Hello everyone!
It has been 3 weeks (or more) since my last update. I have been bogged down with uni work and basically “living life” here in Sydney (and loving every bit of it!). I will share some nutrition/health/fitness stuff soon ( YES, I WILL!)! But for today, I am here to pen down my emotions.
You know how you are your worse advisor/counsellor when it comes to certain things? It is ALWAYS easier to give suggestions/advice/warnings to OTHER people, but when it comes down to giving it to yourself, you fail miserably. And this is why psychologists need to see psychologist, physios need physios and coaches need other coaches to coach them.
Running in Sydney has been AWESOME! The weather is great, the roads/paths are decent and it is generally safe to run anywhere (during daylight). Plus, the fact that I am in a new city, I have that URGE and NEED to explore every inch of it.
You can probably see where this is going.
I am the MASTER of doing too much too soon. I tend to get overly excited with results and how I feel to the point where I forget to give my body a break.
I have been logging more miles, doing more speed work, more strength training, roughing out long runs and I must say, I am at my FITTEST. I have never ran so much (at this current pace) with such ease……
Just when everything is going perfectly well……
BAMMMMMMMMMM!
Life just wants to throw a curve ball at you.
Injury strikes!
I have been plagued with the much dreaded plantar fasciitis. I am into my 6th week of injury. With or without running, I have NOT been pain-free since. For the first 4 weeks, I continued to run through pain (I was trying to be a SUPERHERO). But this pain has been constant and intense. I only started to cut back on the mileage and intensity in the past 2 weeks. I find it difficult to even walk properly.
Note to self
The Cause:
I have come to the conclusion that my injury is not purely from running. It is a combination of too much too soon, footwear, tight muscles and WALKING.
Yep, WALKING. I realised that I don’t know how to walk properly. Walking is VERY technical. Don’t underestimate this simple daily activity. The effect is magnified when walking is your main form of transportation.
Time to pause and reflect
I lack ankle mobility. I’m a lazy walker and I tend to drag my feet (instead of lifting them off the ground).
I have never walked this much in my life. At the end of the day, I would have already walked 8-10km. My legs and feet are sore even before I begin my run!
So, the high frequency of walking coupled with the way I walk = DISASTER
Last week, I ran till I had tears streaming down my face. Sounds a bit dramatic but that was what happened. I was physically in pain and I guess the emotions from whatever that I was dealing with came along and decided to hit me in the face. I was stressed and the thing I enjoyed most (running) to help me deal with stress was causing me SO MUCH PAIN. I was just frustrated with everything.
And I am CONSTANTLY reminded of the pain because it is always there. Sometimes, it just decides to inflict you with stabs/throbs of pain.
So this is where I’m at.
In Pain
Unmotivated
Sad
Frustrated
Stressed
I may be over-dramatising it. 😛
Don’t worry. I am OKAY! I am dealing with it, slowly. Praying, a lot of self-talk and supportive friends from here and back home have really helped! So much love.
I feel the need to be strong and positive/happy all the time.
But not today.
How is EVERYONE ELSE?