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Running Injuries Happen and We are Heading to Idaho For Graduation Day!

June 20, 2022 Leave a Comment

Running injuries happen even when taking all the right measures to prevent them. Some websites claim that as much as 75% of runners get injured annually. The types of running injuries varies but the most common are:

  • Runner’s Knee
  • Stress Fractures
  • Achilles Tendinopathy*
  • Muscle Pulls*
  • Ankle Sprains*
  • Plantar Fasciitis*
  • Iliotibial Band Syndrome*

The starred items are the injuries that I have personally experienced over the years. Yes, I am injury prone. For this reason, I started with a run/walk program and gradually built it up to running as I mentioned in my last post. I was not overdoing it. I also included strength training and stretching. I may have been running too many hills, but I wasn’t feeling any soreness or tightness in my calves where my subsequent injury occurred (left leg).

What I did have was a very tight ITB on the right leg. I had this evaluated by PT because I knew that it would only get worse. The PT was awesome; she fixed it! No more problems! But, she told me that I needed to strengthen my calves. I thought that was odd being that I run hills on almost all of my runs and I wasn’t having any calf problems at all.

Anyway, she gave me calf strengthening exercises to do which went fine. And since they went so well, she decided that I needed to increase the load by taking these same exercises (walking on my tiptoes carrying 30-pound weights – gradual increase to 30 pounds) up and down stairs. So, I did that too. But, that is when I started feeling a little tightness in my left calf muscle. Plus, as I was doing the exercises, I kept thinking that these don’t feel right, and I don’t think I should do them. They weren’t painful or anything like that. I just didn’t feel good about them.

A similar situation happened a few years ago when PT prescribed running at a 10% incline on a treadmill for a different injury. When I transitioned outside, I ended up with bilateral knee pain. I had not experienced any kind of knee pain prior to that. Since then, I have been diagnosed with bilateral knee osteoarthritis. This was the beginning of not being able to run hardly at all these past few years. Of note, when I was running on the treadmill, I also had the same instinctual feeling that this did not feel right. I eventually stopped but it was a little too late.

Now, I am not blaming the PT. The prescribed treatments could have been what I needed, but I could have been using poor form or doing something wrong that I wasn’t aware of that created even more problems. At any rate, I am a little annoyed that my running was going fine except for the ITB issue until I went to the PT. Now, I am not running at all. Fortunately, my calf tear is a grade 1 and will probably heal in 4-6 weeks. Wednesday will be three weeks. The moral of the story is to listen to your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, then something isn’t right. And of course, always listen to your body. Even if it is just a tight muscle, it needs to be monitored closely. Paying attention to even small clues could be the difference between taking a few days off vs weeks!

So the injury update: I am still doing strengthening exercises and I can walk without any pain or tightness. So, on Tuesday of this past week, I thought I would try running. The plan was to get in a good warm-up which I did and then a nice easy jog for about 10 minutes. It lasted 6 minutes. First, I felt my left Achilles tighten up, so I stopped running. As I was walking back to my truck, my Achilles relaxed a bit, but my calf became tight and painful. Obviously, that was too soon. Within a couple of days, it felt fine again.

Currently, I am just continuing with the walking and strengthening exercises. I do have a PT appointment today. I am hoping to get back to running soon. This injury is definitely a setback, but it is not a major tear and just needs a little more time to heal.

Family Fun

In other news, we just got back from Idaho after attending our niece’s graduation. Amazingly, her graduating class was only 22 students! We were worried that it was going to rain being that it had been raining all week and the forecast called for an 80% chance but it ended up being a very nice outdoor ceremony. Congrats to Grace!! Pictures are of her, her parents and grandparents, and her brother. We did get pictures taken with her too but they are on someone else’s camera. We will have to find them.

The drive back to the cabin (the Yancey family has a cabin on Lake Pend d Oreille) was just amazing. The sunset was awesome!!

Rob and Krista (brother-in-law and sister-in-law), who also attended the graduation, got a new puppy while in Idaho. Talk about perfect timing being that the graduation was happening at the same time that their puppy was ready for them. He is a bernedoodle and the most adorable little puppy I have ever seen. I just loved him. I wanted to steal him haha. I don’t think that would have gone over very well. So cute.

We had a great time in Idaho and even though we left sunny and warm Alaska, it was nice in Idaho. Yes, there were thunderstorms and lots of rain but there were also very pleasant and warm moments in-between. I only got soaked from the rain on one of my walks and that just happened to be the day that Scott decided to go with me. I could have stayed in Idaho a little longer though because, in Alaska, my allergies are so bad. I didn’t have any problems in Idaho. When we returned to Alaska the cotton from the cottonwood trees was blowing all over the place. It looked like snowfall in June. And my allergies are back in full swing. Believe it or not, I am actually looking forward to Fall. At least I won’t be as miserable.

Back to Alaska

We will be back in Idaho soon…looking forward to it.

Until next time…

Happy Running!

