When not to run

I'm typing this from my sofa - I was hoping to be at the first CC6 of the season now, running around the old golf course at Fleming Park, but I've had 4 days of a stomach upset so have decided to rest up.  This does not come easily to most runners!  The frustration of those of us stopped by injury or illness comes through on Facebook posts, the texts I get with "Sorry I can't make it", conversations - it seems that being unable to run is often felt as acutely as the pain of the ailment! And it's worse when it comes to races that we might have been training for ages towards - and handed over hard cash to enter.

The best indication of whether you're fit enough to run is do you feel well?  Is your injury really healed up?  It's tough, but erring on the side of caution will pay dividends.

The first indication of when not to run is when a medical professional tells you not to!  This is a "do not pass go, do not collect £200" level of instruction.  And if you haven't asked at your last appointment, the physio not advising you unprompted does not constitute permission to run - do ask. 

For illness, the most common ailment is probably a cold.  Running when the symptoms are all above the head is generally considered OK - provided that you don't feel too ill - but probably best to stick to a regular maintenance run.  If the cold moves to your chest - lots of coughing, tight feeling - rest.  Running won't speed your recovery and there is a risk of causing more damage to your health.  Both Louise & I had to pull out of a half earlier this year as we had chest infections from colds - the right thing to do, but absolutely not what we wanted!

Stomach upsets - best to rest.  You are likely to be dehydrated as well as lacking energy - and your body will need to rest to recover.  

Period pain - running can actually help a little!

Recovering from a minor injury, don't run until the pain/stiffness has gone completely.  Use RICE - Rest/Ice/Compression/Elevation - for example, propping up your turned ankle on the sofa with a packet of frozen peas draped over it - to help with recovery.  Once you're sure you are better, rather than pitch straight back in, try some low impact exercise initially to check that your injury really is healed and to start getting your body moving again.  Cycling, walking and swimming are all good activities.  Build up to running progressively.  And for your first run, I suggest a walk with a little bit of running - then build back up.

If your minor injury hasn't healed in 48 hours, do seek medical attention.

 A good mantra is "no pain = no pain" - running shouldn't be painful or uncomfortable.  Missing out on a run or two may be difficult to face - but it's much better to recover properly.

Race Report - New Forest Half

Louise remembers getting seriously drenched last year - looking through archived photos, it looked pretty soggy - so it must have been good for Louise to sign up for a second shot!

There is a full marathon, but we all opted for the half option - fits in better with tapers for Jo, Claire and Tanya whereas me, Louise and Marian are at max distance with 13 miles.

It starts from the middle of New Milton, heading out of the town through Bashley into the Forest.  The finish is in a different spot to the start - bags are transferred for you using a bin bag & sticker system that seemed to work well.  And the forecast was good - not raining, not windy, not too sunny (although a tad too warm & close).

What's not to love?  Well, parking was the only thing I could fault.  It was a kilometre from the start - and further from the finish at a rather expensive looking school (it had a water garden....).  It did mean that we had a good warm up & cool down walk, but at the end with aching limbs, I'd have loved it to have been a little less remote.

We were piped to walk to the start - a new experience & rather good.  Unintelligible PA - but Louise managed to hear that we were to hang to the left generally.  Some roads were closed, some partially closed and the marshals did a great job at keeping the cars away - mostly.  I was impressed with the organisation - we couldn't get lost, lots of supporters, well placed water stops and cycling injury marshals too.  We were all given sponges - to mop ourselves with en route which was a bit random.

I didn't mind the town bit, but I felt more enthusiastic when we got into the Forest - I'm a sucker for scenery and views.  My pace picked up a little too.  Very sad to see Marian at 7km - she'd started well ahead of me & I wasn't expecting to see her until the end.  However, her IT band was clearly causing her pain and the blisters that she is plagued with were also playing up.  She took the very sensible, but tough, decision to drop out.  No race is worth wrecking your knees for.  I saw her again towards the end - still walking but understandably not happy.

My race was going well - I was really happy with my pace and felt comfortable.

Jelly baby stop & then the final big hill - which was adorned with some fabulous posters, including:

• Pain is temporary, internet results are forever.
• Your legs will forgive you.  But not today or tomorrow.
• Are your legs Kenyan?
• No matter how fast you are, you're still lapping everyone who's still on the couch.

Past the 10 mile marker, I chatted to a bloke who'd cycled down from Yeovilton yesterday and I really appreciated his company as I was running out of steam.  Into the last mile and it felt so much tougher, despite being fairly flat.
Through gates to the school hosting the finish line & I was too spent to sprint.  Kirsty was at the gates - a lovely surprise that really did spur me on.  Louise cheered on the last bend - usefully pointing out that the finish really was imminent.  And over!

Medal (yay!), water, found Jo, Claire, Kirsty & Louise & we cheered Tanya and Marian in.  Restorative ice cream & then the long walk back to the car.  

Results: Claire H 1:58:09, Louise 2:12:03, Jo 2:20:03, me 2:21:39, Tanya 2:39