It’s a good thing it’s the last Friday of this month, because I have some runfessing to do. Do you have running or fitness confessions that you want to get off your chest? I always feel better after writing these posts!
Runfessions of Running Mistakes and Negative Feelings
1. Blister Confessions
After thinking this through a bit I need to confess that I was pretty stupid about the blister I got last week. I really shouldn’t have run on Friday. Sometimes the “need” for running just gets in the way of logic, ya know? Later that day my coworker said “you didn’t run today, did you?” (I had complained about the blister the day before.) As I explained that yes, I did run. And yes, it still hurt, and was worse, I realized that to anyone else it makes no sense at all why I would run through something like that. But you guys understand, right?
2. Breaking in the orthotics
I think part of the problem was that I was not very smart about breaking in the orthotics. After wearing them walking for about a week, I started to run in them. I put them in a new pair of shoes (Altra Intuition, which is a neutral, zero drop shoe) and progressed to 4 miles pretty quickly. All along I had been saying I would take my time breaking them in. My patience was wearing thin and I got carried away. I am lucky that the result was just a blister and not a new injury.
3. Pessimism about Recovery and Orthotics
I also need to admit that for the past few months I have been pretty pessimistic about recovery and the orthotics. If I don’t believe I will get better, or that the orthotics will help, then nothing will improve. It’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Over the past few weeks I have been working to change my mindset. I know I will recover. And lots of people see good results with orthotics. That can be me too.
4. A Lazy Sunday
Last weekend, after a busy week, I went from one extreme to the other. I spent Saturday running around non-stop, doing errands, cleaning the house from top to bottom, etc. Then Sunday I did nothing. I napped, blogged, read, drank wine. I didn’t even go near my foam roller all weekend. It was like once I knew I couldn’t run, I had no desire to do anything. I didn’t even want to waste my energy on the bike for fear it could aggravate my blister.
5. TimeHop Jealousy
I often get jealous of my TimeHop running posts from years ago. They remind me of the days where I was running 40-60 miles a week like it was no big deal. Now I am lucky if I run that much in a month. I admit sometimes I feel bad thinking about how much I have regressed. Maybe one day I will get back to that, but maybe not. I know I am doing what I need to do, but it doesn’t mean I can’t be jealous of what I used to be able to do.
Do you ever get jealous of a past version of yourself?
Have you done anything stupid lately when it comes to running?
Do you ever find that you get really lazy when you can’t run?
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I have slothful tendencies; nothing to do with running. Most of the time I keep myself plenty busy (like my 10k step “rest” day yesterday; but sometimes your body needs rest.
It’s hard not to play the comparison game, but run the mile you’re in. Comparison is the thief of joy, after all.
You are so right- I need to remind myself of that more often!
Almost 4 years ago I tore my labrum in my right hip however it took about 2 1/2 years to diagnose so I completely understand your frustrations. At the time of the year I developed my injury I was in awesome shape running 4-5 days a week and biking several days a week. In hindsight I was definitely doing too much for my body with not enough rest and was underfueling so it’s no wonder my body finally broke down. I currently run 3 days per week and bike two days per week but am in no where near the shape that I was. I’m not quite to the point where surgery is recommended so I just deal with soreness to some degree after running everyday. (My doctor said it’s fine I keep running, the tear won’t get worse) I really find myself longing for the days of running where I could do more volume and intensity but have accepted where I’m at and am just grateful to still be able to move my body. I think it’s so important to listen to our bodies especially as we age so maybe your body is telling you that what you were doing before is just too much for your body in this season of your life. I hope you get things figured out and find your new “normal”.
Thank you! I agree that its important to listen to our bodies and try to accept where they are now. I also had a labral tear in 2010 and had the surgery. I actually thought the recovery process was not bad at all but I think its caused some weakness on that side. I hope you can continue running and working out in a way that makes you happy!
Of course, I miss my old self. Even before I was diagnosed with RA, I had melancholy about my younger running self. Actually, I have melancholy about aging, in general! The mirror is not my friend!
Hang in there–you’ve got a lot of miles ahead of you.
Thanks. I feel like I blame the injury for forcing me to cut back, but really I don’t think I would have the time or energy to run that kind of mileage any more anyway.
I love lazy Sunday! That’s the day I do my long runs so I like to relax and chill.
I love the feeling of getting a long run done and then doing nothing the rest of the day!
So lazy when I can’t run! I’m really hoping that the orthotics work for you. They have helped me so much. Fingers very very crossed!
Thanks, now if I could only figure out what shoes to wear with them!
I totally understand what you mean about running with the blister. I would have done the same thing. As runners, we don’t always use the best logic.
I actually disabled TimeHop for similar reasons. I would get so pissed off that my times were faster back then, lol
Im ok about taking a break when I have injury-related pain but for some reason I thought the blister would be no big deal!
Oh girl I know what you mean by feeling the NEED to run. I get that feeling most often when I am angry!
Anger, stress, sadness, frustration…all of those just make me want to run!
Oh, I do stupid stuff all the time and running is no exception! I would have ABSOLUTELY no doubt about it went for a run with a blister. So you’re definitely not alone.
I really didnt think it would be that big of a deal but I think because of where it is it caused more problems than I expected. Lesson learned I guess (maybe)
Us runners can be stubborn and impatient sometimes….comes with the territory! Hopefully the blister is recovering now.
