Turning 22 is SO not the bomb-diggity

So today is my birthday. I am 22 years old. 22 is not a cool birthday. It is not your 18 birthday so you can't do cool new things like sign up for the draft, buy cigarettes, or even buy porn. It's not you're 21st birthday so you can't have that first sip of alcohol (I remember mine last year: that first taste of beer, that face I made when the bitterness hit my tongue for the first time ever. Ah, youth). And I'm not even old enough to get my senior citizen discount. 22 is just boring.

But this is a fitness blog. I am not here to complain, I'm here to talk about my life in the realm of fitness. So I will use today's post to discuss the importance of recovery. As I sat and stretched with my running buddy Max after today's run, a reoccurring discussion took place. That discussion involved my lack of diligence when it comes to my stretching. As I have been getting back into my training, I have been pretty lax when it comes to pre and post-run stretch sessions. This is a one way ticket to injury, something I have many first hand experiences with. So you may be thinking, 'well haven't you learned your lesson?' Of course I have, but that doesn't mean I'm smart enough to practice what I've learned all of the time. Lately, I have been feeling the effects. I am waking up in the morning stiff. I cringe at thinking what if I were to be doing my runs early in the morning? I'd feel like shit! The cluprit: lack of stretching. Work on it.

Secondly, I have been running on a bum knee for a little over a week now. I had an unfortunate run-in with the corner of my bed, which seemed to have bruised the head of my fibula. It has been some time now, and it does not feel much better. And it hurts the worst when I run. Multiple people have asked, "have you tried icing?" No. Of course not. Would it help me? Possibly, but I've been too lazy to try it (except for today, I am icing it as I type). Icing/ice baths are a GREAT way to help you recover and stay injury free. It was my goal in the fall to take an ice bath after every long run, so at least once per week. It is amazing how you can feel the effects the next day. Work on it.

The last thing is post-workout recovery drinks. During marathon training I take one 3x per week: After my two weekly workouts (strength and speed), and after my long run. Again, it is amazing how you can feel the effects the next day. I use Endurox, as do many of my friends, but there are others out there to try. Work on it.

So bottom line, I am not elderly. But I happen to be obsessed with a sport that will turn me into a hobbling geezer quicker than I can imagine if I don't take care of myself, and that means doing the little things to help me recover: stretch, ice, and practice good recovery nutrition. Don't let the haters fool you--distance running isn't sure fire way to need a knee replacement at age 47. You just have to be smart.