As I try to get back into running for the millionth time, I often remember back to how much fun college was. Those were the glory days of distance running for me, being part of some great cross-country teams that always dominated the conference meets. I set a couple school records along the way and really loved what I was doing. Somehow, I put my legs through some grueling workouts and heavy miles but never got injured.
image by Well as soon as college was over, my body paid the price. My marathon training was put on hold, and I didn’t know how to deal with the onslaught of injuries. Stress fracture, IT band, torn ligament, oh my! My orthopedist said “Take it slow” but I never knew what that meant. 40 miles a week instead of 50? My expectations were sky high but my body couldn’t keep up. I was forced to shut it down for a while, and five years later I wonder what in the world happened.
None of that matters now. I once again have renewed vigor and with low standards and new running shoes, I think I can get back into running road races and ultimately a marathon. I’m starting with a 10 mile/week base and increasing that by 10% per week. I’ve researched special stretches to prevent prior injuries from happening again. To reduce the impact on my legs, I think I will buy a bike this summer and mix up the workouts a bit. I’m playing a lot of ultimate frisbee lately and will try to keep that up as well.
I will post my progress here, but in the meantime I would love to hear some tips from you about staying motivated and keeping your confidence high when injuries strike. I need all the help I can get!
