Running on Empty runs March 17th - March 23rd

[rocknrollgirl]

Good morning all,
I guess I am up first. Although I am not running until later today, I wanted to get things started. Looks like everyone had a rough week last week. Yellow and Grog, kicking out some big races...K- banging out some big miles, Yoda still healing thy self, food poisoning, sore shins, wind, weather....so I thought running on empty was appropriate!

Happy St. Pat's everyone...

[horsemom]

G'mornin' all. I don't run on Fri-Sun in the winter (work 12 hours fri and sat and just relax with hubby on sunday), so I am back to the grind today. I really needed a few days off to recoup, I was getting worn down. Was hoping to run outside today, but it is bitter cold again, so I am back to the gym and the TM. I'll do 6-7 today, or as long as I can before I get really really bored.

The only good thing about the TM is that sometimes someone will start up next to me, or even down the line, and I have to outrun them - even though they have no idea what I am doing!! Usually they are half my age (47), and I get immense satisfaction from going longer and harder. Am I alone in this?

KSH, I felt for you on the post from the last thread. Hang in there.

Laura

[Jo-n-NY]

I did my walk run thing on the TM yesterday. This time I did it correct according to the program, 1 min run; 3 min walk for a set of 6 plus the warm up and cool down.

I also bought my running sneakers to leave here at work and brought the change of clothes. Since I did the run yesterday, today during lunch will just be a fitness walk and hopefully I will get on the bike trainer tonight since I really have to get some cycling in if I am going to do the metric in May.

~ JoAnn

[KSH]

Hey Horsemom, thanks for the kind words and thoughts! I'm waiting for my upswing on the whole running thing. I'm going to blame my less than stellar performance on...

1) Running in 20 mph wind,
2) Being a bit tired from a lot of training. I did do 65 miles on the bike Sat and then almost a 1/2 marathon on Sunday.

Yea, I try to cover my display on the treadmill so others can't see it and get all competitive with me. HA! Actually, that's how I picked up a training buddy in the gym. He would run beside me and try to match my speed on the TM. He had never run before... so it was good challenge for him. Later, he went on to run marathons. So that was pretty cool.

Otherwise, I always like to run on a TM beside someone who is running though. It motivates me. It's like we are running a race together. On the flip side though, someone who is farting around really demotivates me. I keep going, but it's a distraction to have someone talking on the phone next to me, while I'm trying to focus on my music and running.

[rocknrollgirl]

Hey guess what...I ran 3 whole miles today without walking. Not bad after been down for so long. It was not pretty, but I brought it in in 29 mins.

My newbie runners are doing a 5k in 2 weeks and I think I might be able to race with them!!!

[jesvetmed]

ROCKnROLL: That is fabulous! To be able to run with your newbies would be so great! I hope it comes true.
Jes

[emily_in_nc]

Hey guess what...I ran 3 whole miles today without walking. Not bad after been down for so long. It was not pretty, but I brought it in in 29 mins.

Heheh, you're faster than me again already, and I've been running regularly for a couple of months now (and irregularly before that). You're doing amazing!

I've been out of town so missed adding my Friday run to last week's thread. I did a 4 mile run (approx.) on flat roads at the coast (NC), near the very rural marina where we keep our sailboat. It was interesting for me as all my runs so far this year have been on the treadmill or on trails on our wooded property; I haven't actually run on the road ever! It was neat because it was a beautiful morning, upper 50s, and there were so many birds singing. I ran right by a Great Blue Heron, no more than 20' away, who just took a few steps back when I ran by, but didn't fly off. I only got passed by TWO cars in 45 minutes. LOVE IT! :p

Today I did a 4 mile treadmill run. Dragging a bit, perhaps because of the long weekend away and trying to get back into the swing of work, but I pushed through it.

Emily

[jesvetmed]

Well, was I not trying to keep up with you all, I would have stayed on the couch in my warm dry house tonight! Only a couple hours of sleep in the last 24 hours due to work. But, out of excuses, I finally put on the rain gear, strapped on the ipod and grabbed the dog (ok... she is the real reason I got off the couch.. she wouldn't leave me alone after I brought up the "W" word).

5 miles total. Did 45 minutes of a little faster striding than usual -- I ended up needing to walk 30-60 seconds after each mile mark, but overall actually ended up with a faster per mile than ever before. That short rest makes a world of difference! Then after the 45 minutes, did 5 minutes of relaxed sprints... 20sec on, 40 off.

