This morning I was up well before the crack of dawn to get my run in before Scott took off to go play soccer and then surf. I felt sure that I'd be able to run no problem today- I haven't felt much (any?) calf pain at all for the last 2 days... I've been walking without pain and I rode my bike yesterday for (a way too hard) 3 hours without a twinge of pain (in my calf at least- everywhere else on my body felt pain). Last night I spent some time on iTunes (yes, we have rockin' Saturday nights around here) and made myself a new playlist so I was all excited to run today.
I was surprised that I felt the pain right away when I started running. GRRRRR. It wasn't as bad as it was on Thursday right after I hurt it, but it was definitely the same place on my calf. I hoped that maybe it just needed to warm up a little and then it would get better, but after a half mile it still hurt so I turned around and walked home.
As much as I would have liked to have run today (while listening to my fun new music!) I knew that sacrificing my short term run would be well worth it in the future when I'm back running pain free and actually able to train. Seriously, there is just no point in prolonging this injury. So I came home and did a bunch of core work instead until the sun eventually came up.
I spent the rest of the morning with Moana at the beach. It was really fun- a lot because we kept running into people we knew... first Kelley and Ryan and Sara at Kalapawai Cafe... drinking coffee with Jarrod and Mary Beth... and then at the beach I saw Jo and Ed who were stand-up paddling... Moana's old pediatrician (Dr. BadA$$) who was running along the water... and then my neighbor Erica pushing Nico in the BOB. I love living in a small town and randomly running into people I know. It makes me feel like I have roots here, which I do, after 5 years. It's a comforting feeling, having those roots.
So this afternoon, being the stubborn athlete that I am, I decided to go water running in the pool here at our condo complex. It's been a while since I've water run, but I did it a ton while I was pregnant with Moana and I do remember thinking that it was a good workout back then. I got 40 minutes in today, and I still think it's a good workout. I don't have any floatation devices or anything that I use, so it's essentially just 40 minutes of non-stop vertical kicking. Sometimes I pump my arms like I'm running but I also did 1 min intervals today with my hands on my hips... kicking wildly just to keep my head above water and breathe. But seriously, is there any other activity where time passes more slowly than it does while you're water running? After what felt like about 2 hours, I looked at my watch and saw that 11 minutes had passed. Nice. You know, at least when you are on a treadmill you can see how far/fast you're running, you can watch your heart rate, you can listen to music, or you can watch TV... in the pool you're just looking at the same tree the whole damn time. And then even though you try not to, you look at your watch and see that a whopping 40 more seconds have passed... so you go back to staring at the tree, wishing that your iPod was waterproof.
Anyway, looks like I'll be spending some more time in that cold pool mimicking running over the next week or so. Any suggestions for entertainment while water running??
18 comments:
BOOOO for being sidelined! I hate to say it, but I think the Newtons are to blame for my injury too! I think they sort of threw me too far forward in my strike. I eased my way into them like recommended, but I don't know. The pain is RIGHT where the actuator lugs are. I don't want to write them off yet, especially because I was SO excited, just like you said! But for the moment, the Newtons are taking a leave of absense until I feel 100% again!
Anyway, good luck with the water running! I have my first swim lesson on Friday. Here I go...triathlon bound! I'm a bit nervous!
I cannot imagine water running. Don't they make ipods that you can take in the water? That's the only way I'd be able to do it! I hope it feels better soon. Would a massage help?
They have waterproof iPod covers, or there's something called "SwimP3" or something. Failing that, when my hubby was sidelined with a knee injury before Ironman, he would strap his goggles on (but without the lenses over his eyes), then strapping a cheap mp3 player on the top of his head.
Good luck!
When we were at West Point there were 5 or 6 of us that would get together and do it at lunch. Someone even found interval workouts online so we used to do that. The company made time go by faster.
Yuck. I remember water running in college, and that was in an indoor pool. At least that tree sways in the breeze. :o)
I did water running for most of one summer during an injury. Not fun, but it at least let me feel like I was running and - done right - it can be good exercise. You might want to look into getting a foam belt - for me, once I didn't have to worry about kicking hard enough to keep my head up, I was able to pay attention to more of a running form underwater and I think the workout improved. Also, I started to run lengths of the deep end - slow going, but then you're getting somewhere, right. : ) I hope your calf heals quickly.
Get a waterproof shuffle from swimman.com. You don't need the fancy headphones if you're just going to water run with it. The ones you have will work as long as you don't put your head under. Mine saved my mind through lots of water running last year!
you're lucky to have that tree. here in the real world we have indoor pools. :) makes water running EXTRA fun.
Oh, this sucks! But you'll be back running soon enough. If you hate pool running this much, why not just stick with swimming and biking for a little while. I get cranky and irritable when I am injured, and have learned to do things that are fun to help myself mentally. Good luck!
I was WAY TOO familiar with water running when training for Honu. I actually bought the waterproof cover for my iPod (I think it was called an OtterBox). It was my savior. Also, doing intervals or "laps" helped me at least have a concrete number to focus on instead of just the wall. It was fun seeing you two today! Good luck with the water running!
I hope the calf feels better soon! And count yourself lucky that you at least get to water run outside! HAHA! :) I've done many hours of water running in my day and I hate it say it but, no matter what, it's more boring that imaginable. Hopefully you won't have to do it for long!
x2 on the flotation belt... i spent a good amount of time water running this past summer/fall, and using the belt let me focus on range of motion and good form which was super helpful when i started land running again. i did a lot of my workouts outside too, but in a lake, so it was "ok almost to the big boat" "ok there's the big boat" "ok arOUND the big boat" bla bla bla ;)
in the pool i would do stuff like WU for 10 mins including high knees and mimicing land drills, then 2x (5 min tempo/1 min high knees and drill, 4 min/1 min, 3 min/1 min, 2 min/1 min, 1 min/1 min).
too bad i am not on the windward side, i'd come aquajog with you!
good idea to ask for suggestions, I would be bored pretty quickly. Glad you are taking it easy!
I'm sorry to hear about your injury, I've been a bit out of the loop as a single parent this week.
I can barely find a pool let alone how to distract myself in one. Oh, wait, you provide the distraction for me.
You need a pair of those funky tv sunglasses things they sell in those in flight catalogs. Have they got a Hammacher Schlemmer there?
Sorry to hear about the injury. I hope you recover fast and stay sane while water running.
Get yourself a cover for that iPod right away. You will be so freaking mentally tough if you can survive water running.
And I hear you about running into people and feeling like you have roots. It used to happen all the time when I lived in DC. It never happens here. Chicago and its suburbs are just too freaking big.
hey girl... i've got a belt if you want to use it. let me know. i could probably bring it over tonight or tomorrow. hope you feel better soon!
i have the H20Audio Interval for my shuffle and it rocks! never swam faster. http://www.h2oaudio.com/waterproof_cases.php
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