Running on Empty runs March 17th - March 23rd

[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. I had a fantastic run and felt great!

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.
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. 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

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?