A bit sore tonight and the calves are not happy, but overall I was happy with the run ... once I got used to being soaked, it was ok. ;)

[Wahine]

Well I ran for about 5 minutes in total today on the treadmill in short stints of 30 sec to 1 minute. I'm setting up for my own video analysis. The sad part is that my leg ached during the activity and for 45 min afterwards. Hmmmmm, this might take a while.

[rocknrollgirl]

Oh Yoda...as a recently wounded warrior, I am sorry that you hurt.....

[Jo-n-NY]

I did my first run/walk during lunch time at work yesterday. This was outdoors on the path along the Westside Hwy. Walking the few blocks from the office to the hwy was my warm up and cool down. I did 7 sets, 4 sets in one direction then turned about to the other 3. Needless to say I got further than when I always just walked this path. I got to Chelsea Piers if anyone is familiar with Manhattan, beginning at Houston St.

Anyway, this was good, 1 min run; 3 min walk. I will be doing this through next week, then next Friday or my 3 run of the week I boost it up a notch.

I feel a bit tender at the right of my left knee cap. I hope this is just a tendon or something that needs breaking in. My next set will be tomorrow or Friday.

~ Jo

PS...Emily, your outdoor run over the weekend sounded wonderful and really enjoyable :)

[teigyr]

I did hills last night. Oddly enough, it felt good! I was initially sore from a 5K on sunday but after I got into it, nothing hurt. I'm tired going up the hill but I am having more stamina than I used to. I can also push myself a bit more which is pretty cool :D I did have a few moments of thinking "in 20 minutes, I can be at home in a chair with a glass of wine" but those thoughts were temporary.

On sunday (last week, I know!), I ran a 3.5 mile "fun run". There were 15,000 runners so my time wasn't all that because we were dodging walkers, etc. The great thing about it was there were some major roads that were closed and we got to run places that was normally for cars only. The bad part was we had to leap over road debris, up on curbs and back down, and we had to dart around people who would suddenly decide to walk. I guess that would be interval training?!

RnR - you're running faster than me too. That is great!

Wahine, ouch. I am sorry. It must be so frustrating for you.

[Grog]

{{{{{{ Yoda }}}}}}

That sucks. :(

[OakLeaf]

Aw Yoda, that stinks. Sending healing vibes your way.

I'm just trying to get back in the swing after the stupid food poisoning - scaled my interval workout back to 5 repeats today, but forgot that I had my 5-repeat workout set for 1:30 recoveries instead of the 1:00 I wanted. So not exactly the workout I was planning on, but it's all good. Knowing me, it's not usually a bad idea when a machine makes me take it a little bit easier than I'd planned :p

So 4.0 for me today, a lap and a half around the golf course at my inlaws' subdivision, and it felt pretty good.

[btchance]

eh - no running for me right now. I've pulled a muscle in my left leg - feels like the vastus medialis. It twinges when I'm doing daily stuff, doesn't bother me swimming or biking, but bites back when I run. So some rest for me and my good friends the anti-inflammatories.

Take care everyone else. Sounds like the injury bug is going around

[Wahine]

Thanks for the words of sympathy, but really it's not all that bad. I'm doing my PT exercises every day and that keeps me busy, and I still ride ans swim. So I'm far from moping around or crying in my beer. Wait.... did someone say beer?

BTChance - VMO strains as a primary injury are pretty rare unless there is direct trauma to the muscle belly. It's not impossible but statistically speaking, it's highly improbable. I would be more suspicious of patellofem dysfunction causing pain in that area. Are your hips tight? How are your shoes? Those two things can cause sudden onset PF pain.

[btchance]

BTChance - VMO strains as a primary injury are pretty rare unless there is direct trauma to the muscle belly. It's not impossible but statistically speaking, it's highly improbable. I would be more suspicious of patellofem dysfunction causing pain in that area. Are your hips tight? How are your shoes? Those two things can cause sudden onset PF pain.

I had said the VMO b/c the pain is superior to the knee - it is more in the middle of my quad, slighly medial but not enough to be the adductors - plus it doesn't hurt with adduction, only back and forward movements of my leg. It may be something else, but it does not go down to my knee - stops about two inches superior and goes up about 4". It started as a mild twinge during my long run last week, and has gradually gotten a little worse. Shoes are fine. Hips are a little tight with the leg length discrepency (had my sports med doc check - for now leave alone, stretch, and if I start having problems try very small inserts into my right shoe to even it out gradually. I'm about 3/4 cm short on the right).

