Friday Ramble 3/5/21

Each week the Friday Ramble offers a training overview, along with whatever running-related thoughts are floating around my brain. This week: Learning to not run, percussive massagers, and by special request, a few words about the Celtics. 

I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all the new Running, Probably subscribers. The response to my call for new signups earlier this week was overwhelming. I’m so happy to have you all on board. I was especially thrilled to receive so many incredible notes from longtime readers about their lives and what the newsletter has meant to them. I’m truly humbled. Thank you. 

For new subscribers, please consider this your free two-week trial. The newsletter is published twice a week with a standalone post on Tuesday and the Friday Ramble you see before you. Feel free to peruse the archives if you’d like to catch up what we’ve been up to the last few months. If I could recommend two pieces that best explain RP’s ethos, it would be The Four Pillars and The Rookie Mistakes We All Make.

By way of introduction to the Ramble, I normally lead this post with a broad overview of my running during the past week. As regular readers know, there hasn’t been a whole lot of structured training lately thanks to a combination of brutal weather paired with a general seasonal malaise.

Following an absurdly icy run last Wednesday, I kicked off my microspikes and declared that I was done with winter. It was time to take an extended break and rest up before resuming serious training in earnest on dry trail. 

I figured a few days of warmer temps and rain would melt the snow and ice once and for all, while the time off would help my hip recover from whatever was ailing it. About halfway through my sabbatical, it dawned on me that my hip hurt because I had gone on a snowshoe excursion the weekend before. Duh. 

The first thing they tell you about snowshoe running is that it’s loads of fun. The second thing they tell you is that it’s murder on your hip flexors. Both things are true. So, while I had a ball -- and my wife took this neato photo -- my hip flexors made sure to let me know that I pushed them too far. I have no regrets.

Perhaps because the root of my injury suddenly made sense -- and that it was caused by something I had a great time doing -- I was able to step back and fully accept the pain. It wasn’t conspiring against me or messing with my flow. It was just pain, and pain doesn’t care about my plans. That recognition flipped a mental switch from resistance to acceptance, which allowed me to truly begin recovering. 

(I also adjusted the way I had been sitting at my desk by making an effort to keep my feet flat on the floor. So much stuff to remember as we get older.) 

The hip pain gradually subsided after a few days of inactivity, as it often does, and I began to legitimately enjoy the time off. I slept in a little, did some yoga, went for walks, worked out some, not too much, and allowed myself to be still. My original plan was to rest through the weekend, but four days became five, and then there were gale force winds, and suddenly I went a whole week between runs. 

This was the second extended break I’ve taken during February. As noted before my first hiatus, that was the first time I had voluntarily taken more than a day or two off consecutively in years. While I was proud of my restraint, I spent a good portion of that initial break convincing myself that it was for the best.

This time there was no doubt. I don’t know if getting comfortable with inactivity is a good thing, but learning how to not run without losing my mind is a major accomplishment that I don’t think would have been possible without this newsletter anchoring my training. In other words, making time for reflection was just as valuable as rest for the healing process.  

When I got back out there this past Wednesday, I was in for an awkward surprise. Roughly half the trail was bone dry, while the other half was covered in sheets of ice. I didn’t bring my spikes, and it wouldn’t have made much difference if I had. The dry dirt and exposed rock would have chewed them up in no time flat. 

I wound up running for 50 feet, shuffling for 50 more, run, shuffle, slip, run, shuffle, repeat. It took me almost two hours to cover six miles, but I was happy to be back outside in my natural environment. The old aches came back -- that familiar mix of post-run stiffness and general soreness -- but they felt like old friends, rather than harbingers of doom. The hip has been fine, more or less.

With that first run out of the way, I’m stoked to get back into a regular routine. As my training ramps up, I’ll get into more granular detail about base building, speedwork, and hills. Fair warning: This newsletter is less about the nuts and bolts than it is about the why of running. There’s plenty of room to explore both avenues. 

Thanks again for joining me on this journey. As always, I love hearing about wherever your running is taking you, either in the comments or by simply replying to the newsletter. 

Say hello to my little friend: The Hypervolt 

My in-laws gifted us with a percussive massager this holiday season -- thanks, Don and Carol! -- and it’s become a staple of my post-run recovery routine. I run it up and down the thigh and hamstring, around the glute, and along my calves. Percussive massagers are all the rage these days, and for good reason. They might actually work. Maybe.

As with most recovery tools, the science is far from settled. This piece from the Washington Post offers a solid introduction to percussive massagers, with necessary warnings about improper use. All it takes is one slip over a bone to remind you that this is a powerful tool. 

In addition to possibly providing some physical benefit, working the Hypervolt after runs feels like I’m doing something positive for my body. Like most recovery methods, the placebo effect is powerful, and may be just as valid as any physiological gain. 

There’s another reason why a percussive massager is a useful tool to have in your kit. It does some of the work my beloved massage therapist used to provide on a regular basis. Of all the things I miss in this pandemic world, my sessions with Ammon are right at the top. 

Part soft tissue genius, part spiritual guide, Ammon has a magical ability to flush my muscles and release my body’s natural inclination to strain and constrict blood flow. Whenever I left his table, I felt worked. I also felt a whole lot more connected, both physically and mentally. 

As we begin to venture back toward something like normalcy, I’ll make a post-vaccination point of resuming my regular massage therapy appointments. Supporting people and small businesses that took care of us in the before times feels like a natural way to bring some goodness back into this world.   

Also, if you’re interested in learning more about recovery methods, Christie Aschwanden’s Good to Go is the definitive work. I’ve recommended it before and would do so every week if I could. It’s that good. 

By request, a few words on the Celtics

I haven’t had a lot to say about the C’s this season because there hasn’t been a lot to say. They clearly need to get healthy, their awkward roster construction has forced too many young guys into rotation roles too soon, and everyone needs to do a better job. From the front office to the coaching staff and down to the players, this season has been massively underwhelming to say the least. 

It’s not just because the Celtics haven’t inspired a ton of confidence that makes the whole experience of following them kind of meh. It’s that the whole NBA season feels so unnecessary given the state of the world. I still watch the games and check the scores first thing in the morning. I’m happy there’s basketball on after I put the kid to bed. I just can’t get myself that worked up over whether Danny Ainge uses the TPE or not. 

In a way, I’m glad to be liberated from the gravitational pull the league has exerted over my life that past 10 years or so. It’s been a breath of fresh air to not care so much, and I can’t imagine staying up for a West Coast game anytime soon. Still, I’d like to feel that spark of inspiration again before this season is out. Basketball has brought me so much joy over the years, it would be a shame if it was snuffed out entirely. 

I’m also optimistic that the C’s best basketball is in front of them. They’ll (presumably) get healthy. Marcus Smart will be Smarfing again soon. If there’s any reason to root for anything in this world, Jaylen Brown will provide it. I’m also pretty sure Brad Stevens didn’t forget how to coach over the summer. And no matter what Ainge does or doesn’t do, he’ll find a way to infuriate someone. The circle of life will continue. 

Still, I’m a realist and I know a mediocre team when I see one. This feels like a transition year, and I don’t believe they were prepared for it. Like a lot of us, 2020-21 caught them off guard and messed up their plans. While that’s not great in a basketball sense, it’s the most relatable thing I can think of to describe this Celtics team. 

Enjoy your runs this weekend. Again, our comments have been a great source of interaction. Be cool, be proud of your accomplishments, and let us know how you’re doing.