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Oh, Yeah, Now I Get It!

By Bill Brack 

After nine years, three months, and twenty-four days, my first running career came to a sudden and painful close. Shooting pains along the outside of the right thigh turned a planned five-mile training run into a half-mile limp along and a half-mile walk back to the office. Taking several days off from running convinced me this recent development had “moved in” and was not just visiting. 

Being able to run virtually injury-free for roughly 13,000 miles and 223 races was deceiving. Gradually but steadily improving performances, an enjoyment of the process, and the arrogance that comes with even a modest success masked the fact that I was slowly taking myself out of the sport. And why? Because there was no serious stretching program in my routine. I know just what he means when Gordon Lightfoot sings about Sundown “…feel like I’m winning when I’m losing again.” No, it’s not that I never stretched…it’s that there was no gut-level understanding of why, how much, what kind, and when. What passed for stretching was running “real slow” at first and climbing 13 flights of stairs after my weekday runs. Hey, not even close to adequate.  

The sharp pains came on suddenly but other warning signals had been clanging away for more than two years. A gentle gimpiness put in appearances after races, then after training runs, and finally, round-the-clock. Dressed as Santa for our December Cub Scout pack meeting, a limp I had been denying existed, gave me away. Plantar fasciitis developed around six months ago, and I’ve since been told it was probably symptomatic of a more serious problem. During occasional post-race massages, therapists would always comment on how tight the muscle groups were. 

My right leg is about 3/8” shorter than the left one. The iliotibial band of the short leg is what finally screamed, “Enough is enough!!!” According to a perceptive podiatrist and three excellent therapists, the running had been taking place on legs and hips with limited flexibility (almost none on the right side). The prescription for getting well includes a long list of stretches that, when done properly, take roughly 45 minutes. This became a “no-exit” arrangement when you realize they’re to be done three times a day. There is also the ice massage, anti-inflammation medicine, staying completely away from steps, and not much running around curves. Actually, not much running at all. It’s become a world of leaning against walls, balling up on floors, holding positions with names like “pretzel,” counting out loud, and explaining your new behavior to co-workers. Not my idea of fun. For instance, the classic yoga position is uncomfortably close to trying to keep both ends of the seesaw down. 

This second running career isn’t really in gear yet. There were so many stretch-less miles built into the problem that running competitively isn’t even on the horizon…much less on the calendar. Strider machines, trunk stretches, and trampolines are poor substitutes for asphalt under your feet and changing scenery. The lesson for me has to do with the nature of the sport’s underpinning. I used to believe it was the training miles. T’aint so!!! Now, with a little patience, maybe I’ll be able to benefit from the knowledge.

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