I finally got brave enough to get out for a run, and it was a success!
I started out with my usual return-from-running: three miles. It's long enough that it doesn't mask the injury by simply being too short of a run to irritate the injury, but it's not so long that it would be overdoing it. Since everyone in the sports medicine world recommends starting with intervals, I interspersed my runs with walking for a total of about six miles. And it was fine. I actually felt some tightness in my calf on the injured side, but it was the back of the calf. By the next day, everything felt 100%. It was like I'd never been injured. Phew! I probably took off more time than I needed (a month), but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Plus, it was time for a break. I haven't had one since the fall, and that's probably a contributing factor to the injury.
That, plus three new pairs of shoes in a short time span, and ramping up miles, and continued high intensity of my long runs. As I ease back in, I'll need to reconsider some of these things to avoid a re-injury. I also need to stop skipping my strength workouts!
Unfortunately, I have both a 2 mile race and a trail 5k this week, both of which I'll probably have to skip, just because it's so soon. Bah! Bad timing! Oh, well. There will be other races, right?
Yay! So glad you were able to run pain-free and felt fine the next day! I think you are smart to skip these races. I feel like years ago you would have pushed yourself to do them. I guess with age comes wisdom and an understanding that we can't push through injuries. But I'm glad you are back at it again as I am sure a month off felt soooo long!
ReplyDeleteGlad it's feeling good! That's great news. Smart moves on your part.
ReplyDeleteYep, 100% better safe than sorry. Glad that whatever it was seems to have resolved with rest!
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