Going With The Flow

Oh Andrea, so sorry to hear about this. If you are able to run 4-5 miles/day every couple of days or so you won't lose much fitness (or at least as quickly) for a couple of weeks. Not exactly the same thing, but Greg talks about this in his marathon recovery article: http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=12469

"train smarter, not harder" (a quote that a physiologist with the Mammoth Group has on his wall and one that Deena Kastor quotes often)

Thanks Bonnie. I'm just frustrated. I thought I had this beat - it hasn't hurt in over a month and didn't bother me at all during the marathon. My back has been tighter the last week, but I'm not really sure why. I'm finally ready to get my mileage back up, then the pain just came back yesterday and feels as bad as ever! That's the problem with back injuries - they are so hard to fix and can cause a lot of other injuries like the hamstring strain.

Thanks for the article. I think I will be able to maintain some sort of fitness...it's off season anyways. Better to try to fix it now and lose a little fitness than have it turn into a major injury where I can't run at all. Gotta keep telling myself this!!

I could introduce you to spin bikes, ellipticals or stairmasters if you want. :) They work well when running isn't an option. I hope the hamstring feels better soon.

Sorry about the hamstring! Good luck with your recovery.

sometimes coming back after a marathon takes time and patience -- read my blog from the end of september until now and you will see i just *barely* started hitting normalish mileage weeks again. it took me 2.5 months! sometimes the body bounces right back, and other times it says "wait a minute, you just put me through hell. give me some time."

you are right in that it's better to take some down time now when it's easy (inversion, cold -- perfect off season weather!) than to still be dealing with this when you are trying to ramp up for racing in 2012.

good luck and i hope everything recovers quickly. try an eggnog soak. ;)

Just signed up for a 7-day free pass to 24 hour fitness. Spin class + body pump + stair climber = bring it on. As long as I'm good for a long New Years Eve run, I'll be happy!

Sweet. The sugar house gym is probably the worst but I still go there because it's the most convenient. Britney is the best spin instructor and she teaches the 5:45 am spin class at sugar house and the 6 am class at the 9th east (54th south) location.

I've had the same injury on and off for the last 3 years. The thing that I've found to be most effective is. Laying on your stomach and having someone else use the "stick" and roll it up and down the hammy very slow and with as much pressure as you can handle. When mine starts to ache I'll have my wife roll it out hard for a few days and it's kept me out running.

I know how frustrating it is to not be completely healthy, even on a "recovery" cycle, but I know you'll be able to bounce back when you start training hard again. Use this time to relax, rest, cross train if necessary and most importantly to heal so you can be 100% for 2012. Hang in there!

Hope it resolves itself soon. I know this road all to well. So frustrating!

Those classes will keep you going! Down time is fun time - go enjoy some things you don't normally get to do when running high miles. Cross train to keep your sanity, but do a little indulging and Allie is right about how long sometimes the body needs for recovery. This past marathon kicked my rear end and I'm approaching a 2.5 month recovery myself. Also a little healing a day is the key. Even the smallest amount of progress is a step in the right direction.

Andrea, if you ever have a long weekend you need to come out this way, I can introduce you someone who can evaluate what is going on with you (John our ART guy) -- many of the US elites come see him (the Halls, Lauren Fleshman, all the McMillan runners, and many more ...). Going to his office is like going to the who's-who in distance running, throwing, triathloning, etc.

He is not expensive (and takes insurance). I swear, if you come and give him a couple days he can help...

Bonnie - is John located in Phoenix? We are coming down that way to see my parents, but not until early February.

yes, he is in Chandler ... you most definitely have to see him when you are here. I will come up and see you too!! I will make sure they fit you in ... the unfortunate thing about "word getting out" is that he is very busy ;-). You will like him. You can read about Lauren Fleshman's experience here: http://asklaurenfleshman.com/journal/2011/04/13/when-4-days-in-phoenix-turns-into-20/

interesting.. i have heard of him (through your blog, Lauren Fleshman's, etc - you are in elite company Bonnie!). My parents actually live in Chandler. We're in town the second weekend on February for a long weekend.