Well, the news is that I still have a pulled hamstring 😦 I thought I was getting better.
Back on December 10th – yeah that long ago, I pulled my hamstring playing soccer. We had a 10pm soccer game and when I got home it was sore but I didn’t really notice it until the next day when it was hurting.
I took a few days off, ran twice (6 k and 7 k outside) on the weekend and then could barely walk the following day. I then took a week off, played another soccer game and WHAM-O, pulled it within the first 15 minutes of the game. I was done and pretty bummed/upset.
I took a few weeks off over Christmas and slowly got back into running, starting with my first kilometer of the year with my oldest daughter Lilly (4 yrs). Then I worked up to 3k, 4k and a few 5k’s on the treadmill. The last 5k I ran was outside in the snow, it was a perfect yet cold winter day. I did too much that day with the girls in the snow, running errands and running 5k. Lo and behold my leg started bothering me again.
Monday morning I called the Physio office and my Doctor’s office and had a plan. Worst case scenario was no running, no soccer for a while. Best case…physio, rest and keep running/playing soccer (ha!).
After meeting with both my Doctor and Physiotherapist the verdict is in;
- I officially pulled my hamstring and nothing else.
- I cannot play soccer for 6 – 8 weeks (@W#%@#$^@$^%)
- I am in physio until it’s better
- I can run but only 1 km every other day for a week. Then I can either increase the speed or distance by 1 more kilometer over the next month.
- Full Marathon training is out…for now.
I felt really good physically after I left the physiotherapy’s office because of the treatment and tape job she did on my hamstring. Later that night, Lilly laughed at the tape on my hamstring/butt area and thought it looked like a hand (it’s spread out in pieces of three).
I’m super bummed about not playing soccer and honestly okay with the running part. I’m thankful they didn’t say no running because that would be really hard to not move at all. The good news is that I can still practice yoga and run a little. No skiing, snowshoeing, skating or soccer for 4-8 weeks 😦
Lessons learned:
- Go see a Doctor/Physiotherapist ASAP – don’t wait a month like I did
- Setbacks happen and that’s life.
- It could be worse!
Though I’m not thrilled about only running 1k every other day, I can do a good warm up, run 1k at a slow pace, stretch and practice yoga all in one night! I’ve also been given exercises to do: bridge, lunges and calf raises to go with my bridges and clam exercises for my SI joint – wow, I sound healthy!
Walk Run Walk
Last night I managed to do my first “walk-run-walk” after the girls went to bed. My Dad was visiting (hence the back-end shot of me on the treadmill), he took Lilly skiing all day! She played her first day of hookie from day care 😉 I walked for 1 km, then ran slowly for 1 km and walked another kilometer – better than nothing at all! I stretched and foam rolled and feel really good today.
The spring Marathon I wanted to run isn’t going to happy and I’m okay with that. I now have a good plan for my 3rd Half Marathon this spring and plans for my first Full Marathon in the fall. Right now it’s time to focus on getting better and all my other running goals for the year are put on hold until then.
Anyone else injured? (I sure hope not)
What’s your favourite form of treatment when injured?
Anyone racing/running this weekend? (Good luck if you are!)
Piper's Run 
Boo for injuries. I injured my hip in Dec have had to take it easy…did my first SLOW mile on Tuesday with no pain! I’ve done a few elliptical miles but swimming is my favorite way to workout when injured.
Hope it heals faster than they think!!
Swimming is so good for you and injuries. Thanks for the tip as I can’t get to a pool through the week but might take my girls this weekend!
Sure thing!! 😉
Sorry your injury isn’t fully healed. Training for a spring marathon in winter isn’t much fun anyways 😉
True!
Ouch, pulled hamstrings are no fun! 6-8 weeks of no soccer is a huge drag… here’s hoping for a speedy recovery and a victorious return to the pitch!
They sure aren’t! Thanks 🙂
😦 Heal well.
Thanks 🙂
Check out my posts from last february and march–i did the same thing! But it ended up being good for me in the long run, and made me a stronger runner. But still, bummer all around.
Will do! If you seem some page hits it’s just me 😉
Feel better! I have a Morton’s neuroma (one in each foot) and a tracking patella… Not so much injuries as annoying conditions i have to live with. Treatments include a) ignoring them, b) hoping they will go away, and c) complaining about them online! Planning a 70-minute run this weekend. Hope the yoga and stretching go well, at least you have a lot do occupy your body while recovering 🙂
Thanks 🙂 Wow, sounds like you have a good plan! Good luck with your 70-minute run this weekend – hopefully the weather will be nice for you!
Not really, a better plan would probably be too see a physio… But that requires money, time and they may tell me to so running (shock horror! ) . We’ll see how it goes! Thanks though! 🙂
Sorry about your hamstring. Hope it gets better sooner than later! At least you can still do some exercise. Sending healing vibes your way!
Thanks 🙂 Yes, I am thankful I can still do some exercises!
Sorry to hear about your injury and i hope that you recover quickly! When I’m feeling off I usually elliptical instead of run which gives my legs a break from the constant pounding. It’s definitely better to rest and take it easy now then to further injure your hamstring and be out for an even longer time in the future. Good luck!
I’m going to ask if I can use the elliptical or the stationary bike…it might have to wait a few more weeks. Yes, I don’t want to be out longer then I need to!
Oh no! So sorry to hear about your hammy. I hope everything works out and you get better ASAP! It will make you a stronger athlete in the end. Take it easy out there. Glad you can at least still do some running every week!
Fingers crossed! I’m happy I can do a little running too 🙂 Thanks for your comments.
Bummer about the hammy. But at least you know. Time will go by fast and you’ll be building back up your running distance in no time! I had to learn how to swim because I was always injured and I totally love it now and swim regardless of injury (just more if I can’t run).
Ah I’m sorry about your hammy! Glad to see you’re focusing on the bright side though (yay you can still run & do yoga!).
I love that run quote- that if you have to ask, you don’t know. I can never fully explain to people why I run, because you just have to experience it to get it 🙂
You’ll get your full marathon experience soon- fall marathons are better to train for than spring ones anyway 😉
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