I really, Really, REALLY want to participate in the Baby Weight My Fat Ass Suck it up Buttercup Virtual 5K, which has a deadline of Sunday the 31st. My problem is, I haven't been running at all. I ran 1 mile last week, which was the first time I'd run since November. That one mile, run in Vibrams, nearly crippled my calves for several days. I could run in my old Asics, but they are clunky and heavy and I'm afraid they will be hard on my healing knee.
The truth is, I am out of shape. Even if I run 3.1 miles on the treadmill, regardless of shoe type, I'm afraid I won't be able to walk for a week after.
I was thinking about running my 3.1 miles in the pool. That was until I did the math. 1 mile = 1,760 yards. The pool at the Y is standard sized, meaning 25 yards long. 1,760 / 25 = 70.4 lengths, or 35.2 laps per mile. Just for the record, I run about an 11-minute mile on land. I am far, far slower in the water. I'm thinking I would have to schedule the better part of my day in there, to water run a 5K.
My biggest problem is, I am afraid. Afraid I will hurt my knee, which is not yet fully healed. Afraid I will end up hobbling for several days. What I have to do is just suck it up and try. I'm not going to get back to the Y again today, but tomorrow I will go and run 1 mile. If that 1 mile feels ok, I will continue running and see where it takes me. If that 1 mile does not feel ok, I will switch to plan B and set my alarm for 5am Friday, so I can get my 5K done in the pool before classes start at 9. I should be able to do a mile per hour, right?
I actually kind of like that idea. It would be the best workout I've had in a LONG time.
I'll keep you posted.
4 comments:
Hoping Friday goes well. will be thinking of you. :)
Good luck. I think your race report will be interesting if you do it in the pool!
I think if you only go out and try, you'll have won. Then again, I'm sitting here trying to think up excuses for getting out of a scheduled run, so what do I know.
I think water therapy of any kind will do you good, especially for a joint like the knee. Weightless movement, without the hard jarring of landing on pavement, can only be better in my opinion. In my personal experience; after my disc fusion, water therapy helped me immensely. A person's skeletal system (joints like knees included) can only take so much abuse before breaking down. Build it up slowly to avoid another injury.
Does the Y have a jacuzzi? or whirlpool? or even a "therapy pool" (hotter water)? Could be a nice treat after...
Either way, I agree with Merry - just trying, especially injured, is success in my eyes.
Post a Comment