Keep on Running Week of 11/09/08

[alpinerabbit]

I had two 30min runs within three days, concentrating hard on form which ends up with my thigs fried, because they take most of the load.

Also been working hard with the massage balls on thighs, front and side, butt, calves&shins.
Loads of trigger points that radiate. I hope to get a handle on them like this, else my running will never progress.

[OakLeaf]

Michele, I don't put in the mileage in a year that you do in a month, but thought I'd share my recent shoe buying experience, just because (1) I have long toes, which means that most shoes that fit me per a size measurement and don't cramp my toes, also are way too big for my actual feet; and (2) I was in NB 766s.

I'm now in Mizuno Wave Inspire 4 in Wide, a size and a half bigger than my old Regular width NB 766s. My heels don't slip, my arches are supported, my toes aren't cramped, my toenails aren't getting pressure, the big callus on the outside of the ball of my foot isn't getting aggravated. At age 49 it's a total revelation to me that shoes can fit this well.

I'd tried Mizunos years ago... these fit way differently. I tried out the Wave Rider 11 also and they were an equally good fit, just not supportive enough for me. So. Might be something to try if you haven't given the larger sizes a chance. Warning though, the Inspires are breaking down VERY quickly, and I'm not that heavy - I've read that complaint about them on 'net reviews, so it's not just me.

My own running.... well, I'm still slacking off After Indian Summer last week and four good-length rides in 70 degree sunshine, we now have highs in the low 40s, cloudy and miserable. I'm giving myself the week to mope, work out indoors, generally get my head around the idea of cold. Next week I'll crack the running whip!

[Urlea]

Alpine: If you have a bathtub and don't mind using it you might want to consider putting Epsom salts in your bath water. It seems to speed up my recovery after runs.

As for the rest of you: Thanks for inspiring me to get out there and run. Keep at it!

And for me: I think I'll have to take today off. Woke up during the middle of the night with a headache and sore throat from sinus junk. Why is it that when I pre-register for races I get sick??? It's only a 5k race tomorrow and I'm pretty sure I could do that if I were mostly dead. Hopefully some rest, tea and silver supplement will do the trick.

[yellow]

michele, do not panic! You've run 20 on the dreadmill...you will be fine at the marathon. I firmly believe that the treadmill can be harder on your body because there is no variation, and that gets compounded when you run for really long distances on it. Just let your body recover during your taper. I repeat YOU WILL BE FINE!!!!

Re: the potty business, rest assured that the CIM has about a gagillion potties in the first 5 miles. At least that's how I remember it from years ago. There's a reason they have so many. I don't know how long (period of time) you've been running consistently, but it probably took my GI system 2 years to "adjust". What you are experiencing is not fun, for sure, but common. I still have moments, but they are few and far between. That is why I always carry TP!

And being the shoe queen that I am, I add support to the "buy new shoes" push. I am currently rotating through 4 pairs . Did you go to the Fleet Feet on J Street? Is that the store that only had a couple of pairs in your size? Their 30-day return policy even if you've worn the shoes outside is hard to beat (at least they used to do that). And I'm pretty sure they have a filming system. There's a Fleet Feet in Davis, too, so it might be worth your drive to that store if the J Street store doesn't have anything for you to try.

I had an easy (rest) week last week and am not sure how this week will go. I'm dealing with some hip and back issues that don't bother me when I run but are starting to affect Life. So I'm currently working through some stuff with my sports medicine doc. I ran an easy 4.5 last night but should get some more direction today re: how the next couple of months might go. Whatever happens, I know that his prescription probably won't include being sedentary; he's already said that the best thing is to keep moving...it might just be at a less intense level.

[Jolt]

I had two 30min runs within three days, concentrating hard on form which ends up with my thigs fried, because they take most of the load.

Also been working hard with the massage balls on thighs, front and side, butt, calves&shins.
Loads of trigger points that radiate. I hope to get a handle on them like this, else my running will never progress.

Ugh...those trigger points are no fun! I've been dealing with some myself for the past few weeks--mine resulted from compensating for an injury and therefore walking differently. Finally getting better--now they pretty much only hurt when I roll them out (I use the Stick) and not when I'm on my feet all day like they were before.

