I am STOKED because I have Monica over here today!! I read and loved her blog FOREVER! When I was able to hangout with her this summer, I felt kind of creepy for already knowing so much about her:) Good thing she is so incredibly awesome in person too and didn’t mind my stalkerness.
—————————————————————–
Hi HRG Readers! My name is Monica and I write Run, Eat, Repeat. I became best friends with Janae over the summer (even though she doesn’t realize it) when she was staying in Orange County with her in-laws.
We bonded over frozen yogurt <3 During these fro-yo meet ups we would talk about running 50% of the time (the other 50% of the time was silent as we were devouring our food)!
Janae has recently had to deal with an injury and I can totally relate. I hurt my IT Band after my second marathon in January ‘10. I ran the Disney World Marathon and even though I had a bad race, finished okay. But, a few days later my knee started to hurt and I went to the doctor.
I ended up getting an MRI, being diagnosed with Illitobial Band Syndrome and going to Physical Therapy for 6 weeks.
My Physical Therapist said NO Running for 8 weeks. I was super depressed and didn’t know what to do with myself. So I drank.
Okay, not really. But, here’s how I did deal with it:
2. Focused on what I could do. I did my PT exercises, I took walks. When I was cleared to do more (but still no running) I went to Spinning and KB class.
3. I avoided some blogs. For some reason a few blogs made me feel bad about not being able to do certain things and I had to take them off my radar for a bit. It was about me, not anything wrong with the blog but I had to take care of my mental health in this way for a bit.
When you define yourself as a runner there is nothing worse than not being able to run. I’ve been there. But, it’s so important to take care of yourself and be patient.
I was able to start running again after about 8 weeks, but had to start off slow and with less mileage. Now when that knee feels weak I try to take it easy. The entire experience helped me get better in tune with my body’s signals. Now I pay closer attention to when my legs tell me they need a break.
If you have any questions on how much wine and chocolate it takes to get over an injury or how many cuss words I said when I found out I couldn’t run – feel free to hit me up at Run Eat Repeat!
Hope you are having an amazing Labor Day!!!
Ever had to do any of the four things that Monica had to do while injured?
-Yep, all four at least a million times….especially the whole venting thing, I am sorry you have all had to endure through that for so long!
26 comments
Maria @ Asphalt Tales
Thanks for this post! I actually had my first run yesterday after 4 weeks of not running thanks to an inflammed IT Band also. It was so frustrating not being able to go out there and running full out. But it was good to go out there.
Lauren
Great post, and it is SO hard NOT to run if you’re injured. I had some chest stitches a few weeks ago and was told not to run/do hard cardio for 2 weeks, so they could heal. It was hard (especially seeing other runners), but I wanted them to heal well and not have too much of a scar.
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn
Ahhhh I love youuuu!!! I miss your posts I have been so out of the loop the last week ahahaha but seirously I miss froyo more than life
Sarah OUaL
I’m still super depressed I missed that Yland date.
Nicole
I relied on walking and spinning when I landed my 2nd stress fracture, right after my first half marathon. But I was able to maintain some level of fitness and bounce back fairly well.
The venting I leave for my sister and other friends that are runners. They are the ones that understand.
Monica – been loving your blog as well! Just found it this past week. Thanks!
Nicole
The Kidless Kronicles
Wag More, Bark….
Lindsay @ Lindsay's List
Oh man, I want to meet up for fro-yo!! jealous!
Jessica @ rerunrunning
I’ve definitely done a few of those… vent (this is the worst for my family and friends… sorry), focused on other stuff… the last one is a little harder for me. I often go out and “test” the injury, which is never very helpful. You think I’d learn.
I’m headed over to check out your site, Monica!
Jerilee E.
wow, I’ve done all those things :). Venting to the husband, spinning instead of running, avoiding blogs of people training to BQ for a marathon this fall (you all can kiss my… I mean Good Luck!!), and NO RUNNING. It sucks, but I do understand why not running might be important to the healing process ;). Thanks for the great post!
Samantha @ Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans
I am happy to say I have been free of any lasting injuries so far but I did have to DNS a half marathon this spring due to a a swollen knee and that wasn’t fun. But in the long run I knew I made the right choice because I probably prevented something worse by staying off it while it was aggravated.