Sorry for the thread hijack.

[emily_in_nc]

Did 5 miles on the treadmill today at a 10:08 pace -- fastest ever for me. :p I had a fantastic run and felt great! :D

Last night I bought new trail running shoes with my REI dividend and 20% off coupon. Discovered, when the salesperson measured my feet, that I need an "A" width, which of course is not easy to find, so she was able to fit me in the shoes that run narrowest from their selection -- Vasque Blurs, with green Superfeet inserts. I wore my regular road running shoes on the treadmill today, but will try the new shoes out on the trails this weekend. Can't wait!

Emily

P.S. Sorry for all those walking wounded. I feel very fortunate to be injury-free so far.

[yellow]

OK, I am horribly pathetic this week, and I don't even have a good excuse like the walking wounded. Got back from my trip Monday, no exercise and residual dealing-with-aging-parents stress. Tuesday, rode to work, ended up working too late to run when I got home. Sat around lacing shoes and trying not to think about running. I committed to coaching a "team" at work for the MS 150 ride, so today we did a very short and easy ride...and all I could think about was running. I hope to run tomorrow. I don't care if it is snaining.

So, this week I have run 0 miles.

I am trying to make a conscious effort to back off on everything, and I am struggling with it. I don't really want to, but hubby feels that I am out of control, so I'm going to try being a little less active. It doesn't help that he can't really do much as he's recovering from surgery and won't be able to ride until probably the end of next month. So in the meantime I need to learn how to be happy with walks and sitting on the couch.

That, coming off of my 25k that ended up being a really, really good run for me in spite of my near heat implosion. Placed 9th overall (77 finishers), 3rd woman, respectable pace for a trail run with so much climbing. Kissing it goodbye, now.

Ugh. http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Unhappy/brick-wall-017.gif
Sorry. Just needed to unload.

I am grateful for my health. I am grateful for my wonderful family. I am grateful that I have a nice place to live. I am grateful that I am able to eat every day. I am grateful that I don't have to fear walking out of the house. I am grateful that I can help others.

[Wahine]

BTChance - yup, not PFS by the sounds of it.

Yellow - that is fantastic about your race.:D I understand your frustration but you really won't lose that much fitness in the time that you have to take a step back. In fact you can really slow the loss if you get out for one good hard effort (even if it's short) run per week. I hope your life stress settles a bit. The aging parent thing is really tough and it's not easy when your spouse is laid up.:(

[jesvetmed]

Man, I had nothing to give on my run today! I'd been feeling good for day. Not today! I ran the first mile at a decent pace, as I was trying to calibrate my ipod sensor. But by the end of that, my legs felt like they were sand bags that I was dragging along. Had to run/walk the rest, and literally could go 2 minutes of run without feeling exhausted. Was supposed to do a hard swim today, too, but instead did an hour of yoga. Felt I needed it more! OK.. tomorrow is a NEW DAY!:(

PS.. Yeah Emily... on the best time, and the new shoes! I LOVE new shoes!

[teigyr]

Jes, you and I were running together today I think. I started out with the bestest of intentions and it felt good but I was dragging toward the end. I blame it on work :p

Yellow, I've been so impressed with your running. I don't know how you do it. I'm thinking perhaps a small break won't be so bad :D Heat too, at least for me, drags me down for ages. It really has these vile biological, um, repercussions or something. Maybe it's that?

[roadie gal]

5 miles on the treadmill yesterday. I'm still tentative, but my foot seems to be coming along.

[OakLeaf]

A different lap-and-a-half today, steady state run, 4.75. Hot and windy!

[emily_in_nc]

yellow, I can imagine how frustrated you are! But like teigyr says, a break isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes I find that I come back stronger after a (short) layoff (mostly in cycling; I haven't been running long enough to say). Sometimes a break is just what the doctor ordered, whether for physical or mental reasons.

Hang in there!
Emily

[KSH]

WOAH... I pulled an amazing run out of my rear tonight.

1h 02m
5.74 miles
10m 48s minute mile

I guess not running Tuesday helped me out. Look at that time. AND there was at least a 25 mph headwind and crosswind.

I started a walk/run combo and then I decided to just run. I ran as hard as I could. I think it shows.

So random. But I did have good nutrition today so that probably helped too.

