Hamstring

[Catrin]

I had a gentle ride last night - I was aware of the hamstring's existence but it didn't hurt. Tonight I went to spinning class, and noticed it a lot more - especially in standing climbs. I tried to take it easy but noted at one point that there was targeted warmth in the area - though not pain, not quite... sigh.

No state forest exploration for me tomorrow I suppose. Will continue with the gentle rides and break down and try and roll it.

I am hoping the "warmth" doesn't mean much - I did back off even further at that point.

[indysteel]

Are you icing it and/or taking any pain relievers?

[Catrin]

Are you icing it and/or taking any pain relievers?

I wasn't sure if icing was called for this long after whatever happened, or if heat is better. I did some research on the internet and all the references were for icing right after the injury. I do take ibuprofen from time to time, though can probably take it a bit more consistently.

My usual habit is to ignore things like this until they go away I am trying to get better. I will take ibuprofen before bed tonight, and tomorrow when I get in from riding (gently) will ice it.

I swear all of this started after hiring a trainer/mt to stretch me...last time THAT is going to happen!

[Catrin]

My name is Catrin and I've been in denial over my hamstring problem...ignoring it isn't working

I am now icing it after every ride/workout + taking ibuprophen, and my rides are shorter with fewer hills until it heals. The quad is now healed, but the hamstring is just going to take longer. I have accepted that, I don't have to like it.

Thanks for the helpful comments - I am thankful that I had already decided not to do the brevet before this happened or I would be quite upset with my leg. I wish I knew what happened, but will probably never know for sure.

So now, perhaps, the best thing to do is to not think about my 70 mile rides of just a few weeks ago, but focus on what my leg will allow me to do now and once it is healed work my way back to the same distance. I still want to do a century this fall, but if this takes too long to heal then it won't happen...

[jessmarimba]

I didn't read back through all of the comments to check, but have you worn compression tights after a ride?

[indysteel]

And have you thought about taking a week off altogether? I know it sucks to do so, but at this point, I'm not so sure just easing back is doing the trick.

I'm not overly familar with hamstring issues. Mine get tight, but that's about it. I do know that my own tendency to ride or run through pain generally just leads to more and/or prolonged pain. In the very least, stop doing any climbs in spin class.

I agree with Jonathan that clipless pedals will help you better engage your hamstrings, but that alone won't cause an injury. Temporary soreness, yes, but probably not injury. Did this also coincide with him raising your saddle? That could also be a culprit I suppose in that the higher the saddle, the more you're stretching your hamstring.

To me, all of this just reinforces the fact that I think you could stand to add some yoga or pilates into the mix. Cycling involves such a limited and repetitive range of motion. It helps to do something to counter the long hours on the bike. In reading your 2011 cycling goals thread, I see that your winter workouts largely revolve aroung cycling or spinning. I, personally, use the winter to broaden things a bit and give my body a chance to move in different ways. I find that I'm less injury prone when I do that.
Just my random thoughts....FWIW.

[Catrin]

And have you thought about taking a week off altogether? I know it sucks to do so, but at this point, I'm not so sure just easing back is doing the trick. ...

To me, all of this just reinforces the fact that I think you could stand to add some yoga or pilates into the mix. Cycling involves such a limited and repetitive range of motion. It helps to do something to counter the long hours on the bike. In reading your 2011 cycling goals thread, I see that your winter workouts largely revolve aroung cycling or spinning. I, personally, use the winter to broaden things a bit and give my body a chance to move in different ways. I find that I'm less injury prone when I do that.
Just my random thoughts....FWIW.

I also do strength training 3 times a week, and my trainer does focus some of our time on exercises that works on my full range of motion. We do have free mat pilates at my club, I will give it a shot to see what I think about it - I pretty much am limited to what I can do at my club right now. I have not heard much good about the yoga classes there...

Several things happened at the same time - I paid someone to stretch me (which I think was at least partially responsible) and I moved to clipless pedals and did several quite long rides on them right off the bat.

Jonathan isn't surprised over the hamstring issue, especially with the mileage I tend to ride - though frankly I am still unsure if it is just sore or has an actual mild strain. The localized warmth I felt the other day leads me to assume a light strain. The only reason the saddle was raised was because my shoes have a higher sole than the Keens I used on the BMX pedals which had the effect of lowering my saddle. My saddle is still almost an inch too low though...

It actually feels better on the bike than when doing climbs on the spinning bike - so will stop doing those for a week or so. I have backed off on the intensity on the spinning bike, I generally hit it quite hard.

The reason I haven't taken a full week off the bike yet is that every time I ride it feels better than the time before. Yesterday was the closest I've come to really feeling like myself on the bike for two weeks I stuck to flat roads with only 3 moderate hills, and they were pretty short. It was only 23 miles, but that's the furthest I've ridden since the Hope Ride...

Thanks for your comments Indy, they are always helpful. I haven't tried compression tights...