A World of Pain: Miles 5-7

I mentioned yesterday that I hadn't run since Tuesday with James, partly from my normal procrastination but also because I've been redoing the hall bathroom. After a cup of coffee I went for broke in my pajamas and I am happy to report, it is all but done (one outlet to change and some caulking to do). With the bathroom righted, I downed a Green Monster and set out for my second run of 2011.

It didn't go well.

The tightness I had been feeling in my calves since Tuesday briefly threatened to end the run all together around the quarter mile mark. I stretched gingerly but decided to push on. (My own damn fault for not running sooner. My house's fault for the bodily contortions I put myself through painting the weird angles of the bathroom.) I made it through the three miles mainly due to the distraction of my iPod and a kindly black lab who decided to join me for nearly all of mile two.

Miles 5-7: 30 minutes of awkward shuffling. Running with sore calf muscles makes me feel like a drunk Indian firewalker.

Thankfully, the AXIS foam roller was there to help.  I don't know where I would be without this puppy. I've always muscled through pain that is associated with soreness - I usually will rub complaining muscles vigorously while yelping. (Makes the cats jump. Pretty hilarious, actually.) When James and I went to a free distance running clinic in Raleigh this past fall, one of the sessions was with a physical therapist and this foam roller.

It was love at first touch.

This black foam roller is the most unforgiving in the series (very little give) and allows you to utilize your own body weight to roll out cramps, knots, and all kinds of fun lactic acid build-up.

Calves, quads, hamstrings, IT bands, you name it, you can hit it. The PT's recommendation was to utilize it every day, spending one minute on each muscle group. The key is to have the muscles warmed up. Can't run? Take a really hot shower to prime them.