Injury Updates

People keep asking about whether or not I get hurt doing this, since it is probably not a natural motion to run a marathon and dribble a basketball for so long. At first, I was not going to mention any injury, but after talking to a few people, I decided to share so that everyone gets a realistic view as to what happens and the risks when doing something like this. The preparation for the marathon has helped me decrease the normal amount of injuries and pains that one experiences in intense training like this. Every once in a while, I get a little pain or soreness (shin splints, sore muscle, tight muscle), but nothing too serious has occurred in my legs.

The dribbling was not causing any problems to my shoulders at first. But this was when I was dribbling on my sides and not alternating between hands. While this form was better for my shoulders, my body was twisted slightly and I used more energy. So, I experimented with different dribbling techniques on long runs. I found that the most "natural" motion that mimics my natural running motion was when I would actually cross-over every dribble. My running form was not altered much, so I was able to run faster without my upper body getting as tired. I went on a 10 mile run using this cross-over dribble, and it felt great. However, the next morning, I woke up and noticed my shoulders sticking out slightly (see picture). There was absolutely no pain, however, it was not normal. I got checked out and have attended physical therapy to help. Luckily, I caught it early on-- I have inflammation of the AC joints (yes, both shoulders). While it is not pretty, it is relatively pain free, only sore every once in a while.

Despite this little setback, I have adjusted my upper body workouts and am being careful. I took a break from dribbling and am slowly working it back into the running. While this form made me faster and was easier, I am probably going to have to rely on another form of dribbling to avoid further shoulder issues. I am closely monitoring my shoulders, however, I am still determined to continue with the challenge. With constant icing, physical therapy, and strengthening exercises thanks to the therapists and trainers, I am confident that I will still be ready to go on March 7th!