This Time It's Personal

As some may know from my past posts or rants on social media, my hamstrings have been giving me fits and starts for some time now.  I have, in the past, taken time off, gotten PT, and have done exercises given to me from my Doc, but I have never kept them up once healed, which is probably the exact reason why I have never fully healed.  I have gotten better to the point where I could race and run a marathon, but somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I knew I wasn't getting myself fully healed.  Thus, since the end of June 2016, one or both of my hamstrings have kept me sidelined.  Yep, you read that correctly, it's been 8 months; no serious training, no races, just soreness.

I have not been pleased with my hammies for some time now.

About a month ago, I had a mind shift.  I am not young like I used to be, and there are no quick recoveries anymore.  There likely are not going to be any more PRs in my future either.  I cannot stick with the status quo of training and injury recovery anymore.  So hammies, this time it's personal.

I have, for a long time now, thought that I should be doing more to increase my flexibility, upper body strength, and core strength.  Yoga always interested me because it would address all of these items if I gave it the time.  But the problem was I never gave it the time.  I have told myself that I should buy a trainer and ride more.  But the problem was I never followed through.  I gave up whenever I would tell myself to start doing either of these things.  I made excuses about not having time, when really, I had plenty.

So, part of my mind shift and attack on my hammies has been introducing yoga and core strengthening exercises as well as cycling on my trainer on days I don't run.  I have been doing these consistently over the past month.  Given I am still not back to running every day, I have been performing yoga in the early hours (usually with my two yoga buds Amy and Lacy).  I have been cycling after work on the days I don't run.  I have been doing my exercises and yoga in the evenings while watching hockey.  I have been paying more attention to keeping my pace slower when running even if my legs are not achy or sore because I know they are still healing.

My Yoga Buds

It is working.  My sly assault on my hamstrings appears to be paying off.  They are less achy and sore every day.  I am able to do yoga positions deeper than when I started.  My Doc, Dr. Houssain, recently made the comment that he was able to stretch my hamstrings farther than he has ever been able to since I have known him.  Mind you, those that are truly flexible would laugh at my tightness, but to me, there is a definite change.

My Assault Weapons

More importantly, by making exercises and yoga a priority, I am finding that I enjoy my time on the mat.  I look forward to it.  I find that my yoga sessions are getting longer and I am trying new positions that I would never have considered a month ago.  I bought a mat for at home and for at work.  I find it relaxing just rolling out my mat, knowing what is coming.  I grin slyly at my hamstrings because they have discovered that, indeed, this time it's personal, and they are scared because they know they are under attack from all angles.

Are you injured?  Are you looking for something to help with flexibility or core and upper body strengthening?  Are you tired of a particular part of your body hurting?  Then have a mind shift and find something that you have been wanting to do but keep making excuses that prevent you from doing it.  Attack whatever is holding you back.

Make it personal.