I’ve been feeling great lately from an injury point of view, and was just thinking about how I have not had any back problems in awhile. I think it was Joe that was recently complaining about his own back issues on Twitter, and I completely identified with that as I have had lots of back problems over the years, and realized it had been awhile since I had my last episode. Actually, a search of my own blog revealed that is was only in Sept that I last had a problem, while preparing for the Chicago marathon – lol. That one only cost me 3 days of training, which I guess is why it was forgettable to me.
I will never forget the massive back spasm that hit in a port-o-potty at the finish of the New York City Triathlon in 2009 (talk about BAD timing) (race report here), or the one that caused me to run my slowest 10k ever in 2004 at the Nike Run Hit Wonder (check my results page), or the one that hit before the NYC Half in 2007 causing another very slow race (another stand-out on my result page), and countless other ones over the years.
This week I went to the gym on Monday night. I intentionally took it easy since I had not been there in a month. I’m sure the squats, situps, back extensions, and other weights strained my back a bit, but I felt fine. Then last night I ran a great speed workout in Central Park without any issues. However, on the subway ride home, I took an odd step down a stair, and felt the familiar twinge in my lower back. I could tell it was not awful and took it easy the rest of the way home and then laid out on my bed.
This morning I awoke to a lot of stiffness, but thankfully no pain. While I limped around all day today, I know it could have been so much worse. Based on how I felt today, I think I’ll be out running again in a couple of days and hopefully back out to the gym by the weekend as well.
Meanwhile, I will practice trying to stand up straight, count my blessings at the lack of severity and good timing, and start obsessing about when it might happen again!
