So I have recently gained a little perspective. For those who don’t know me, I classify myself as a “runner” much more so than a “triathlete.” This was probably best evidenced by improving 600 places during the run portion of my Ironman.
I am, quite honestly, currently in the worst shape of my life. I got a really bad case of PF about 5 months ago. Not only haven’t I run in 5 months, but I’ve done virtually no walking and about as little standing as possible. Even when I did walk, I used a cane for a couple of months.
Well, I’ve started up again and man does it suck. Who in their right mind would do this for exercise??? ; ^ ) My current plan is one mile a day for the first week. I’ve done a few runs already.
How are they going?
Lets put it this way. I stopped by our track group recently. My plan was to stretch and then run a mile. An old training partner of mine just finished his workout, so I did the cooldown with him. After finishing the mile I hobbled over to the fence and leaned on it while gasping for air for a good 5 minutes. “Hard workout today, Barry?” I’d hear from the locals. “No. A ran a mile…slow.”
How slow? Well…the actual pace wouldn’t mean much to you. But lets just say that it was the same pace that, last October, I could run for 15 miles…and not lean over and gasp for air. What used to be my long run pace has now become my 5k race pace.
Anyway, slow and steady is the plan. In about 4-6 weeks I shoul dget over the hump. I’ll keep you posted if you like.
I’m convinced the reason the average person does not enjoy running is exactly what you are describing. When you first start to run it is an unpleasant and possibly painful experience. If you compound that by many beginners’ tendency to overdo it and it is no wonder they hate the activity. When I try to describe to people that I can run for hours and never really think about it they look at me very oddly.
Chad
hope that the injury is behind you. Whenever anyone asks “how can you like running” or some variant I usually tell them that running only really sucks the first 1000 times or so, after that it is great.
My mom-in-law thinks I’m a masochist. I tell her, “the problem is when I say I ran 10 miles, you imagine what it would feel like if YOU ran 10 miles. Trust me. I’d never run if it felt like that.”
It i sinteresting what you bring up. Its hard to imagine that 9 minutes is a workout, but that is ALL I am doing right now. I know that I’m better off running 9 minutes a day, EVERY day, this week rather than two very painful 30 minute runs. Next week will (likely) be 13 minutes runs, then 18 the week after that…etc.
First, I am happy you are doing better. Always enjoy your insight.
Second, I would be willing to bet that over the long run you will find this new perspective to be incredibly important as you deal with other people (in terms of helping/coaching them) in the future.
As someone who took 15+ years off and returned to triathlon in “the worst shape of my life” about 3-4 years ago I would say that being in both places gives you a true appreciation for “fitness” as you climb the mountain. And sometimes the distance between “the best shape” and “the worst shape” can be an advantage in relating to all the people on that much larger spectrum.
I have friends and current and former coachs who’s “worst shape in their life” has never approached the “best shape of my life” and on some levels I am envious and on other levels I wonder if they are not missing out on something special.
You probably know more than anyone–your articles have been very insightful–but be patient and persistent and you’ll build it back. Happy training.
Just think how fast I’d be if I actually followed my own advice! ; ^ )
Seriously, when I coach myself, I’m most successful when I look at my logs and pretend I’m giving someone else advice. Then I just do whatever I told that imaginary person to do.
Your comeback could make a good series of articles here on Slowtwitch, week by week updates perhaps? There must be a lot of people here in a similar situation without your knowledge to guide them.
I hope all goes well for you on your return to running, keep us posted.
I’m familiar with that feeling (too many stress fractures… I know that feeling too well)
Glad you’re back and running did you water run at all while you were injured? swim? bike? or are you totally and completely out of shape (tc is just curious)
that’s exactly it. On the few occasions when I’ve had to start after a long layoff, I always think, “ya know I’d stop running if it always felt like this”.
The longest layoff in the last ten years was six weeks, to heal a calf muscle tear. I biked and water-ran, the first run was a 10k in the Boulder tri which surprisingly felt fine.
my first run ever, I did 3k, starting at dumb-teenager-immortal speed. At 1.5k stopped and puked, waited a few minutes and then jog/walked home. Next day I started a bit slower…
Barry, good news indeed! I had nasty PF Feb-Mar last year, really
hobbled thru the summer, started to run a little better by Sept,
followed your advice thru the fall and voila had a 10k PR last month.
May not feel like it now but take my advice…no wait that works the
other way 'round
Thank for your work on running here. Your breakdowns of running intensity helped me to make huge strides this year. I came back into the sport a few years ago and doing the learn to run portion was the hardest part.
At least you know that when your are back you will fly by the rest of us who will always have lead feet.
Barry, I’m curious as to why are you planning to run every day (even if it is for a short effort). Given what you’re recovering from, I’d think that you would allow sufficient recovery time between runs; especially when starting from “scratch”. Whenever I take even a few weeks off, my muscles are always very tight when starting back up. I’ve kept PF at bay for 10 years now (mine also started w/ a severe case), which I largely attribute to rarely running on consecutive days.
As someone who started running semi-seriously in the last 2-3 years I can relate to your experience.I think patience is the key in becoming a better runner.
I hope you come back stronger.
Good Luck
“How slow? Well…the actual pace wouldn’t mean much to you. But lets just say that it was the same pace that, last October, I could run for 15 miles…and not lean over and gasp for air. What used to be my long run pace has now become my 5k race pace.”
It’s all relative. The pace you’re now running may be really fast to some people and ridiculously slow to others. I’m not fast at all, but in the race series I completed last Saturday there were many people who would be happy to run my regular easy training pace. You have a base of many years and once you get your legs back you will likely ramp back up to close to your regular pace in short order. However, how much did you let yourself go as far as getting totally out of shape? Did you gain lots of weight? If you’ve been a total couch potato for the past 5 months it may take longer to get it back.
Take heart, Barry…it should only take you a month or two of plowing through the slowdrums to get some semblance of running fitness back. In December I was in worse shape than I’d been in many, many years after taking last year off from racing to focus on retirement from the military. The first few weeks of January really sucked. I felt exactly like you’re describing. I hoped that wasn’t going to last too long.
As you well know…consistency is key…I’ve focused on getting my runs in rain, shine or otherwise. I even put a LIGHT speed workout in the mix after a few weeks. Now, two months into it, I think I might be in decent shape for an early April 10k…and leading into Desoto TTT…I think I’ve got a pretty good run base building.
4-6 weeks sounds about right to get over the hump…
did you water run at all while you were injured? swim? bike? or are you totally and completely out of shape (tc is just curious)
which surprisingly felt fine.