Yesterday I woke feeling out of sorts. Agitated. If I'm honest, I've been feeling this way on and off for a few weeks now. Sadly, I know it's a result of not having my regular exercise. But yesterday, I could take it no more. I did a home session before work.
There was a time in my life when I refused to train before work. In nursing, you never know what the day is going to bring and just how fast you'll be running all shift - so I figured it wold be better to save my energy... then I discovered the joys of exercise and how it can make you feel more energetic. So I would train before work when I was on a late shift. Yesterday I ventured back into that routine.
After dropping DD off at creche, I went home and got on the treadmill. At first, I started off a little lower than my old walking rate. After 10 minutes varying between 5.6 and 5.8 Km/hr I was BORED! I was feeling GREAT! I wanted to run. But all I could think about was the jarring that would do to my back. How it could send me backwards and how I don't have physio here at the moment to get me through that. So I staid away from running.
Somewhere in the realms of my mind, I heard Dale chattering away in old gym sessions. Encouraging me to increase the incline when I felt I needed a challenge and shouldn't be running. So I thought "Why not?"... and increased the incline to 3 and the speed to 6 Km/hr. Well... let me tell you why not...
At first it was fine. I felt good. Then I felt a twinge and spasms in the right side of my back - around the rib line. Then my hips began to waver and I found it more and more difficult to control my gait. Then the left side of my back started to object. So I decreased the speed and incline... but quickly got bored... so increased them again. Hmmmm seems I don't learn my lesson too well ;)
By the time I got to 20 minutes, I was really struggling and got off. My whole lower back was objecting loudly. The only thing that felt comfortable was standing STILL. Of course, that's not possible when you have to get ready for work! Despite stretching, bending was a nightmare, turning was a nightmare. I began to get a little panicky about how I was going to cope at work - being In Charge on the late shift. But I sucked it up, downed some meds, and made my way to work. The whole way to work I used my massage ball which was excruitiating - so I knew a lot of my issues were muscle related. All I wanted to do was go home and stretch more.
At work, I struggled a bit. Bending and twisting were the biggest culprits but I managed to get through the shift. I was questioning my wisdom in training at home though! I began to think that perhaps I don't have the self restraint to train at home alone just yet. I pushed too far. Of course, pushing yourself is a good thing. But knowing your limits and when to back off is more important... and I don't seem to be able to do that yet.
And then I think about how the treadmill actually pulls my leg back which makes it even more difficult to control my gait. So perhaps I need to exercise in areas where I will be restrained. Walking trails and footpaths which won't force my speed, where I will naturally adjust my pace to how I'm feeling. I hate walking on footpaths and walking tracks. I love my treadmill! BUT, I need to do whatever it takes is to get me back to where I was and running again... so I'm just going to have to suck it up!!!
But you know what? Despite the pain caused by yesterday's session... I feel GREAT!!!! My mood improved, I slept better last night, and I felt more in control again! Exercise ROCKS!
No comments:
Post a Comment