So, I mentioned that Crystal is taking up running. And you may have noticed that I haven't talked much about running since my big half marathon weekend. The answer:
PAIN.
During the end of the race, my left shin and right achilles bothered me. My achilles calmed fairly quickly. Due to my shin pain, though, I couldn't walk normally for 2 weeks. The first week post-race, all I did was rest. No exercise. Just rest. The second week, I went to the Y and rode on the stationary bike and lifted weights. The third week, with the shin pain gone while walking, I decided to try running. MISTAKE. I made it about 5 steps on the treadmill, seriously, before going back to walking. I decided to stay on the bike a while longer, giving myself another week or so to rest. The fourth week, I was able to run about 0.25 miles before the pain came. Trying to be sensible (a stretch for me sometimes), I backed off and went to walking.
Finally, week 5 post-race (which was last week), I was able to run about 2 miles before my shin started to hurt. Hooray! It has been sort of a shock to my system to go from high mileage to no mileage. I'm glad I've been able to keep up the cardio on the bike, but I love to run, and I miss it. Now I am kind of hovering in that 2 or 2.5 mile range, taking it easy, trying to ease back into it. Ice and Advil are my friends, and I know if I don't overdo it, I should be OK. I'm going to do Gasparilla with Crystal next year for sure! Any other races are still up in the air.
Ouch! Love your comment about being sensible - it's a stretch for me at times, too!! Well done showing restraint and wisdom by backing off and giving your body the recovery time it needed after your huge race!!
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