I have definitely lamented about my previous runner self…I was never a super high mileage runner but my easy pace when I started was WAY faster than what it is now. A few injuries set me back for a few years, but now I feel like I’m much healthier and stronger and able to surpass where I was when I first started. I think you will make it back to where you were but unfortunately, it takes a long time. I admire how much work you’ve put in to get back – so I don’t think it won’t take too long! Keep doing what you’re doing!
I think if nothing else I am much more in tune with my body than I was a few years ago. I hope that being more aware will help me to be able to safely build back some mileage, but we’ll see.
Thank you for writing this post. I am struggling with getting back into running shape after taking a couple months off due to pain in my knees, shins, and hips, and it’s so much harder than I expected. I am having a hard time letting go of my pre-injury paces and adjusting to my new normal pace. 🙁 Some days are better than others but I definitely get down on myself sometimes. It helps to know I’m not the only one!
You are definitely not the only one! I haven’t even been able to compare paces to where I was before because I don’t let myself even go there. I feel more confident that I can get my speed back eventually, its being able to run consistently without breaking down that I struggle with. I keep reminding myself that its better to run less and be healthy/pain free, than running a whole lot of mileage with a body that is breaking down.
Of course I have made some really bad decisions when it comes to running (swimming, cycling). But as I get older I am trying to be much better. This latest injury, however, really threw me and having that ache for months and then doing my regeneration therapy (and not running for 3 months) keeps it very fresh in my head. I am keeping myself to ONLY 3 days of running and giving at least 1 day in between. Also not running longer than 30 minutes for now and probably won’t increase that much in the next month just to be extra careful. It’s hard but if I mess this up, then I have no one to blame but myself, ya know?
I know what you mean, and Ive felt the same way! However, I wouldn’t say that you need to take all the blame if it starts hurting again. I feel like Ive had times where I thought I was being really smart and still had a setback, and I was always blaming myself which is exhausting. There are some things that are out of control, or other factors that we don’t necessarily know about or consider. I know you will do the best you can and will have a strong comeback.
I get so lazy on my rest days also! I feel like I can be so go-go-go with running, work, other hobbies that I don’t always take time to just relax. I hope things improve with the orthotics! I think that you’re smart to adjust your mindset on them – mindset has a huge role in injury recovery.
It’s so true! Any type of treatment will only work if we truly believe it will work.
My mileage is lower per month now, but I’m really enjoying my workouts, and training for road races. Having fun is the most important thing, right?
Definitely! We need to train in a way that makes us feel good.
OUch on the blister!! that really sucks!! Where is it? I know I totally missed the original post, sorry!
Its on the back of my heel! I got it a week ago Thursday when it was really humid, and then I ran again on Friday and made it worse. As its been healing its felt funny because of where it is (the skin gets tight and then when I walk it has to stretch out). I was able to run a little this week in different shoes and Im hoping I can get some runs in this weekend too, but Im not sure what Im gonna do long term about which shoes to wear with the orthotics.
You’ve got to be more forgiving with yourself. You will get back to where you were or reinvent yourself. You’ve got this! It will happen. I’m sure of it.
Thank you! I know it will happen eventually, its just taking much longer than I would like!
I don’t see a lot of time hop posts from running but when I was cleaning out my den last week I came upon some old calendars where I tracked my running. There were months were I had over 100 miles. To me that is just crazy cus that’s so far from where I am as a runner right now!
You’ll get back there!
Isn’t is weird to know we were able to do so much more? I guess things change with different phases of our lives and we just need to accept that.
Of course we get it. I would do the same thing. Well, depending on how much it hurt because I’m a big baby.
Also, are those Birkenstocks? They’re super cute. I want a pair.
Yes, they are birkenstocks! When I ran on Friday it didnt start hurting until the end. Then I had to run back to my car because it hurt more to walk. I should have taken your advice and run barefoot:)
I hope the orthotics work out for you. It’s always one thing or another, right? I’m facing a tough summer with this current ‘injury” issue that’s gonna have me sidelined…..
It really is always something! I know you are struggling right now but at least you figured out what was wrong sooner rather than later!
oh yes about the timehop! I look and think oh I was faster, looked younger etc. I can easily get caught up in that sort of mind set as well.
Its so hard not to compare yourself to where you used to be!
Comparison to your former self is always a challenge as a runner. And, I think coming back from an injury makes it even harder. I’ve spent most of this year in recovery and often wonder if I’m ever going clock a decent pace again. Hang in there!!
Its so hard! I hope you can get back to where you want to be as well. It sure it a long process!
Oh gosh, I could relate to so much here! I’ve been off running for months because of plantar fasciitis. I am literally working from home today because it is possible my orthotics will arrive in the mail. At the same time, I sometimes have total doubt that they will work! But they have to work! And TimeHop. TimeHop is just evil. Fingers crossed that you are running more soon and ME TOO. The orthotics help so so many people. I am choosing to believe they will help us too.
I really think so much of the healing and recovery is related to our mindset. Its SO hard to stay positive and hopeful after a long term injury. I know the orthotics will help us both, and even if we don’t like them we will eventually be strong enough to run without them. I try not to think of them as a crutch that I will use forever but as more of a temporary support. Good luck with your return to running!!