The other day, I started wondering about people who push through the pain of their favourite exercise. It came up for me because after a long run, I woke up SORE the next day. My back was tight, my hamstrings hurt, and even my calves ached. I know why I hurt, and how to fix it… but it got me thinking about all of the runners who accept pain as part of the sport. How do people tolerate it?
I was so sore that I felt like I needed a few days off from running, and that a wrong move might cause more pain or even an injury. And from spending so much time with other runners, I realized that SO many people just accept that pain is part of running. They run and run and run… and hurt and hurt and hurt. But why, when they don’t have to? Do they think it’s a good thing?
Exercise Doesn’t Have to Hurt!
Call me crazy, but being active shouldn’t hurt. I work out to feel better in my body, not worse. But when you repeat one move over and over again (like in running, golfing, or rowing), you are bound to gain strength in the most-used muscles, while you lose it in others. That’s why cross-training is so important! It gives you the opportunity to rectify imbalances in your body so you can perform even better and with less pain in your favourite activity. Cross-training also helps you to avoid injury.
It’s funny, because when I’m with other runners or leading my running group through marathon training, they ask me what they should do for their aches and pains. I feel like I’m always shouting “Pilates and strength training!”, but any mix of activity is better than no mix. I just happen to teach and love those two things.
How to Add Cross Training into Your Run Training Schedule
Since I’m training my run group for a half marathon right now, let’s use that as an example for how to add cross training in. The training plan includes long, conversation pace runs, short but fast runs, interval runs, and easy runs. And if all you are doing is running, you will soon be sore (like I was after a long run!).
Interval and easy runs are about thirty to forty-five minutes long. That makes those days perfect to add in a thirty to forty-five minute strength session. On your active rest days, take a Pilates class or follow along on the Sweat with Melissa App. You can even do a short fifteen minute Pilates routine on longer run days to help keep your muscles relaxed and flexible.
You shouldn’t be in pain all the time. You shouldn’t be tight all the time. And to avoid those “push through the pain” feelings, you need strength training and to practice mobility and stretching. I love how Pilates fits all three into one session, and it’s my go-to when I’m feeling sore. But a strength workout with a good warm up and cool down helps me feel better after those long runs as well.
If you are over feeling tight and sore after you in your workouts, let’s talk about how to add some cross-training into your fitness schedule. Your body (and mind) will thank you… and you won’t have to push through the pain any more!