So up until recently, the farthest distance I would typically run was 7 miles. There was a great 7-mile loop around the Bowdoin campus I would run once a week - maybe twice if I was feeling ambitious. But since living in Boston, I've found it SO much easier to run longer distances... without even really meaning to! Every Monday over the summer I would run a 10-mile loop around the Charles River, and just a couple weeks ago I ran from my home in Davis Square through Harvard Square to the Charles River and it was easily a 12-miler. It felt great - and I had no problems until just last week. Lately, I've been feeling some pressure in my shins - I've never had shin splints before (even through 8 years of school soccer and lacrosse seasons) and then TODAY I felt this cramping in my left calf muscle. It feels like its contracting and knotted up. I've been stretching constantly, and I can't figure out why I'm having these issues. I've taken all the precautions with my training. Changing up the types of exercise, trying to run on soft surfaces, not overdoing it with mileage... For the past two days I've taken it really easy, doing long, but light cross-training at the gym on the elliptical and lots of stretching. I just hope that I can run the distance tonight at our group run! I've been excited for it all week - the team is so much fun and it's great to run with a new group of people. It makes the distance pass by quickly and the Charles River is beautiful at night! I also love the social scene after the run - pizza and beer at crossroads ... so much fun.
If anyone can offer advice or tips on how to treat with these "injuries" or how to prevent them I'd love to hear it! Thanks!
No comments:
Post a Comment