Time off/time on

[Brian Jones]

Over the years, I have noticed that I go long periods
without posting here, and mostly when I do post, it is
because what I have to say is of no interest to most people.

Now, I don't assume, or even believe, that this will be just
compelling as heck to you, but here goes. In my 5 or 6 years
of serious running, I have never taken more than a week off.
Until now. One month ago today was my last run. I have been
dealing with an Achilles tendon that was misbehaving, and I
stopped running on Dr's orders. In the past month, I have
used tons of ice and bottles of ibuprofen. I have had
ultrasound (and other chiropractic) treatments. I have
stretched my calves like there was no tomorrow.

I had planned to run the Twin Cities Marathon (my second)
in October. I was depressed. My wife has been getting
stronger and faster in preparation for a half-marathon, and
all this was killing me. This week, I began to have running
dreams. Really.

Today I ran (they told me I could). It was just 2.1
miles, but it felt good, and it still feels good. For now
I will run 3 times a week, slow and short. But, oh, I
can't tell you how good it feels to run again. I smiled
the whole 2.1 miles.

I am hoping that I can still run TCM in October, but I will
have to feel the situation out over the summer.

This is the first running injury I have ever had that really
slowed me down. For those of you who run injury free all the
time, congratulations. Appreciate that gift. For those of
you who have suffered, I am with you.

Maybe the dreams will stop now.

Brian Jones

[Dan Stumpus]

I remember dreaming about running my favorite trails when I
wasn't able to run a few years back.

It feels so good to get back to it...and it takes almost
nothing to get that great relaxed mood going.

My money says you'll be able to make October, provided
you gradually ramp up, and hold off any speed until
September. In the meantime -- stretch and ice to keep the
demons at bay.

My advice to the gallery: never run on a sore Achilles! Stop
and walk home. If you catch the injury immediately, it
responds quickly to ice. If you try and run through it,
you're in for weeks of mental anguish (I learned this the
hard way many moons ago).

-- Dan

"Brian Jones" <firstpres@turtlecreek.net> wrote in message
news:W%Lxc.21$_C6.2111@bcandid.telisphere.com...
> Over the years, I have noticed that I go long periods
> without posting
here,
> and mostly when I do post, it is because what I have to
> say is of no interest to most people.
>
> Now, I don't assume, or even believe, that this will be
> just compelling as heck to you, but here goes. In my 5 or
> 6 years of serious running, I have never taken more than a
> week off. Until now. One month ago today was my last run.
> I have been dealing with an Achilles tendon that was
misbehaving,
> and I stopped running on Dr's orders. In the past month, I
> have used tons
of
> ice and bottles of ibuprofen. I have had ultrasound (and
> other chiropractic) treatments. I have stretched my calves
> like there was no tomorrow.
>
> I had planned to run the Twin Cities Marathon (my second)
> in October. I
was
> depressed. My wife has been getting stronger and faster in
> preparation
for
> a half-marathon, and all this was killing me. This week, I
> began to have running dreams. Really.
>
> Today I ran (they told me I could). It was just 2.1 miles,
> but it felt good, and it still feels good. For now I will
> run 3 times a week, slow
and
> short. But, oh, I can't tell you how good it feels to run
> again. I
smiled
> the whole 2.1 miles.
>
> I am hoping that I can still run TCM in October, but I
> will have to feel
the
> situation out over the summer.
>
> This is the first running injury I have ever had that
> really slowed me
down.
> For those of you who run injury free all the time,
> congratulations. Appreciate that gift. For those of you
> who have suffered, I am with you.
>
> Maybe the dreams will stop now.
>
> Brian Jones

[Onemarathon]

In article <W%Lxc.21$_C6.2111@bcandid.telisphere.com>,
"Brian Jones" <firstpres@turtlecreek.net> wrote:

