April 17, 2018
Oh my ankles. My ankles and my knees and my back. Yes, all three have been in pain since I started running. Whenever I complain about my back I think of this scene from Friday.
Remember that movie?
Today, as I ran my ankles and my left knee were not having it. I did not get to run as far as I know I could. My yoga practice came to my rescue again. In yoga classes, instructors often remind students that discomfort is okay and should be worked through, but pain is not. I checked in with myself, discomfort or pain, discomfort or pain, discomfort…definitely pain. D#mn!
In the past, I would’ve decided that running just wasn’t for me. Walking is more pleasant and sensible. Today, it’s different. I ran through the pain for a bit, walked for a while, returned to running, and switched back to walking. My ego wanted to keep jogging. My wisdom put that in check. If I were to injure myself at a level that kept me from working out, I would be one cranky lady.
My ego gave my body a notice:
You will get stronger. Quitting is not an option. You will fight the pain. And, you know what? I think I’m going to sign us up for a 5K.
Instead of letting my ego have a row with my body, I did some research:
Come to think of it, I find solutions to most of my problems by reading. My old roommates who I watched Friday with back in the day, used to remind me that not everything could be learned in a book. The internet wasn’t that much of a thing and we didn’t even have a computer or cell phone in our crib (flashback slang). They were right, but research is usually a good way to commence problem solving.
I read about what my knees need in Runner’s World. They need better shoes. I need to follow the three tips I wrote about the other day (Are you new to running?). That means, I’ll be heading back to Running Room for shoes before I run again.
The Runner’s World article also recommends the supplement glucosamine. When it comes to supplements, I double-check sites I consider reliable before taking them. While Mayo Clinic’s site says glucosamine is a safe supplement overall, they also share that glucosamine may worsen asthma. According to Mayo Clinic, there’s also the potential for people with shellfish allergies to have an allergic reaction to it. Guess who has asthma and is allergic to shellfish? That’s right. This blogger and future 5K runner is.
To help my body keep running, I will:
- Do pre-run yoga and post-run yoga.
- I will develop a nutrition plan to help me stay on the track.
- Develop my running muscles through strength training: 12 Essential Exercises Every Runner Should Do. I love that all 12 exercises can be done without weights, so I can do them at home.
So yes, ego. This body will run. It’s going to run with wisdom and enough self-love to respect its limitations.
Are you a runner? If you are and you have any tips for running better and stronger, I’d love to know them. Please email me at melissa@40fitnstylish.com.
This post is part of a series inspired by Eat Pray Love.
