The combination of using running shoes with more than 900 kilometers on them and a hardened surface (due to freezing) trashed my legs. I got stress fractures in both of my tibia (shin) bones. The fractures gradually worsened in November and December. I did my last run on December 7th, back and forth to work totaling 20 km. I could feel the pain while running and started to feel really sore even walking. The state of my legs finally dawned on me when our dog stepped right on the fractured spot. Auch! Intense pain!
I had to take some time off from running.
I’ve been swimming a couple of times and snowboarding and skiing on a vacation in Lapland. I even had a one hour session on a stationary bike last week. Not enough to keep my fitness level though. The Polar OwnIndex has declined from a good 58 to a measly 50. I’m not getting the consistency in training that I should get. To get back on track I bought a pair of new running shoes and enrolled for the Helsinki City Marathon. First street marathon coming up in August 2012! I’m also enlisted for Helsinki City Run (Half Marathon) on May 5th. So it’s about time to start logging mileage again! On Sunday I’ll try out my legs and new running shoes in the Esport Ratiopharm Arena in Espoo.
Hopefully we’ll get a serious snow cover in Helsinki someday soon! I’d really like to cross train cross country skiing as it’s a lot of fun. And it’s easy on the limbs and bones. I saw some skiers in action already on the nearby golf course this week. Back then I suffered from a stomach flu and really couldn’t do anything more than short walks with the dog. Unfortunately we had rain and the tracks melted away since then.
A few steps backwards and none forward.
The good thing is my motivation is peaking again. I can’t wait to get aerobic action! I feel the recent low activity level and it doesn’t make me feel good. The addiction is real. Mind and body craves momentum.
