2 weeks ago I was starting out for a nice 8 miler on a Saturday with a friend. About 1/2 mile in I started having pain on the outside of my knee, I stopped and walked for a block, it went away. We started back up and within a block I couldn't RUN ANOTHER STEP.
Turns out it was my Iliotibial Band (ITB) and I had missed the precursor signs of hip and gluteal pain...which I thought were just average aches and pains as I had started p90x and all the strength training that goes along with it.
So what to do when you literally CAN'T run??
1- Go Crazy...everyone in my house and office is feeling the effects of me not running. REALLY!
2-Enjoy it...when you get over the pouting (which took the better part of a week) and realize there is nothing you can do about it, find something you can do. I was given the suggestions of pool running, massage, and yoga. I enjoyed every second of that massage AND booking one in just another week to "be sure we work all the kinks out".
3-Find a new love...OK so its true if you really LOVE running, nothing will ever replace it. I have found however that I really like Bikram Yoga. Its a great way to cross train, burns a TON of calories (almost 1,000) , and its warm. So even next year I think it will be a very nice compliment to my winter running. It also offers the added bonus of stretching muscles that I thought were locked up (ahem...hamstrings are you there?!)
4-Be thankful...for all the runs you did do. It has made me look back on the last few years and realize what a BIG part of my life running has become. I miss it...I miss my running buddies, but I know I will get back to it and them. I am also thankful that for me this injury had near perfect timing...just before a blizzard.
So if you can't run...don't get down. Get some good medical care and rest that injury. You will be back out there before you know it. And maybe like me, you will find something else you love...Like Bikram. (more on that next week!)
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