A horrible warning.

Too much of a good thing is still too much.

With the cold, wet weather and the fact that the gyms and the pools are closed, I had been running most days.

At the beginning of this year I had a goal to do 2020 km of running or skiing for 2020. We had a great ski season, but I broke my arm and ended my season early.

Then there was coronavirus and so running became my primary exercise option.

It was looking like a pretty easy target, and then I tripped, made every effort to not fall on my recently broken arm and strained my hamstring.

Strain is such an innocuous word. It is a really painful experience.

For the last month I have been mostly sedentary.

I can’t run, for the first two weeks walking was, well not an option either.

Under normal conditions I would have more variety in my exercise routine.

Too much is still too much.

Doing only one activity is a great way to get an overuse injury, or worse.

Running is fun, but it will tighten your hamstrings. Prevention is normally quite easy. Regular strength training will keep your muscles strong and maintain a good balance between muscle groups which is one way to reduce the risk of an overuse injury.

Strength training is one of the best ways to prevent injury.

Exercise is also a great way to stay healthy, but too much of one type of exercise often results in injuries.

Too little exercise also has consequences.

Exercise cleans our muscles.

It removes worn-out proteins and prevents their accumulation to keep muscles healthy and functioning.

Regular activity builds muscle which is important for maintaining and regulating metabolism and mobility. Danish and Australian researchers have shown that a single intense 10-minute bike ride increases the activity of proteins that remove worn-out muscle protein allowing for the building of new proteins.

Before their research the importance of cleaning up of worn-out muscle protein wasn’t understood.

Professor Jorgen Wojtaszewski says,

“Basically, it explains part of the reason why physical activity is healthy. The beauty is that muscle use, in and of itself, is what initiates the processes that keep muscles ‘up to date’, healthy and functional.”

Science Daily

Thankfully I can now ride a bike.

If I am careful, I only have 3 more months of modified activity. Like they say, ” if you can’t be a good example”

Change your mind, change your health,

Shayla