Running stress caused by work activities

happysongbird

happysongbird

Chapter Presidents
Jul 1, 2011
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Nampa, Idaho
dailyimprovisations.com
#1
I am dealing with legs that are stressed by things like working a wood chipper for over 9 hours last week. My runs prior to the work went really well, but the hours bending and pushing debris into the chipper seems to have over stretched the back of my legs and I am concerned about how they feel. I do a lot of outside/heavy yard work, but it varies enough that it is hard to have a workout schedule coordinated with it, plus, so far, its unpredictable how it will affect my running. All of the discussions seem to be exclusively about training without having to take into account other activity. Anyone else have these issues? I'm a month out from a sprint tri and hope to run a barefoot 10K yet this summer.
 
#2
I always kind of just favor listening to my body. If your legs are telling you that they have had enough after a hard day at work then they have had enough. I think you could easily train for a 10k on as little as 3 days a week of running and there is no need to push the issue after a hard days work. You can also just back way off on the intensity, if you feel that just have to get a run in.
 
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#3
Laura, I'm a farmer in Southern Utah and I know what you are talking about. Some days I can barely get out of bed, my feet and everything else ache. If I can make it out the door to run, the aches and pains disappear. If I have an extra hard day, I will take a day off from running. Training schedules are impossible for me to follow in the Spring through Fall months. I just try to run when ever I can. Not only do I have a hard work schedule, I also have a huge garden, a big yard, lots of animals, and a big family to take care of. Not complaining though, I wouldn't want it any other way. I think with your busy schedule, you will have no problem with shorter events, but realize your time and physical limitations if considering longer events. I am going to try one more marathon in October, and if it doesn't go well, I am going to back off the distance until life slows down a little. Good luck to you.
Rick W.
 
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#4
I don't have anything like Laura or Rick's physical activity at work,
but I do know after a day or two on the weekend
doing intensive yard work or carpentry/maintenance type stuff,
a good run at the end of the day,
even just a few miles,
can help work out the kinks,
especially if I get in a good stretch afterwards.
I'm usually two tired for strength training though.
Running a marathon during harvest season--
way to go Rick!
 
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#7
Bare Lee said:
I don't have anything like Laura or Rick's physical activity at work,
but I do know after a day or two on the weekend
doing intensive yard work or carpentry/maintenance type stuff,
a good run at the end of the day,
even just a few miles,
can help work out the kinks,
especially if I get in a good stretch afterwards.
I'm usually two tired for strength training though.
Running a marathon during harvest season--
way to go Rick!
Click to expand...

Great point about a run at the end of the day working out the kinks. I have had a lot of success relieving a sore back with an easy run or walk in the evening.

As an alfalfa farmer, we have three harvests per year lasting from 8 to 14 days depending on weather. It is really hard to get any running in during these harvests and it takes a while to get the dust out of the lungs. It takes a few days for the body to get over the long shifts post harvest, it feels a little like jet lag. Probably the biggest challenge is the knee pain from running the tractors and trucks. My left knee from clutching aches. Last harvest is in mid-September, so I should be ok.

Also, to edit my previous post to be more positive, "after I have a successful barefoot marathon, I will back off the mileage for a while". Not for long though. I am thinking about the Carlsbad marathon in January in California. http://www.carlsbadmarathon.com/
 
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#8
rickwhitelaw said:
Great point about a run at the end of the day working out the kinks. I have had a lot of success relieving a sore back with an easy run or walk in the evening.

As an alfalfa farmer, we have three harvests per year lasting from 8 to 14 days depending on weather. It is really hard to get any running in during these harvests and it takes a while to get the dust out of the lungs. It takes a few days for the body to get over the long shifts post harvest, it feels a little like jet lag. Probably the biggest challenge is the knee pain from running the tractors and trucks. My left knee from clutching aches. Last harvest is in mid-September, so I should be ok.

Also, to edit my previous post to be more positive, "after I have a successful barefoot marathon, I will back off the mileage for a while". Not for long though. I am thinking about the Carlsbad marathon in January in California. http://www.carlsbadmarathon.com/
Click to expand...
Yah, I find running or walking and then stretching (lengthening) helps align everything and keep me limber--much better than a massage or hot tub.
I have some cousins who farm, so I know it can be very intense at times, but three harvests sounds ridiculous. Good luck on the marathons. I'm thinking if my running continues to improve, I may try some racing next year. The last time I raced I was in ninth grade at a track meet and got whipped by all the juniors and seniors. Now I look forward to getting whipped by folks younger than me.
 
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#9
Drum or disc chipper? Must be an old drum "chuck and duck" style. Brush clearing or bigger trees? Doing that all day will indeed beat you up and you are doing very well to tune into your body's suggestions to take'r a bit easier. Good for you.

I've done my share of days feeding the chipper and more of them climbing to take the trees down. Not lately, deo gracias!

I repeat, good for you!
 
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#10
Joseph Tree, all I know is I can put the debris in the chute on the top or feed some of the smaller branches into a place at the bottom. It was a wide variety of sizes because "we" (I speak as the queen of the household) took down a large tree. After about 4 days of really resting, I have been able to gradually get back into some routine, but I won't do as well in the sprint tri in 2 weeks, as I would have before the injury. I might get to do the run portion barefoot, though. That would be fun.
 
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