[emily_in_nc]

Congratulations, KSH! That's fantastic!

Yes, it seems so random sometimes. I was super rested after a wonderful weekend at the coast, but on Monday I was dragging on my treadmill run -- managed 4 miles at a 10:40 pace, and was spent afterwards. Wed. I should have been more tired after a couple days back at work, less sleep and more stress, but I felt very frisky, logging 5 miles at a PB 10:08 pace, and could have done more if I hadn't needed to get back to work.

Sometimes there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason, but I appreciate the good days when they come, and I know you do too!

Emily

[yellow]

yellow, I can imagine how frustrated you are! But like teigyr says, a break isn't always a bad thing.

Hmmm...well if I hadn't just taken a 2.5 month break, then I might feel like I need a break. But I was just coming back, starting to ramp up again. http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Unhappy/angry-039.GIF

I'm really trying not to be bitter about this. I feel like crap but am trying to let it go. I need to get to a place where not meeting my goals isn't a disappointment. I'll get there eventually.

I'm going to go take the dogs for another walk. That'll be 3 today. At least they're getting exercise! This is a positive thing.

[teigyr]

aka WTF???!!!

After a rest week, I went for a 12 mile run. I have (as per usual) this sinus thing going on and I didn't have high hopes but it felt good. I didn't walk except for some stairs on an overpass because I was trying to keep my HR down. I was able to run some parts I hadn't previously been able to run due to the HR thing.

I felt fabulous.

I got home and immediately checked my time vs. the last time I did that same course which was two weeks ago. I felt bad that week. I was just certain it would be faster. Not that it matters.

My time was the same. EXACTLY the the same. It was evil. I am not sore, I never ran like an old person on a walker and I was happy. I don't get it. I honestly felt 300% better this week and I should've at least been seconds faster?!

Rude.

As a side note and for anyone who has dealt with blisters, I ask of you...what do you do for those inner side of the bottom of the big toe callous blister things? It's on the forefoot nearer to the toe than the arch but is on the inner side. I've always had blister problems but since orthotics and good shoes and good socks, I'm ok. This is blister under callous and is consistent on both feet. I think it might be a stride thing (duh) but if I can't change that, can I do something to ensure that I don't have blister/callous/raw bits on my foot?

[jesvetmed]

Almost back to normal: Ran 5.3 today, with the last 0.5 as walk/sprint intervals. Felt DECENT... not nearly as bad as the last one. But it did take me about 1.5 miles to warm into it. Seem to have the i-pod synced pretty well now. So all is good, except I get back muscle pain around my lower ribs when I run faster (ie, the days I sprint). Probably the GASPING for air!:p

Teigyr: I'm not sure about running, as it's been a long time since I put in a lot of miles to cause blistering. However, I do the 3-day Breast Cancer walk, and it's all about the socks there! I use the "blister-free" double layer Wright socks for the longer training, or have been very happy with BALEGO running socks for any length/type of training. I also almost always use the Blister Powder from the running store (can't remember the name, but I just shake it into the sock). That stuff works GREAT. I carry it with me and have only rarely had to "redose" before 10 miles into a walk. I generally did it at the lunch breaks to be safe.

I've gotten a blister in the exact same place you mention -- always my right foot, always from the longer walking. It's like it's between the fold. I found a some nice padded "blister" bandages with gel in them that I could cut to size to fit that area pretty well. That really helped to protect it until I could get it to callous up a bit.

Good luck with it -- hopefully it isn't a shoe fit problem? I always wondered if it could be due to a shoe fitting a little too tight across the toe box?

[OakLeaf]

As a side note and for anyone who has dealt with blisters, I ask of you...what do you do for those inner side of the bottom of the big toe callous blister things?

That's not where I get mine, but blisters are an issue for me too, even as short as I run.

On my two outside toes, I have to keep the calluses shaved. I normally run an inch or so of water in the tub to shave my legs (to save water) and I do the calluses at the same time (with a different razor blade of course - usually I just use a used razor blade that's too dull for shaving my legs). If I keep the calluses shaved, they won't get pushed back and forth and blister.

If I forget to shave and get a blister, Compeed strips let me walk and run without pain until it heals. Warm the strip in your hands before and after applying, like the directions say, and it will really conform to your toe.

