This past weekend my family and I headed up to Vermont for a weekend filled with fitness fun. My husband did a 60 mile road ride with his brother and his friend, old racing buddy and Pro-Cyclist Ted King on Saturday. With approximately 8,000 feet of climbing and 60 miles, he finished in about 4 1/2 hours. On Sunday I ran a sweaty and scenic 5k. We visit Vermont often, and I had been itching to do a race among the mountains for a while, so it worked out perfectly that the two events were both within the same weekend.
I was originally registered for the ever so famous Stowe, Vermont 8 miler, but at the last minute I dropped down to the 5k. The Stowe 8 Mile race has been around for years, and people come from all over the US and Canada to pound pavement on some of Stowe’s most scenic roads.
So why did I change my registration? Sometime during the spring, my left shin started acting up, and after talking to and seeing my physical therapist, he determined that I had shin splints. UGH! Injuries are runners and athletes worst nightmare. I’ve dealt with shin splints in the past, but I had done so well since getting custom orthotics and being fit into an Asics motion control sneaker. I was four years strong without this pesky injury, so I was (and still am) frustrated that I’m dealing with it again.
On the fourth of July I ran a 10k, and I’d be lying if I said my shin didn’t bother me. In fact, I had a slight dull ache though-out almost the entire race. But none the less I pushed through like almost any runner would during a race, and I ended up with a PR. Because my shin remained sore all week, I began to get very nervous for the upcoming 8 miler. I remember not so fondly that 4 1/2 years ago I had to skip a half marathon because my shin splints were so bad, and I was advised not to run it or else I’d be laid up from the sport for at least two months.
So then came this past weekend, I was psyched to head up to Vermont to spend time with family and for my race. But in the back of my mind I kept doubting myself running the 8 miles, not due to being able to accomplish it, because that I absolutely can, but because of my shin. I kept thinking that if I pushed it too hard, I’d end up right where I did a few years ago, or even worse, with a stress fracture.
Luckily, this was the first year that a 5k was added to the event. So a few days before the race I emailed and explained my situation and was told I could switch if need be. I also met with the organizer of the race the day before who told me, “I’m a dumb runner, and if it were me, I’d probably do the 8 miles. But you look like a much smarter runner than me. Game day it, and if you need to drop down to the 5k, then it’s no problem at all.”
A “smart runner”, you see, that’s exactly what I’m trying to be these days. I’m trying hard to focus on proper training, listening to my body and being smart with every run that I do. There’s a difference between pushing yourself through the pain of sore and tired muscles than pushing through an injury, and it’s incredibly important to know the difference and pay attention to what your body is telling you.
I was so torn all weekend, but come 8:30am on race day, a mere 30 minutes before game time, I decided to drop down to the 5k. I kept asking myself, “Am I just wimping out or am I running smart?” Because I’d be lying if I said the high temps and humidity didn’t also make me nervous, as I’ve never been someone that thrives athletically in the heat. But truth be told the deciding factor was my shin, and knowing that if 8 days prior it hurt for 6.2 miles, that running 8 miles probably wasn’t the best idea.
At mile one I was annoyed that my right sneaker came untied from its double knot and I had to pull over to retie it. How annoying. By mile two the sun was beating on me so hard and I started telling myself, “Come on, only 1.1 to go. THANK GOD!” By mile 2.5 I literally wanted to walk, and I had to mentally push myself to keep running. It was literally the hottest race I have ever done, and I just wanted to cross the finish.
My official time was 26:56, an average pace of 8:41, which wasn’t my fastest 5k, but certainly not my slowest. I finished in 28th place out of 135 people and 6 out 32 in my division (30-39 women’s age group). Surprisingly my shin didn’t bother me at all during the race, which really left me feeling disappointed, and slightly like I had wimped out upon finishing. But come nightfall I started feeling the dull post-run pain return that I’ve been experiencing on and off all summer long, and it was then that I knew I had made the right decision.
I’ve conquered three half marathons, and I’m not afraid of running 8 miles, but I am afraid of not being able to run at all. So my best fitness advice to any runner or athlete is to listen to your body. DON’T wimp out of something because you mentally doubt your abilities and capabilities, but DO train smart when your body is telling you to slow down.
Run strong. Run happy. Run smart. That’s all for now fitness lovahs 🙂