Sunday, October 23, 2011

Am I Meant to be Runner?

Ok, this is a whiny post but I'll try and keep it brief.  Over the weekend I pulled a calf muscle again; the same one I did in August.  What's frustrating is I posted last week about how I had a plan with speed work and now I'm injured again.

I'm hoping to lay low for two weeks and still run the Women's Half Marathon in two weeks.  I know it's a risk to run it and make it worse during the race. I have two weeks to decide what to do.

This leads me to the question Am I meant to be a runner?  I've had various injuries off and on this year and am wondering if I'm really not meant to be a runner.   Maybe I need to run only 2-3 days a week and make biking or something else more prominent than the running.  I could try yoga and at home DVD's.  I know there are lots of options and I can explore them.  I'm not sure what to do and I know there isn't an answer to the question.

Do you ever feel like maybe you just aren't meant to be a runner?

Happy Running!

8 comments:

RunToTheFinish said...

it's very frustrating, but I think we all have a workout style that is best for us. Some folks stay injury free on 2-3 days and others can do 7 days a week. It stinks if running is what you really want to do, but I know that adding yoga and biking made a huge difference in decreasing my injuries.

hope this goes away quick and you can enjoy your race!

Aimswa said...

I just stumbled on your blog and right away the first headline caught my eye. I've also struggled with a lot of injuries and my friends/family keep asking that question and saying those words: maybe you weren't meant to run. After a couple threats of surgery I put up my running shoes for a bit and started a Crossfit program (cross training on crack). It brought me back. Don't hang up your shoes yet, look into some other strengthening and stretching cross training options! Good luck! I'm doing the Women's Running Magazine Half in a few weeks as well! My story best summed up: http://aimswa.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-run-to-be-better.html

Anne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anne said...

I found your blog by googling "not meant to be a runner". I, like you, seem to get injured over and over again. It has taken its toll on me and has gotten to the point where I am sort of resenting running. I feel like I've forgotten how good it feels to run pain free, because it doesn't happen for very long periods of time before something else happens. What I do doesn't seem to help: slower, more yoga, more cross training, more stretching, less stretching, walk breaks, whatever. I still end up having to take weeks and even months off, only to have to start back from scratch. So frustrating.

Anyway, sorry for venting on your blog. I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in these thoughts...

The Green Girl said...

::huge hugs:: I know exactly what you mean. Just because we weren't born with 'perfect' biomechanics doens't mean we aren't meant to be runners.

We still have a love for running in our hearts, right? And the challenges make us appreciate running even more.

Bob A said...

I've not been plagued by constant injuries, but in a 15 day period during the past 2 months, I turned my right ankle twice — first on one Monday and then Monday 2 weeks later. It has made me wonder if maybe I should just hang up my shoes and quit. But, frankly, I can hardly imagine not running.

Lesley Looper said...

I've been struggling with the same question lately. I've had this identity as a runner for several years now. With injuries over the past few years, and now graduate school thrown into the mix, I haven't actually run in a while. Now I find I miss the exercise mostly. In terms of running, I miss doing the 5Ks I did when I first started. I'm beginning to think it's time for a reboot of my whole exercise program. Starting over and returning to 5Ks (and other short distances) sounds like fun to me now, partly because my free time is so much less now with library school in the mix.

Some time ago, I registered for the City of Oaks Half Marathon coming up on Nov. 6. Gonna let that one go for sure, and see what happens after that. "Something" will happen, just not sure what yet. (George and I have even talked about taking up a martial art together. I like the idea of the belt system, with goals/benchmarks built in.)

Black Knight said...

I am sorry and I hope you heal quickly. This was my same question many times.
I learned the following lessons (but remember I am 55 y.o.):
1) Not to run more than 2 days in a row and the second must be easy;
2) No training the day after a race or a long distance run;
3) No more speedworks, Only tempo runs or races;
4) In case more swimming and less running.
For now it works.