09.04.07
those quiet dissenters
I was feeling as bad as my shorts smelled, and the schedule said a moderate 12-miler was on tap. As I tied my shoes and tried not to breath through my nose, I pondered the task ahead. “Maybe I will make it ten today,” I thought, playing that all-too-familiar game of bargaining—convince myself I will do less than I know I will. It worked; I was out the door into the sweltering heat. Time elapsed and my pace quickened. Surprised, I started to push as time melted away…11 miles later, satisfied with my effort I slowed and stopped for a drink. With one more mile, I decided to break the monotony with some hard 30 sec efforts. The first three I entered gingerly, holding back, coasting to a stop, but 200 meters from home, I wanted to achieve that leg-numbing speed that first addicted me to running as a kid. Into that ever-receptive parking lot I barreled, impressed with myself and my speed.
Perhaps pride is to blame, but somewhere between the parking lot and my bed the following night, I became injured. Maybe it was that last burst of speed. Maybe it was the 6 x 1200 the next day. Maybe it was the previous 5 weeks averaging almost 100 miles a week, more than ever before.
That is the frustrating thing about overuse injuries, they are as mysterious as they are nefarious. Subtle biomechanical imperfections present as overt pain. The quiet dissenters coalesce into a loud rebellion. The rebels won and I took last Thursday off. Since then I have cut my mileage, but have run everyday. The pain has mostly subsided, and I proceed…optimistic but on-guard.
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Tori said,
September 4, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Ahh an all too familiar story for me. Who is your PT - Brian? It is true they always want to work on something else, yet always seem right - the problem is never where it feels like the problem is. All I can say is whenever I know I should take a day off or ease down I keep reminding myself if you don’t do this you’ll be sidelined for over a month. It’s more important to keeping running everyday regardless of if it seems slow or easy or less at the time because the alternative is not something I want to deal with or think about - yeah again it’s all a mind bargaining game at times.
Brent said,
September 4, 2007 at 6:59 pm
oops, “breathe” not “breath”
joan said,
September 5, 2007 at 9:17 am
HA HA! Brent - I almost logged in to use the “edit” feature to change that, but I didn’t want anyone to think I’m a pedant!
-j