At the start of last week, I finished reading, Thinking Body, Dancing Mind, a wonderful book about Taoism and sport that was recommended by Des Linden. I have always been drawn to Taoism because of its majestic simplicity, breathe, keep going, and always maintain a Beginner’s mindset, and now more than ever, I feel like a Beginner.
Boston Marathon Champion, Des Linden's favorite book.
For a while there, I thought I should be farther along on the road toward success because I had spent so much time doing the same thing, running. I smashed the 10,000 hour rule years ago. Then I started breaking down, because, (or probably), because I was doing so much running. The fact that my body was revolting, literally changing form, as a result of years doing a repeated motion again and again that was helping me in a million different ways, but hurting me, too, was an extremely difficult reality to accept. But I believe there are a baker’s dozen solutions to any single problem. And even though I was skating by on my toe injury for about six months, seemingly running well, like I used to, and not causing any more damage, (I hoped), that behavior wasn’t helping the injury heal, because I didn’t address what was causing it in the first place; I just put my head down, and kept going. Then my hamstring/glute/sciatic nerve, etc., injury during the LA Marathon blew my world apart. Suddenly the pain was too intense to ignore, and couldn’t be fixed with an invisible band-aid, rather the solutions would be revealed in a combination of time, creativity, positivity, and a softball.
Post run QT with my new best bud.:)
I have learned all sorts of wonderful mobility exercises to warm up and cool down before and after every workout, but the exercise that is helping my injured hamstring/glute the most, is softball rolling on the targeted areas. I do not suggest that this method is the right one for everyone, please consult a Dr. or PT before trying it on your own, but after months of trial and error, I am positive that quality/excruciating softball rolling time is a vital piece of the puzzle that has propelled me toward pain-free running again.
But that’s not all!
Let’s talk about feet. My feet are not attractive, hence no photo, (although my left foot is not that ugly), but my right foot… Anyway, my PT suggested in March that I start using Yoga toes, which are gummy deals placed in between toes to enhance elasticity/fend off rigidity, (my nemesis), and I am thrilled to report that those funky things work! My toes look and feel more spaced out and relaxed after every use.
Yoga toes. I use them for 20-25min. per session.
Also, Kinesio Tape.
I love this stuff.
I tape down my middle/Hammer toe, (along with its neighbor), everyday. Although full transparency, that daily practice has not made my toe less rigid, but keeping it fixed in a laid down position has lessened the effects of the Hammer toe by not inflaming the plantar plate tear, and stabilizing the mountainous callus on the ball of my foot. In fact that gnarly aberration has gone down in size, nearly making walking barefoot a care-free endeavor. Regardless, I rarely tempt fate, and continue to wear my orthotics in an old or new pair of Hoka’s from sunup to sundown. Finally, most nights I roll the bottom of my foot on the softball to help break up fascia and increase flexibility.
An uptick in strength work has helped, too.
I have adopted a daily habit from one of my favorite pro triathlete’s, Meredith Kessler, of doing 250 hollow rock exercises, (look those up, they're nutty, but awesome). Plus, multiple minutes of planks, and many, many push-up’s are part of my everyday routine. I am still not as jacked as Daniela Ryf, but I am certain that my sturdier core has relieved stress on my hamstrings, made my gait smoother, and in turn has made running quicker, easier.
Top photo, Pro-triathlete, and multiple IM World Champion, Daniela Ryf. Bottom photo, a tall redhead from the Valley.
I almost feel like myself again.
That same tall, redhead.
The truth is that I have made many steps forward, and slid backwards a mile from time to time since incurring my injury in March, but I live for finding solutions, and am embracing a Beginner’s mindset by enjoying consistent and deliberate daily practice, (and humility), of building my body back up correctly to a place where I can pursue the goals I see waving wildly up ahead.
Let's GO!
The song and video choice this week is a timely new tune from real-life couple, JP Saxe and Julia Michaels, "If The World Is Ending."