Running into trouble...week of 11/30/08

[teigyr]

I've been running 22-ish miles per week with my long run being 10 miles. I'm working on form and have been going to physical therapy because I am lopsided It's actually pretty great because all those theories I had as far as why necklaces went crooked on me are confirmed. I'm working on the muscles I need to work on and I'm actually getting faster and with less fatigue.

Michelem, what race are you doing? Best of luck! I am sure you will be fine and all those energy reserves that you're building up will kick in.

My next marathon isn't until June. I'm feeling kind of wistful, actually, but am trying to put my time to good use. A co-worker ran a really awesome half-marathon this past weekend and it was her first distance race. I'm trying to convince her that 26 isn't THAT far out of reach...so maybe I'm using my time for evil also

[katluvr]

Hello!
2 weeks have passed since my 1/2 marathon, I then had a cold and I have been a slug. I ran twice last week... a easy 30 minute "jog" and then teh Turkey Trot (5K). I have NOT been on the bike or doing anything else. Just a slug!
Today & tomorrow I am scheduled for a short, easy, w/ some increased pace interval runs. I MUST do them.
I find it hard when I don't have a major race planned and keeping up w/ the training. Then again, this should be my month of rest. Problem is, resting (and eating) TOOOOOOO much!
Keep up the good work ladies!

[alpinerabbit]

I haven't been good - what with a head cold and recurring irritations along my thigh.

I finally visited the sports doc.

She examined me and diagnosed mostly severely hardened muscles (front of thighs, shins, butt), mediocre flexibility and weak core.

She prescribed a PT regimen starting out with manual therapy turning into building core strength and a running program (they'll even go to the track with me). Since I'll be paying this out of my pocket I know what I want for Xmas: PT money.
Heck, my core strength is already so much better. She should have seen me before the past 3 months of yoga.

[Urlea]

Ugh. I'm starting to get frustrated. Especially after watching "Spirit of the Marathon" today and really wanting to get out and run.

I have been sick since Nov. 11th! Because I'm stubborn I still got about 5miles of running in each week since then (there were a few days I felt okay-ish), but now that I'm coughing enough to warrant sleeping on the couch at night to avoid waking my husband I just can't run. Sigh.

Not sure if I should waste the money and go into the Dr. again. I went a few weeks ago and there wasn't anything they could do to help.

Anyway. For those of you who are able get out there and run for me!

Congrats to those of you who made it out for a Turkey Trot!!

[michelem]

Completed last night's speedwork with no problems (although, I did crank it down from 7:30/mile to 8:00/mile pace for the last intervals). I rolled on the foam roller afterward and had no pain the right IT band at all -- yay! Actually, the left had a few tight spots this time, which is different. I'm still going to get re-taped for the race. I don't want to push my luck.

Now I'm starting to obsess -- where will I stow my ID's? Will I be able to hydrate properly using the aid stations (I've carried my own on all my training runs as well as 1/2 marathons . . . don't need any on 10k's . . . )? How will I keep warm and calm during the 1-1/2 hrs. prior to race start (the bus leaves at 5:00 - 5:15am and is only about 15 minutes away from the start -- the return trip home is more like 45 minutes)? Will my tummy cooperate? I'm already starting to eat low residue and hope that doesn't compromise me nutritionally. And on and on and on and on . . .


teigyr, it is the California International Marathon on December 7. Keep us updated on the results of your physical therapy -- sounds like you're on the right track!

emily_in_nc, treadmill runs count! Maybe boring, but they count!

katluvr, maybe you can take an "active rest" month? Lay of the running and incorporate some lower impact activities, such as CYCLING??? Or maybe swimming if you have access to an indoor pool. Yoga. Etc. Be gentle with yourself, okay?

alpinerabbit, I hear you on the money for PT! I'm in the same boat. But, it's necessary. Keep us updated on your results. I'm interested to hear what they have you do and how it affects you.

Urlea, probably the last thing you want to hear, but I bet taking some time off and resting will do you wonders. My dh came down with what sounds to be a close cousin of your "plague monkey" (yes, I took a peek at your blog). Same thing that his strep test came back negative. He took time off work, plus a weekend and Veteran's Day in there as well, so a total of 6 days rest. During that time he slept as much as possible (kind of tough with all the drainage he was having down into the back of his throat) and hydrated lots. He had a slight setback over the weekend when we had company and he pushed himself too much. He even skipped his most favorite sport, basketball, so I knew he was really sick. However, he completely recovered in that time and I have a sneaking suspicion that it would have dragged out much longer had he not taken the time off and rested. Anyway, just my two cents . . . Hang in there!

