I run therefore I am / I cannot run therefore I don’t know who I am
Monday, 5 March 2012 
9 Comments
I went for a slow 8km run on Saturday afternoon and the sore knee didn’t feel bad at all, in fact for the rest of the day after the run it felt fantastic and I was sure that I had been healed.
Sunday morning, however, I woke up and totally limped down the stairs. Ouch. The pain got a bit better once I moved around a bit, but I decided to skip the 15km race anyway. It was raining and I did not want to run on grass, which would soon turn to slippery mud, with an already bad knee.
We took the boys to the London Aquarium instead and had a fun morning with them there. I had planned to go for a run in the afternoon but it kept raining the whole day and my knee pain did not get any better.
I have been doing some one-legged squats as instructed by the physio but although he said I was ok to run, I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’ll see him again tomorrow morning and the plan is to go swimming on Wednesday morning instead of running. I am not a great swimmer, but I can do breaststroke and I just feel that I cannot NOT move until the knee heals.
The truth is that this first injury feels very discouraging all of a sudden. I’m trying to practice some positive thinking but I can’t deny that I’m a bit freaked – running has become such a big part of my identity in the past 2 years that now that I cannot run for a while I feel like I don’t even know who I am anymore. (I never said I wasn’t a Drama Queen :)
But have a learned something useful from this experience? I think I have: a) try not to trip and fall when running b) warm up at least a minute or two before a run c) strengthen legs on non-running days with squats, etc.
Live and learn / Run and learn.
It sounds like it’s just bruised – which in many ways is good because bruises heal on their own. Often they are way worse a few days later than when you did it. You’ll be running again in no time I’m sure. I also have some twinges going on with my knees. I’m ignoring them. They have to go away! :)
The Moiderer recently posted..Marathon training–week 11
Twinges would be ok, but if I limp going down the stairs, then I can’t ignore it :| I do hope that whatever it is, it heals by next week! (I’m not a very patient person :)
I know what you feel, sort of. I love working out and it’s been a part of my daily routine for years and years and years (circuits, weight training, group classes, jogging, HIIT etc) and now I have this hamstring pull and I can’t run, can’t do polymetrics… I feel like a stone! I NEED TO SWEAT! :D
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That crossfit stuff you posted looked good – I totally want to look ripped like that by the time I’m 40 :)
Really sorry for you! As a runner (now mostly on Pilates and swimming because of a persistent back injury, partly because I pushed myself too hard to run through my pain) I totally get your running addiction but in this situation the “best” way to get a new and proper injury is to start pushing yourself too soon before the other (and initially seemingly minor) injury has been cleared. You know your body best but do not be fooled and think your legs will turn into jelly if you do not run for 1-2 weeks :-) Try walking and strengthening core muscles for a while and you’ll be back to running in no time.
The physio gave me a good set of exercises to do for this week and we’ll reassess the situation in a week. I definitely want this knee pain to go away before I start running again…
The “just keep moving” concept is a good one. The body is meant to move. It just needs to go a bit slower sometimes.
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Hope you’re feeling better soon. I’m getting cold sweats just at the thought of a running injury! And if one more person tells me running is so bad for my knees I may have to kneecap them myself. I don’t sit there telling them how bad the crap is they call food!! (End rant) xx
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Running is not bad for you if you don’t fall on your knees on cobblestones and continue running for 12km and arrive home with a knee that’s black and blue! :)