Happy Global Running Day! I always like to use this day to appreciate running and think about what it means to me. That usually includes thinking back on my running over the years. This year I’ve been thinking about running challenges I’ve overcome. I hope you will share what running means to you or some of the running challenges that you have overcome!
Waking up Early to Run
I think my first running challenge was finding time to run. This was difficult when I started graduate school in 2006. My schedule was all over the place and I had classes in the evenings and had to do homework at night. I also worked full time and one of the years I had an internship. I learned that the only way I could keep up with running consistently was by waking up early to run. At first it was a difficult transition but as you know I am now an early riser naturally!
You may also like: How to Become a Morning Runner
Giving up Mentally in Races
Another challenge I’ve faced with my running is giving up mentally in races. The race that stands out to me with this is the Baltimore Marathon in 2013. It was humid and hilly. I was pretty well trained, but went out too fast. The course goes up, then down, then up, then down. Well, by the time I got to the second half I had used up way too much energy by running fast on the first downhill. As we started to climb again I mentally gave up and started walking. Once you start taking walk breaks, its hard to stop. I finished the race, but my time was about 15 minutes slower than what I was trained for.
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Chronic Injuries
If you have been following my blog for awhile you may know that I spent many years injured. I call them chronic injuries because they weren’t “severe” but lasted a long time. My two hot spots were my left ankle and my right low back. These are still the areas I need to be careful with, especially my back. Every once in awhile I will notice them still but strength training has helped so much. Also just learning to properly activate my core.
Postpartum Running
While running while pregnant was a challenge, I knew it was temporary. Postpartum running was scary because I had a c-section and I had no idea how my injury-prone body would handle a return to running. I took things very slowly- I didn’t start running until around 9 weeks and did run/walk intervals for a few weeks. My first race wasn’t until 9 months postpartum. I still haven’t returned to the marathon. (I did complete a few half-marathons, but they were virtual ones). While most of my races have been virtual (only 2 live races sine having Grayson) I have unofficially PRd the 5k, 10k, and half-marathon.
Running with a Stroller
When I was pregnant I didn’t even register for a jogging stroller because I didn’t think I would use it. Boy was I wrong! After Grayson was born we decided it made sense to have one. We needed a regular stroller anyway (we just had an infant one) and I had dropped down to working part time so I knew I would have a little more time to run with him than I initially expected. Of course I used it alot during the pandemic when I was working from home! There were many challenges involved with stroller running: learning to push the stroller, timing our runs around naps and feedings, keeping him entertained in there, and adjusting as he kept gaining weight and got harder to push. But it’s all been worth it for all the miles we have gotten to run together!
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Running involves a lot of challenges, but overcoming them is one of the things that makes it so great. It always feels good to look back and see what you’ve overcome.
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What Running Has Taught Me: Global Running Day 2016
Global Running Day 2017
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10 Ways to (Virtually) Celebrate Global Running Day
What are running challenges that you have overcome?
How are you celebrating Global Running Day?
Now it’s time for the Runners’ Roundup! Link up your running and fitness posts below! Join myself, Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Runs with Pugs , and Laura Norris Running to post your favorite running tips, experiences, race and training recaps, workouts, gear, and coaching ideas.
I am with you on the chronic injuries, Lisa!
My weak spot is the Achilles. I used to ignore the pain but now I have learned to listen to my body better. And a gait analysis along with customized insoles helped a lot.
I wonder whether your lower back pain comes from an imbalance in the lower body?
I had problems with my achilles when I first started running. Luckily, it hasn’t been an issue in awhile! I actually think my low back pain is because of having a weak core and hip flexors. I had hip surgery in 2010 and I think I still have some imbalances from that.
This is such a great idea for a post! You’ve inspired me to write something similar in future. And I’m sure thinking about the challenges, also came with a sense of pride of how you were able to get through them and the lessons you gained along the way. I especially like how you adapted to stroller running and that you were still able to PR after Grayson was born!
It’s nice to look back and see what’s been accomplished over the years! It makes me feel like I can continue to do hard things as I face other challenges with my running.
Yes those challenges are real. You’ve done a great job conquering them.
I ran a marathon. That was a big one for me.
