Result!

So after a pre run stretch and torture from the foam roller, equipped with sunnies, iPod shuffle, jelly babies and liquid off I went. In hindsight I should have realsied that it wasn’t the best time of day to go (about midday @ 25 degrees C), but somehow the sun fuels me, I think it must be all the Vitamin D it helps to produce!

I was trying really hard to correct/improve my ‘form’. Recently running with a friend and colleague (fellow physio), she commented on my style……my bum sticks out, my hips roll in, and my knees ‘kiss’-that can’t be good and undoubtedly has something to do with my injuries. Then it was as if the editors of runner world heard my cry. The September mag landed on my doormat this week there was a whole article on running form. ‘Pimp my stride’-so I went straight to it and realised that I really do need to work on my form, as the author stated ‘running is relatively simple, but it isn’t easy’…..your telling me!

So trying to change my style from and combination of ‘the twister, and the bouncer’ was hard work, I was tucking my bum under buy working my abs and pelvic floor, which made my pelvis feel less mobile (but apparently this is what it should be like) and I was trying to keep my arms from crossing the centre of my body. Straight away I felt awkward, my stride was smaller and I was feeling tension in my shoulders and upper back…..however, the leg was fine-RESULT!!!

Further reading informed me that it is a myth that long strides are more efficient as you spend more time travelling vertically than horizontally causing an overstride and the knees to collapse inwards-it all makes sense now!

So I managed my 8 miles without a grumble from the old thigh….and a bonus abs workout, its going to take some getting used to but fingers crossed this is going to work for me.

I think I might look into trying some Pilates classes to work on my core and muscle imbalances too, I may be a physio but I am PANTS at practicing what I preach, so a half years resolution-listen to myself!!!

Trying out the 'dodgy' leg....

So I've been injured for the last couple of weeks with what I can only assume is ITBFS (iliotibial band friction syndrome). It sucks and non-runners just don't seem to understand that when a runner can't run, she gets grumpy!! (sorry Matt, and thanks for putting up with my tantrums!!). So reading up on this little glitch in my training, other sports to avoid are: cycling, hiking, racket sports, lunging, squatting, climbing......pretty much all the others things i like to do!
So as i am sure you can imagine, I've been a little on the irritable side to say the least, I have managed a couple of swims to try and maintain the CV fitness, but monotonous lapping up and down a 25 meter swimming pool just really doesn't cut it, especially when you have to dodge dive bombing kids and weave in and out the 'head out of water nattering breaststroke lovers' chatting away about their last shopping experience in Tesco!!  Plus it costs £3.20 for this experience and when the sun is shining outdoors, who really wants to be inside, shrivelling up like a prune in chlorinated water!?

Anyway enough about that, over the last few days my leg has felt much better, i can now walk without pain and even go down the stairs properly (yay!). I've been following all the advice i would give to my patients....rest from the aggravating factors, use ice packs, deep tissue massage, stretches and strengthening (i have a very weak glut med apparently) as well as investing in a 'foam roller'....oh my goodness that is pure torture! I managed a 4 miler and a 6 miler this week......still ok, i know its not 100%, but getting there, so i'm about to embark on i think 8ish (i was up to 12miles 3 weeks ago-grrrr!).
Foam roller at the ready to warm up the old ITB, a few glut strengthening exercises to 'wake the muscle up' in preparation for pounding the streets, then I'm off!
Wish me luck, let you know how it goes!