I don't know how she didn't go crazy. But today I saw on her instagram that she had gone running! I was immediately pumped! *Warning, adult language below ;o)
Any of us who have been injured and had to take time off know what a big deal a first run back is. This alone was cause for celebration.
I went out for a run this evening, planning to do some speedwork. My mileage has been pretty pathetic lately, but I'm trying not to push myself too hard yet. My knees, hips, and feet really hurt today during work, but I think it was just my muscles aching for a workout.
Archie REALLY wanted to join, but I just don't trust him to stay put during a run. He's got that mischievous "I'll fly away!" look in his eye. |
I don't follow a specific speedwork plan. I use a .3-mile loop. I do one loop at a normal warmup pace, then alternate sprinting and running every time I turn a corner. Today my sprints were in the 8:20s, which is awesome for me, and my recovery pace was in the 9:30s. I was very pleased. I had no pain at all during the run.
(I've been having pain under my toes, I think it's Morton's Neuroma, but I'm ignoring it and hoping it goes away. It doesn't hurt during a run; just during walking in normal shoes or barefoot.)
Some things I noticed today:
1. Wearing my headphones instead of just listening to my music from my iPhone speakers makes a huge difference. I felt more motivated and focused with the music pumping directly into my brain.
I wear my head phones through my shirts like this. I pull the excess wire down under my shirt so it lays against my stomach. I love Yurbuds because they NEVER twist, pull, or fall out. |
3. Doing my hip and core exercises has really helped my knee pain.
4. Seeing a bunch of runners and walkers on the loop today kept me motivated. I think I scared a couple of them by "commenting" on their Rays shirts...by "commenting" I mean "shouting at them in an uncontrolled, excited manner and then giggling maniacally."
5. A drop in heat and humidity today helped me acclimate and made a huge difference. It was still in the 80s and a little sunny, but the break in humidity allowed my sinuses to rest and helped my breathing. I know summer will be brutal, so this little relief made a huge difference.
A gorgeous evening glow. |
Do you do speedwork?
Do you prefer morning or evening runs?
What's the longest time you've had to take off from an injury, and how did you deal with it?
Happy Wednesday!
ABK
Fantastic for your friend! I was out for 10 months with plantar fasciitis. I wallowed and complained and cried most of the time, to be honest. Not a good time for me, especially since it was near the beginning of my journey, I had barely worked up to 3 miles when it happened! I just recently started doing speed work. I don't really like it as much as long relaxed runs, but I think it's valuable, so I will keep doing it! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, 10 months! Did you need injections, or did it heal on its own?
DeleteSpeedwork is definitely not as fun, I agree. But it's nice to see it pay off!
morning runs for sure! before the babe wakes. I didn't know you had a bird!!
ReplyDeleteYep, my husband and I are too travel-oriented to have anything that needs constant care, so we got a bird. The irony is that, although we can leave him alone for a few days at a time, we have trained him to be very cuddly, so now we like to take him with us!
DeleteWhat great news for your friend, and what a fabulous run!
ReplyDeleteLove speedwork. Well, sort of. I plan it in, and then as it gets closer I get scared, and throughout the whole time I wonder if I'll be able to complete it, and then I feel totally badass when I'm done. Like, for a whole day. I try to do a tempo/speedwork session once a week, with speedwork being about 1/3 of the time.
Morning, morning, morning! Though I used to love evening/nighttime runs, pre-kids.
I think the longest I've taken off for an injury has been two months, and I have hated every minute of it every time. Lots of swearing and complaining. I'm trying to be more respectful of warning signs now.
Archie is adorable!
I think if I did speedwork on a real track, I might psych myself out. Doing it "unofficially" always leaves me feeling badass too!
DeleteBeing injured has made me a lot more cautious. I try to give myself rest days even when I don't want to. I like the idea of being "respectful" to warning signs.
Oh, and I also love Yurbuds (once they started making the women's sizes - in bright orange!)
ReplyDelete