See if this sounds familiar: First your Achilles flares up. The next week your knee starts bothering you. Then your hamstring gets all hitchy. And all on your left side. It can't be a coincidence. It's gotta be the shoes, right?Conventional wisdom has cast atypical pronation, or the inward roll of the foot upon striking the ground, as the running injury scapegoat. And while the torsional forces caused by atypical pronation shouldn't be disregarded in diagnosing an injury, new research suggests we look deeper, or rather, higher.
Seriously? I can't believe I just received an e-mail from Running Times stating that. I have known for YEARS that I need to keep up with my glutes/thighs/hammies pilates to be a strong runner. In fact, I needed to do it do be free of hip pain in general (I did pilates before I become the machine runner I am). :) But I hate doing it and I always skip it. In 2007 when I had all of my best performances, I was completely injury free and enjoyed PR after PR. Part of it was being a newer runner. Part because I was strong. I did pilates almost every day. Since then I for the most part stopped (other than pure core work) and have been plagued with hamstring and L hip issues (knees and achilles have been in check since I got more motion control, yet light shoes).
Guess I better get out of denial and get back on the pilates mat.
And for an update - THANKS everyone. I am going to trudge forward and endeavor to kick ass this spring. Stay tuned for details.
3 comments:
You inspired me to do my Buns & Thighs pilates tonight after I read your post! I didn't realize it was the leg pilates that you swore by. For some reason I was thinking it was the abs one. I am trying to incorporate both (abs and the B&T) into my training this year on a more regular basis. I don't know why I thought that I should back off on the legs pilates - it sort of seemed like I need to give my legs a rest from so much running. But you swear by it, huh?
RFTL - yes, I totally swear by it. And before this season started, I told myself I would do it regularly. However, I have only done it 2-3 times in the last 7 weeks. NOW, I am going to really start to make myself do it at least 3 times a week. Putting it on my schedule as we *speak*
I know exactly what you mean! Your pilates is my yoga... it keeps everything in check.
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