Lately I've been having some sore leg muscles. Especially my muscle that runs next to my shin. Every run I have I have to warmup, stop and stretch and then finish my run because they are just tight. I definitey don't want to get shin splints, so I'm trying very hard to take care of my legs. Yesterday I was headed out for my 16 mile run. That was a hurdle to overcome mentally. Somehow, everytime I looked at my schedule and saw that 16 mile run looming over me I would have to force myself to focus on the run of the day and just leave it looming. But today was the day that I stepped out and headed off for this seemingly overwhelming run. I took my phone with me in case I needed to call Mark in the middle to come get me!
Anyway, I decided to put some BioFreeze on my legs to help loosen them up. It was empty! I have no idea why I have kept this empty bottle, but no matter how hard I squeezed and shook, nothing was coming out. Feeling desperate, I searched the medicine cabinet for something that would work. I came across some Ultra Arthritic Cream that Mark uses when his back flares up. Perfect! I put it on and wondered if it could possibly be too old to work because I felt nothing. About a mile into my run my muscles were starting to create some heat and I started to feel like my legs were sunburned. Oooh! I forced my mind onto other things and kept running.
Once home, amazingly I didn't need to call Mark to come get me, I decided to hop into the bath to soak my muscles. Suddenly my legs felt like they were on fire!! I kept thinking it'll pass, but instead it felt worse and worse! I had to hop out of the tub and into the shower. Even that was unbearable. I leaned my head into the water and washed my sweaty hair and jumped out. My legs burned for the next 30 minutes! Ridiculous.
Later, when I told Mark about my legs he said that a trainer in college had wrapped his legs up with this cream on them and he'd ended up with blisters. I checked the label on the cream and nowhere in the warnings did it say possible death from burning flesh melting off. What is wrong with these people? And where is some BioFreeze and how soon can I buy some? Well, at least it took my mind off of 16 miles which turned out to be an incredibly exhilerating run! Maybe I should put some on my backside next time and it'll propel me forward! I'll get my fastest time yet. :)
WOOHOO for the 16 miles!
ReplyDeleteAnd ohmygosh about the burning flesh. OUCH!
I guess long runs after this that don't involve seared shins will feel pleasant, huh?
Yeah, that's good perspective! :) Everything else should feel pretty good from here on out. My next looming mileage is 20. I'm trying not to let it freak me out!
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