RUN AWAY: Week of Aug 25

[teigyr]

Colby, I will hope for the best. I think I'll run the Seattle half marathon because that's what the work people are doing (peer pressure, that and I'm not so sure I won't be feeling lazy) but I haven't signed up yet. I was looking forward to hearing the cowbells but there is always next year

Fuji, I hope you get good news.

Oakleaf, do you have orthotics or do you depend on the shoes?

I'm having difficulty because my shoes (that I love) give me blisters on the inner side of the ball of my foot. I use socks that are traditionally wonderful for me and Body Glide. I used the anti-blister powder last week and the one blister/callous thing turned into a blood blister! It is ugly and is highly visible when I wear sandals. Oh well...gives my co-workers something to cringe about. Honestly my Brooks are better than anything I've worn, I just wish they came in wider sizes.

I ran a lot last week (28 miles in 3 days long with track workout and hill workout on other days) and will run 15 miles when I wake up. My track mile time is getting down there, which is exciting. I have a 10K next weekend which should be no big deal but I almost have Expectations (keep in mind my Expectations are low) and then the marathon is in October.

When I came back from my last 5 mile run on Sunday, which was a two run day, I was looking forward to some downtime with ice and the Stick. When I walked into the house, THIS is what I found. You don't mess with a 25 lb cat

[teigyr]

You want to talk ginormous...I had been in men's 8.5 extra wide shoes for running. After orthotics, and after starting to run more structured workouts, I started getting the dreaded Purple Toenail.

I went from men's 8.5 (which kind of sounds civilized) to womens 11.

11. It really gets no worse. It's not petite or delicate or even cute.

The truly scary thing is I haven't worn any of my really great girl shoes for a while. I am casual at work and if I'm not there, I'm comfy. I wore some shoes today that I haven't worn for a while and I think my feet are growing sideways.

It's a scary freak of nature thing. I always thought shoes were loyal and true and weren't dependent on what you ate. I thought they were slimming. I hate to envision a life of sturdiness and practical shoes but the day might be coming.

Age. Grrrrr.

[alpinerabbit]

As of Thursday I could actually walk again from Sunday's Oly.

I promised myself a running break of a month - yesterday I was thinking to myself what delicious running weather it would be.

[katluvr]

Colby & Fugichants,
Are the doctors or orthapedics you are seeing have any experience/certifications in sports medicine? I find that run of the mill doctors, orthapedist, PT and people in general think running is BAD and bad on the body/joints, etc. So the saying "don't run" and "marathon is crazy" is just so hard for us that run to hear.

I, myself, would opt to taking it easier to see it that aggrevates it less. stretch, stretch, stretch, antiinflammatories and good shoes.

That being said, I am not physician....but a runner....with aches and pains that come and go. And a desire to train for my 1/2 marathon no matter what!

Good luck and hope you both feel better soon!

Maybe PT with some good exercies will help.

[Fujichants]

I should ask if the PT I am seeing is experienced in sports medicine. Things went well though, he was very attentive to my running needs and showed me some amazing stretches that loosened that annoyingly tight hip flexor right up. He was worried that it would interfere with my performance on Sunday as these stretches made my legs feel all Gumby like, but I told him anything is better than a tight hip flexor. As for my ITB pains, my glute muscles are not strong enough, hence my hip kind of pops out when I run, which aggravates my ITB. He gave me some exercises for that.

I even asked him: you're not going to tell me to stop running are you? And he just laughed and said: I would only tell you to stop if you are in such great pain that you can't even walk properly. But even then, i'll try to fix you up.

[colby]

As for the Seattle Marathon, I'm thinking if I feel good after my month off, worst case I can at least do the half marathon which takes less time to build up to, and then we can still hear the cowbells... my father in law is all excited about it.

I started with a chiropractor that doesn't necessarily have a sports focus, but has done chiro for major running events and seen a LOT of runners. The massage guy I see has seen a lot of active people, but never an Ironman.

The ortho I was referred to seemed to "get it" and are well-known in the area, but I don't specifically know about their sports focus. The PT shop (therapeutic associates, for those of you in the NW) does sponsor local sporting events (triathlons, running) and some of them have a sports focus, but I don't know if the lady I'm seeing does (since I haven't seen her yet!).

Right now, I'm going with the cycling, swimming, and yoga plan. I am probably going to start acupuncture for my hip pain, too, and see if we can get over the hump FAST. The less PT the better, but what I want them to do is to give me clear instructions for the things I can fix, and figure out if I have problems with shoes, or gait, or whatever. Those are the questions I'll be asking... sooooooooon!!

[emily_in_nc]

Had a good 4.25 mile run on the treadmill today -- the first time I've managed to run all week. I did quarter-mile intervals from flat to incline (2% twice, 2.5% twice, 3% twice, all at a 5.5 mph pace), then finished up with a long flat section at a faster pace (6 to 6.2 mph). Discovered that it is much easier for me to run faster on the flats than slower on the hills; that's why I am working on hills now, because every time I actually get to run outside, I die on the hills.

I am also reading Chi Running now and am trying to put some of it in practice -- forward lean, mid-foot strike, elbows and legs back, relaxed ankles/legs. It does seem to help, though there is a lot to remember!

Hope all the injured folks heal up! I feel lucky not to have any injuries, probably because I don't do enough to injure myself. ;-)