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I’m BACK and I’m in pain…

Published on 26/03/08
by Maureen

So I haven’t posted in quite a while.

As it turns out, I’ve been out running and living life around Chi-town and by the time I get back to my apartment I’m usually wiped out and ready to go to bed.

But today, all I could think about was updating the blog. I don’t know if it’s PMS, weather changing or increased mileage, but I was IN PAIN for most of the morning today. I haven’t actually taken any medication, even over-the-counter, for pain in probably a year, since the last time my shin splints flaired in… I guess that was summer of 2006. My quads felt like there was no muscle fibers in them, just a solid wall of swollen pain. My left calf was in a pretty much permanently flexed state, which is not fun when walking up and down stairs or moving in general. Even my boobs hurt- hence the theory that it might be PMS.

I did six miles on a very poor quality treadmill downstate on Sunday, followed by 13 on the Lake Shore path on Monday post-work. That’s when I started noticing pain. I’m sure that’s typical. But rarely is it so bad that I can’t get off the couch, and it was on Monday night. Passed out during a DVD I was watching and could barely move the thirty steps from the couch to my bed, where it didn’t take me long to pass out a second time.

Tuesday I ran six on the path and in River North with CARA (which I’ll detail in the next post). The run itself had a pretty solid first four miles, we were cruising, talking, feeling good. Miles five and six felt like miles 12 and 13 from the previous day. Every step I had to cheer myself on with the promise of beer at the bar. Standing in a crowded room downing Miller Lite and noshing on fried chicken and potato products probably didn’t ease much of the pain, because by the time I got home I was quickly back down for the count.

This morning I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I asked my conference planner for some Advil and managed to get through the morning with naught but a little shin pain on the stairs.

But here’s the thing: I think I need a week off. By the time I realize I’m hurting I’m about to die from it, and that’s not cool. I don’ think I’m going to be able to make the marathon if I keep on destroying my body like this week after week. I think my muscles need a chance to heal and regenerate after a long run, and I think I need to restructure my schedule so I can put them back on the weekends, or at least Thursdays so they’re right before a non-running day.

The run is over. Now what?

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