I have wanted to write this series of posts for awhile and I’m not sure why it’s just now happening, but I suspect it’s a bad case of Impostor Syndrome. Yes, I’ve run 5 marathons and almost 20 half marathons. Yes, I’ve been running consistently for almost 8 years. But I’m not an elite athlete, I have only placed in a race once, and I have zero letters after my name that give me credibility from a medical or scientific perspective.

But I am a middle aged mom with a job, 3 kids, a traveling husband and 2 dogs and have been able to keep to this running thing almost entirely injury free for 8 years, so I think that just about makes me an expert, right?

My goal in these posts is not to give you technical advice, but rather to give a realistic picture of some weird things that will happen when you become a runner that I don’t think many people talk about. And, as per tradition, these things maybe only happen to me. Which will make all of these incredibly awkward and we all just need to get OK with that.

Part 1 – Running Hurts

Now, clearly I’m not talking about OMG I’m in the worst pain of my life call a paramedic pain. If that’s happening, Good Lord, stop running and call a paramedic. They can be reached at 911.

No, I’m talking about twinges, aches, small pains (during the run, sometimes, but almost always after). I don’t know if this is true for 25 year old runners because when I was 25, I didn’t run. But I know for those of us over 40, this is PART OF THE FUN.

Most days, when I’m training, I wake up sore and it takes me a few minutes of moving around to not hurt. But let’s face it – at 46 that’s sort of true even if I’m not training so I might as well train.

If you are an older runner and you let every little ache stop you from getting out there, you will not stay a runner for long. Because it just doesn’t work that way. A little bit of pain and discomfort is a normal part of the adaptation process that your body is going through (insert article about adaptation and pain and running here). 

I have a pretty strict 3 day rule. If something hurts more than 3 days, I go to the doctor. Except in the case of the Plantar Fasciitis in my left foot which has been there for literally years and doesn’t seem to ever get much better or worse. Because I’ve been to the doctor for that more than once and she always says the same thing – it’s not really that bad and your feet are mechanically fine so stretch more after running and don’t worry about it. So I don’t.

Oh, also, if it hurts when I’m recovering but not when I’m running, I don’t count it. Well, unless it’s interfering with my daily life.

But since my running is done primarily to help me cope with depression and anxiety, I will hurt much more if I don’t run. And I will maybe hurt other people if I don’t run (#kiddingnotkidding – is that hashtag still a thing? If not, let’s bring it back).

So get out there and start hurting! But just a little bit and not too much and not for more than 3 days and not if it interferes with your daily life.

For part 2 I’m going to talk about stomach issues. Won’t that be fun?