I bet you are wondering what’s up with my running lately. Me too. To recap, in early June I got a diagnosis from my sports Dr that I have high hamstring tendinitis. It’s a pain that gets worse based on the work load, or depending if I’m sitting vs standing. It gets to be downright uncomfortable to sit around all day, which I do at my job. When it’s feeling good, I don’t notice it much at all. But on days like today, it’s in a rage.
I started working with a physical therapist on a slow plan to get me back on track. Very simple exercises, with a progression as I improved. But I never got past the first 2 exercises. They all bothered me. It recently got to the point where they just weren’t helping. She told me that she didn’t think I was going to make progress until I was ready to take a complete break from running. Realistically, I believe it’s true. Everything I have tried this far hasn’t helped. Taking a break is the next logical step, then easing into a treatment plan. But when?!?
Looking at my race calendar, I’m already signed up for the Columbus half marathon in October, and there is a local race (Churchills half marathon) that I potentially want to run in November. Beyond that, I think that would be a good time to stop running for awhile. I’m thinking 2 months off, but a podcast I listened to today mentioned a treatment plan could be between 6 and 12 months! Let’s hope that means just working on the issue and not still a break from running. That would mean a looooong winter for me (any my poor family!).
Beyond that, I’m just trying to hang in there. Immediately after stopping the PT exercises I felt INCREDIBLE. I mean, for the first time in a super long time I felt no pain. It was a glorious 5 days. I had a great speed work session… with NO pain!
I even ran the next day and felt like celebrating!
I ran an 8K race where pain was not a huge issue. Then, as expected, the pain creeped back. I ran on Saturday, hoping to redeem myself and have a good “long” continuous run, it was a total suckfest. It was slow, and the 6 miles ended in sad pain. I had plenty of time to hang out and take pictures because my run was going nowhere fast!
In fact, after a 20 mile bike ride on Sunday, and the PR5K group speed work night on Monday, my hammies have been an angry, hot mess for the past two day. Yikes. Biking is something I was supposed to avoid, due to the pressure on my rear, but I didn’t want to pass up a Sunday morning ride with Alan. It was a great ride, but not so much for the days afterwards 🙁
I’ve decided I’m going to try a conservative 8 week training plan for Columbus, which will hopefully allow me to cut my running way down before it starts. Unfortunately, stopping running is not what I want to do, but it’s bringing me a lot of disappointment every time I try to run, and it’s painful. I have been walking pretty much every day I can’t run, just to enjoy the summer mornings. My PR5K training ends this week, and that is probably a blessing, although I will miss everyone I have been running with!!
And I’ve started swimming! I do have a pool in my backyard, I’m just too lazy to get in and swim. [if I spend a lot of time straightening out my hair, I don’t want to ruin it by getting it all wet. #firstworldproblems] So I’m trying something new and swimming some laps. It’s exhausting, and I have a lot to learn about how to do it “properly”, but it’s a start!
See my pulling my head out of the water to breath? Definitely *not* good form!
I had to borrow goggles from my kids.
So that sums up whats been happening with my running lately. It’s always something, right? Hope your running is going better than mine!!!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I promise I’ll have more upbeat topics to discuss later… and not bum you out with my running issues! 🙂
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Q: Anyone out there dealing with, or recovered from high hamstring tendinopathy?
(please tell me you recovered in months and had a stellar comeback!!)
Q: Anyone a swimmer? I am clueless on how I should begin, or what expectations I should have. How long should I swim for, and how often? Can you recommend a training plan “to be a better swimmer”?
Q: Tell me something fun going on in your life!
Friend of mine has been dealing with the same issue off and on for years. Finally got so bad last Fall that she quit running entirely for 3 months. Started back and the pain has partially returned. Not as bad as before, but still a constant literal pain in the ass. She has tried just about everything from Graston to PT to acupuncture. I have enrolled this week in the Northwestern Running Clinic which is made up of orthopedic doctors, podiatrists, trainers, and PTs. It is a division of Northwestern Hospital in Chicago but with an office in the western suburbs. They use a software program called Dartfish to analyze your gait and make recommendations. They also provide PT, and exercise program tailored to address your issues, Graston, and massage therapy. Anything similar within driving distance of you? Might be worth taking a week’s vacation in Chicago. Can’t think of anything “fun” going on here. Hot and humid. Makes running a dreadful chore. Halfway through my Fall marathon training program so my life right now is eat, sleep, run. Repeat.
Ugh. I know this can definitely be a long term issue – even though it already feels like it’s been forever. My PT has a plan for when I’m ready, I just need to take a break. Even bad running is hard to give up sometimes!!
I hope your marathon training is going well. I am not missing those sweaty long runs at all this summer!
I know planning a long break sucks. I hope that at the end you’re feeling much better though.
I feel like we are all having tough years with injuries! I guess it’s better that we’re all going through it together in a way. Hang in there!
2017 has not been my best running year for sure! Counting down the days until you get your surgery too!!
I’m sorry your hammy is still bothering you. I have been there before where running is so frustrating and it ends up making me feel sad, so in a way taking a break from it relieves the stress of the disappointment. But you can always complain to us. We all know what injuries are like and can offer moral support!!! My only swimming suggestion is to get a swim coach for a couple lessons. My brother did that when he started try training. He knew how to swim, but the coach gave him tips on form and it enabled him to swim correctly. When he was doing it wrong, his shoulders got sore. Heck with all your athletic friends I bet you know someone who would coach you for free!
I know, just time to take a break. It’s all good- rest is good for a body (even though I resist it sometimes!!).