Community news reporting calls for journalists to step into a community and hear its heartbeat, record the daily struggles and joys of the residents. To take things up a notch, Berea Mail journalist, Danica Hansen has decided to take part in Stella Athletic Club’s Couch to 10km Challenge. Watch her journey unfold in the diary of The Jogging Journalist. Today we bring you the fourth post in the series.
LAST week I felt the burn, but this week the pain was real. After two weeks of walking, coach Dave Beattie incorporated short runs into our training on Tuesday.
Picking up the pace seemed intimidating at first, but I can always count on my fierce competitive streak to make sure I blindly crush it without thinking about any consequences. If we were told to run as far as we could up a hill, you better believe I ran to the top.
A greater challenge for me has always been to pace myself. That’s the two-edged sword of determination. During our walk, Dave selected targets for us to run toward. The stronger runners would reach the target first and then circle back toward the pack and collect the other runners until everyone reached the target together.
ALSO READ: The Jogging Journalist: Feel the burn
As we regrouped at the base of a hill, I stopped to stretch, trying to alleviate a dull, dense pain in my shins. Stella Athletics Club runner, Lisa Sutton came over to ask if I was ok. I told her how I always feel pain in my shins when I run and without missing a beat, she explained that shin splints are caused by one of two things: too-tight takkies or tension. She coached me as we took off together.
Approaching the incline of a hill, Lisa advised me to relax, take small steps and ‘bounce up’ the path to use less energy. Falling in stride with her, I learned to keep my head straight and relax from the neck down to alleviate pressure in my shins and ankles. Immediately the pain subsided.
ALSO READ: The Jogging Journalist: Danica takes on fitness challenge
As we continued our run, I felt the pain returning now and then and my task was to concentrate on relaxing my muscles as I ran- a concept I had never considered. I was amazed at how the pain would alleviate and how a gentle pace wins the race.
As I head into today’s training, it doesn’t quite feel like I’ve been hit by a train, but I definitely might have had a run-in with the miniature kiddies carriage at the Shongweni Farmers Market. My muscles are tender, blister count is up to three and I’m considering blowing my petrol allowance on a new pair of running shoes- don’t tell my boss!
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