> Over the years, I have noticed that I go long periods
> without posting here, and mostly when I do post, it
> is because what I have to say is of no interest to
> most people.
>
> Now, I don't assume, or even believe, that this will be
> just compelling as heck to you, but here goes. In my 5 or
> 6 years of serious running, I have never taken more than a
> week off. Until now. One month ago today was my last run.
> I have been dealing with an Achilles tendon that was
> misbehaving, and I stopped running on Dr's orders. In the
> past month, I have used tons of ice and bottles of
> ibuprofen. I have had ultrasound (and other chiropractic)
> treatments. I have stretched my calves like there was no
> tomorrow.
>
> I had planned to run the Twin Cities Marathon (my second)
> in October. I was depressed. My wife has been getting
> stronger and faster in preparation for a half-marathon,
> and all this was killing me. This week, I began to have
> running dreams. Really.
>
> Today I ran (they told me I could). It was just 2.1
> miles, but it felt good, and it still feels good. For now
> I will run 3 times a week, slow and short. But, oh, I
> can't tell you how good it feels to run again. I smiled
> the whole 2.1 miles.
>
> I am hoping that I can still run TCM in October, but I
> will have to feel the situation out over the summer.
>
> This is the first running injury I have ever had that
> really slowed me down. For those of you who run injury
> free all the time, congratulations. Appreciate that gift.
> For those of you who have suffered, I am with you.
>
> Maybe the dreams will stop now.
>
> Brian Jones
>
>

Brian,

I sympathize with your situation. I've had forced layoffs,
most notably near the end of each race season, after pushing
myself hard while not taking care of tight muscles, etc
enough. As a result I usually ended up with some form of
illiotibial band syndrome combined with piriformis. After
fall of 2002, I had to take over a month off to take care of
this, and that was tough. But luckily at that time I was
working on the OTHER aspects of doing a triathlon, so the
swimming and biking kept me fit and occupied. Then this past
winter, without any real NEED to take a break.... I did
anyway. I was just feeling tired - of running, I guess - and
needed a breather, and a change. so I concentrated on other
sports again for a while, and when I felt ready.... and
really wanting to run again, I eased back into it. And you
know, even though I used to love long distance running, like
the half marathon and marathon, I found that sort of
training didn't agree with my body too much. It took a lot
of maintenance at that time.

Now I'm sticking with running three days a week, keeping the
mileage at or under 10k each time out, and guess what....
I'm seeing speed gains that I haven't experienced in three
years. I just beat my PR in the 5K, which was set three
years ago, and without any fancy training beyond tempo runs
and some fartlek. Enjoy that break. It's there for a reason.
Let the running muscles fully heal and rejuvenate. Same with
the running part of the mind. Give it a rest and you'll come
back to it with more enthusiasm than ever.

Best of luck with the recovery,

Cam

[Donovan Rebbech]

On 2004-06-09, Brian Jones <firstpres@turtlecreek.net> wrote:

[snip]

Been there, done that, AT problems are a *****. Great to see
you back again.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

[Colm]

I know how you feel. I ran a nice easy 8 miles yesterday, my
first run in 3 weeks following a calf injury. It felt great
:-) I didn't dream about running while injured though. I
looked on the 3 week break (and I did take a *total* break
from all exertion) as an opportunity for my body to
recuperate. I don't believe it will do any harm at all. As
long as you don't push too hard in the next month or so your
goals for the autumn shouldn't need to change. Good luck
with the recovery and the marathon program.

--
Colm

"Brian Jones" <firstpres@turtlecreek.net> wrote in message
news:W%Lxc.21$_C6.2111@bcandid.telisphere.com...
> I had planned to run the Twin Cities Marathon (my second)
> in October. I
was
> depressed. My wife has been getting stronger and faster in
> preparation
for
> a half-marathon, and all this was killing me. This week, I
> began to have running dreams. Really.
>
> Today I ran (they told me I could). It was just 2.1 miles,
> but it felt good, and it still feels good. For now I will
> run 3 times a week, slow
and
> short. But, oh, I can't tell you how good it feels to run
> again. I
smiled
> the whole 2.1 miles.

[Runners World]

"Brian Jones" <firstpres@turtlecreek.net> wrote in message news:<W%Lxc.21$_C6.2111@bcandid.telisphere.com>...
> Over the years, I have noticed that I go long periods
> without posting here, and mostly when I do post, it
> is because what I have to say is of no interest to
> most people.
>

At least you are remaing consistent. zzz zzzz zzz

[Amh]

"Brian Jones" <firstpres@turtlecreek.net> wrote in message news:<W%Lxc.21$_C6.2111@bcandid.telisphere.com>...
> Over the years, I have noticed that I go long periods
> without posting here,
>
> This is the first running injury I have ever had that
> really slowed me down. For those of you who run injury
> free all the time, congratulations. Appreciate that gift.
> For those of you who have suffered, I am with you.

