Another freaking injury?

What...???

2015 has been challenging so far.  From the Toothache that stopped the running followed by a head cold through running in sub-zero arctic conditions, running consistently has been impossible.  Now a pain in my leg...literally...has slowed me down once again.  A muscle pull near my hip if you must know (Strained Quad).

I can hear you now:  Maybe it't time to give up running, Chris!  I know that's what Sally is thinking...I know her look!

But despite this latest setback, that's not an option for me.  I've thought about taking up swimming and although I'm pretty good at swimming, I find swimming laps mind numbing.  Plus, getting undressed to swim in a pool in the dead of winter is simply a 'Shudderrrrrr...!'

I could go riding.  We have a bike lane right outside our building that connects to some great trails. Hmmmm...Riding a bike outside in the winter!  Ice and snow, oh and CARS takes all the fun out of bicycle riding in Toronto.  

I could hit the gym.  Not!  Treadmills and Eliptical trainers are at the same level as swimming for me. OK, if I watch the TV or listen to music through headphones it is a little more interesting but still not enough to get me to go to the bother of going out to the gym.  

Ahhh I can here you thinking...how about walking.  It's not a bad idea but I'm still a running snob and still want to be called a 'Runner'.  I have gone out for some walks since this leg injury and while I have enjoyed them, when I see a runner I get depressed.

The good news though is that I've been working on my core with simple exercises I can do at home. And even though my friend Larry says that without cardio exercise and reduced intake all I'll have is 'A 6-pack under a layer of fat' I'm working on showing him up in Negril this December.  Maybe we'll have a competition to see who has the better abs!

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Another Running Injury? What the...?

The Ice Pack is NOT a Fashion Accessory

This is NOT in the plan!  Getting injured again!!  

Last week during my weekly speed workout at the local High School track I felt a 'twinge'!  

What the...?

Dam!  That hurt.

I stopped instantly...I must have learned something after all...and walked home.  No trying to be a hero and 'toughing it out' that morning.  I immediately went to the ice pack and haven't run for the past few days.  I shouldn't have gone out for a speed workout that morning.  I was tired, didn't have a great night's sleep and had work on my mind.  In hindsight there was probably nothing I could have done to prevent the strained knee but I have to blame something.

So I'm back to recovery mode and not enjoying it one bit.  I'll be smart this time though:  no running until fully recovered.

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

++++++++++

I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013.  My goal is to raise $2,000 by December 31.  My other planned races in 2013 include:

1. The Toronto Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon, October 20
2. The Reggae Marathon, December 7.  

Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.

Stop Whining!

Thanks Ah-nold!  I needed that!!  Oh, and maybe, just maybe Sally might have mentioned the same thing...once or twice...OK, maybe a lot!  But I broke my foot! Waaaaaaa......

There...that feels much better!

I haven't run since I broke my foot last September. I've tried once or twice in the last few weeks but another injury sidelined me. In my desire to be a hero I walked 10K in Reggae Marathon in December.  It made for a nice story, I got to take some pictures while I was 'Walking' and I hit my goal of raising $2,000 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation.  Walking the 10 kilometres in Reggae Marathon likely contributed to the new injury so that's why I'm still whining.

"I haven't run since last September...!!"

If you don't run that won't make any sense to you.  If you run you feel my pain.  So what to do.

First, "Stop Whining!".  Easier said than done.  I've been running 30 years now.  Nearly everybody has said the same thing, "Maybe it's time to stop running". Might as well tell me to stop breathing.

But then it hit me:  Walking!  Duh!  I can't run but I can walk.  And yes I know the cliche, 'walk before you run'.  Flashback:  that's how I started running in the first place.  

So I promise, the whining is over!  Sally will be so happy to hear that.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

++++++++++

I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013.  My goal is to raise $2,000 by December.  My planned races in 2013 include 

1. The Sporting Life 10K, May 12
2. The Toronto Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon, October 20
3. The Reggae Marathon, December 7.  

Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.

Oops...a little running setback

I blame this one on the foot cast!  Placing the blame on the the medical device that got me through the fractured foot bones seems unfair I know.  But it beats the real reason:  I went out too quickly to resume running resulting in a bad muscle pull in my right calf.  Truth be told:  I'm pretty sure I tore the muscle.  I know that's not the correct medical term and NO I'm not going to a doctor!  The immediate plan is to refrain from running for the next couple of weeks to allow it to heal properly before I get back to running...slowly!

As Sally so kindly reminded me recently, "You're not 35 anymore".  Based on that obvious fact, I'm going back to basics with my running.  A lot of the injuries I've experienced over the past few years come down to bad form.  OK, maybe there was a 'wee little bit of ' stupidity since I'm really not 35 years old anymore.  But I am 'learnable' and now seems like a good time to get back to the basics.  

I saw this chart recently on the Reggae Marathon Facebook Fan Page.  If you're a long-time runner like my friend Dan Cumming of Running in the Zone (check out this great article on Running Injury:  Doctor it hurts when I do this) you already know what good running form is.  If you're just starting out, this could be the most simple and best explanation of proper running form.  I fall in to the 'long-time running group who never payed attention but got totally excited by this chart.  

"Stand up straight".  I can still hear those words from my Grandmother when I would slouch my shoulders.   It's the key to good form in running. Duh!  My Grandmother wouldn't say 'Duh' but she'd smile of  hers while asking me what took me so long.  I wouldn't have a good answer.

So assuming all goes well, here's the next target:  the Sporting Life 10K on May 12 in Toronto.  Court, one of my sons, suggested it and it seems like a good idea. 10K races how I started running way back (when I really was age 35) and this is a point-to-point race down Yonge Street in Toronto.  Mostly downhill with a flat finish.  And it starts early...my favourite time of day.  We won't officially have cold Red Stripes immediately at the finish like Reggae Marathon but unofficially... 

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

++++++++++

I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013.  My goal is to raise $2,000 by December.  
My planned races in 2013 include the Sporting Life 10K May 12,  the Toronto Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon, October 20 and the Reggae Marathon, December 7.  Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.