I’ve been “running” for years. I had to run in the police academy and semi-annually for PT tests at work. Why do I say I’m new to running then? I hated, loathed, despised running. It was only as a requirement until this year. I made a conscious decision to get in better shape. I weighed in at over 210 on Feb 1, 2013 and was down to 195 by March 15. Come May my weight was down to 185 and since I have fluctuated between 183-188 on a weekly basis.
Over the summer I ran but not with any formal training plan or goal, I ran just to run and slowly started to love it. In August I took a physical test for a potential new job and began thinking about doing an Ironman. At that point I had a goal and quickly fell in love with it.
Sadly, I ran a lot, just in small amounts. Then I got the bright idea to run in a Half marathon at the end of October. On Oct 15, I ran my first 10k distance run in my life and on Oct 26 completed my first half marathon, in a time I was ok with, 2:12:16. Now as stupid as that was, I got even more stupid by running just 15 days later in another half marathon while complaining of knee pain from the first one.
It has been more than two weeks since the HM and I’ve been on “light duty ” by my Doc. It’s driving me crazy and quite honestly getting worse. So what does all this add up to? Follow the guidance of a training plan, ramp up distance and pace slowly, eat right, and ask questions to those who actually know. At least research some before doing what you think is ok. The body is an amazing thing that will do more than you think, however, the joints, ligaments, and tendons cannot produce and repair with the same tenacity of muscle. Do it right. Trust me.
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