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm dealing with patellar
tendonitis. Seems my hip flexors and other assorted muscles
are tight as a drum. The pt's are doing their thing and as
long as my muscles do their thing I be back soon. But the
dr. ok'ed cycling so I can still get my fix of sore muscles
and lactic acid.

My first day back I'm going to run 10 miles in celebration!
No really I'm going to do as you did and run my 2 miles with
a broad smile on my face.

Andy
>
> Maybe the dreams will stop now.
>
> Brian Jones

[ahass]

You have plenty of time to get back in shape, as long as the
injury goes away and stays away. Chin up! Andy Hass

[Jm]

Brian,

As many have said, "You need to discover the runner you are"

So true. What works for you may not work for me but that is
a normal thought process for the runner. In my opinion, its
what makes us such an independent group. No one out there
when we run, just ourselves, the patter of our feet, and the
rhythm of our breathing. Its always interesting in the group
to read the testimonials to self descovery. Myself I have
found that running a 10K every other day is a good weekly
volume for this 48 year old body but I also know I am open
minded and look for other "programs" that will help me enjoy
the sport I love.

Good luck and keep the group informed on what you find out
about your running. My long term goal is to run until I turn
90, or until running works its way into my dreams... lol.

Jim

"Brian Jones" <firstpres@turtlecreek.net> wrote in message
news:W%Lxc.21$_C6.2111@bcandid.telisphere.com...
> Over the years, I have noticed that I go long periods
> without posting
here,
> and mostly when I do post, it is because what I have to
> say is of no interest to most people.
>
> Now, I don't assume, or even believe, that this will be
> just compelling as heck to you, but here goes. In my 5 or
> 6 years of serious running, I have never taken more than a
> week off. Until now. One month ago today was my last run.
> I have been dealing with an Achilles tendon that was
misbehaving,
> and I stopped running on Dr's orders. In the past month, I
> have used tons
of
> ice and bottles of ibuprofen. I have had ultrasound (and
> other chiropractic) treatments. I have stretched my calves
> like there was no tomorrow.
>
> I had planned to run the Twin Cities Marathon (my second)
> in October. I
was
> depressed. My wife has been getting stronger and faster in
> preparation
for
> a half-marathon, and all this was killing me. This week, I
> began to have running dreams. Really.
>
> Today I ran (they told me I could). It was just 2.1 miles,
> but it felt good, and it still feels good. For now I will
> run 3 times a week, slow
and
> short. But, oh, I can't tell you how good it feels to run
> again. I
smiled
> the whole 2.1 miles.
>
> I am hoping that I can still run TCM in October, but I
> will have to feel
the
> situation out over the summer.
>
> This is the first running injury I have ever had that
> really slowed me
down.
> For those of you who run injury free all the time,
> congratulations. Appreciate that gift. For those of you
> who have suffered, I am with you.
>
> Maybe the dreams will stop now.
>
> Brian Jones

[Eddy Eagle]

"Colm" <colmgall@gofree.indigo.ie> wrote in message news:<2iqv2tFp87n1U1@uni-berlin.de>...
> I know how you feel. I ran a nice easy 8 miles yesterday,
> my first run in 3 weeks following a calf injury. It felt
> great :-) I didn't dream about running while injured
> though. I looked on the 3 week break (and I did take a
> *total* break from all exertion) as an opportunity for my
> body to recuperate. I don't believe it will do any harm at
> all. As long as you don't push too hard in the next month
> or so your goals for the autumn shouldn't need to change.
> Good luck with the recovery and the marathon program.
>
> --
> Colm
>
>
> "Brian Jones" <firstpres@turtlecreek.net> wrote in message
> news:W%Lxc.21$_C6.2111@bcandid.telisphere.com...
> > I had planned to run the Twin Cities Marathon (my
> > second) in October. I
> was
> > depressed. My wife has been getting stronger and faster
> > in preparation
> for
> > a half-marathon, and all this was killing me. This week,
> > I began to have running dreams. Really.
> >
> > Today I ran (they told me I could). It was just 2.1
> > miles, but it felt good, and it still feels good. For
> > now I will run 3 times a week, slow
> and
> > short. But, oh, I can't tell you how good it feels to
> > run again. I
> smiled
> > the whole 2.1 miles.

The first run or two back after a time out usually does feel
great. You proved nothing. That Achilles pain could come
right back. You are still dreaming.