The need for Patience

So injury time finally hit after 8 weeks of training. I ended the first week of March with a total mileage if 24 miles, completing the week with a 10-11 mile run in snow showers. Afterward, my hip was a little sore but I thought it would be okay. With plans to snowshoe in the mountains the following Monday, I did what I have never done throughout the training and that is to run on my rest day following my long run of the week.

That Sunday evening it was so nice out that it was a great opportunity to get out for a run. Further, with my snowshoe plans on Monday, it was very unlikely that I was going to be able to get in my run for that day. Therefore, I went out for about a 50 minute run one hour before dark. The run went great and my hip did not seem to bother me too badly. However, I had an uncomfortable pain on my inside ankle and arch of my left foot. At first I thought it may have been my newer trail running shoes that I received for Christmas. It was strange because I had not felt it before when I wore them. I must have kicked my inside ankle on the 10 mile run the morning prior but did not notice it until the next day (I actually get many bruises, scrapes, and injuries and then have no recollection of how they happened).Thus, I just beared through it determined to get in this run. I do not like giving up.

My foot continued to bother me but I tried to shut it out and just deal with it. My hip waw OK, but afterward when I drove home and went to get out of my truck ,I screamed out in pain as a sharp pain jabbed my hip suddenly. I was also pretty sore walking around the house that evening but still managed to go snowshoeing on Monday.

It was clear that I sustained some running injuries and that I needed some time off from running. Every good athlete knows how important recovery is and the need for patience in order to heal. This can be tough because you can be pretty close to an event and be tempted to overdo it, resume training when not ready, or even push yourself to not rest adequately. Worries about missed training sessions and not be adequately prepared creep into the mindset. However, not having the patience to allocate time to heal can cause poor performance and even prevent one from being able to participate. So as difficult as it was, I decided to take 6 days off from running.

Instead, I did lower impact activities such as walking, snowshoeing, stair climbing, and keeping up with my weight lifting. My foot/ankle problem seems to have resolved as I had no pain in my running shoes Sunday and backpacking boots for snowshoeing yesterday. However, after a 10 mile run in the wind yesterday, my hip was pretty painful again.

Yesterday morning I was pretty sore but the snowshoeing was a mild enough activity (with lots of soft powder) that it kind of gave me a rest. Today the hip is not as sore and I feel like I may be able to do a short run. This week was planned as a kind of rest week anyhow as I am resting up for the Big Climb of the Columbia Tower on Sunday (1311 steps-69 floors that I plan to race up).

So over the next 4 days I plan to keep at light 3 mile runs if possible and a rest day on Saturday. When I started the half marathon training, I began early knowing that I had another event planned in the middle. Therefore, I gave myself a couple extra weeks in anticipation of taking a break for the climb and also if any injuries occured. We will see how this week plays out.

P.S. - 2 goals down from my January list:
Read one of the books on my list "The Secret"
and
Raise $100 for the Big Climb event for blood cancers

My next goal I am working toward for is on Sunday and that is to climb the tower in 14 minutes this year.

I will keep you posted!

Happy Saint Patrick's day! May the luck of the irish be with you! ;o)