Connections made.....
but this time it was in my head :)
First, tragic news!!! I was without Internet all day at work. Do you know how hard that was?? Do you have any idea how much work I got done. It was a horrendous day.
Okay, on with my post. I headed out this morning for my run and I just wasn't feeling it. My runs have been so awesome since I started back running, I figured it was time for a run that sucked. I decided to just take it easy. I figured I'd go slow and just really take it easy.
About 1/2 mile in my knee started bothering me. I know how it goes with my knee. I have to spend time in pain until the muscles surrounding the knee get strong for running, then it will stop hurting. Having no cartilage in your knee is not fun. I know what's going on and what will happen but I still had to whine in my head, when is this knee going to stop hurting, wah!!!
Not long after that I realized that my right heel was hurting. I tend to be a heel striker and really have to watch my form. I also notice that the slower I got the more I heel strike. It's the absolute worst when I'm walking fast. This triggered a memory. Before I had all these injuries I had really been working on my form, on not heel striking, quick pull-up, and staying straight. So I decided to see if I could get it back.
I focused on the lifting portion of the movement rather than the landing part. I made sure I was standing up straight and had really good form. Then focused all my energy on the pull. After a couple of minutes I noticed a couple of things. I had stopped heel striking and the pain in my heel was gone. I then noticed the pain in my knee was gone. I felt a lot lighter on feet. And I was running faster and easier. Hmmm, what was going on here???
Finally, my still sleepy brain started making the connections. When I run with good form all these good things happen. Could they be related?? After careful consideration, I decided that they were and I really need to work on my form more.
I finished my run, 2.5 miles in 31 minutes. That works out to 12:26/mile. If that's slow I'll take it, at least for now. I'm almost back to where I was 2 1/2 years ago and that really is exciting. This run did lead to a couple of decisions.
Next week I hit 3 miles. I'm going to stay there for 2-3 weeks and try to get a little faster. I figure it's time to start doing some intervals and hill repeats. Then, the week of Thanksgiving I'm going to start a 6 week 10k training program. There is a 10k on New Years Day and I want to do it in 1:05. My 10k PR is 1:08. I think I can do it.
So there you have it, the synapses in my brain are working again :)
First, tragic news!!! I was without Internet all day at work. Do you know how hard that was?? Do you have any idea how much work I got done. It was a horrendous day.
Okay, on with my post. I headed out this morning for my run and I just wasn't feeling it. My runs have been so awesome since I started back running, I figured it was time for a run that sucked. I decided to just take it easy. I figured I'd go slow and just really take it easy.
About 1/2 mile in my knee started bothering me. I know how it goes with my knee. I have to spend time in pain until the muscles surrounding the knee get strong for running, then it will stop hurting. Having no cartilage in your knee is not fun. I know what's going on and what will happen but I still had to whine in my head, when is this knee going to stop hurting, wah!!!
Not long after that I realized that my right heel was hurting. I tend to be a heel striker and really have to watch my form. I also notice that the slower I got the more I heel strike. It's the absolute worst when I'm walking fast. This triggered a memory. Before I had all these injuries I had really been working on my form, on not heel striking, quick pull-up, and staying straight. So I decided to see if I could get it back.
I focused on the lifting portion of the movement rather than the landing part. I made sure I was standing up straight and had really good form. Then focused all my energy on the pull. After a couple of minutes I noticed a couple of things. I had stopped heel striking and the pain in my heel was gone. I then noticed the pain in my knee was gone. I felt a lot lighter on feet. And I was running faster and easier. Hmmm, what was going on here???
Finally, my still sleepy brain started making the connections. When I run with good form all these good things happen. Could they be related?? After careful consideration, I decided that they were and I really need to work on my form more.
I finished my run, 2.5 miles in 31 minutes. That works out to 12:26/mile. If that's slow I'll take it, at least for now. I'm almost back to where I was 2 1/2 years ago and that really is exciting. This run did lead to a couple of decisions.
Next week I hit 3 miles. I'm going to stay there for 2-3 weeks and try to get a little faster. I figure it's time to start doing some intervals and hill repeats. Then, the week of Thanksgiving I'm going to start a 6 week 10k training program. There is a 10k on New Years Day and I want to do it in 1:05. My 10k PR is 1:08. I think I can do it.
So there you have it, the synapses in my brain are working again :)
Comments
Next, on your running form. I too figured out that all/most of my injuries were caused by bad form. I don't know when it started but it continued way too long. I eventually looked into Chi Running and can say without hesitation that that cured my bad form and has led to continued running success. Next, as to hills/speed. I learned a long time ago, and running "experts" will agree to first do distance then speed, meaning you should concentrate on building on your distance, which will increase strength and endurance. Speed will naturally occur (some), but once you are conditioned to distance, then add speed. The Marathon Challenge group never worked on speed at all, just distance. I would suggest you spend at least 3 months building your distance before attempting to work on speed. Once you break through the barrier of distance, you will see another transformation--you will actually feel like a real runner and will want to run. Trying to do hills and/or speed too soon will most certainly lead to another injury. You can always do 5ks to work on speed. I probably did a 5k every other weekend for at least 3-4 years before I actually ever did any speed intervals. You also can do pickups on the road: pick up the pace for 40 seconds, slow back down for 20, and repeat for a mile. That's really all you need to do until you run farther and longer. Sorry this was so long, but you are doing so well I hate to see you end up injured again and lose enthusiasm. Oh and another benefit of LSD running? You naturally lose weight and tone up.