The Pain, the Pain

As I set out for my yearly marathon, I know I'm in for pain. Things will hurt while I'm walking. Things will hurt when I stop. Things will hurt for days. What pain is expected and what is a sign it is time to stop?

• When Exercise Hurts: What sort of exercise should you do if your body hurts? Our Guide to Diabetes has a list of types of exercise that are best for people who have pain.
• Should You Walk When it Hurts? Know when you can walk through the pain and when you should stop. If you are new to walking or exercise, it can take a while to know what pain is expected, such as muscle aches, vs. sudden pain that can signal a real problem.
• Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: How to prevent those aches and muscle pain after exercise.

I'll have my ice bags ready for after I'm done. While there is a difference of expert opinion about various pain relievers before, during, and after - everybody says ice is good, so long as you don't freezer burn your skin.

I disagreewith the t-shirts I saw during my last half marathon about exercise and pain. Such as, "Pain is temporary, quitting is forever." Knee replacements are forever, too. One marathon medal is not worth spending months in rehab. Walking is a huge part of my life. If I have to drop out in the middle of an event due to pain that is a sign I am destroying my body, I will. All of my tomorrows of walking are far more important than one event and one medal.