Running Gag - Week of 2/16-2/22

[emily_in_nc]

Sorry for the injured folks -- I completely understand. It's no fun! I finally did a slow three-mile run on the treadmill for the first time since my quadriceps tendinitis. I couldn't believe how hard it seemed! I was just glad to finish, and my knee hurt a bit afterwards, but below the knee, not on top like before. And the pain was gone by the day after.

Glad to see you around, limewave, but sorry about the job situation. The company I work for is in CH. 11 bankruptcy protection, but so far I am still getting a paycheck. I won't get a raise or bonus, but no pay cut either -- unless of course I am laid off, and severance has been discontinued because of the bankruptcy protection, so it's "thanks for playing, now here's the door". Scary times indeed!

[solobiker]

Lime and Emily, I hear you about your jobs. My hours are beginning to get cut and I am at risk of losing my health insurance. Pretty stressful.

[eclectic]

Lime and Emily, I hear you about your jobs. My hours are beginning to get cut and I am at risk of losing my health insurance. Pretty stressful.

I am so sorry to hear that. I can't even imagine what that would be like to be going through.

[Wahine]

Hi KG!!

Yellow - You rock. Good job, I'm sure the conditions had a lot to do with the time difference.

Stick vs Rolling pin - rolling pins are cheap but the stick is lighter and easier to use on yourself, especially for calves.

Hugs to all you injured people and stressed folks.

[OakLeaf]

Yellow, way to go!

Also, Yellow, can I ask you about sizing on that Nathan hydration pack you like so much? I sure have a hard time getting packs to fit me, and I hate to mail order something that's not going to fit, so I wonder how your size compares to mine. If you know or if you don't mind asking someone to measure, how long is your back, and how broad are your shoulders?

Lime, Emily, Solo, Denise if you're looking at this thread, all of you struggling in this economy, sending my prayers that everything turns for the better and that you and your families make it through unscathed.

Solo, ouch, hope your leg feels better. Where are you going in Florida?

Jes, in the meantime until you get a Stick, I've been doing a trick I learned from the trigger point book. You can get into your calf muscles pretty deeply with the opposite knee. Either sitting in a chair or reclining on the floor, draw the leg you're working on along the opposite knee, working from the ankle toward the knee. You can go side to side a bit whenever you hit a trigger point. The weight of your leg creates enough pressure to get all the way into the deep muscles. According to the book, six to 12 strokes constitutes a treatment, that should be repeated several times a day. It's working really well for me.

I was in a massage tool store the other day and they didn't have a Stick, so I got this other thing that's got spiky balls instead of the flat rollers. Boy, was that a mistake, it's leaving bruises all over my vastus lateralis, and I'm not even rolling very hard at all.

Eclectic (and Urlea), I had to smile about that "40 below keeps the riffraff out." I remember that saying. I don't live in ND any more... draw your own conclusions.

I did a ladder interval run today - Wednesday's normally a biking day for me, but we're at the in-laws. I should do that workout more often - it really feels "good for me" to vary the length of the intervals and recoveries. I found a yoga studio down here but not sure if I'll make it there in the morning. Anyway great running all y'all!

[solobiker]

Hi there Oak, I will be in Stuart which is South of West Palm Beach. I hope the weather will be nice and warm. As much as I love Colorado and all it has to offer I am ready for some spring weather.

[OakLeaf]

Okay Solo, you won't be very near me then. But it looks like they're forecasting beautiful weather! Enjoy your stay and hope you get to run on the beach!

[solobiker]

Thanks!! I have not been down there in about 7 years. My parents are snow birds. They spend their summers in NW NY and their winters in FL.

[kelownagirl]

Jes, in the meantime until you get a Stick, I've been doing a trick I learned from the trigger point book. You can get into your calf muscles pretty deeply with the opposite knee. Either sitting in a chair or reclining on the floor, draw the leg you're working on along the opposite knee, working from the ankle toward the knee. You can go side to side a bit whenever you hit a trigger point. The weight of your leg creates enough pressure to get all the way into the deep muscles. According to the book, six to 12 strokes constitutes a treatment, that should be repeated several times a day. It's working really well for me.

That sounds like it might be good for my shin splints. Gonna try it. Thanks!

[yellow]

Aw, y'all are very sweet thinking that the weather might have contributed to my time lag but I don't think that was it. I was most definitely undertrained. But I learned from it and will make sure it doesn't happen for the next one. (But if winter stays around, I could have a little problem with choosing the running shoes over the skis).

Had a lovely easy run on snow-covered trail today. Now THAT'S my kind of running. Cold. Pretty sunset. I am going to miss winter when it goes away.

[eclectic]

Yellow - I am glad someone is going to miss winter when it is gone - no one around here is going to. We have all the snow and no mountains to go w/ it

Oak - that trigger point book looks really good! for more things than just running. I use trigger points to get rid of tension headaches.
Where in ND did you used to live?
I am going to research ladder intervals - I think I would like those too.

Urlea - I drove past an out door runner last night (either a friend of mine or a coworker - couldn't tell because of the face mask and they are built the same) He was running on the street - I don't know how he did it. It was compacted snow broken up over ice. I could see his feet slipping. Definately NOT for me! I am too old to have bones heal quickly and properly

I DID it I got my 6 mile run done. Using the rolling pin on my calves did the trick - I was able to run faster for longer. I ran on the tread mill for 3 miles then needed a bathroom break - switched to a better treadmill when it opened up and did 2.5 on it and needed another br break. I finished the last .5 on the track. I did the 6 miles 7 minutes faster than last week. I was able to hold a 12 min mile for 5 miles. I weenied out a little on the last mile but still did it in about 12.5. The first 4 wern't bad at all, #5 was a little tougher, I had to dig inside to get 6 done - that is why I switched to the track - better scenery

Not fast by any means but faster than I was doing. Maybe there is hope for me after all. All I am aspiring to is a 10 min mile - I would be very happy w/ that but I have a long ways to go!

I got up and swam this morning - because it was less than 10 hours since I ran, I weenied out and wore zoomer fins to baby my legs. but it was all good - I still got in and "got 'er done!"

[Deborajen]

I'll be saying prayers for everyone who's job is suffering from the economy. My hometown is mostly aircraft companies and they're all laying off and furloughing. It's scary. I'm in healthcare so my job is fairly safe, thankfully.

Well, I got in a 2 mile run/walk yesterday. It was 74 degrees (in February - in Kansas??). Had to take advantage of it while I could, so I took a folded up tote bag with me and stopped by the grocery store at the end, bought a small load of groceries, and then walked 1/2 mile home. Then I took the dog for a quick walk. Everyone's happy.

Hang in there everyone. And have a good week of running.