I was on a lengthy marathon training run when I was sure I had pulled a calf muscle. It hurt a lot and I was sure that my marathon attempt was over. I was pretty sure that it wasn’t going to be helped by a massage or a trip to the doctor’s office, so I consulted “Dr. Google” and tried a number of self-help remedies none of which worked. I had to go to work and when I got there I called Peter. As we talked through it, it was clear it might be protective tightness instead of a pulled muscle. We were going to try a series of neural drills, but the first one fixed the problem! I had to do a little work on my own to make sure it wouldn’t come back, but no more pain, no more tightness and back to marathon training!

I thought my running career was over; now I win Spartan Races!

I should also mention that I have a long history of medical challenges.  I’ve had cancer, been in a horrific car accident and had double carpal tunnel surgeries, among other issues.  The accumulated result was that I had very little upper body strength and mobility which made many of the Spartan obstacles even more challenging!  Try picking up a 75 lb. Atlas stone when you’re 5’2”, your spine doesn’t move much and your grip is virtually non-existent (needed help opening jars).

I had gone for help to a number of practitioners and utilized modalities including chiropractic, physical therapy, hypnosis for the chronic pain and headaches… all without much-lasting success.  Interestingly, my thoracic spine was so locked up from the car accident that none of the chiropractors could fully adjust me!  A fellow Spartan racer recommended that I see Grove Higgins and I did.  Grove has a unique blend of neurology, biomechanics, soft tissue and chiropractic skills and mastery in each.  He, too, tried to adjust my spine, but when it didn’t work, the difference in his approach became apparent.  Instead of quitting, recommending 12 visits for more of the same or recommending heat or massage as the others did, he shifted lenses to a neurological approach.  If my spine was being held tight protectively by my brain, what else could we do to reduce the the threat and get it to loosen its grip?

It started with improving joint mobility in other areas of my body that could move.  I now understand that improving your brain’s map of your movement capabilities reduced overall threat substantially.  I also had brain trauma from the car accident and a previous history of vestibular issues (couldn’t hang upside down without the world spinning).  We worked on improving my sensory (vision and balance) and breathing skills.  The accumulated reduction in threat from mobility, sensory and breathing work relaxed my brain’s hold on my spine to the point where it could be adjusted and we could work on more active movement and control like posture.

It didn’t stop there though.  Grove, being a multi-skilled athlete himself, quickly grasped the other skills I would need to successfully complete in Spartan racing.   Once we had mobility and posture we were able to address sport-specific strength and coordination.  As a result, I’ve improved dramatically.

I recognize that the bulk of NeuroRunner’s audience might have an “Interesting, but what does this have to do with running?” reaction to what I’ve related so far.  So let me add this.  My running has improved immensely through this process!  I never realized how much spinal mobility and arm strength would translate into running endurance and power.  I also never understood the value of sensory and mobility training, and even shoes (I’ve switched to zero-drop) in injury prevention.  On the descent of the Pikes Peak Marathon in 2009, I managed to fall twice, sprain both ankles (I have an enduring relationship with ankle sprains, too) and pull both hamstrings!  Since working with Grove, I’ve rolled my ankle once or twice, amazingly without consequence!  My improved mobility and body map made this a total non-event.  All of this has improved my skill and confidence in downhill running which played into my performance in Breckenridge.

Perhaps most importantly, it has allowed me to continue to run.  Previously, whenever I ran a significant distance, tension accumulated in my neck and upper back to the point where I had migraines.  I thought I would have to give up running anything over a 10K.  That has cleared up as a result of the work I’ve done with Grove.  I now can not only continue to race, but continue to improve.  And I can offer hope to my friends who think they might have to give up running for some nagging injury or pain, too!