After a couple of weeks of low key running and my new found stretches, rather than run my regular 13 miles into work last Friday I thought I'd be sensible and drive within 5 miles of the office, run in and then run back to the car later. The run to work was OK'ish but the run back was painful and I finally admitted defeat and have now resigned myself to a couple of weeks rest and stretching.
It's frustrating, last summer I spent out with a busted ankle and now this! It seems like I'm falling apart!
I've not felt 100% in my running for a long time now. The last time I felt really good and strong was when I ran the London marathon back in 2012. I think the years are catching up with me. I'm starting to feel old! I think my biomechanics are useless, by back hurts, neck gets stiff and shoulder aches. I feel like I need to be put on one of those medieval stretching devices they used to torture people with. It would stretch out all my knots and aches in my body.
I need to spend this down time from running sorting my body out, don't laugh but I think I'd benefit from some Yoga! I need to rustle up the motivation and spend half an hour a day working on all these aches and pains.
I'd like to think I've still got some good years running ahead of me or maybe I peaked back in 2012. I'm a day shy of my 43rd birthday...jeez that's the first time I've seen that number written down...that's old isn't it? The trouble is the older I get the harder it seems to get over these hurdles. Rather than stretching I'd rather be enjoying a glass of Rioja watching the football! I've not lost my motivation to run, I still love it, but I only love it when things feel good. The harder it is to overcome these injuries the harder it is to enjoy pain free running.
I'll be back, this post is all about allowing myself to feel sorry for myself, but what I need to do is dust myself down, and concentrate on getting my body in some sort of order to enjoy running again.
As I'm writing this post, I've just remembered that I have my Ryan Giggs yoga video somewhere. I did a review of this on a previous post, it was actually quite good, maybe I will give that another go. Now Ryan Giggs is professional footballer (soccer for you American readers!) who has totally looked after himself and is only a couple of years younger than me and he's still playing at the highest level.
Well I'm going to enjoy my last day of being 42 and make plans to be a fitter and stronger 43 year old runner.
Sorry to hear about your new injury and good luck with the yoga. You need to stop considering yourself to be old - I'd never attribute my aches and pains to my age, nor my grey hairs and declining eyesight. You have years ahead of you (hopefully) fingers crossed it'll be another 40 or so - then you'll be old! Lecture over from an older bird ;) Oh and happy birthday for tomorrow !
ReplyDeleteThank you for the telling off Lesley :-)
DeleteOh Ian, so sorry to hear this. Hang in there, and it's ok to spend some time feeling sorry for yourself. "If you have not been in the valleys, you can not appreciate the mountain tops". Bart will be 69 on March 29. He is a former speed skater for the US. He's been a runner since he was 14 years old. Running was a huge part of their training. So he has had many ups and downs in his running life. You have to be patient. Lack of patience destroys more runners. One of our doctors believes in active recovery. Which means if you are only able to run 2 miles pain free, than only run 2 miles at a time and no more while you are working through this. Jog/walk if you have to. When Bart was 56 years old, he had the goal to qualify for the Boston Marathon, he met his goal and ran 3:05. Had he never worked through injuries and pains, and just given up, he never would have obtained his goal, or if he thought he was to old to try, he never would have done it. Anyway, I'm not sure if any of this is helpful, but we totally know and understand what your going through. It's okay. So, I'll end with a quote from my Grandmother who will be 99 in May, "all these old people drive me crazy!"
ReplyDeleteWhat a great comment, thank you Eve that's really helpful and inspirational. I like the active recovery advice and your Grandmothers quote! Happy birthday to Bart, 69 what a legend and that's inspired me to know what he achieved at 56 years old. Thank you again for all your comments on the blog, you two are my running guru's :-)
Delete:-) Happy Birthday to you! ...and many more!
ReplyDeleteGood blog, and I feel the same at times, coming 44 and just recovering from what seemed like a small heel injury that has kept me grounded since before Christmas, only now doing 2-3 mile slow runs from a 13+ long run at end of last year.
ReplyDeleteI have been given similar advice similar to active recovery, starting with little runs with a walk in between then another little run, 10min run, 2 min walk, 10 min run....seems to help.
Thanks Francis. Good luck with the recovery, I think I need to do something similar with the run walking.
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