Tuesday, April 9, 2013

AMA (And Other Acronyms)

Mom and Dad and Sarah and I like to zone out while watching crime dramas on TV - SVU, NCIS, CSI: NY... you name it, we've seen it.  Actually, even if we haven't, we can probably narrate the episode anyway.  We especially love the jargon, and anytime someone gets hurt in real life we ask the pertinent questions like "did you test for GSR?" or "is there evidence of petechial hemorrhaging?"  You always sound like you know what you're talking about when you use acronyms, so let me throw another one at you:

AMA

Okay, there's actually no need to be that dramatic.  I'm not checking myself out of the hospital after a 10-13 hold, I'm just desperate to run!  See, after my appointment with the orthopedist in mid-March, I was good.  I didn't run at all.  I stopped my training runs and I missed my 10k in Philadelphia.  And it seems to have helped the recovery process - when I went back to the doctor last Thursday, he said my x-ray was totally clear!  Unfortunately, though, there was "tenderness" when he prodded my fifth metatarsal - honestly, I think that even if I hadn't been healing from a stress fracture it would have hurt because the man has seriously strong fingers - so he told me not to run for another three weeks until my next follow-up.  I had reconciled myself to not running last weekend's 10 miler, which I wouldn't have been physically ready to do even if Dr. Rothschild had given me the green light on Thursday, but I'm feeling so sedentary and blobby and this weather is too gorgeous to keep me from the road entirely.

I never in a million years thought I'd say this, but I miss running.  I miss the creakiness in the first mile  and the satisfaction of the next few; I miss the push of the last mile and the triumph of slowing to a stop and thinking "I couldn't have done this a year ago."  When my foot first started hurting and then when the doctor told me to take a break, I was afraid that I'd slide into never running again.  It would be so easy to stop - after all, I haven't been doing this for too long in the grand scheme of things.  But I'm desperate to run again.

So tomorrow morning, before the temperature reaches its predicted high of 88°, I'm going to lace up my sneakers, clip on Charlie's leash, and try for a light jog.  For those of you - ahem, Megan - who will tell me to be careful, I promise I'll listen to my body and I'll stop if my foot even starts to contemplate hurting.  I won't set any goals and I won't wear my Garmin.  I just want to run, just a little bit, and I'm so excited to be saying that.

my first 5k in March 2012; it took me 44:19, I couldn't move for the rest of the day, and I was at my heaviest.


my last 5k in February 2013; it took me 39:34, I felt fine afterwards, and I was 23lbs lighter.

Any tips for getting back into the swing of things, dear readers who run?  I want to be smart so I don't re-injure myself, but I've got to start somewhere!  And I'm going to start tomorrow, so speak now!


30 comments:

  1. Don't run on pavement if you can help it - try to find a grassy park or sand track, or even a high school gym track if there is one around. When I started running again after my physio before my marathon, that was my physio's NUMBER 1 RULE. Besides that, and the obvious around stretching and warm up/cool down, then just keep it slow and short and concentrate on breathing and enjoy :)

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  2. Have fun and just run smart. You know the drill. Listen to your body and don't let Sir Charles pull you too fast. And rest and ice after, even if it doesn't hurt. Not that ice heals broken bones, but you know. Ice = good.

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  3. I second Danielle's advice. Start small on treadmill or track with some short 1/2 mile laps. Second rule: stop when you feel pain. Don't run through an injury.

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  4. oh man, I can't do the treadmill! I need to be outside :) but I'll keep it short and soft, like you both suggest!

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  5. honestly, I may have to leave Charlemagne at home if I want to be really smart...

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  6. see what you started on Twitter? found a good place! thank you :)

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  7. Oh! I've been on a conference call. Lemme see the storm ;)

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  8. Oh I wish I would yearn to run. I tried it several years back but my joints just don't allow it. Good luck as you get back into it!

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  9. I've always wanted to do a 5k! I'm so impressed that you have! Good luck out there tomorrow.

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  10. Start slow and start on dirt. You don't want to subject your bones and joints to the jarring impact you get on asphalt until they're built up again. And don't be afraid to space out your routine. Don't run every day, run every other day, and do some other kind of activity on your off days, like swimming or biking or weight training (weights are imperative for runners - they help build up that bone and joint strength).

