This is the latest from the inside of a taper week:

From 3rd grade until sophomore year of high school, I played a highly competitive, highly aggressive, and contact-oriented sport: Ice hockey.

Throughout my time playing ice hockey, I sustained two serious injuries: A concussion, and a fractured tail bone. Outside of these injuries, I was injury free. Seven years with only two injuries in a sport as brutal as ice hockey I find curious.

I have been running for a little over 6 years now. I’ve run five marathons, completed two triathlons, a duathlon, and a laundry list of road races, ranging anywhere from 5k to 13.1 miles.

I am going to attempt to list all physical maladies which forced me to deviate from my running. All except one are running induced.

Dislodged sacroiliac joint (plyometrics at military academy) *****
Anterior ankle tendonitis (1 day off, resume running) ½*
ITBS, right knee. ***
Achilles Tendonitis. (right ankle) *
Impartial ligamental tear, lateral left ankle region. ***
Torn right vastus lateralis. *****
Pinched sciatic nerve (right side) *
Strained piriformis (left side) *****!
ITBS, left knee. **
Tibialis Anterior Compartment Syndrome (right side) *****
Tibialis Anterior Compartment Syndrome (left side) **
ITBs (right hip) ?


I think that is all of them. Each star represents the severity of the injury. Now, in six years of running, two of which have been devoted to triathlon, my injury history looks like this chronologically.

1st year: None
2nd year: 2
3rd year: 2
4th year: 2
5th year: 4
6th year: 2

In short, in the last year, I have sustained the greatest frequency of injuries. Being a somewhat prudent runner, I’ve been in the following shoes:

Saucony Stabil (2003-2003)
Brooks: 2004-2004
Mizuno Wave Alchemy – Elixir : 2004-2007

The first year I took up triathlon, I was nearly injury free the whole year. Cross Country destroyed me, and I’m struggling to regain my pre-XC, pre Triathlon health.

I know empirically, that I’m not healing nearly as fast as I once did. Witness the aging process.

I’ve been described frequently and repeatedly as an over-trainer; An addict to exercise; Among other, similar compulsive behaviorisms.

If being injured has taught me one thing, it is how much I value a pain free, jovial, “nothing to worry about” run.

I write this only to further my study of my body’s limits, history, and how to make it stronger.

Any input you may have would be greatly appreciated.