I run with others even if their pace is slower. More friends that way.
I run and race without my watch. Less pressure. More fun.
I have not conquered my foot pain but I still run.
I have not conquered that competitive mind. Want those age group awards.
I have not started to warm before or stretch after my runs.
Running a marathon is such a great accomplishment! I used to be better about warming up and stretching. I do it a little bit, and what I’ve been doing seems to be working well enough!
I have had a few chronic injuries as well in the hip area. It’s both mentally and physically challenging to get past them. Makes running even more of a gift
Yes that’s so true!
The chronic injuries used to get me. Thank goodness I’ve been (KNOCK ON WOOD!) injury-free for a considerable amount of time. It’s all the pre-hab I think. Or maybe I just stop before I get injured. 😉
So glad you’ve been injury free for so long! I get nervous even writing that I’ve been injury free because I don’t want to jinx it. I agree that the pre-hab definitely helps. And maybe we’ve gotten smarter about backing off when things start to act up!
Chronic injuries, yep. Good to know that you’ve been through it and feel you’ve conquered that problem (there’s hope!)
I like your point about giving up mentally- as soon as you allow yourself to take ONE walking break, suddenly you need to walk all the time. I used to struggle with that one more- now I just tell myself that I can slow down if i have to, but not walk. It really is all mental.
There is always hope, but I still am constantly worried that one of my injuries will come back. That’s a good strategy to slow down but not walk. The walking can really lead to everything falling apart because it can be so hard to start running again!
You probably know my two biggest challenges we’re rallying back from my emergency knee surgery (2017) and my recent stress fracture. Being sidelined was tough, but I was able to stay active while things healed. Returning to running, though, was both exciting but also scary. Thankfully, both rally-backs were successful. I don’t take anything for granted… every run is a gift & something to be grateful for.
It really is scary coming back from a big injury! And now I’m always worried that I will get hurt or that one of my injuries will come back.
I loved my baby jogger.
That mental game is a challenge. I’ve struggled with that a few times.
I’m currently dealing with some nagging low back pain but otherwise i am usually injury free.
I hope your back pain goes away! There’s such a range with how much it affects people. I actually feel like running doesn’t make it worse for me, so I can cut back my mileage and continue to run. Core work seems to help alot!
It’s great to hear how you’ve overcome these challenges. They are so relatable!
Thanks! Hopefully others can know they can overcome some of these challenges as well.
Coming back to running after pregnancy is a huge deal — and I know that having a child just changes your perspective on pretty much everything. Things that seemed so important no longer do. So good job keeping up with your running!
And running with a stroller — I can’t even imagine.
It’s funny, I have crashed and burned in many hot & humid races, and I’ve also somehow pulled out PRs from them. I’m not sure what the difference was between those races, quite frankly!
Running after becoming a mom has been a very different experience! That’s interesting that you have had some really good races when its hot and humid. Maybe less pressure because you expect it to feel hard?
You have definitely overcome quite a bit!
I’ve overcome three surgeries with loooong recovery periods (tonsillectomy – took me about 2.5 months; hardware in my broken leg – took me FOREVER; wisdom tooth extraction – ongoing).
And I’ve also overcome a lot of imposter syndrome. For some reason, I sometimes get it in my head that I don’t deserve a place at the running table.
Overcoming surgery is so tough! When I had hip surgery I took ALOT of time off of running. It’s interesting how much longer I had to take off for that than my c-section. I do think it helped make the return to running easier because I had done so much PT and cross-training by the time I started running again!
I think my biggest challenge has been my asthma and other breathing issues that I have during longer races. It’s hard to run when you can’t breathe. Even though I’ve run 39 marathons (and 50-something halves) I still struggle with this.
I bet that has been a huge challenge! Its pretty amazing that you have still been able to run so many marathons!
Running always throws some challenges at us! The biggest challenges for me have been injuries and now postpartum running!
Yes both of those are definitely big challenges when it comes to running!
You have done such a great job in overcoming these challenges! I am in awe of how many miles you can run with the stroller; it’s hard work!
Thank you! Stroller running is definitely hard work, but its been such a great way to get in more miles this past year!