A Fool and her running - week of April 7

[Grog]

Colby, you inspire me to pick up barefoot running. After my marathon I will try that. I might go for a pair of Nike Free though.

Thanks for the good suggestions. I would like to say that I'll try pool swimming but I really, really dislike going to the pool. But it might happen.

Now, after all the complaining the other morning I went to my favourite running shop (Forerunners Vancouver, I love you). I discussed the situation with one of the friendly and above all helpful store attendants, and he did suggest that Superfeet might help a little, although seeing a physio and increasing foot strength would also be a good idea. (I'll discuss the physio with my massage therapist. I need to find a golf ball to the foot strength thing.)

He made me try all the different Superfeet insoles and I ended up picking the "berry" one. I wore them at home the rest of the evening and I swear it made a different. Then tonight I went for a 20-minute walk and, lo and behold, my arches feel A LOT better. My left foot is a little sore still, but it's absolutely tolerable and running generally felt really good.

I also bought a new pair of runners (more of the same, Asics Gel Cumulus) that I'll progressively start wearing next week.

I'm still not sure I'll do a 38-km run next weekend though. I'll maintain the short runs for a few days and see what happens.

Being able to run tonight makes me appreciate how much I love this sport. It just makes me feel strong and free and clears my thoughts.

[WindingRoad]

Had a wierd kind of run week: lots of tests not much time AND I'm kicking up the bike miles. So, I ran Tuesday and Sunday but I did do a 10 miler on Sunday. I hope to be much better this week. I am aiming to do a 12 miler this weekend and that will be my longest run before the HM May 8th. I did a short 3 mile recovery run tonight, obviously I'm still pretty sore. I think tomorrow I'll aim for 5 - 6 depending how good I feel.

Oak - sorry to hear about your archilles issues, I just went through a bout of that about a month ago. I took about 3 days off and iced massaged it a couple of times a day and things improved. Sounds like you are on the rebound so that is good

Keep up the awesome work everyone!

[colby]

Colby, you inspire me to pick up barefoot running. After my marathon I will try that. I might go for a pair of Nike Free though.

The Wired test of the Nike Free liked them quite a bit, and they have tested the FiveFingers too. They also don't look like gorilla feet. Of course, I'd wait until your marathon and then recovery.

The USA Triathlon magazine had an interesting strength builder for barefoot running. They suggested that you stand on one foot barefoot as long as you can, up to 30 seconds, so that your toes don't leave the ground (especially your big toe). Then, the other foot. Then, do the same thing with your eyes closed. If you do this several times a day, it mimics the barefoot posture without having to do it all at once or take to the streets.

[Jolt]

I've been running more but not posting lately. Time to be more consistent with the running now that it's not winter anymore--I can tell that I have gotten a bit out of condition from not doing as much for a while. In other words, SLOW (not that I ever was a speed demon anyway). Today's run was a short one--just over two miles on trails, took 25 minutes (12-minute miles, and this was running the whole time with NO walking breaks). Yesterday I was out for about an hour but did stop and walk a few times. Is it normal to have such a hard time getting better than 10-minute miles?

[Grog]

Ha!

I had a short but fast-ish run today, and it felt so, so good.

My left foot is a little sore, but not much.

I've spent my time waiting for the bus on one foot. I always forget how hard it is with my eyes closed, no way I can hold 30 seconds!! I might get back there eventually. Thanks for the advice.

[rocknrollgirl]

I've been running more but not posting lately. Time to be more consistent with the running now that it's not winter anymore--I can tell that I have gotten a bit out of condition from not doing as much for a while. In other words, SLOW (not that I ever was a speed demon anyway). Today's run was a short one--just over two miles on trails, took 25 minutes (12-minute miles, and this was running the whole time with NO walking breaks). Yesterday I was out for about an hour but did stop and walk a few times. Is it normal to have such a hard time getting better than 10-minute miles?

I can only speak for myself and I am by no means an expeert, but it took me a couple of seasons of consistent running and focused training to get under the 10 min mark. I was probably running 10+ mm when I first started a few years ago, now my "normal" pace is sub 9.

I never did any track work, but I did do tempo runs and intervals. It does work, and I think being consistent in your running is very important. I doubt that I will ever run the big mileage as some of the women on this board, but I have gotten faster and much, much stronger.

You can do it!!!!!!

[WindingRoad]

So I tried an ice bath for the first time last night cuz I was just feeling creeky and not really recuperating completely between runs. I have been doing some longer runs over the last couple of weeks. I've been drinking plenty, eating good, doing recovery drinks but still sore. I thought the ice thing might help so I did it and today all my aches are gone. That was amazing, it sucked for the first 4 minutes but after that my legs went numb so it wasn't so bad. I sat in it for 15 minutes and today I'm definitely better. Now I know why marathoners do that, it really works. Woot Woot!

[skhill]

It was a beautiful morning for a run here in Central KY. I got in my 5 miles, at a 9 min/mile pace, and it didn't feel like I was going that fast at all. My route took me through the part of downtown that's getting a facelift, both of sidewalks and streets, so it was a bit of an urban obstacle course. Fun!

But then when I was almost home, some idiot threw a can of pepsi at me from his car, yelling obscenities. His aim wasn't too good, thankfully. But why are some people so awful?? I don't get it... what's so threatening about a fit, healthy woman out for a run on a spring morning, to draw that kind of response?

[OakLeaf]

Six for me today. I'm still kinda sore from Monday. Which brings up a question for you experienced marathoners...

I've got one more long run to go before I start my taper. I'm newly back in the hill country, and 1100 feet of climbing in 15 miles was definitely more than my quads were ready for. (But for some reason, I was running a bit quicker than I'd done my flatland long runs, too, not trying to, but wound up with a sub-11 minute pace as opposed to my usual long run training pace of 11:30-11:40. So that might be contributing to the soreness, too... also a few days off due to moving which I'm almost always sore after a layoff.)

So far I've run 20+ six times, the last time being on March 29 when I did 26.3. The last three weeks, I did 18, then no long run because of the Achilles problem, then the hilly 15 on Monday.

So. I really think I ought to get one more 20-miler. The marathon isn't completely flat, but it doesn't have these kinds of hills either. (Which is exactly why I decided not to do Cincinnati Flying Pig or Pittsburgh, either one of which is probably a nicer race to run, but just too dang hilly after doing all my mileage-building in the flatlands.) Do I do my last long run in the hills and try to keep the pace down a little? Or drive to the next town and use the MUP which is almost entirely flat?

[Bike Chick]

But then when I was almost home, some idiot threw a can of pepsi at me from his car, yelling obscenities. His aim wasn't too good, thankfully. But why are some people so awful?? I don't get it... what's so threatening about a fit, healthy woman out for a run on a spring morning, to draw that kind of response?

How awful! I don't know why and I'm with you. There's a young man in our neighborhood that rides a Harley that DH and I have had issues with. He spits as he passes us and flung a cigarette at me last week. It's hard to understand, isn't it?

[Grog]

But then when I was almost home, some idiot threw a can of pepsi at me from his car, yelling obscenities. His aim wasn't too good, thankfully. But why are some people so awful?? I don't get it... what's so threatening about a fit, healthy woman out for a run on a spring morning, to draw that kind of response?

This is disgusting. I'm really sorry some idiot ruined your run.