Well, this is the beginning of Week 3 of my Back to the Gym adventures, and today was rough.
Last week, my knees (specifically, the area just below my knees) started feeling really achy and sore, and I thought I might have damaged them by overdoing “the running”. I have to use quotation marks with “the running” because I’m not entirely convinced that what I was doing was actual running. More like lurching maybe?
Anyway, I’ve dialed back “the running” portion of my workout to a half-mile, and won’t be adding more distance to my “running” until I can do the half-mile fairly easily.
Today, I stretched, did a nice 5-minute warm-up walk, and launched into my half-mile. It was painful. My muscles felt stiff, and my knees were not letting me do what I wanted to do. I thought “uh-oh”. I probably shouldn’t be doing this.
But I did.
Afterwards, I did I a 5-minute cool-down walk, stretched some more, and cursed more than a little. (I would have cursed more but I was winded.)
Then I tried running the short length of the gym. Back and forth I went. On the third round, I tried to sprint, which I more or less pulled off. I did some weights and, feeling light-headed, I decided I was done for the day.
On the way out to the car, I noticed my legs didn’t hurt.
They stiffened up again on the drive back home, but doing some Monty Python style walking around the house for a few minutes seemed to help.
So, I thought maybe it’s just a matter of conditioning, getting my body used to this. But while rubbing some sore muscle balm (it’s to relieve the pain of sore muscles; not to cause sore muscles) into my legs, Cindy noticed I have tight tendons, which probably accounts for much of my soreness. I don’t want this to become a major problem (or more of a problem), so I’ll take a little more time to stretch, and do more strength and flexibility training. And rest.
Taking the load off my legs and knees by about 50 lbs. would probably help, too. (But that comes later.)
Related posts:
- Taking it one-tenth of a mile at a time
- On the First Day of the Newbie Running Program, I Showed Up and Did Something Resembling Running
- Well, I’ve Put Off This Exercising Thing Long Enough, So Instead of Just Running Off at the Mouth, I’ll Actually Be Running…Eventually…Kinda
- Practicing Yoga Practice
- Halfway through the 10-Day juice fast
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
As I read the song… Running with the Devil started playing in my mind. Good for you! Run on. I start each day with coffee and camels and I’m about to reach an age milestone and guess what…I don’t care. I need to care. Keep writing… may be someday it’ll get through to me that I have to exercise.
I’m so proud of you for being in week three!!! You ROCK!
Just keep swimming and you’ll be fine. You’re doing great and I’m uber proud.
Good plan. Do what you can do until you can do it without really breaking a sweat.
Also, keep in mind that if you’re carrying a bunch of weight, it’s impossible to run with a decent form, which means that your legs and tendons will get all tired and tense and whatnot. Just take it easy, listen to your body, and don’t overdo it. Sore? Fine. A workout will likely help. Sharp pain? STOP IMMEDIATELY. Do something else. Swim. Bike (I think I’m going to buy a road bike for when my feet get injured).
Are you planning on injuring your feet?
I have awful, awful luck with regard to keeping my feet healthy. I’m constantly stubbing a toe, breaking a toe, rolling my ankles, etc. It doesn’t help that it’s awfully, awfully rocky up here on our trails.
Chris, good job. My only other piece of advice would be something that Scott’s learned (not ^ Scott!) since he’s put on so much weight is to spend EXTRA time stretching your calves. Both up on your tippy toe time and on a step time (flex and extend).
I think it’s great that you are still committed and just to copy what others have said, do what your body can handle. Any injuries could force you to stop and then it is so very hard to get back into it.