Running Pain, Worth It?!?

Running - Pain vs Joy

I have always loved running...and when I say running, I mean a slow jog.  It relaxes me and I can think things thru or get lost in my music if I need a distraction.  However, over the last few years, my hips have started hurting so bad it keeps me up at night.  I have tried everything...Physical Therapy, stretching, foam roller, massage, and reflexology.  Nothing was helping...shooting pain down my legs, tight hip-flexer joints, and a no ability to sit for longer then an hour. 

I had to give up running as my form of working out, and that is when I found Crossfit...(see my blog about Crossfit).  The pain went away almost immediately!  I still stretch my IT band with the foam roller some nights and go to reflexology about once a month....I like the Chinese Foot Reflexology service because it is only $25 and you stay clothed...and they work a lot on pressure points. 

I still run on really sunny days...I love to run up and down Lake Washington Blvd, pretty views of the water, lots of people, and great hills for wind sprints.  Just went on a run instead of Crossfit yesterday, because it was so hot and pretty outside. 

To break up my run a little these days (to avoid the hip pain) I do a hill sprint about every half mile, then I stop and do walking lunges whenever I get to a park.  If it is dry enough, I do some abs too.  This seems to give my legs a short break so they dont get so tight.   I also try to keep my runs under 3 miles so it limits the constant pounding on my joints.

Hill sprints help improve my cardio and tighten everything up, because it uses every muscle.  You also burn a high amount of fat as your heart rate comes back down...that is why interval training works so well.   If you are trying to get in shape it is the best thing to do...it will give you really fast results.

Whenever I am on vacation I still go for my runs, it is such a great way to see the area you are staying in and find things you wouldn't see just driving around.  I also try to find a crossfit gym close by and go to at least one crossfit workout.   Keeping your workouts different and unpredictable will help your body continue to improve and you are less likely to get bored.