I’m still walking. Ugh. I did get to jog a little the other day. Not a run, but a jog. Very slow. My hip was feeling stiff, but not hurting. Suddenly I felt a tug in my achilles and… I had to limp home.
This is crazy. Right now I am chalking it up to my marathon. Looking back, I ran my first marathon less than 18 months after I started running. At 50 years old, maybe that was too much. Not that anyone could have told me that at the time.
Now it has been one thing after another keeping me from running. That is probably best for me right now. I did try my Brooks PureFlow 2 shoes yesterday and they felt awesome. Of course I was only walking in them. When I started my walk, I was limping with my achilles. About a half mile into it, the limp went away and I felt pretty good (other than the blister I got on both heals toward the end).
So the saga continues. I hope to one day look back and think, “wow, you really did push through a lot to get back to running”.
I think I will appreciate running more after I get over all of this.
278 to Boston 
That “one little niggling thing after another” routine IS pretty annoying, isn’t it? Hope you’re back to happy running soon!
You’re right, it is very annoying. Thanks. I hope to get back to running one day… Hopefully!
Ok, Tom. I’m going to go out on a limb and make a suggestion….how about completely shutting down running for a month? I know-I’ve lost my mind. And I’m suggesting the impossible. BUT you made two valid points-you ran a marathon within 18 months of starting running AND you are 50. Your body very well may be wondering what in the heck you have been doing to it.
If you took a month off – absolutely zero running/jogging-your body will have a chance to heal and recharge. All those niggling things will subside. And then you can get back to running pain free. Just give it a thought.
Regardless, you continue to inspire me with how fast you have progresses and achieved major goals. And I totally get how the absence of running makes you appreciate/love it even more. Hang in there, friend!
Thank you!!!
I might just do that. I’ve taken a month off since my marathon, but not consecutively. I might just MAKE myself not run for a month, just to get back to the place that I can run.
Any thoughts about walking? Do you think that could be causing any issues? I don’t think it is other than the times I try to jog a little to see how I’m feeling (Okay, not a good idea) :).
Thank you friend!!!
Walking is low impact. If you can do it without feeling pain in your Achilles or your SI joint, I think it’s fine. If you do experience pain, then I would find something else to try. You may also want to walk on grass or trails as opposed to pavement. But try to stay on flat ground-inclines will stress your Achilles.
If you decide to do it, make the commitment of ZERO running for the entire time. That means no experimenting to see if you feel pain. Zip. Zilch. Total break from pounding pavement.
The time off will be hard at first. But you will adjust. Especially when you start feeling better and better. And the reward is huge-pain free running!
Boy that will be hard, but I am probably going to make that commitment. Walking seems fine and even yesterday my achilles got better the more I walked. I may see a sports injury doctor and just have them check it out to make sure it isn’t something more serious.
Anyway, THANK YOU so much. You are such a huge help to me!
As always, I 100% agree with Running Girl. Not that it would be easy—but your body is trying to tell you something, and you do NOT want to push through and then give yourself chronic issues. And as RG said, you inspire me!
Thank you! You encourage me so much!!! I am honestly leaning in that direction. I need to get better and don’t need to mess up all that I’ve accomplished in the past couple of years.
Running Girl is wise. Take that time off and heal properly. You may be compensating for that hip and stressing other parts of the leg due to an adjustment in your stride. As runners, when we feel any improvement in an injury, we want to go out and “test” it, which usually results in more damage. Hang in there, stay patient and think of the long term!
Will do. Thank you!!! One month isn’t that long I guess. It will be worth it if I can finally get over all of this.
The problem with trying to run with an injury, even when it is feeling better but not 100%, is that we tend to overcompensate elsewhere to protect the injury. So, I wouldn’t be shocked if your Achilles is a result of a change in stride from your hip pain.
This is part of why I made sure I got back to strength training & yoga. When my foot was at its worst, I was favoring my other side and not walking down stairs properly, etc. I could feel stiffness developing in my right hip by trying to keep from stressing my left foot and ankle.
I understand the fear that a month-long vacation will lead to no more running, but it hardly sounds like that will be the case for you. Just declare a sabbatical and mark your calendar with a big star for your first day back from a well-deserved rest.
Thanks, I’ll do that. It is a tough decision to make, but I also can’t keep on the roller coaster of injuries!
Also, did you hear about Olympian Ryan Hall having to withdraw from the NYC marathon due to a hip problem caused by what he says was overly aggressive training?
Here’s a link to an article about what some former elites thinks Hall should do to recover. If it’s good enough advice for an Olympian…
http://m.runnersworld.com/new-york-city-marathon/former-elites-advice-for-ryan-hall
I didn’t hear about that. Wow, I guess I’m not the only one. 🙂 I haven’t been keeping up with my running news since my injury. Thanks for the link!!!
I agree with the others to take a block of time off from running, and I would say even walking because at this point you may have developed some small but significant changes in your gate. Anything repetitive without finding the source of the problem will only continue the problem. Pandora has great wisdom in getting into strength training and yoga. Yoga is a great way to find your imbalances and know a good place to begin recovery. Functional and corrective strength training will be equally as important. Good Luck!
Thanks. I can commit to not running, but the walking thing just might be a bit too much. 🙂
I’ll do my best. Thanks fit the info!!!
Hi Tom, a little late, but I agree with everyone else. Maybe I just didn’t have the courage to say my thoughts earlier.
A block off running will allow your body to recharge and repair, and will also stop you from developing any further imbalances caused by having an altered gait.
I know that sucks, but I really think you will be back, better and stronger after your time off. We all know you’re a runner and that the ‘bug’ isn’t going to wear off with a month off.
If it’s any consolation/help/use I had about 8 weeks off running at the start of the year (plantar fasciitis), and a few years back I didn’t run for 6 months because I had chronically inflamed the bursa in my knee due to ITB. But I ran again. It’s what we runners do.
I sincerely wish you all the best and hope you are back fighting fit soon!
Thanks again Bernie. That is very helpful. I have pretty much decided to take several (probably 4) weeks off. My biggest issue is also keeping my weight under control. So far so good. Also it is good to know you have had issues and come back strong. Everyday is a learning day with running.