Off to a Good, Painful Start

Last year, I didn't start running in earnest until February. So, while the mileage is still low, I'm already ahead of last year.

Nevertheless, I'm in the most pain I've ever been in while running, except of course for the 3 consecutive ankle sprains in the first 8 miles of Leadville last year.

This fall, while talking with a doctor about my ankle, he mentioned that he had ruptured a lower disk because of too much running. The fluid, not certain what fluid, had drained down onto his gluteus maximus and bicep femoris muscles. He said that it felt like some one had hit those muscles with a hammer every time he ran.



When I told Marty this, she, knowing me very well, said that I too would have this same problem shortly.

Well, here I am with severe pains in the gluteus maximus and bicep femoris muscles. So intense that walking from the car into church and around church today was difficult.

Could it be that playing soccer on hard astro-turf in poorly cushioned soccer cleats has caused a disk to rupture? I've been worrying about it all week. I'm stretching every chance I get, and yet there is no relief. And it's not really in an area where one can ask just anyone to help "stretch it out." Well, I guess one could, but 92% of the time it probably wouldn't be appropriate.

My 2009 running plans are shot! There is no way I can run anything longer than a trip to the fridge with this type of pain.

Tonight on the treadmill, I ran some short intervals at 15% incline. Wow, did that hurt! Then it struck me. Maybe I'm just sore from last week's treadmill incline workout.

I think I may focus on flat, steady runs for a few weeks to see if things improve.