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Sharing the challenges that I face while training for marathons in my 60s! I'm determined to reach these goals while also meeting life's demands and spending time with my awesome and very supportive family! Read More…

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Oh these hills!! I have advanced on my run/walk cy Oh these hills!! I have advanced on my run/walk cycles to a 4:1 ratio and my 4 min runs were up the hills!! Good training right? Swipe to see what happens every single time I put my mat down to do my exercises.  #ilovetorun❤️ #runalaska #runnersover60  #hillrunningishard #runningpartnerneedsarest
The wind died down today so we took a nice little The wind died down today so we took a nice little snow shoe up the mountain. The scenery was beautiful, just hard to capture it.  #snowshoeingadventures #snowshoealaska  #chugachmountains  #crosstraining #opt outside alaska
It’s been hard to get anything done or even thin It’s been hard to get anything done or even think about running with all that is happening in the world🥲 but I managed to get down my icy driveway to run on the dry roads. Super windy!!! I had a really hard time on the hills  against that wind. But I got it done and I increased my run/walk to a 4:1 ratio x 7 so I am happy about that. #runnersofalaska #runalaska #runwalkrun #runnersover60 #ilovetorun #buildingarunningbase #windyalaska #crazywinterweather
Sonja - @nurse_sonja_ak - and I had planned to cel Sonja - @nurse_sonja_ak - and I had planned to celebrate in memory of my Mother on her birthday but I had minor surgery that left me down and out longer than I had expected and Sonja ended up positive for Covid. But, despite that look what she did! She is so talented and creative. She remembered Mom as someone who was always stylish. She took pride in her appearance. A specific memory inspired Sonja to make these beautiful clay earrings! How special is that? My Mother would have loved these. #inmemory #rememberingyouonyourbirthday  #neverforgetyou  #bestdaughterintheworld❤️ #talenteddaughter❤️ #clayearrings #madespeciallyformom  #thelittlethings❤️
I’m obsessed with the sun finally clearing the m I’m obsessed with the sun finally clearing the mountains. Haha sunshine during my run is so nice. It wasn’t that bright today but it’s still shining ❤️#sunnydaysarehereagain #runningonsunshine #run #runnersover60 #runak #optoutside
My running views have just been awesome. I am inc My running views have just been awesome.  I am increasing my running time 3:1 this week. Keeping my fingers crossed that it goes well🤞 #runwalkrunrepeat #runnersover60 #backtorunning #buildingarunningbase #myrunningviews #runak #kneeosteoarthritis
Running with knee OA is interesting. Take yesterd Running with knee OA is interesting.  Take yesterday, my knees were bothering me a little, to the point that I wasn’t sure if I should run. But, I thought… give it a try, see how it goes. I can always just walk. And it went great! I even added an extra run/walk cycle to the program. And today I have absolutely no knee pain. I’m even running up and down stairs (when I need to go up them) trying to create some pain (I know sicko) but nothing??? Go figure! Nothing has changed. But hey, I’ll take it! #runningwithosteoarthritis #kneearthritis #runnersover60 #runwalkrun #kneepain #nokneepaintoday
Yay, the sun was briefly above the mountain for th Yay, the sun was briefly above the mountain for the first time since November! We will be gaining about 37 minutes of daylight this week! It’s the little things 😂  It was a beautiful Alaskan day but it was very cold!  I took a rest day today.  #restdayforrunners  #runnersover60 #olderwomenrunners #runak #winterwonderlandalaska #winterwonderland #readyforspringtime #optoutsideak
I wasn’t feeling like getting out today but my h I wasn’t feeling like getting out today but my hubby convinced me to go out for a ski. I did need to get in some cross-training so off we went. It actually was really nice to get out. Isn’t that usually the case?  #skiak #skieagleriver #crosstraining #optoutside #getoutside  #getfit #winterwinderland❄️
My running views today. I think I am finally settl My running views today. I think I am finally settling in to being back home and appreciating the beauty of the state. Don’t get me wrong though, I would be in a flight back to HawIi given the chance!! #runak #myrunningviews #buildingarunningbase #backtorunningagain #runwalkrun #winterwonderland #chimarathon2022
I’m not sure that I should go on vacation especi I’m not sure that I should go on vacation especially if I am going to have such a hard time adjusting back to the cold!  I’m beginning to believe that the cold and dark is not good for my health. It was soooo nice in Hawaii!! I’m still getting out for my runs and bike rides but I have been slow to get back to the exercises and stretching.  I’ll get there! #backtothecoldweather #runak #buildingarunningbase #crosstraining🚴#winterbiking🚴❄️ #fattirebiking #runnersover60  #keeponkeepingon🏃‍♀️
We are back to snow and ice. While we were away th We are back to snow and ice. While we were away the temps warmed up to in the 40s causing everything to melt just so it can freeze over once the temp drops!! Please send me back to #mauisun . We did get out for a bike ride today so it wasn’t too bad I guess. The new snow made conditions a little tolerable.  #winterinalaska #snowandice #fattirebiking #winterbiking #ilovemyfattirebike #ilovetorun #running2run #getfitalaska #optoutside
Hawaii Vacation Hawaii Vacation
Another awesome day in Hawaii with @nurse_sonja_ak Another awesome day in Hawaii with @nurse_sonja_ak  and fam! #vacaywithfamily  #familytimeisthebesttime💕  #hawaiiansunsetsnevergetold
Fun day at the beach! Even found a boardwalk to ge Fun day at the beach! Even found a boardwalk to get my run in. #familyfun❤️❤️ #spendingtimewithfamily❤️ #familyiseverything
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