Another week, another emotional roller coaster ride courtesy of my hamstring. There were ecstatic moments of hope and frustrated moments of tears. If you’re tired of this saga, so am I—but I won’t be offended if you skip this update.
Flowers from a friend ❤️
Trying Hard To Be Hopeful
I know you all think I’m crazy for not just taking time off, but don’t forget my orthopedist put no restrictions on my activity and encouraged me to keep doing what I was doing, including my 2-3 miles of run/walk intervals. The frustrating thing is that I am no longer sure that things that feel absolutely fine in the moment—the elliptical, cycling—aren’t aggravating my hamstring anyway. And, I know my work habits—sitting for hours straight—aren’t helping.
This week I was really frustrated after short stints on the elliptical seemed to make my hamstring flare up later. It left me wondering if I was any better off than before I did the shockwave treatments, and if I ever will get better. But then I realized that now when I do my run/walk intervals, I don’t feel my hamstring at all during the running intervals. That is huge progress, right? On the other hand, it still gets grumpy later. I think I’d be fine if I could take NSAIDs after a run, but since that can interfere with the mechanism of the shockwave treatment, I am abstaining.
I have decided to back off of lower body workouts, focusing on upper body and core and replacing lower body exercises with exercises from my PT repertoire. I started the week thinking I’d do the elliptical for cardio, but after only 15 minutes of that that made my hamstring flare up, I ended it back on the tread. I am using my walks with Scooby to assess my hamstring, and adopting my planned workout depending on how it feels during that one mile loop.
I am going to keep playing it by ear until the end of February, and if I’m still frustrated may reach out to my orthopedist for another short course of shockwave treatments.
Weekly Run Down
Sunday: I slept really late for me—until 7 am—and then did a strength/cycling combo before getting on with the rest of my day.
Monday: I made it a strength day with Rebecca’s 45 min class, and then hopped on my elliptical for Chase’s “run”. My hamstring felt OK afterwards, but by the time I sat at my computer all day and then for a few hours at work dinner in the evening, it was a bit grumpy.
The Kennedy Center
Tuesday: My hamstring felt pretty good when I woke up and on my walk with Scooby. I did some PT exercises and Andy’s PT-focused class before getting on my tread for Logan’s 20 min walk + run. It’s a lot of warm-up to cover 2 miles, but I’m trying to give my hamstring what it needs..
Wednesday: I took a day off from cardio and took two new Black History Month classes—a walk with Matty (and Scooby) and Jess Sims’ newest 45 min strength workout. It was a fun surprise to hear Kim get a shoutout for her 1000th strength class!
Thursday: My hamstring felt OK on my walk, but it wasn’t silent, so I thought I’d take it easy and took Hannah’s 15 min run on the elliptical. This is the class that sent me in a downward spiral because my hamstring was so cranky afterwards.
Friday: It’s always darkest before the dawn and my hamstring felt great when I took Scooby out. After another upper body workout, I hopped on my tread for Marcel’s class, but did not take any of the hills she called out—even during my walk breaks.
Saturday: I had originally planned to take Jess’s bootcamp using my elliptical for the tread portions, but I am wary of the elliptical now, so I took it on the tread and just did my run/walk intervals regardless of whatever insanity she was calling out. The class had a great playlist and gave me the mood boost I really needed.
I am hoping the class format (6 alternating tread and floor blocks) agrees with my hamstring, since I am only on the tread for 10 min at a time. If my hamstring doesn’t yell at me later, I will be working more bootcamps into my schedule.
A huge thank you to Deborah and Kim for hosting the Weekly Run Down link up.
Do you have any plans for Valentine’s Day?
Are you doing anything to observe Lent (which starts on Valentine’s day this year)?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Oh Coco–I am so sorry about the ongoing issues with the hamstring! I sure hope you get a reprieve soon.
No Valentine’s Day celebration here–we’re probably going out for dinner but that’s about it.
I’ll be in Florida hopefully. I say hopefully because a snowstorm is in the way.
Ugh. On the hamstring. But if you can run walk…
That’s what I’m doing. Short 90 sec intervals of running. It’s slow but I can get through it.