[Jolt]

I did my first 2.5 mile run tonight and had a little pain near the outside of the left knee during the last few minutes...it wasn't quite in the IT band area (slightly in front of it) but radiated around to the back a bit and it was a real "oh, #@*#!" moment given that I remembered having some of that pain along with the IT band issue on one of the hikes I did at the end of the summer. So I got home and was stretching, and decided to look in this trigger-point book I have (which I highly recommend--it's "The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook" by Clair Davies; it has a few off-the-wall things in it but the trigger point stuff itself is great) and see if I could find anything that might explain that pain since it didn't seem to be the IT band. Lo and behold, there was something about a spot in the vastus lateralis right near the knee that can cause pain in that area, and when I went poking around there it did not feel good! We'll see if working on that area keeps that particular pain from happening next time I run...

[kacie tri-ing]

michelem --are you getting excited! This weekend is your big day right?!?!

I ran 6 last night. I find my muscles are taking a couple miles to warm up now until they start to really feel good :-(

I have a 7 miler planned tonight.

I started working with a coach. It is my DH's coach. Basically, he writes my workouts and answers all of my questions. When I switch from training for the disney marathon to training for the new olreans half ironman in january, he is going to help me with my swimming too.....

He does all heart rate training, so I got the polar F6. Then I tried to wear it and it hurt! I am going to have to figure out how to add it without the chaffing! I went ahead and took it off after half a mile, because I did not want it to actually chaffe and I would not be able to use it at all until I healed. Any suggestions?

[alpinerabbit]

alpinerabbit, I hear you on the money for PT! I'm in the same boat. But, it's necessary. Keep us updated on your results. I'm interested to hear what they have you do and how it affects you.

sure will - maybe I'll start my own thread.

BTW I was never in pain but the nagging ache was making me paranoid - afraid that my tendons might start breaking down with chronic inflammation. And that I might need to take oral anti-inflammatories or even better, injections to stop these once and for all. So I asked if it would be a good idea taking some oral diclofenac and the doc said this wasn’t a true inflammatory reaction.
So, since I can bear the pain (it’s not even pain), I’m not taking anything.

Boy, am I looking forward to some release. Even if it sends me jumping to the ceiling (had some previously so the jumping bit is in my future).

[Karma007]

Okay, guess I'm here too. I'm a returning runner (I stopped 3 years ago, after a stress fracture left me in crutches for months). I took up cycling and never looked back. But then my darling (and slightly roundish) bf decided he wants to take up running. I can't let him do it alone, so now I'll be doing a bit of running to support him, and compliment my cycling. I have shiny new sneakers, my old training logs, and a very fast dog.

[Jolt]

sure will - maybe I'll start my own thread.

BTW I was never in pain but the nagging ache was making me paranoid - afraid that my tendons might start breaking down with chronic inflammation. And that I might need to take oral anti-inflammatories or even better, injections to stop these once and for all. So I asked if it would be a good idea taking some oral diclofenac and the doc said this wasn’t a true inflammatory reaction.
So, since I can bear the pain (it’s not even pain), I’m not taking anything.

Boy, am I looking forward to some release. Even if it sends me jumping to the ceiling (had some previously so the jumping bit is in my future).

You might want to look into that trigger-point workbook I mentioned in my previous post--sounds like the kind of thing that might help you self-treat some of your issues. You're right about the release being painful sometimes! The good thing about knowing how to self-treat is that you can get after things when they first start to bug you, and nip them in the bud before it gets to be unbearably painful to work on them.

[eclectic]

I haven't been good - what with a head cold and recurring irritations along my thigh.

I finally visited the sports doc.

She examined me and diagnosed mostly severely hardened muscles (front of thighs, shins, butt), mediocre flexibility and weak core.

She prescribed a PT regimen starting out with manual therapy turning into building core strength and a running program (they'll even go to the track with me). Since I'll be paying this out of my pocket I know what I want for Xmas: PT money.
Heck, my core strength is already so much better. She should have seen me before the past 3 months of yoga.

Alpine I would like if you would start a thread so we can see what is happening.

Ok now for a question - what are severely hardened muscles?
I am surprised to hear about the weak core w/ all the swimming and biking you do. AND I would hate to see what would be said about my flexibility somewhere between High school, babies, and now it disappeared!

[colby]

I guess I'll post here, since I technically haven't ran since last Sunday...

