Back to the Running

I don’t want to speak too soon, but after a few weeks off running due to a knee injury I’ve taken my first tentative steps towards become a fully rounded triathlete again. I’ve still be swimming and biking despite the knee injury, but to be a triathlete you need to be running as well and the aqua-jogging that I was doing didn’t really count. Although, saying that, triathletes always seem to be injured so maybe there’s a market for a swim, bike, aquajog event for us less robust athletes!

A few weeks of this was driving me mad though. My knee had stopped hurting almost a week ago but I had been very patient and not run on it despite the fact that there was no longer any pain. I did finally decide that it was time to try it out so tentatively went for an easy run along the beach on Wednesday. With a couple of big races coming up I didn’t want to do any more damage or impede the healing process in anyway. However, I was also becoming increasingly aware of the imepending nature of the races and the fact that I needed to do some running before they came around.

I was very aware of my knee during the run. I took it really easy at first and even walked down across the pebble bank before jogging along the beach. All felt OK though and I gradually picked up the pace. I didn’t go too far or too long though. I just ran around the point and into the estuary and then around to the boatyard and back. A 3.67 mile loop that took about 25 minutes. All felt fine with my knee which is great news.

Mind you, my calves can feel it this morning – I rarely get any Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) these days and certainly don’t get it from swimming and cycling, but after almost a month off running I can feel it now that I’ve started again. I shall build things back up gradually on the running front now though as I don’t want to push it.

I won’t run again until Sunday which will give any damaged muscle or ligament tissue from my first run on Wednesday a few days to heal again and I will keep that to a steady run without any intervals. I’ll then return to my run plan next week, but will reduce the number of intervals a little for the first few sessions until I build back some running strength. Then, all being well, it will be full-steam ahead for a week before takening it easy for a week before the next race in Rother Valley on September 16th

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Alan Cole

Alan is a Freelance Website Designer, Sports & Exercise Science Lab Technician and full time Dad & husband with far too many hobbies: Triathlete, Swimming, Cycling, Running, MTBing, Surfing, Windsurfing, SUPing, Gardening, Photography.... The list goes on.

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