Run to live, not live to run
As Christmas 2016 draws to a close and we think towards the New Year, this is often a time for reflection for many on the year and unsurprisingly, time for the New Year's resolutions.
It's a well documented fact that most resolutions have normally fallen way by the wayside even before January is completed, particularly when the most common resolution is based around losing weight and / or getting fitter.
Many people turn to running! And running is great because it is surprisingly cheap (once you're kitted out with new trainers and all other accessories) and, that's about the expense of it!
Many turn to running groups, which again has it's many benefits: Running with others, so you don't feel vulnerable, having that social interaction and moral support from your peers and ultimately, some new friends.
Many who take up running for the first time since they were forced to do so at school in the cross country, soon realise how hard it is, and they're not 13 anymore! They ache, they get short of breath and after finishing what seems a marathon and realise it's only been 200m, swear they'll never do that again!
But they feel this strange chemical reaction, an endorphin rush. Soon afterwards, they have an overwhelming sense of achievement, an elation, they're buzzing. They soon forget how much it hurt at the time and 2 - 3 days later, they're saying to their friends: "Anyone up for that again? I think I could do that quicker or better". And they're on their way to being a runner! And sure enough, they do get better! They run further, faster and "on hills they'd never do on their own". And at some point, they start to get aches and pains. The most likely reason for these ailments is pushing too hard, too soon! The body hasn't done anything for an awful long time and now you're pushing to the max 2 - 3 times+ a week.
"Oh just run through it" or "It has to hurt so I know I am doing some good". Utter nonsense! Be it any pain, pain is your body's way of telling you something is wrong! Pain does not necessarily equal damage from the outset, but it's telling you get this sorted before I do become damaged! People have a fear of getting the problem sorted because they'll lose all the fitness they've gained. But a short respite now whilst you do get it sorted WILL save a longer respite period to recover from damage!
It doesn't seem to matter though, as these runners seem not to be able to be told! It doesn't seem to matter that all of their new running friends who have a range of running experience and have suffered similar in the past and are advising them to ease off and get looked at, seem to be the first invincible one and "Oh I'll be fine, it'll go away". I'm guilty of this too, which is why I try to pass on both my personal and clinical experience. I was training for a half marathon approximately 10 years ago now. I was fit, I was ready, but I felt like I needed to do one more long training run, just to be sure. It was a week to go, I was going out to do 12 miles. About 6 miles in, My calf suddenly began to cramp. "No, I have to do 12 miles" I told myself Every mile or so, I'd stop, give my calf a bit of a stretch and carry on. I completed my 12 miles and when I finished, I could not walk! I limped home, My leg was in a lot of pain. Later that day and into the evening, my leg began to swell and I mean swell! The lower part of my leg became like a tree trunk! All notable definition points were gone. Two days later, I had bruises all around my ankle! I was hobbling, I was limping, I had strained my calf muscle! I didn't do the half marathon that following weekend. I was gutted. I was on for a huge pb that weekend. I recovered, but it took many weeks to regain the confidence to get back to where I was. I tell this story to everyone I meet who is new to running. I don't want people to suffer or learn the hard way. Nowadays, I run for the right reason: for my health! To socialise, to make new friends. Chasing pb's has long since become a thing of the past. I enjoy my running a lot more now than I did slogging out for a 20 minute 5K time or a 39 minute 10K time or a 105 minute 1/2 marathon time. I like many seasoned runners who have been there, done that seem to get more joy out of plodding around that stressing about pb's and being fit for the next race. I still see it now at parkrun. The amount of people who get stressed or upset because they were going for the pb and they didn't achieve it. By putting that extra pressure on yourself, makes you anxious and you won't perform at your best and you're less likely to get that pb. Stop putting yourself under that pressure! Remember why we run: to keep fit.
What should give you more of a sense of achievement?
Running a marathon for the pb and getting 3 hours and 1 minute or running the marathon for charity, dressed as something ridiculous, raising thousands of pounds and taking more than an hour longer? I certainly know which one would make me more proud. Secondly, the serious runner who runs 5+ times a week and is not seeing his wife and children or the social runner who runs 2 - 3 times a week with his wife? I know which one I am. Yes I appreciate that we all want to be the best we can and if we don't push ourselves, we'll never know what we can achieve, but to what cost? Injury? Being alone? Don't get bogged down by times or races. And if your body is starting to hurt, listen to it, don't push though it, make sure you are seen by a specially trained clinician who can give you appropriate advice and exercise.
