Welcome to Wednesday Word, a monthly linkup for everyone, not just health and fitness bloggers. On the first Wednesday of every month you will have a single word prompt to write about. Let your imagination run free and share with your readers your interpretation of that word, or simply use it as inspiration for your post. Today’s word is breakthrough… I’d love to have you link up, and if you do, please remember to follow my six simple rules.
Breakthrough
An act or instance of moving through or beyond an obstacle;
A sudden advance especially in knowledge or technique
~ Merriam-Webster
Perhaps I’ve finally had a breakthrough with this injury that was plaguing me during late-February and then again in April… At the moment, knock on wood, I’m feeling pretty good. My training cycle for the OBX Half Marathon is in its second week and things are moving along smoothly – so far.
As our bodies age we seem to be much more susceptible to injuries than our younger selves. Years of running 50-mile weeks rarely had me sidelined due to an injury, but let me step the least bit oddly today, and I’ll be on injured reserve for a couple of weeks.
My spring breakthrough past those back to back injuries happened as a result of me listening to my body and letting it dictate my return to running. Once back on the running trail I ran solo for a couple of months so I wouldn’t be tempted to push too hard to keep up with my friends.
As we age, overtraining becomes an even greater issue and for someone like me who likes to push to the max when it comes to running, it’s a hard lesson to learn. Rest becomes crucial and if you’ve read my blog for very long, you know that I have a difficult time getting enough sleep.
So whether you’re coming back from an injury or have reached a stagnant plateau, try these tips to aid in a breakthrough in training:
- Get sufficient rest (sleep) to aid in muscle recovery
- Up your nutrition game to fuel your hard working body
- Work toward maintaining your ideal weight
- Add weight training to your routine to strengthen your entire body with emphasis on your core
- Train during the summer, but race during the fall’s cooler temperature
- Cross-train to challenge your cardio system while giving your running muscles a rest
- Seek professional help as necessary – massage therapists, sports medicine doctors, etc.
What recent breakthroughs have you experienced?
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Next Month’s Wednesday Word: Improvement
I feel like I was reading my own breakthroughs, haha! I have also pushed through an injury, started listening to my body and sticking to a plan without over-doing it. I’ve also embraced strength training and learned a lot about food and exercise.
Good for you! It sounds like we’re both learning to train smarter.
I can totally relate! The rug definitely shifts as we age and we have to make changes. I found most of my injuries came from running fast. Now that I’ve cooled my jets, knock wood, I’ve been injury free. Great news you are feeling better!
I think you’re on to something. I was running most of my training runs around 8:30’s during the winter when I first got injured. I’m a little nervous about the speed work I’m doing this training cycle, but plan to continue unless things get wonky. I definitely plan to slow down my pace significantly between training cycles and let my body rest.
I hope you have reached a breakthrough. The hardest thing about recovery is taking the time and being patient! Thanks for the linkup!
I’m a very patient person, except for when it comes to waiting for my body to heal so I can run again. I’m finally learning patience in that regard, too. I have to as an older runner…
Glad your injury is healing. Thank you for the reminder that as we age, the healing process and the overuse is real. I forget that often.
I have had a few breakthroughs this summer one I wrote about but the other is the realization that the 2015 running year that I had was a once in a lifetime running year. I have come to realize that I have to set new a day realistic goals for myself due to injury and age.
It’s hard to acknowledge that we’re getting older and need to slow down, especially when in our head and heart we still feel young.
A huge breakthrough for me is the realization that running is not my “one and only.” I never thought it was before my surgery, but being sidelined has reaffirmed that I do, indeed, have many other things to turn to in terms of not only fitness, but (more importantly) happiness and contentment 😉
That is huge breakthrough. It sure seems like you’re having fun on your early morning walks!
Glad you had a breakthrough! You have some good tips here. It’s so easy to become a victim of overtraining. I think I was over trained the end of last year and didn’t want to admit it. Rest is soo important!
I hope you rested well after last fall’s training cycle!
Those are all great tips, Deb!
Since I was late to the game of running, I guess I just accept the fact that we have to be more cautious. And I’m working on upping my nutrition game this month! It’s already pretty good, but boy those treats have a way of sneaking into your life, don’t they?
Here’s to staying injury free!
Thanks, Judy, and yes, here’s to staying injury free!
I think I am starting to accept that I cannot always do all the things all the time. I need to take a little more rest than I ‘d like sometimes
I agree, that’s been one of the hardest things for me as an older runner/active person. I, too, want to do “all the things all the time.”
I am glad you are feeling better.
I am trying to find the balance again of how to enjoy myself and stay healthy. I try to take a few days extra when I need them and let my fickle feet calm down. So far I’ve been able to run more than I expected but I am not doing any long runs. Once I add the long runs in I seem to have more pain and I need more time to recover. Running solo was smart, taking you time and running easy gives you time to get stronger. The easy miles have been what’s allowed me to run more.
Thanks, Karen. It’s tough balancing the fine line between training hard enough to make a difference and not over doing it. The struggle is real.
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