On my arches, I use Blister Block. That stuff is a godsend. I resisted trying it for the longest time because I couldn't see how lubes wouldn't rub off the bottoms of my feet, but it works like a charm. Doesn't seem to do much for the under-callus blisters, though.

[Wahine]

Teigyr: The fact that it felt so much better this week is your improvement. You went the same pace because you're finding you comfortable long run pace and clinking in to it. It's very significant that you felt soooooo much better this week. That's a great result.

I still haven't run. I'm still working on my stupid exercises that my stupid PT gave me... oh wait that's me.:p:p Actually things are going well and I may try a track run today or tomorrow. Not fast, just flat.

[rocknrollgirl]

Howdy Girls,

Happy Easter ! DH and I went out for a run this morning on a new trail in our area. Flat, but nice. We did a 5 min warm-up 30 min run and a 5 min cool down. I did not have to walk, so that is good. I have a short period of time where my knee barked at me, but I just checked my form and posture and it went away.

Came home and did my leg exercises, stretched and I am icing now.

I felt ok considering that we did a mt bike ride on Friday that was the hardest that I have done since my return to exercise. I am being very cautious about what I do. I took it right up to the edge on Friday. I think next w/e I will back off just a touch.

I am planning on running a 5k with my newbie runners next Saturday. I am excited that I will get to do it with them.

Yoda, sounds like your PT is really tough, but at least she knows a thing or two about training and racing.:)

[KSH]

2h 42m
14.00 miles
11m 34s/Mi

I did my 2:40 run as scheduled. Go me! Mind you, this is coming off 85 miles of riding on Saturday (that was long, painful day! Dang wind!)

Yes, I'm tired and it hurt, but not as bad as last week.

I took in 3 gels on the run.

Oh the wind. THE WIND! I found a out and back route that was East/West so I could avoid the NE wind as much as possible. I was on a sidewalk against fences so it helped a lot.

Once I did that, I circled around my block.

It was really nice to have my IronSherpa's Garmin to use for the run. I could see how far I had gone and made sure to go exactly 14 miles. It allowed me to run circles in my apartments and not worry about remembering my route. Nice.

[KSH]

Comments on blisters and what not...

I rarely get blisters and I don't really have any callouses on my feet.

I wear really nice running shoes. Well worth $10 a pair. Balega is the brand. A lot of people I know love them as well!

I also put Body Glide all over my feet before any run. Lately, I have been putting Bag Blam on my feet as well. You can get a huge tin of it for $7 at the drug store, and it's like Vaseline on Steriods. You can't hardly wash the stuff off. Great for cycling and putting on the girly parts as well.

So yep, socks and Body Glide keep my feet blister and callous free! It's nice to have nice looking feet for sandals in the summer and not having the feet of runner.

On the downside, I can NEVER run in a shoe without socks. I get a blister immediately.

[Shiraz]

Way to go Yellow!!:D:D:D

I have still been running but not getting them posted. I am struggling to get my midweek tempo runs in but still getting my speed work and long runs. This week managed to run Tuesday and had a good speed / interval training and short 4 miler on Friday and 12.25 today averaged 9:45 overall. I am 4 weeks for the Salt Lake half but have to get moved, keep working and keep up my training :eek:

[kelownagirl]

3 runs on vacation this week. Slowly working my way up to 4 min run / 1 min walk. Shins sore again but I'm ignoring it because they don't hurt much after the first interval. :o

I did two runs on the beach in Tofino - sigh. I could get used to that. Sigh. One was in the pouring rain though, and only about 4 degrees celcius. About an hour after I got back, it was snowing. :eek: :cool:

[Jo-n-NY]

I did my 3rd run of the week on Friday on the treadmill.

KSH...you put in some amount of miles between biking and running this weekend. Good for you!!!

The socks I chose and also really love them are balega also :)

~ JoAnn

[teigyr]

for all the blister advice. I wear the double layer socks and they save me from heel blisters. I have used Body Glide on the bad bits when they're already hurting and I should just remember to do it before they hurt.

I'll check into the socks too!

I did a track workout yesterday but it was on the treadmill due to torrential rain. I just joined a new gym and the treadmills were soooo nice.

So my rules are:

Preventative blister control
Eat/drink more after I run.

(I felt so good after friday's perfect run that I got home and showered then we went to dinner. Instead of eating something right when I finished, I waited until we got to the restaurant. Where I drank wine and not water. I felt it on Saturday....anyway I think I need to put up a list near my running shoes of what not to do.)