All About Running > Running 101 > Rebuilding Mileage After Injury
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Rebuilding Mileage After Injury (Read 273 times)
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posted: 6/9/2008 at 6:07 PM
I pulled my calf muscle during a race about 3 weeks ago. I was pretty laid up since then, but was able to get back to light running last week. Yesterday, I ran my typical hour run at a slow pace, and was able to complete it with no pain in my calf whatsoever, so I feel like I can resume my slow/base mileage at this point.

I was consistently running 20 miles per week before the injury. I had two weeks of basically no running, and last week I was around 9 miles. My question is, how quickly should I return to my former level, assuming I do not have any pain in my calf? Do I need to follow the 10% rule, or can I assume that other than my calf, my body can handle it since I've been doing it, and get back up to my former mileage in a couple weeks?

In other words, I'd like to do something like this:
0, 0, 9, 14, 18, 22
Is that too aggressive?

Again, this all assumes that as I return, I have no pain in my calf, and I omit all forms of speed work for a few more weeks at least. I feel like I should be fine, but after a few weeks of chomping at the bit, my judgement may be off a bit. Outside perspective?




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posted: 6/9/2008 at 6:28 PM
I don't think you're being aggressive enough. I just came off an injury that laid me up for a month. Once I ran enough to realize that I was ok, I got my mileage up pretty quickly.
I think that if you were running 50 or so miles per week you would to use more caution but I think you'll be ok ramping up to your previous mileage in a hurry.
That assumes that your injury is ok.
"The long run is what puts the tiger in the cat" - Bill Squires
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posted: 6/9/2008 at 11:12 PM
I would think you would probably be fine ramping up that fast if you avoid hills and speed. For muscle strain like that I usually return to mileage fast but may use a little extra caution and warm up more thoroughly as well before returning to normal pace. Good luck!
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posted: 6/10/2008 at 12:32 PM
Great, thanks for the input! I'll stick with that plan then, and hopefully be back to normal mileage soon.
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All About Running > Running 101 > Rebuilding Mileage After Injury