ITB syndrome, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, runner’s knee.
When it comes to running-related injuries, I’ve had them all.
Foam rollers, sports massage and physio have all helped in managing these various issues. But it seems like maybe – just maybe – I may have found the solution to injury-free running, and it’s available freely to all: it’s trails!
As a road runner, one of the main reasons I applied for Project Trail was to see if the different and varied terrain could help sustain my running longer term. A few weeks in, and it seems like it may well do just that!
Previously my typical long run – and all my other running, in fact – was on roads and would see me almost always experiencing pain in my left knee from about nine miles onwards, and hip pain from about 15 miles. I have learned to just get on with this and it does not appear to be causing lasting damage, but it’s certainly not a joyous experience.
Leading up to the Endurance Life Gower half, and as part of the training plan from Robbie Britton, I have now been doing my long runs on trails. These have been completely pain free and with no soreness at all the next day…. Could this finally be the answer to pain- and injury-free running for the long term?
Early days, certainly, but the signs are promising. Ask me again in a few weeks…
