After six weeks of no running, I finally began to work some running into my walks (4 minutes of walking / 1 minute of running). This went well and the next week I upped it to two minutes. This also went well but then on that Friday after the walk/run I felt that familiar stinging/burning sensation in my leg. The feeling hung around for a couple hours and bummed me out. I didn't run for a few days and when I picked it back up it seemed alright. I took a little extra time to get to up to three minutes of running and I seemed to be back on track. But for the last couple days I've felt that same stinging sensation on and off. It's not particularly painful or debilitating but it's there and that worries me. I've done some reading and it may just been residual sensations as the bone repairs itself. Or maybe it's not. It's hard to say. I've been going back through Jim Johnson's blog for inspiration as he was dealing with something similar last year. After posting this I'll probably go out for a short trail run to see how it goes.
My planking has sort of shit the bed as I got derailed by a vacation week and then a work-from-home week where I took care of Amanda who's recovering from shoulder surgery. Last week some weird neck/back pain has cropped up out of nowhere so that's been another annoyance to deal with. But I'm working towards getting back into the planking regimen as it's good exercise.
In other news I got to watch Ezri run at the Clamdigger 5k. She had previously run a 5k last year at Ninigret in 40 minutes. Since then she's being doing the running club twice a week before school so I knew she'd be faster. But she ran a 30:43 which blew me away! She finished third in her age group (1-13) which is pretty good considering she's seven! I was a very proud papa - she ran the race by herself and I only got to cheer from the sidelines. Sub 10 minute miles!
I also worked the aid station at the Big River 1/2 Marathon. I was pretty disappointed to miss this race as it's one of my favorites but I was glad to help out. I really enjoyed seeing everyone come through and I ended having a really good time. Definitely something I'd like to do again at for future races.
So that's where I'm at. Hopefully my leg is on the rebound and these sensations I'm feeling are a normal part of the healing process. I feel like I did my due diligence by taking six weeks off and then ramping it up very slowly so if I have to take another long hiatus I won't be thrilled. I was hopeful to be back to full strength for the Beaver race and the Blessing. Time will tell. These are minor setbacks in the big scheme of things so I'm going to try to focus on the positive and enjoy whatever adventures come my way.
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yep..the fact that you still have that sensation or any sensation of any kind...burning, tingling, etc.... it can be worrying for sure but it's definitely part of the process. Any time (even now a year later) I have any sensation in that area it freaks me out a bit...but you get over it soon enough and things return to normal psychologically. But every once in a while I feel something in that fracture site and it definitely weighs on my mind a bit...but it's part of the healing process as you said. The more you run through that or similar dull aches or sensations, and it doesn't get that bad, the more you start to get used to it. When it gets serious enough, you'll know (or so I've been told)... Otherwise you just listen to your body and you'll know if it's good enough to go or not... I've read all about 'phantom pain' and uncomfortable sensations many many years later...one guy I talked to said he had a stress fracture in 1982 and STILL has dull pain and weird feelings in the area to this day when he runs... Take it easy, listen to the body and don't rush anything...it's hard not to I know, but it's crucial...otherwise you'll be out a lot longer.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments Jim. Makes me feel like things are moving in the right direction.
DeleteGlad you are back! Hopefully your slow come back won't make you bonkers and will ensure you are running well into your twilight years.
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