Do You Need a Heart Rate Monitor?
I could barely walk into the office of the Sports Medicine doctor I had been referred to. He asked me a bunch of questions and then felt around my lower back and glutes where my pain originated. He asked me more questions.
Q: When does it hurt?
A: Only when I walk or put weight on my leg. It doesn’t hurt when I run. (I thought that was a good sign:)
Q: What were you doing when it started?
A: I had just finished a long run. It was supposed to be 13 miles but I was off on calculations and it ended up being 17. I went to a symphony that night and when I stood up, I could not bear weight on my right leg.
Q: Has it bothered you at other times?
A: It also flared up after I was doing speed work at the track.
Q: What are your goals?
A: Well, I LOVE running. I would like to qualify for Boston. I am planning to run a 10K this weekend.
Q: Do you plan to PR?
A: Of course!
Then he had some things to say to me.
This is sciatica you are experiencing.
It has happened because you have been over training.
Get a heart rate monitor.
Know your zones.
If you listen to your heart you will prevent injury.
You can only run as fast as you can run.
When you run with other runners, the slowest runner sets the pace.
You will not be running the 10K this weekend.
Your body needs a break.
The reason it doesn’t hurt when you run is because of endorphins. (I’m not so sure about this one)
I was a little devastated. Take a break? Words no runner wants to hear; especially a new runner who is certain that it was out of some chance happening that she is able to run so far and that if she stops, she may never be able to duplicate her efforts.
But…I knew he was right. (Most of it). I knew that I was pushing too hard. I knew that I could not keep up with my (much) younger running partners.
I bought the HRM. I found out that I was working really hard! I started to allow my heart to decide how hard I pushed. Although I was reluctant to admit to my running partners that I would need to slow down and sometimes walk, I did so and it felt good. I believe this advice has served me so well and contributed greatly in my successful completion of 4 marathons, a lot of 1/2 marathons++ with very minor and infrequent injuries.
I was thinking on my run yesterday—that heart rate monitor advice is more than a physical fitness truism. I really…so very often…need to listen to my heart.
1.Trust the heart feels.
2.Learn to listen to your heart.
3.Know your zones.
4.The thing about my emotional HRM is that it does not necessarily prevent pain, but it does protect me from injuries that would not be from MY choosing.
5. It alerts me to feelings that may be warnings or signs of unmet needs.
If you would like help with your “heart rate zones” or would like to discuss trusting your heart feels, sign up for a free consultation. I promise to run at your pace:)
xoKathleen
