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The grass is always greener

Carissa Liebowitz

Entry posted by Carissa Liebowitz ·

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Yesterday was better. I listened to a podcast that talked about sitting all day and biomechanics. It got me thinking even more that I want to blame my desk job for my injury issues. And also for my lackluster runs lately.

In any case, I am slowly building up to standing more frequently at work. Much like running, I risk doing more damage of doing too much, too soon. But I’m also anxious to get back to where standing 8 hours a day isn’t a big deal. It would be far easier if I were able to wander around, but I think that is just me wishing for something that I don’t really want.

Can’t I have all the physical aspects of retail back, but leave the pesky hours and people drama behind?

I’m happy that after my short walk and dynamic warm-up that I did feel a little better. I was a bit worried because it was run #4 in a row. Something I wasn’t even considering doing until 2016. I had been a 4 day a week runner until 2015 which meant usually I would have a rest day every other day or every second day. Rare was the time that I would run 3 times in a row.

It’s a balance, that’s for sure. I felt most confident when I was running 5 days a week and 6 seemed to nearing my breaking point. I think I could sustain 6 if I were training for a goal race AND I learned to actually run at a recovery pace.

I’m still trying to figure that one out. I am being forced by my own body to run in the mid-8s right now and it feels like a tempo pace much of the time. I’ve had a few days that it seems a little easier and it gives me hope.

The niggles of pain still creep up on me and sometimes I get scared when I feel my shin get angry or my foot is tender. Walking is mostly normal and I don’t give it a second thought much anymore, but I do have days that everything seems to be a bit tired and sore. As much as I want to feel healed and strong and ready to roll again, I still have so much more time to get through while that happens.

Which is a funny thing. This time. It’s often hurry up and wait. When I was in the boot, I couldn’t wait to get out of it. If I could just run, I would be so happy! And I was incredibly grateful for those first few runs. But now that I’ve settled back in to some degree, I’m restless to feel effortless. And maybe this is the reason we keep training, we keep signing up for races. We only remember the things that were good and block out a lot of what was bad.

I’m still trying to find joy in the journey. Yesterday, I came up over the bridge and was so happy that everything seemed to be working much better than the day before. My FF and FT were far happier and it just felt like a much easier effort. I noticed a big puffy white cloud in the sky and broke out into a grin.

I laughed at myself when I walked back to the car, sweat burning in my eyes because I couldn’t fathom the additional heat of a hat or buff. I so desperately wished it was cooler and then remembered how much I hate running with a headlamp.

A few short miles with the headlamp can be okay on a training run. Heck, even during a race, I seem to deal with is reasonable okay (maybe I’m blocking this out?). But longer training runs with a headlamp are awful. I think when I lose out on the scenery and the footing, I just would rather be a treadmill drone.

But winter is indeed coming. As it does every year. And I will be happy for six weeks when the sunlight is still enough in the evenings, but the temperatures (pretty please!) start to drop.

And I’m hoping that with the temperatures dropping, I will slowly start to feel stronger again. I’ve got a hefty race schedule over the next 9 months.

  • Augusta Relay 70.3 - 13.1 run leg on 9/23

  • Hinson Lake 24 - aka-try-to-not-be-a-dumbass on 9/29

  • New York City Marathon on 11/4

  • Rehoboth Beach Marathon on 12/8

  • A 50K+ in January or February 2019 (a requirement for GDR)

  • Georgia Death Race on 3/30/19

  • BostonMarathon on 4/15/19

  • Everest Marathon on 5/29/19

I’m both excited and nervous. I’m hoping that I make it to Everest feeling fit and ready and not injured and broken. Obviously Boston will be whatever it is. But I do want to continue my BQ streak and solidify a race time that gets me into 2020. The funny thing is that while I’d love to have a good, strong effort, I’d be thrilled to just have a chance to do it again. I’ve got a year to get it done.

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NCAthlete

I hope that day, that you don't have to worry about any of the aches and pains again, comes soon! I understand a little on how that feels. Can't wait to read about your upcoming races!

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Gonzo Runner

I think that drive, that always wanting more and convincing ourselves to forget the hard parts and focus on only the good, is what separates the people who push and #doepicshit and those who read about it and say "I wish". 

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ocrunnergirl

It's hard becoming unbroken.  I've pulled out so many training plans just to crumple them up and throw them away. All I can say is that I'm better than I was a tear ago but still 100%. I dream of running 6 days in a row. It's my favorite training.

Sending you magic healing pixie dust.

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DrWhiskers

I agree about the headlamp. It's not terrible but definitely takes away from the experience. 

Glad to read about your comeback, no matter how slow it is! 

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mattw

Quite the race schedule. Do be careful with those. We won't scorn you for a DNS.

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SIbbetson

Wowzers on the race plans!

I've actually learned that I do better injury-wise running more days.  It's counter-intuitive, but I think more consistent running is better for some people.  I used to do 4-5 days a week and think any more than that I'd break, but now I do 7 and feel better.  We are all an experiment of 1, but I wanted to share because I'd have never believed this for myself had I not seen it happen.

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Carissa Liebowitz
14 hours ago, SIbbetson said:

Wowzers on the race plans!

I've actually learned that I do better injury-wise running more days.  It's counter-intuitive, but I think more consistent running is better for some people.  I used to do 4-5 days a week and think any more than that I'd break, but now I do 7 and feel better.  We are all an experiment of 1, but I wanted to share because I'd have never believed this for myself had I not seen it happen.

That's definitely food for thought and a good insight! I think if I were good about keeping my recovery miles actually at a recovery pace, this would be possible. Especially now that I'm a slave to the desk. Perhaps once I get really consistent again, I will give it a whirl for a couple of weeks. 

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RunEatRalph

Some of the things you write seem like they are being pulled straight from my own head. You and I are definitely on the same path. Hopefully it leads to good runs in Rehoboth.

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SIbbetson
6 hours ago, Carissa Liebowitz said:

That's definitely food for thought and a good insight! I think if I were good about keeping my recovery miles actually at a recovery pace, this would be possible. Especially now that I'm a slave to the desk. Perhaps once I get really consistent again, I will give it a whirl for a couple of weeks. 

Yep, easy miles easy is key.  Most of my running is 1:00-1:15 slower than marathon pace.  You might consider a standing desk too - I'm sure you have already considered it!

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Slow_Running

I immediately stood up upon reading the first line here, so thanks for that. Lately I've been thinking that I don't stand as much at work as I used to so I'd be interested in that podcast.  Slow process, but the worry will fade each month.  It was a 9 month on/off process for me, but once the cause was identified it was possible to break free from the injury cycle.  That worry comes back with every little niggle but it fades just as quick.

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Carissa Liebowitz
16 minutes ago, Slow_Running said:

I immediately stood up upon reading the first line here, so thanks for that. Lately I've been thinking that I don't stand as much at work as I used to so I'd be interested in that podcast.  Slow process, but the worry will fade each month.  It was a 9 month on/off process for me, but once the cause was identified it was possible to break free from the injury cycle.  That worry comes back with every little niggle but it fades just as quick.

The podcast link: http://lindseyhein.com/20180427-8259/episode-117-jackie-merritt/

Jackie is a pretty well-known ultrarunner here in the ATL area so this episode was even more interesting to me. 

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Carissa Liebowitz
16 hours ago, SIbbetson said:

Yep, easy miles easy is key.  Most of my running is 1:00-1:15 slower than marathon pace.  You might consider a standing desk too - I'm sure you have already considered it!

I do have one! I actually got it right around the time I was injured the first time which was super sad. Using it again when I got out of the boot was almost like returning to running! Baby steps.....

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