Too Much of a Good Thing; Over Training in Pursuit of A Fitness Goal

By Charlie Young

“All things in moderation.” That is a saying I hear quite often about cake, coffee, or window shopping, but no one ever told me that about my exercise patterns. I put on my first pair of wheelie boots and skated once or twice a week for ten weeks—until I graduated from my new skater program--after that roller skating became all. 

All hours, all days, always. If I could have my skates on, I did. This past skating season I was clocking 8.5 hours of skating at roller derby practice and anywhere from 5-10 at the skatepark or in the street. Per week. It makes sense that you only get out of something what you put into it, so I took my skates with me everywhere. 

Carpool to work? No problem, if I got off early, I went to the skatepark until my coworker clocked out. Going on holiday in Australia? That wasn’t going to stop me, I packed my skates in my carry-on and emailed local Aussie skating groups to show me around. I was determined to put in my 10,000 hours and skate like the greats, and to me and everyone else this seemed like a great idea.

Until February, when the year finally caught up to me. I’d convinced myself for the past eight months that my chronic foot, ankle, and knee pain was because I was rolling on ill-fitting skates. I saved up and right before the travel team season I bought myself some shiny new skates… and the pain got worse. 

I went to the doctor, thinking some custom insoles would fix me up, and was told I had what is called an over-training injury. Actually, I had five of them. Extensor tendonitis in both ankles, shin splints, and patellar tendonitis in my right knee. 

Now, just shy of 21 years old, the tissues in my legs are too damaged to run, jump, or play. I was off skates and on the mend for three months, and I have to say that sitting down and putting my feet up was work too. Days turned into weeks and the tiny voice in the back of my mind had the audacity to wonder “Will I ever skate again?”.  But slowly and surely, I went from being able to walk 0.5 miles to being able to walk 4.  

This week, I put my skates on and rolled around the patio. I didn’t go to the skate park and drop in, I didn’t go to the river front trail and bomb the hills, I didn’t chase an opposing jammer around the track like a rabid dog. Now, I know better than to take my mobility for granted, because I know that roller skating is an indulgence too. 

So, while you may be tempted to put all your free time to good use and start a new exercise regiment, remember to dip your toe in the waters before diving in headfirst. You can’t rush progress; all you can do is be patient and have discipline. Push yourself, but never beyond your limits, and remember; there can always be too much of a good thing.