I DID turn out for the Seattle Marathon's Half Marathon. I knew it would be slow, I knew I would be walking aid stations and taking it easy. I knew I'd stop when I had to go to the bathroom, I knew I'd be passed by a lot of people I should be passing in a normal year. But, it was the principle... it was a "stretch" - not impossible, but it wasn't like I was excessively well-trained either. Probably minimally trained. No super "long" runs but reliable every-other-day running with some longer days.

Anyway, I finished, hooray. It felt like miles 10-23 of a full marathon. (Maybe more like miles 1-3, miles 6-11, miles 20-23) The first couple of miles were fast and felt really good. Once I get back to full training volume, I'll be much better off. The next few dwindled. The last few were hard - I haven't been training hills to try to "take it easy" (relative) and the Seattle Marathon has hills.

The Half Marathon is pretty much all the "pretty" or scenic parts of the marathon (except maybe Seward/Gennessee Park, but you have to do that twice and it's not as fun the second time ). I still think they should ditch the express lanes, even if I "get" why they do it, but the half marathon at least didn't include the super-boring (and super-windy, super-cold, whatever) section across the lake. It is by no means flat, more like a quad burner, but it's not the Pike's Peak (or what I imagine that to be)

It was SUPER WARM... 50+ degrees. Way warmer than I expected - 2006 it was snowing, last year more normal (overcast, sunbreaks, 40s). I wore a sports bra and my cw-x insulated bra top (full length) under a long-sleeved shirt and it was too warm for the shirt, I had to take it off. I finished in 2:30 or so, I could have shaved off 7 minutes (I am not joking) if I didn't stop to go to the bathroom. I was running with the 2:00 pacer for the first few miles, then right at the bathroom stop the 2:15 pacer caught up. The half marathon starts at 7:30, 30 minutes before the full marathon start. I assume it's for staggering the finish to be a pretty constant stream of people.

Anyway, pictures... I look like I'm about to punch someone out http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_e...32678&BIB=8787

To keep from injuring myself, I will not be training for a marathon this year - it'd have to be about March before I could run that distance. I would love to do the Disney World Half Marathon but it's very much sold out. I'll probably fall into base Ironman training after my PT - which is about 50% of normal running training volume right now. PT is going really well, though.

I am shopping for new shoes. Trying to avoid injury in as many ways as humanly possible. I have been wearing mens Asics (the GT-21xx series) because I need a 2E width and there's not a lot of womanly shoes that fit the bill that are easy to find. I went to a shoe store last weekend and tried to discuss my fit with the dude, who was skeptical about my need for a 2E. He had me try on regular width shoes in "normal" size, and I said they felt narrow. Stood up to show him how well my foot deformed the shoe, he said... "oh... yeah. You'll need the 2E. We don't stock those." We talked about shoe volume and why wearing mens shoes was bad (which I already knew, but was lacking in many other choices). At this point, I'm debating ordering online, or finding another store that can order them here and would be willing to let me test them. I tried on a few styles at New Balance's store and they just didn't feel right. His recommendation (he did not do any weight/motion analysis, just looked at the shape of my foot) was the Brooks Addiction.

Longer than I intended... hope everyone's week is going well.

[Urlea]

Yay! It's good to see that more of us got out and ran this week.

I couldn't be more jealous of the 20mile trail run Kacie. I would love that!

Eclectic: The Fargo Marathon is as enjoyable as you've heard.

Last year I ran the 1/2 (my first ever) and this year I will be doing the full. I'm really looking forward to it.

Don't think the 1/2 is pie in the sky. You can do it and the Fargo Marathon is a good place to run it. With over 5,000 runners you're surrounded by both runners and spectators encouraging you on. The whole community does a lot of fun stuff between live bands and polka dancers to keep you distracted from the actual mileage you're covering.

Registration has opened, http://www.fargomarathon.com/registeronline.htm

Definitely think about it!

Another great one is the **** Beardsley 1/2 in September. It's quite a bit different though, very scenic (you run around Detroit Lake in MN). Fewer runners and cheering spectators. I enjoyed it just as much as Fargo's, but if you're one that prefers to run races with a lot of people and entertainment this race is a little light on that.

HTH!

[Jolt]

Last 2.5 miler today...next time up to 3! No IT band pain...seems it's fine now and just a matter of building up slowly to prevent a recurrence. I did have a few twinges from that vastus lateralis trigger point--time to roll around on a tennis ball since the foam roller doesn't get into that particular spot. It was cold this evening--about 15 degrees. The shoe companies should make winter running shoes, that don't have mesh uppers!! Even wool socks don't compensate for all that cold air flowing through the shoes... Who else had a chilly run today?