10-29-2002

by Scott Hubbard

"Owww," as you kick yourself in the same spot just under the ankle that was nicked in the same way yesterday. As you look down and watch a small red spot form in your sock it occurs that you rarely kick yourself and, man, lately runs have been more a chore than pleasure. Clumsiness and a blase attitude don't necessarily mean anything but you'd be smart to consider what brought them on, see if there might be a link to running and other stressful events in your life.

Runners know that physical stress comes with the territory and best results are yielded by adapting to the work at hand before seeking a new level. Things happen regularly outside of running as well that test our ability to balance and cope with stress. New runner or old, failing to or ignoring signs of stress will surely compromise your chances and desire to continue running. Overdo it, take on too much and you'll be wrestling with the four-letter word: STOP.

We've all overdone it or come undone by events that seem unmanageable. In a pamphlet written in '66 by Tom Ostler, The Conditioning of Distance Runners, are listed 10 warning signs of too much stress. To heed the signs would help avoid more serious injuries and illness. Treat them with respect and, perhaps, print this page as a reminder and resource.

1. Resting pulse rate significantly higher than normal (more than 10%) when taken before getting out of bed in the morning.

2. Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.

3. Sores in and around the mouth and other skin eruptions in nonadolescents.

4. Any symptom of a cold or the flu-sniffles, sore throat or fever.

5. Swollen, tender glands in the neck, groin or underarms-sure signs that the body is fighting infection.

6. Labored breathing during even the mildest of daily runs.

7. Dizziness or nausea before, during or after running.

8. Clumsiness-for instance, tripping or kicking yourself during a run over rather smooth ground.

9. Any muscle or tendon pain, or stiffness that remains after the first few minutes of a run.

10. No feeling of anticipation before running and no feeling of accomplishment afterward, as dread and depression become the dominant emotions.

If you spot any of these things you'd be wise to ease off immediately, or stop doing what you're doing until you feel right again. A little time away now will save you a lot of time off later.

I've borrowed this lesson from Joe Henderson's book: Running 101.

Best, Scott Hubbard

Scott says he enjoys a very casual running pace these days. Quite different from when he was tearing up the track at Huron High School or Eastern Michigan University. You can also find his columns in Michigan Runner Magazine. He graduated with a BA in English from Eastern Michigan. You've probably met Scott before but never knew it. Scot's voice can be heard at many of Michigan's best road races such as the Crim, Frankenmuth, the Mackinac Island 8 Mile Run and the Detroit Marathon as he lends his running expertise and style to the finish line announcing at those and other races.