in the joint between my upper thigh and hip that made standing so psinful I was contantly thumping at that joint and that made Chittu think I was playing a game and he would thump me on my legs which were extremely painful at the calves. And finally there was also the knee pain that came as a result of continuing to run with injury.
And now here I am obviously under a lot of guilt that I am under- prepared for the event less than 2 months away, that I was irresponsible despite the Scientist's repeated warnings and that I might not be able to do the run. Anyway, i guess I'll go back to running 2-3 times a week and alternate with cross training like the elliptical/ bking on the recumbent bike.
Everything happens for the good they say! Is it not?
I think you should check out the IT band syndrome which many runners seem to have. I am not sure it really applies to you, but just deducing it from the description of the pain that you gave. Don't mean to scare you, but I think it is worth looking at.
ReplyDeleteSugar, I agree with PK, the IT band syndrome might be just like this, there is also a stretch exercise for relaxing the IT band... I will send you the link.
DeleteI think you should just start running 2- 3 times a week and make the decision of quitting or running after checking your performance. If you dont feel confident dont do the race. This way you are back on track for your overall goal even if you dint make it to the race.
ReplyDelete:)