Bumps in the Road

There is something wrong with my body. Is it true that we evolved as a running species? Did we rely on our natural abilities as endurance runners to attain food? If so, then I'm darn lucky that times have changed. Had I existed prior to the agricultural revolution, I wouldn't survive long at all. The tribe would surely realize what a liability I am and leave me behind to be eaten by large cats.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I've been working on building up my running base lately. I was feeling very positive starting out, thinking that by taking it gently and thinking positive, I would be able to avoid injury this time around. Unfortunately, my body still seems to be prone to injury, and I'm starting to feel the familiar sting of failure.

I officially started my 100-up challenge on April 25, and although I did my 30 days of 100-up, I haven't  done my follow-up "after" run due to a couple of set-backs. 

A run in mid-May set me up for an achilles flare-up that has since settled out quite well. I took a week off running then came back a little slower and re-vamped my running program. I'm chugging along now at a very slowly progressing program that I worked out myself. 

Things were going better until earlier this week when I started having some shin splints. They weren't too bad though, so I kept at the running, paying closer attention to my form, and practicing my "Chi Running" technique. A couple of days ago, I hopped down off a footstool and landed in such a way that a sharp pain shot through my whole leg, and things haven't been right since. I tried a little run yesterday just to see what would happen, and although the run itself didn't seem to cause too much pain, my leg THROBBED all day and night afterwards, and the pain was coming from the exact spot on my shin that I had hurt when I jumped off the stool.  Shoot.  No swelling though, so hopefully it'll be ok. Yikes. Obviously my big fear is that it's a stress fracture, but I don't really know how to tell if it is or isn't. 

My plan as of now is to take the next week off running and spend more time biking and learning to swim, then come back to running next week, a little farther back on my program. If the pain doesn't come back, I'll say a little prayer of thanks to the Gods of Running, perhaps sacrifice a goat, and keep on keepin on. If the pain returns, I suppose I'll have to seek the attention of some sort of professional.

I'm so glad I don't have to chase my food!