This week was supposed to be about the base miles. With no long run for two weeks, I wanted to get in some decent runs, maybe even some speed work. This plan was tossed out on the first day. Monday I was still pretty sore from Sunday’s long run, wasn’t too out of the ordinary, as I’ve been running my long runs Saturday and taking the next day to recover. Tuesday I hoped to get a decent 5-6 mile run in after work. My body had a different idea, I started getting a migraine around 11:30, and knew my day would be down hill from there.
This was my body’s way of telling me that I need a few days off. I went from running 24 miles total in June, to averaging 24 miles each week. This was bound to happen eventually. So I tried to rest. And then I woke up early on Wednesday and went for a short jog before work. I loved it. I was in a little pain, and a little tired, but it felt good to be pounding the pavement before I had the stress of the day on my shoulders. This certainly isn’t something I’ll do everyday, because I was exhausted by 11:00 am, but I think it was a nice change to my normal runs. And I didn’t feel guilty for eating a 12oz steak that night.
I finally caved in and decided to call the doctor about my knee. After searching online and checking all of the symptoms, I think my medial meniscus is the issue. No bruising, no swelling, just pain when I move my knee certain ways. I’ve been putting this off for months, mostly because I didn’t want to hear the words “You’re done running” but I’ve come to the point, where I have to go now, or I’m sure I’ll screw up my knee bad enough I won’t be able to run in October.
Monday: Rest Day
Tuesday: Migraine
Wednesday: 3 Miles
Thursday: Rest Day
Friday: Rest Day
Saturday: 2.5 Miles
Sunday: Rest Day
Total Miles: 5.5 Miles
So needless to say, this week was more of a bust than anything. I know I needed the rest, but I felt bad that I wasn’t following my training. I was able to tape my knee before the weekend, and it seemed to help with some of the pain. But the pain is still there and it actually hurts worse not running than when I was running more miles. I’m just hoping this isn’t going to put a huge block in my training.
What I learned this week:
- Your body will let you know when it needs a break. Even if you think you feel great, you may need a few days to let yourself recover. Don’t be stubborn, it can make things worse in the end.
- Morning runs aren’t that bad during the week. You just need to give yourself enough time to get up and get the miles in before your regular morning schedule.
Masher Runs 
I too thought my knee/hamstring pain would go away (and it too would hurt more when I was resting than during a run), but I decided to see an orthopedic specialist and braced myself for those same words you also did not want to hear…
Needless to say, I’m in physical therapy for my lower hamstring strain (also have ‘bursa’ in upper calf where it inserts behind the knee and most likely the cause of the pain when it was inflamed).
Its been depressing not being able to run and wondering if I should even participate in the half marathon Oct 7th when I wont be able to ‘put on the miles’ until mid to late August. It would be a shame to forego altogether, so I might adapt a run/walk regime, but I know its more important for my leg to heal properly so I don’t have to go through this again!!!
I completely understand and I hope you heal faster than I do!
nobody likes learning lessons like there, but i guess that is what eventually makes us stronger runners.
it’s a brand new week!