Friday, April 25, 2008

I'm nervous

So I plan on running tonight after work and am deciding whether to try another outside run or if I should just play it safe and stay inside. I'd like to give outside running another whirl but here's what I'm nervous about: if I run outside and have another episode similar to Wednesday's, I don't know what the hell I'd do. I could barely walk. Seriously. I usually err on the side of caution so I'm thinking I should just stay inside. Comments? Suggestions?

Also, is it wrong to take a few ibuprofen PRIOR to running? Does it minimize pain and/or swelling?

I thank you in advance for your suggestions! :) TGIF!!!!!!!

5 comments:

SueBob said...

I would recommend slowly building up your outside runs, you don’t want to overdo it. You can keep most of your runs on the mill and gradually move the miles outdoors. Outside is much better once you get use to it…and I was all about the TM not too long ago. I liked being able to watch TV and know exactly how far I’d gone and what pace I was at. But I have now successfully made the transition and only go to the gym about once a week now (partially so I can do a little strength training too).

I have taken advil before a run, but I am afraid I will hurt myself worse because I won’t feel the pain and will overdo it – so I don’t do it very often.

Emily said...

My doctor once told me to take ib profin before exercise to keep the muscle swelling down and that way would build the muscle up rather that just have it become inflammed. Evidently, once it is inflammed you're not doing any positive work on it. I think you should be ok doing this.

Also, I struggled running outside at first too and found (once I got a gps watch) that I was running much faster because I couldn't tell what I was doing. I would wear out quickly and get discouraged. The Forerunner really helps with pacing, but it is somewhat of an investment.

Good luck & keep trying "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act but a habit" Aristotle said that.

Amy said...

I've read that you shouldn't take a painkiller before something, in case something worse happens and you don't realize it. On the other hand I take some Advil before every run. When I first started having my shin pain, I obsessively read about it online. I'm pretty sure I've got a good enough handle on the different symptoms between splints and stress fractures, so I take the risk. I would imagine that your legs just weren't used to the pavement so I would think you would be fine taking something beforehand. Keep getting out there so that you can get used to it!

julie said...

jury's out on the pre-run painkillers. what i've read says it's ok if you're using IB to reduce swelling, it's not ok if it's to hold off pain.

don't be so hard on yourself! ease into new things. if you're having trouble going out too fast, just keep telling yourself to chill out and run slow. getting there is way more important than getting there fast! either way, you'll need to settle into outdoor running. last i checked there's no such thing as a treadmill marathon. :)

Amy said...

Did you run outside again? How did it go?

"If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right."

~Henry Ford