Constant Niggles, Time for a Break?

tipping

Not looking for medical advice here and hopefully not breaking any charter but just wondering if ye think it's time for a break from running..

Ever since finishing the Clontarf Half Marathon in November I've just had a series of constant niggles. Before that had been running about 6 months with no issues, maybe 20-30miles a week or so. The morning before before the 1/2 I had a sore calf, which turned into a very sore calf and here my problems began..

Got some physio and rested for 2-3 weeks, started running again (all very easy stuff, 3 or so 3-4mile runs a week) calf wasn't perfect but got better when warmed up, then hurt my other foot just before Christmas while walking through town it just kinda popped.

Lots more physio on the foot and a full month off over the christmas, got back running easy again 3-4 weeks ago, maybe 2 runs a week with gym session either x-trainer or exercise bike mixed in to bed back slowly and then this week left knee goes on a slow run.

I really enjoy the running and the clear head space it gives me but I feel like my body is telling me to stop. At this point what do you do?

More physio, try to get back running soonish, assume I've just been unlucky.
Give up, go to the gym for a few months to keep the fitness and build back very slowly (C25K or similar)

ECOLII

With constant niggles there is obviously some underlying issues which are not being tackled.

You need to try and figure what could be a cause;

- Training -Intensity, Volume, Intensity, frequency
- Lifestyle (Nutrition, sleep, hydration etc)
- Postural - Muscle imbalance, joint dysfunction etc
- Functional - Gait, neuromuscular sequencing etc

Your physio will be able to take a look at the last 2 and possibly 1st two if they have a background in the sport.

What I would say is don't give up on it if you enjoy it, the body has huge capacity for adaptation so 99.99999% of the time there is light at the end of the tunnel in terms of continuing in the sport

tipping

Well that seems like sound advice already.

On the training front, I would have had a tendency to overtrain but do curtail this as much as I can. I suppose I'm relatively fit and running 5-6 miles at an easy pace doesn't take too much out of me (aerobically at least), so maybe I do this a bit early when I do come back as a LSR. When I started running I followed a 10k plan, which probably had less distance and intensity and a much slower ramp and maybe I just need to go back to something similar.

Should be good on the Lifestyle front (bar should be taking in more water).

I suppose on postural and functional I've no idea, so should try to find a good physio down around here and see what they say. As I've gotten fitter in general my flexibility has increased a good bit and maybe my mechanics have changed somewhat as a result too so also maybe time for a new pair of shoes (about 6 months old at this point).

Anyone care to recommend someone down here around Cork City/East Cork. I'm not totally convinced about the physio that I've been to the last few times here.