Ok - enough of the pity party and on to the good news.
I have been taking it easy with my running.
Last Wed., as already mentioned, I ran 4 miles and felt the hip at 2 miles.
Fri. - 5 miles and felt the hip at 3 miles.
Sat. - 5.5 miles with Audrey, enjoying the snow on the ground. felt the hip at 4.2 miles
Each time I run, I am getting an extra mile before I feel the hip.
I still wouldn't call it a pain in the hip, just a dull warning sign.
So last week I ended with 15 miles walking and 14.5 miles running
Tonight I ran 6 miles and did not feel the hip pain at all. Yay! I also did 20 min of yoga, squats, lunges, and arm work with an 8 lb ball.
I decided not to run the marathon this past Sat., when I felt the hip at 4.2 miles. If I can't finish a 5.5 mile run without feeling the dull pain, what will 26.2 miles of pounding do for it? I know I would just cause a minor injury to become much worse by pushing the issue. I am trying to "listen to my body."
I will have many opportunities to run the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, but how many times will I have the chance to run in the BOSTON Marathon?
Several people have mentionrd the foam rollers, where can you purchase these? Do you get them online or at Academy, etc?
In thinking about what caused my hip to become aggravated, I have several things to consider.
* I first thought it may be my shoes. I did recently get a new pair of shoes, but it is the same kind that I have been wearing for several years. Adidas Cushion Response. It did occur to me that I could have gotten a bad pair of shoes, but I am not sure. Currently, I am rotating 2-3 pairs of shoes. I haven't run in the new ones since the half marathon.
* I was talking with Linde (my sister) the last week. She had read my blog and called to asked about my hip. She asked if it was from my fall. Hmmmm! First I had to remember what she was talking about, and now she really has me thinking. You may remember a few weeks ago (probably not, I even forgot about it) Nov. 15th., I did a perfect "seat drop" in some slippery mud in South Louisiana. I landed on my bottox and I landed hard. The next day, I didn't feel anything, but now I am wondering if that may have been the start of my hippy thing. Then on Nov. 28th, I "ran my
* I have been running fairly hard all year, but this fall I increased my mileage to a new max.(63 miles) just before St. George. I did take 2 weeks off of running after St. George, but then started increasing my mileage again. I had slowly worked back up to 45 miles prior to the Stennis half.
Who knows! This week my plan is to run a day and then walk a day. My running days will be 6 miles easy. The walking days will be whatever I have time for. I will continue with my 15-20 min of yoga and hope to make it to a yoga class this week. I am continuing with either ice baths or icing the hip area after my runs.
I do not feel the hip at all while walking, doing yoga, or really anything except the few runs that I mentioned above. I really think if I can hold it together by not running hard for another week, I will hopefully, "dodge a bullet." This is my hope. We will see! To be continued..... Thanks for all of the well wishes, ideas, and support. I will stop pouting as soon as I can run hard again. (already feel the need for quality running)
17 comments:
Smart Choice on the marathon! Save it for Boston! I've been having issues with my right hip too. I think it's just aggravated from treadmill running since I'm not used to it and not really an injury but it is enough to pop the ibuprofen. Hope you recover fully soon!! If only it wasn't 15 degrees below zero here.....
I think you made a great choice!!! I hope that it gets better soon!
I do think you made the wiser choice in not running. It had to be a difficult one to make. Kuddos to you for being brave enough to make it!
It's a fine line distance runners travel with building up vs tearing down of our bodies. I am glad you listened to yours.
Sorry to hear about your no show. it must be very hard for you but hopefully you're starting to feel a little better about it with everyone supporting your decision. You certainly made the right choice! why risk it? its really not worth it. Maybe you could have made it to the finish but then you might have been able to run for a month or two! Boston is more important. 63 miles? wow, thats a lot! foam rollers are great!! not sure what kind of hip pain you are having but are all your muscles in balance?? (are hamstrings equally as strong as your quads?) are ALL your hips muscles stretched out and loose? glutes? IT band? hip flexors? you can roll out on a tennis ball too but that hurts way more than the foam roller! good luck! and get some rest! see you in April!
Sounds like you're making good decisions about your running...I don't have a foam roller.
We got our roller at our local fitness retailer, but all three of our running stores have them as well. We use the short one for hips, glutes, calves, etc. and once you get used to it, it is quite useful. We don't stretch cold (ie, before a run), but I will occasionally roll my hips before a run and it helps. Glad you are starting to feel a bit better.
Rocket City is such a well run event. You'll enjoy it someday.
I got my foam roller from RRS.
http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/EXT104/
Thanks for all the kind and encouraging comments. Darrell - thanks for the link. I am heading to it next.
Arghhhh, I lost all my blog rolls and couldn't find your email...but finally I did...I was chomping at the bit to see what you decided.
I'm very sorry about having to bail on the marathon, but you know in your heart it was the right thing. Focus now on Boston and setting great goals for that. I can't wait to be reading about that journey and we'll be celebrating together after :). Will email you soon, I promise...I just am so wigged out about Tucson marathon right now so for sure when I get back!! It certainly was tougher than I thought (did I already tell you that???).
e-hugs to you...I know it was not an easy decision.
Sorry! But, good for you for listening to your body. It is for the best.
I bought my foam roller at a local massage place. I also use a tennis ball to keep my hips/butt from getting tight. I actually use the tennis ball more than the roller these days and have had fewer problems.
I read your comment on my blog just before my run today and then I ran hills on my long run since you said you did hills on long runs. Thank you!
You did the right thing. Hard, but right.
I am so sorry to hear about the hip pain. I think you made the right decision to cancel and focus on Boston. Don't sweat the small stuff. I recently had hip pain that really affected my running. I have a friend who is a physical therapist and she showed me a stretch that did the trick completely. I have not had the hip pain since. She said they call it the "hooker stretch" because of the way you lean. I bet if you googled it you could find some info on it. I hope what ever it is you can heal quickly!
definitely sounds like the wiser decision. boston is obviously more important to you, and it will be better in many ways to rest up and be able to give it 110%!
hope your hip starts feeling better soon so you can attack boston training hard :)
I'm so happy your hip is doing better! I've been having some hip pain after my speed workouts, maybe too much training?! If you're still curious about the foam roller, google it and you'll see what it looks like and where you can find one!
Smart choice on your resting...Boston will be here before you know it!
Take it slow...listen to your body...don't mess with the "biggie" (Boston). I want you to run it feeling well!!!
So sorry to hear about your hip. I think you made the right decision to listen to your body.
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