Because rain was in the forecast, I knew squeezing a dry workout in was going to be difficult. Didn't matter. At some point I was going to hit the streets. However during one storm I decided to stretch the muscles and lift a few dumbbells. Nothing big. Just trying to maintain strength and to somehow find flexibility in this crickety body. After stretching I completed two sets of lunges and still felt strong. Casually I tried a traditional squat. Instant pain shuttered up the back of both legs. My hamstring appeared to fold up into my glut. It felt awful. I was certain it was devastating.
I immediately sat on the couch. My daughter brought me an ice pack. I iced it and massaged it, and then slowly started putting weight on it. Within an hour I did some slow, mindful stretches. I was beginning to feel as if it wasn't as bad as I thought. Later in the day I had to put some local basketball players through a workout. Skills and drills work! Every week I am demonstrating hard and digging low. Today I was worried my legs might not hold. I took a hot bath, massaged the legs a bit more, and walked gingerly around the gym. The hamstrings held.
After dinner I took my daughter to the pool, avoided the deep end, and spent about an hour walking around in the shallows. Frolicking in the pool appeared to be good for the hamies. I then spent the rest of the week babying my legs and avoiding anything athletic. Then on Friday I took the dog around the neighborhood (the big loop), and biked back and forth to the pool with Chloe (twice). By the end of the day my legs felt solid.
Today I ran through the hills of Elver Park...ran for an over an hour. I felt strong and healthy. And besides having no problem with my hamstrings, for the first time in over a month...my knees aren't sore.
Makes one wonder if rest (and injury) can make one stronger!