I've finally been able to start getting back to running--my PT said to do no more than a mile at a time when I saw her last week, so I've done a few short runs like that (when I went yesterday I didn't want to stop at a mile!) and so far so good with the IT band etc. Not to mention it has done good things for my mood just to be able to do that little bit. Next week is supposed to be the last time I go in, so I'll have to get some tips on how quickly I can get back into it without creating problems.

[yellow]

Did my last long run for a while today. The "discussion" was that we (my running buddy and I) should do maybe 10 maximum due to some concerns with someone's recently-illuminated physical conditions.

Bah.

We did 17.5-ish. It was a gorgeous day.

But that's it for the long runs for a while.

LET IT SNOW!!!! PLEASE!!!

P.S. I've decided that cycling arm warmers are really wonderful for running, too. Anybody recognize these?

[OakLeaf]

Well I said I was going to crack the whip. I can't even remember the last time I ran three days in a row when I was home.

Just an easy run Thursday to wake my legs up and remind them what this "running" thing is all about. Then intervals on Friday, 7 x 1 minute, and even though I had a teeny stomach bug and hadn't eaten anything all day, I'm pretty sure they were the fastest I've ever run! And a little recovery run yesterday in the ice cold rain, yuk, the opposite direction I usually go from home - even though it takes me out onto the main highway, it's a lot flatter and there's a nice wide multi-user lane, not a whole lot of traffic, and the rain at least kept the exhaust fumes out of my lungs.

Not sure yet what I'll do today. Maybe Pilates and just a few minutes on the elliptical.

Maybe back to the push-ups which I've been taking - ahem - a little break from.

[yellow]

Oak, I suspect that your little pup break will have left you rested and ready to try an exhaustion test!! I'm still on the schedule, in week 6 right now. But I seem to be getting wimpier.

3 days running in a row...I don't think I could do that! Do you have any races planned?

[Jolt]

Decided to try a short trail run/walk today...no IT band pain but it still wasn't a great run (and I only ran about ten minutes per the PT's instructions, then walked about 20). Had a few other random twinges that I put down to not having done any hiking or trail running in a while, and felt CLUMSY!! I was a lot more hesitant than usual in jumping across streams or from rock to rock on the trail, and just didn't feel as agile as I remember being before. Apparently I have gotten rusty with the whole trail-running thing...plus I think part of it is that I haven't gotten back full confidence in my legs holding up after the IT band fiasco and the trigger points that cropped up later and caused other aches and pains (a few of them are still bugging me a little the past few days).

[michelem]

Well, I might have to reconsider the CIM for this year. I had another lousy run today, and it was my last really long run before the race, so it's not like I can keep practicing to get things right at this point. 26 miles. It took me over TWO HOURS to complete the last 8 miles! RIDICULOUS! It usually takes me about an hour and 10 minutes! I had to walk A LOT and stop too, to keep myself from throwing up. The temp went up 25 degrees while I was out. I tried to hydrate -- 1 and 1/2 Hammer Gels with one Endurolyte per hour, starting after hour 1, mixed into approx. 8 oz. of water. I also drank some plain water toward the end because I just couldn't stomach anymore nutrition, I felt SO NAUSEOUS.

So, my on-my-feet time was 4 and 1/2 hours (all that walking). I stopped my watch for all my potty stops and stops on the side of the road/trail. My total time was close to SIX HOURS!

Who knows, maybe I do the race just for the experience, not aiming for a certain time (knowing I'll never meet my goal). Or, maybe I'll just hang up the brand new shoes early and get back on my bike.

Speaking of the new shoes, I ended up driving up to Auburn (I called the Fleet Feet in Citrus Heights, Roseville, Sacramento, and Davis and NONE OF THEM had my size! Come on -- I mean 6.5 really isn't a strange size, is it? I used to wear size 5 -- talk about hard to find shoes!). I ended up with the Brooks Defyance and with my Green Superfeet they feel really good. Much lighter than my old New Balance. And they fit snug so my feet don't slip around.

Yellow, thanks for sharing your photo -- looks like a really nice place to run. And fun armwarmers too!

[OakLeaf]

yellow, thanks - but considering you run more miles in one day than I do in three, it's not so much of an accomplishment

I'm definitely running that same 5K at Daytona Speedway that I did last year, but I want to get at least one race in before that too. Just haven't made any plans because we're not really sure of our schedule yet. Would like to maybe do a longer race this year too. Longer as in a 5 mile or 10K - I sure admire you endurance runners but that's not for me!

PS... you said you want snow? Can I send you ours?