'Dee @ 'Dee's Garret
Great post! And oh Lord, YES — all four. I injured my IT band last year training for my first half-marathon. It wasn’t as serious as it sounds like Monica’s was, but I still had to take special care. To this day, I have “trigger” points along the entire band and I always know when I’m going over board – it talks back to me! Now, I listen and baby the heck out of it until it shuts back up :-)
Amanda@runninghood
Injury is so hard. It is actually what got me to start my blog. And i vented and focused on what I could do for sure!! I took it seriously and really played smart so that I could come back strong and I did! Love that you have a kind of guest post on here.
Ashley
JUST what I needed to read! Thank you. Thank you! Why is it so hard to recover from running injuries. My poor hubby. Bless his soul for last week and this week. If my achilles doesn’t get better I may need to be put into the state mental hospital or a medication induced coma. :/
Christine
Great guest post! Important stuff that I reallyyyyy need to remember……
Rosa - Fitness, Food, Fulfilled
I can totally relate to both you and Monica. I started running almost 8 years ago and instantly fell in love. Within 3 months, I was running 40 miles a week and felt incredible. Then about a year and a half later, I was running on the treadmill when my foot exploded in pain. I thought it was a slight sprain and that I could walk it off, but no luck. After limping around and being in severe pain for three days, I went to the doctor who told me a I had developed plantar fasciitis and needed to stop running ASAP. I took three months off, then started up again, ran for a month, then reinjured my foot again. This cycle went on for years until I took a year off. Now I’ve been running for a year and a half again and am doing everything I can not to get reinjured, but the fear is always there. I want to run forever!
Sorry for the long reply, but injuries s*ck!
Elizabeth
OH so glad to read. Im in a mess myself–an injury mess and it is tough—I can’t do ANYTHING due to my injury–except let’s see–clean house, play with kids, relax, eat, read, cook—-so I’m trying to tell myself it is NO big deal and I will be back soon–but it is tough. My type A personality is slowly adjusting. e
sandy
Totally unrelated, but I finally got to have Yoguftland! The man had it too and admitted that it was good. He promised that we could go two more times while we are out here.
Sandy from what’s good at trader Joe’s
RunEatRepeat
Thanks for letting me invade your blog today :)
Love you <3
Khushboo
Great post! THough I have never been injured, I know I would find it hard to deal with. I imagine venting would be first on my list!
~Jessica~
All four for me too, aside from initially ignoring the ‘Do Not Run.’ Ahem, and I set myself back a lot for not taking heed of my body on that one.
I don’t think you should apologise for venting, Janae: I think anyone that reads your blog and runs (or has even been injured from another sport they love) would understand :)
xxx
Allison
I’ve done 1 and 2 and am seriously thinking about doing 3. The green-eyed monster is out seeing so many people PR lately… :( Happy for others but sad for me.
Luckily, I don’t have to do 4 because I have access to an Alter G.
Great post!
Danielle
love this guest post! I am dealing with (from reading Monica’s blog) a similar issue I believe, and I am dying inside a little – but i already crossed off #1 and vented my little heart out, and I am working on #4, but it is hard, like really hard – I have a marathon in 5 weeks now…and I don’t know if I will be able to do it, that is scary to me…
I will work on #2 and #3 – Great Post – Great timing for it – thanks!
Jennifer
Getting injured is the one thing I am most paranoid about as I train for my first marathon. On the days where my training plan says to rest and I want to get a run in I stop and remember why there is a rest day in the first place. Janae has inspired me to start cycling as a form of cross training and today’s cycle class was harder than my 9 mile long run :)
emma
I feel for ya girlie! I’ve also had IT band syndrome and it blummin hurts!!!
Amylee
Oh man. I needed this. Dealing with IT Band issues (AGAIN!) as we speak. Ugh. Running sucks.
Laura
Week 6 of a tibia stress fracture right here! No running but hello obsessive swimming and biking! It sucks but I think of it as the price we pay for running at this level (ie a lot) Every now and then stuff breaks. No biggie. Get in the pool. ; )
Katie May
ARRGGGHHH!! I’m dealing with IT band crappiness too!!! except I was one of those stupid runners who just deals with it and kept running, only to make it way worse :(