I have decided to taper down to 5k per run for 2 weeks until my half marathon. I want to give my body a break from long runs – feet in particular but also my knees and hips.
On my run today I began to notice my right knee again. I also recognized that my right hip wasn’t in proper alignment with my foot, knee, shoulders and ears – it was popping out to the right. I focused on engaging my glutes while tightening my abs but also making sure my back was straight.
I have also cut back on my wife’s physio exercises. When I was doing them I didn’t have any knee issues, when I stopped my knees started to bother me – correlation? Looks like it.
Back in the daily physio and stretching routine. Funny how as soon as something gets mildly better I decided to change what I was doing. That’s a good lesson.
As frustrating as it is for me to have a sore knee it is a good reminder that I am doing something incorrectly. It is an opportunity to get better, an opportunity to improve and to learn.
I pick up Bruce Lee’s book “Striking Thoughths” from time to time – I find Bruce Lee’s writings to be on point and relevant to much more than martial arts.
The body will go where the mind goes first is a great takeaway for me today. I need to stay positive about my sore knee and use this as a reminder about proper technique. I need to strengthen my IT band so my hip isn’t so apt to lose its stability.
Another 5k tomorrow with the goal of keeping my glutes engaged and emphasizing the ‘pull’.