Ugh. One thing about ongoing injuries, is that they’re so boring. I don’t mean that YOU’RE boring, and I’m enjoying reading your blog posts. I just mean, when you’re the one who’s injured, it just gets so boring to constantly be thinking about it. And then when the subject of running comes up, you have to go into a long-winded explanation of why you’re not running at the moment, etc. etc. It’s such a relief when it finally heals up and you can stop thinking about it!
For the record, I had high hamstring tendinopathy years ago (in my early 30s) and I didn’t run at all, because that’s what I thought I had to do to let it heal. But even with no running it wasn’t healing (it was eventually strength training that got me back running- I know you’re already doing that.). I only bring it up because taking a complete break from running might not even help you, so you might as well keep doing it the way you are (intervals and being aware of the pain level.) I wish I had the answer for you- but the only thing I know is it WILL heal- you won’t have this forever.
Sorry to hear you are still having pain in your hamstring. Only you can figure out what aggravates it and then try to avoid doing those things, Hope you have some time for fun in NYC this week
Injuries are so frustrating. I will say, my last injury I kept doing what I could, and what my PT said was ok, but was not getting better. I finally took two weeks off completely, just did some upper body and a few very slow walks and it helped so much. I sit at work most of the day as well and I ended up buying this computer lift off of Amazon so I could raise it and stand to work throughout the day. It really helped and I have continued to use it.
I was so mad at myself for not doing it sooner. I love Jess Sims full body classes! I have a few of her treadmill bootcamp classes bookmarked but have not tried one yet.
I hope your hamstring gets the point and straightens up soon!
I’m so sorry that you’re still dealing with your hamstring issues. Maybe you’re on to something with the elliptical and skipping it for a while will help. Fingers crossed!
So sorry about those angry hammies. Those injuries do drag on forever it seems. I think I eventually just gave up on running when I had it and eventually it got better. I remember the frustration of the situation, but not really the “fix”. I think you have a good team in place to help you out. But keep up hope, there really will be a day when this injury is in your past!
Thanks. It really has dragged on since it started nagging, but if I only count from my December MRI and new treatment, it’s not as depressing.
So sorry for the continued hamstring distress. Those are such temperamental muscles and they can be a bear to get healed (I’ve been down that road too many times to count). I hope things improve…at least you have a good variety of other fitness fixes on standby. ((Hugs))
Ugh – I’m so sorry about your hamstring issues! I wish I had some advice, but I’m injured myself at the moment and didn’t run once this week for fear of aggravating mine. I hope we both feel better soon!
No Valentine’s Day plans. We do observe Lent so I bought some halibut for us to have on Valentine’s Day at home with the kids. I love fish and it’s a nice excuse to have some – Ash Wednesday!
That sounds good. We had tuna melts for dinner on Wednesday. 😛
Oh Coco I’m so sorry your hamstring continues to be uncooperative – I so sympathize. Your hammy and my quad both really need an attitude adjustment! I really hope you get some relief soon. Sending you hugs my friend!
I feel your frustration.
Your case is particularly difficult because it’s a guessing game. What aggravates it, what doesn’t? What helps, what doesn’t?
No matter how frustrating things are at the moment, don’t forget that you will eventually get better!
I’m sure the PT exercises help. And interrupting those long sitting sessions with short walks will be very beneficial – not only for your hammie!
Thanks. I know work is aggravating it, but it’s so hard to break that habit.
Aw, that sucks about the hamstring. But I think your approach to do PT only + walking to assess it sounds like a very good plan. Things like this that just go on and on though… how very frustrating and I’m so sorry you have to go through this.
I’m so sorry your hamstring continues to be a source of frustration. They really are so tough to heal. I’m giving fun care packages to my daughters for Valentine’s Day but so far nothing for my hubby. I actually work Wednesday night so there’ll be nothing special for sure.
Hah, I hope you had a good Wednesday then. 😉
oh Coco…I’m so sorry. This is all so frustrating. What the heck. This is the worst hamstring injury ever, at least it seems! Thinking of you and hoping you can get some relief soon.
I’m just so sorry this is dragging on. You have to be so frustrated and I hate that for you! I really, really hope your hamstring continues to heal and you can put this all behind you.
Your tulips are beautiful. How thoughtful.
Normally, we don’t do much on Valentine’s Day, but we are going to take A and his girl to the beach for a picnic, and there is a rooftop bar/restaurant a few blocks from the beach. We will have drinks/apps while they enjoy their evening.
That sounds so fun!