Help with running (bad shoulder)

I'm a track/cross country runner on my school team, but yesterday, I bruised/twisted/pulled/something my shoulder blade/back when I was playing soccer. I had to take today off from track practice (and it was a workout day too :( ) because my back hurt so badly and my coach didn't think I'd have a good workout with it (plus he told me if I was injured why run and hurt myself more?) The thing is

1. I hate missing practice. I can seriously feel my muscles deteriorating when I miss.

2. I've just started getting really fast, and I don't want to lose momentum because of a stupid injury (especially one that has nothing to do with running)

3. PAl finals are in a few weeks, and I'm expected to become pal league champ by my coach, but I can't do that if I'm out of shape.

So my question, can I do any strengthening excersices to keep in shape or is there any way I can run for the next couple of days while my shoulder heals in which to minimize the pain?

Okay so I totally know how you feel, not with the shoulder thing but I hurt my leg a couple months ago, (stress fracture caused from runnin with shin splints) ... My advice, take the couple days off. Your coach is RIGHT, if you're injured why run and hurt yourself more?? I'm a cross country/track runner too and one week before my first track meet I had shin splints and thought I should just keep running anyway so I didn't lose momentum, and guesss what happened?! STRESS FRACTURE; out for the whole season. I didnt even get to run in the first race. And since running is like 3/4 of my life, it crushed me. So take it from me, dont make your injury worse. If you're hurt, take a break and let it heal!! =)

Hope it gets better hun!

Oh and also, you can't become pal league champ if you're too hurt to run! Keep that in mind too sweetie! :)

How about a cross training like a recumbent bike?  It would help you to keep up with your aerobic and you can work on leg speed and help min. the use of your shoulder. 

Another option you might want to talk with your coach about is a taper.  I am training for a marathon that I will run on May 17.  For me this week is my last hard week of training and then I am tapering down my workouts and long runs so that I am all rested and healed up for my marathon. 

Sometimes taking a step back and relaxing on your training can help you get to the next level.

thanks for the quick replies everyone! I guess I just got fast so quickly, I'm afraid of losing that speed and becoming slow like I was at the beginning of last year, and I haven't had a day where I haven't run since January...it feels weird, lol. Anyway, kelzo, I had stress fractures last year too. Aren't they the worst?

Original Post by soccerj18:

thanks for the quick replies everyone! I guess I just got fast so quickly, I'm afraid of losing that speed and becoming slow like I was at the beginning of last year, and I haven't had a day where I haven't run since January...it feels weird, lol. Anyway, kelzo, I had stress fractures last year too. Aren't they the worst?

 Theyy are! And it's not even the pain that't bad. It's not being able to run!!! I still have three more weeks before I can run again, and they JUST let me start biking two days ago... That's how I felt about not having gone a day without running.. I hadn't gone more than two days without running in about a year and the first week was absolutely TERRIBLE! hahah. Well, I don't really know what you can do strength wise to help your shoulder, but to keep your endurance while not running, the recumbent bike is a great idea!

 

Run, don't walk and  go see someone to get some Active Release Therapy! (ART)

good luck! :)