Miles 35.5-38.5: Torture on the Treadmill

Last night I was reminded again of why I don't run on treadmills.

My legs loathe them.

Or should I say, more specifically, my lower legs protest so loudly during those runs, whatever normal stresses and pains I experience in my shins and calves is amplified to such a degree, I always take leave of the gym wondering if I have bone cancer.

But Erin, you're asking, if you know you have these challenges, then why...?

Rain is why. A cold winter rain that brought the dark on a full half hour early. I'll run in the dark, I'll run in the rain, but I'm not going to tempt fate and run in the both of them.

Last night I intended to run 5 miles of intervals.  Our gym's treadmills have a decent program and I started the fifty minute session feeling strong. Sweating profusely, of course, but breathing well, keeping good form, and then....

Nagging, persistent pain.

I'm a fairly pragmatic person when it comes to my body and wellness. I sleep, hydrate and Vitamin-C my way through head-colds, but when a fever won't go away for 24 hours, I know it's time to get to the doctor. I push through muscle soreness during and then stretch, massage, and replenish proteins and carbohydrates after strenuous work-outs.

If you're thinking that the second half to that parallel phrase would be "nagging, persistent pain means it's time to go to the doctor," my writing-self is inclined to agree with you.

But my running-self is going into histrionics. If you've been keeping tabs, my mileage is super-low for where I'm projected to be at.

 
Yes, this does show that I have only completed half the miles I should have to stay on track to complete The Plan. This was, in fact, deliberate. Part my reasoning was to ease into the running, complementing the miles with cross-training, to prevent injury.

But that all goes to pot if I am, in fact, injured.

Let's hope Friday's Freedom Run (uh, not on a treadmill) goes better.