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  11. Natural surfaces are always the best for your body, and if you're living in the city, it is the best escape. I hate treadmills too (lab rat anyone?) Find a park with trails you can explore and get lost (ish).

    Also, I'm not sure if you're someone who needs music when you run (I'm not), but lately I've started listening to weekend NPR shows (This American Life, Radio Lab, Wait, Wait) or Podcasts during my long weekend training runs (for a half marathon in a few weeks) and I really enjoy it! It really keeps my mind from counting the miles.
    Sometimes I'll just put 30-60 min show on, and just run at any pace that feels good that day until the show/podcast is over.

    Good luck!

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  12. Also YOGA! Even just once a week, your hip joints will never be the same!

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  13. I am paranoid about getting injured because I would find it so hard to give up running - I started in the same boat as you, and grew to love all those exact things about running. Not much beats the triumphant feelings it can bring! So while I don't really have post-injury advice, hang in there as you recover! Making your first outing a "fun run" with no set goals sounds like a great plan though. And have fun... DC is seriously one of my favorite places ever to run. Jealous :)

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  14. You are totally inspiring me right now Betsy! I mean I have no excuses as to why I can't run and for that reason alone, I should! Good luck getting back into it, I'm sure you'll do great! :) Enjoy your run!

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  15. Good luck, Betsy! I know that feeling well, as I pulled my groin (I know, wtf?!) last September and didn't run again until December! It may feel frustrating to go so slow when you remember yourself running faster, but I can report from experience that that enforced slow-time has made me a faster runner than ever before! Best wishes :)

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  16. haha well I have NEVER run every day so that bit will be easy :) sounds like I really should join a gym though...

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  17. I know exactly where I'll go to find that! I think I will have to leave Charlie at home because he'll want to go fast, but I can't listen to anything when I run with him so it'll be an opportunity to check out a podcast :) thanks for the ideas!

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  18. I didn't think I was hardcore enough to get injured! seems like it can just simply happen sometimes :( but WOOO thank you!

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  19. thank you, you too! when it clicks, it clicks - can't force it, but it's the best!

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  20. OW. that is all I have to say to that. OW. and I'm glad you're better now :)

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  21. strangely, yoga hurts my knees! but I love Pilates, though I've only done it a few times :)

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  22. You can do it girl! Just take your time and listen to your body like you said. I'm not a runner but am going to walk/jog after work today (even though it's kind of hot). :-)

    Jayme

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  23. it's GORGEOUS! Charlie's going to get a long walk when I get home tonight after my event :)

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  24. Some people say to start of run/walking a specific distance. I'm not like that. After I tore my ACL and meniscus, I swam for a few years. One spring I was just over it and wanted to go for a run. I ran less than a mile to be safe. And just worked my way up from there. I never wanted to be caught having to walk because that would make me feel defeated. So I would run until I felt comfortable telling myself "okay, that was a decent run so now I'm done" and slowly increased my mileage from there. It worked.... So my only tip is to go for a jog and when you are happy saying "good for now", well, stop. Then, keep on moving up. Slow and steady wins the race.

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  25. as a healthcare professional in the making, my reaction to this is an automatic "LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR."

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  26. Georgia ChristakisApril 9, 2013 at 8:19 PM

    I am not a doctor, just training to be one. and I don't know what your injury is. But what we are learning now is that with overuse injuries it is better to reduce activity levels- cut them in half or by 2/3- for 3 weeks or so, and then build back up slowly from there.This means reducing pace, time AND distance. Studies now show that cutting out activity completely is not necessary. But let me emphasize- I know NOTHING about your injury and I am NOT a physician; if you trust your doctor, listen to him!

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  27. haha I knew someone was going to say this eventually! I PROMISE I'll be careful

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  28. hey, I like you way better than Kaity :P


    I'm glad I haven't run in two months because I would be comfortable with the idea of trying tomorrow if I had pushed then, but I really do think I'm okay for a test. I will listen to my body!

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  29. I actually have no problem walking during my runs, so that won't be hard for me! but slow and steady wins the race is ALWAYS a good motto - just starting is better than not running at all!

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I love reading your thoughts and suggestions! Please do leave a comment so we can get to know each other better.