Running, resting, and injury

Orphia

I know hundreds of runners from all over the world and I can currently think of 7 runners who probably need to understand something, having been like that myself.

Anyone else learnt or learning the hard way?

mph323

<Reluctantly raises hand> I've been sidelined with a cycling injury (piriformis) for the past couple of weeks because I knew I had injured myself on a training ride and insisted on riding my event the next week. If I had paid attention and skipped that ride (which was essentially just another training ride for an event next weekend) I wouldn't be sitting out the upcoming ride, which was my end goal. Good reminder, @Orphia

RunsWithBees

I’ve had my share of tendinitis and learned the hard way that it literally takes forever to heal or at least it feels that way I can easily overdo hills and need to force myself to run flat surfaces too. Walking is a perfectly acceptable way to actively rest, even though I’d rather be running. I’ve also learned that the foam roller is my friend, no matter how much I hate it’s guts

Djproulx

Looking at my extended training group, I can probably name a similar number of runners and triathletes in this position.

I am a good example of what not to do. I'm currently "enjoying" a season off from training and racing due to a chronic achilles injury. After nursing it along for eighteen months while visiting several specialists and doing multiple rounds of PT, I finally got a dose of reality from my wife's chiropractor (who is also an ultra runner). His message was simple: " Either you decide to take an entire season off to let this injury heal and allow me to help you actually correct your posture problem, or you will face ongoing symptoms that will worsen each time and force you to quit running completely in the near future."

So I"m now limited to swimming and yoga, while my friends are in active training for the NYC triathlon in July and IronMan Mont Tremblant in August. I've had to withdraw from both races.

Best case, I'll be able to resume some light cycling this summer and return to running in the fall.

Orphia

Hugs to all who are injured.

Hate it when people who are committed to exercising can't, just as at the same time people who should exercise won't! Wish we could share our dedication with them!

spiriteagle99

I've got chronic hamstring pain. I've been dealing with it off and on for years. It made my last marathon training cycle painful the whole 18 weeks and affected my race. After the race I cut way back on my running and my hamstrings were fine on my rest days, painful on my running days. So I went to a PT who said to take a week or two off and work on stretching and strengthening. I took one week off, then started running again. Although I was able to do cross-training, I missed running. Spring is a hard time to be housebound. So I'm back to feeling pain on all my runs. I know I should probably take more time off, but resting doesn't seem to heal it, except short term. I've tried before. I'm hoping that focusing on stretches and glute work will do some good, because if not, I'll have to stop running for more than a couple of weeks, and I really don't want to do that.

dewd2

I'm sorry. I don't understand this post. What is this rest thing you talk about?

askeeney

After a challenge taken to extreme I started having IT band pain. Anything over six and I had to use KT and by mile 13 I was in pain with every step. I thought for months, I just have to work through this it will get better. Push through the pain.
I was forced to take two weeks off due to an insane work schedule and I haven’t had the pain for over 30 days now. And I ran 17 miles three weeks ago and two 10 miles back to back. I am amazed. Pushing through is not always the answer.

ABabilonia

I have been sidelined for more than a year due to a back injury. When my longest run was 6 miles, I felt a minor pinch in my back. That should have been a sign to stop and reconsider my training, but no, not me. I kept going, and by the time that my longest run was 9 miles (I went from 6 miles to 9 miles as my longest run in 3 weeks) my back was completely messed up. There were some days that I couldn't even walk. I am finally and slowly recovering. After visit to doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, etc, I am up to 4 miles now at a very slow pace (before my injury my 5K pace was 6:59 and now it is close to 12) but this time I think that I will live in the 4 mile range for a long long time. For those who suffer an injury I truly hope that you are able to recover. Running is so much fun when it is pain free...

OldAssDude

I'll get all the rest I need after I'm dead...😂😂😂

Orphia

spiriteagle99 wrote: »

I've got chronic hamstring pain. I've been dealing with it off and on for years. It made my last marathon training cycle painful the whole 18 weeks and affected my race. After the race I cut way back on my running and my hamstrings were fine on my rest days, painful on my running days. So I went to a PT who said to take a week or two off and work on stretching and strengthening. I took one week off, then started running again. Although I was able to do cross-training, I missed running. Spring is a hard time to be housebound. So I'm back to feeling pain on all my runs. I know I should probably take more time off, but resting doesn't seem to heal it, except short term. I've tried before. I'm hoping that focusing on stretches and glute work will do some good, because if not, I'll have to stop running for more than a couple of weeks, and I really don't want to do that.

Hugs, @spiriteagle99

I'm going to go there and ask if rest only helped "in the short term" because you only stopped for the short term?

We also had a long debate about the glute thing and a current one on stretching you might want to read.

I'm starting to know a list of people prescribed stretches and glute work whose injuries got progressively worse.

DX2JX2

I've since retired from running formal races because I push myself too hard but I had a case of shin splints that I didn't rest properly and turned into stress fractures. Took 8 weeks of absolutely zero running to finally get pain free after 4 weeks of thinking I'd be OK running a partial load.

A partial load was absolutely not OK. Anything more than 1 run per week and I was in agony.

Djproulx

DX2JX2 wrote: »

I've since retired from running formal races because I push myself too hard but I had a case of shin splints that I didn't rest properly and turned into stress fractures. Took 8 weeks of absolutely zero running to finally get pain free after 4 weeks of thinking I'd be OK running a partial load.

A partial load was absolutely not OK. Anything more than 1 run per week and I was in agony.

This sounds very familiar.

I think the default mindset of endurance athletes can easily lead to poor decisions around when to cut back or stop exercise. Just looking at the number of runners and triathletes who finish races in the medical tent gives a clue as to how many approach the question of continuing to perform while suffering.

We also tend to minimize the need to rest, particularly during periods when the pain is not present. In my case, I adopted a run/walk strategy in an attempt to reduce the load in order to keep running, but it just delayed the inevitable.

cwolfman13

In my early days getting back to fitness I learned the hard way. At one point I was doing Starting Strength 3x per week, training for a sprint triathlon, and racing cyclocross on the weekends with a practice session on Tuesday evenings. The load was too much and ended up sidelined for a couple months. The injury happened about 2 weeks before the triathlon, so I never got to do it.

I'm active most days of the week, but it is varied in duration and intensity and I have along the way also learned about the importance of cross training. I've had a few repetitive motion injuries over the years from overdoing things on the bike. Currently I'm only riding 2-3 days per week...mostly conversational paced rides for 45-60 minutes, swimming once or twice per week and lifting 2-3x per week and walking my dog.