About a month ago I had to get some dry needling done on my calf. I noticed over the summer that my right calf would cramp any time I would go running. At first, I thought it was a nutrition problem. Coming from the northeast to the Mid-Atlantic I was introduced to something I hadn't faced in years: humidity. Moving during the summertime quickly reminded me of just how hot it can get in the south. It got hot up north but not choke the life out of you hot. I assumed that I wasn't drinking enough water or eating the right foods before running. I altered my diet, drank more water and nothing worked. I finally (only took me all summer) to go to a physical therapist and he said I was huge trigger points within the calf and he would have to perform a series of dry needling. "Ok, cool, sounds good" little did I know what this would entail. For starters, I would not recommend doing this on a whim. The procedure is sticking a needle directly into the muscle in order to have it twitch to hopefully relieve the trigger point. Once the needle hits the muscle it contracts-causing pain. The first time I could not walk for about four days. The next time was better but still sore and tender after 2. The final time only took me a day to get over it.
The next painful part was getting back into running. They put me on a plan to run a quarter mile at a slow pace two times a week, then three times a week, then four, then a mile. It was a slow progress. After not running for months that first run was wonky. My legs felt weird, and I quickly ran out of gas. It was a little embarrassing to only run a mile and be done. After two months of slow, steady progress I noticed my body adapting to the new stress. I was able to run harder and longer with no pain. After a while I was able to run a 5K then intervals, then sprints.
It felt really good to be able to run again.
Normally I break my routine into two days of running and three days of lifting with a stretch day at some point during the week. I am now operating a good speed and good pace to get something out of the run. It is one thing to hit a PR squatting, but completing a hard run is another. The runners high is real. The feeling of completing a difficult run is so much more satisfying than completing a hard lifting session.
Going forward I think I'll break down my training cycles to avoid such an injury again. I'll keep running in the spring.... fighting allergies along the way in the springtime! and moderating lifting. Then turn back to lifting during the summer with increased sets and increased overall volume during the resistance training. I think focusing on one over the other is the way to go. Not all of us are Nick Bare that can do both at such a high level
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