I’ve always learned things the hard way.
And that also applies itself to running. I’m stubborn too, which just adds to the problem, lol.
I first started running when I was working with a personal trainer at the gym.
It all started when one of the girls at my workplace started up a lunchtime run group.
The first day we ran 5km. I felt like I was running on a cloud….oh wait, those were my new sneakers. BONUS POINT: I had running sneakers. I went out and bought a good pair of Sauconys. Go me 🙂
I was hooked. Running was awesome!
Problem #1: I was not stretching. Not warming up. Not like I should have been. This lead to some really tight legs after my very first 10km race (I had done a Run for the Cure 5km prior).
And then……about a year later
Problem #2 – Stubborn: Since I was invincible, I began to train for my first Half Marathon.
Training was going well (at least I thought it was, lol) After my 18km long run, I felt AWESOME. Went for another run, pain. A lot of pain. Right outside my knee. I thought, okay, rest up. This was one week before the race. I was tight all the way up to my hip. So I foam rolled and bought a strap for the old IT band at the race expo.
Day of the half…I ran, in pain, and finished at 2:30. I walked a lot of the last few kms, but ran over the finish line.
I could barely walk the next day. Off to doc and off to physio. My IT band was shot…tightest EVER.
Was a long haul back and lesson learned.
Problem #3: Not listening to my body. This applies to Problem #1 and #2. I was not stretching and applying any serious cross training. I thought some of the pain was “just a runner thing”. Yes, I should have known better.
Another year later! We are into year 3.
Problem #4: Eat better, fuel better. This took some work, as I love to eat and the more I ran, the more I wanted to EAT! This caused some upset belly moments and some dehydration. This is a big lesson for newb runners.
Half Marathon #2: Trained smarter, pushed myself a little bit harder (sometimes a bit too much, felt kind of nauseous and had to stop a couple of times) and ran a 2:10.
I was going to run another Half, but was very very sick not long beforehand and did a 10k at the Valley Harvest Marathon. Because I am a dork and was full of running excitement, I went out too fast and wanted to barf halfway through. Finished in under an hour and finally said, okay, smarten up.
I ran a 21k relay the next month, Lucky 7 Relay with a couple of people from work. I ran my 7km in 38 minutes. I felt like a ROCK STAR 🙂
Heading into year 4…
I was running right up until the “Punta Cana Incident”. We ran just about every morning around the resort nice and early, with the other runners. Then I went and fell in the washroom (Yes, the washroom, and yes, I was sober). This is the “awe man” moment when I was pretty sure I tore my meniscus, but found out I really have a condition called Osteochondritis Dissecans and I am due for surgery in the near future.
Once I am all “put back together” and travel down my road to recovery, I am getting back to the Half Marathon state and looking for a new PB. With my new love of yoga and my wiser ways, I am starting my bucket list of races. Need to kill that 2:10 Half!
Look out Half Marathon…..cause I am comin’ to get ya…..soon.
The Midlife Reframe 