Running on Empty runs March 17th - March 23rd

[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

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 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.

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!

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.