2015 Running Thread

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  • meljo614
    meljo614 Member Posts: 180
    edited March 2015

    Hi all! I'm new to this board.  I'm 47 and started running at the age of 40.  Always thought I hated cardio of any kind but finally caught the bug.  Now I am in love with it.  So sad I didn't start earlier when I had younger, healthier joints.  I lost a lot of running time during my DX, treatment, and long horribly cold winter.  I'm ready to get back on the horse!  The pool running sounds brilliant.  I need to try that when my knees act up.  My typical routine is a 3 - 3.5 mile four days a week with a 5-er on the weekend.  Haven't been able to get that 5 in for many months now :-(  Hopefully soon!  So glad to be here and to have found my fellow running enthusiasts!   I'm off to run my son's German Shepard Smile. 

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  • Oncearunneralwaysarunner
    Oncearunneralwaysarunner Member Posts: 252
    edited March 2015

    Welcome meljo614!

    goldlining - I had to laugh at the diagnosis given by the MD. I'm sure you were quite aware that you you were experiencing heel pain :) I'm looking forward to hear how the shockwave therapy goes.

    I've now been told by my physiotherapist not to do anything that involves the word running in it. That includes no water/pool running. She doesn't want me to run on my foot because she thinks it's a stress fracture and doesn't want me to water run so that if it is a soft tissue thing, we give it the chance to heal. I negotiated yoga and some walking. Hopefully I can see the sports med this week but it looks like I'm gonna have to get a bone scan. The first and only time I had a bone scan was when I was diagnosed... Not looking forward to reliving those memories.

    For those asking about water running, it's nice on the joints but you still feel like you worked out. It's pretty simple. I think Runners World has articles on the proper technique but I put on a belt and get in the water and move my body just like I would running. I'm not sure if all the pools have water belts available but my local city pool does. It's this big foam contraption that goes around your waist. It keeps you floating with your head and shoulders out of the water, the rest of your body is fully in. I'm not a great swimmer, and I have this freakish fear of the deep end, but I feel completely safe with the belt in the deep end. I feel silly with my belt and bobbing up and down moving ever slow slowly with everyone else swimming and moving much faster than me. I would recommend it for those of you looking to ease up on your joints.

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  • lovestorun
    lovestorun Member Posts: 167
    edited March 2015

    Welcome Meljo - I started running at 40 too and am 47!  Yay for late bloomers!

    Once, I'm so sorry about your foot!  Am glad you were able to negotiate some yoga in! 

    Yes, what once said about pool running.  Most people use floaty belts and many pools have them.  And yes, you stay completely upright.  Even though you are intentionally in water deep enough that you don't touch the bottom, your chin on up stays above water.  I was told to try to keep my shoulders above my hips - stay upright not dog paddle - and then to mimic running with your legs and arms.  Don't worry if you move forward about the pace of a sloth.  That's about how it goes.  I'll post some videos and links at the bottom of this.

    A few other things.  If you can find someone else to join you, or if your pool offers an aqua jogging class, I'd recommend it.  It's pretty boring solo. If I know there won't be music on at the pool, I have been known to clip a small mp3 player (ipod shuffle) to the top of my head with some barrettes and then put on a baseball cap to keep it dry and from accidentally falling off.  You get some weird looks, but it works. 

    Re: how "far" do you pool run, it helps if you just focus on the amount of time you are in the water vs. trying to track laps or distance. Whatever your slow run pace is, that's your tool for approximating mileage.  Run an 11 minute mile?  11 minutes in the pool = 1 mile.  And so on. 

    I also find that if I have more than 30 minutes to do, if I break it up into segments it helps.  Sometimes it's "run 10 minutes, 10 pushups on the side of the pool wall (legs in the water), run 10 minutes, 10 pushups" etcs.  Others it's warm up 10 minutes, 1 min. fast, 1 min slow, 2 min fast, 2 min slow, 3 min fast, 3 min slow and then ladder back down.  Whatever gets the time in before you go totally bonkers. 

    It's not for everyone, but I will confess that I like it better than the treadmill many days. And it's great for people recovering from injury or for people who want to get some miles in without so much wear and tear on your joints. 

    short video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5Yc1WOuu6o

    long video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXWCbOUR1aM

    Blog with some pool running posts (there's some funny stuff in here): http://wellimtryingtorun.blogspot.com/2010/01/pool-running-posts-listed-by-category.html

     

    Spring seems to have arrived here - daffodils are in bloom and the astilbes are starting to show some green.  Welcomed sights indeed!

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited March 2015

    Once, I hope your further investigations go in a useful direction. When I had a stress fracture, I had an air-cast boot and it was miraculous. The pain stopped. I also did a 15K event with it on -- at a brisk walk, though, not run. I got blisters from the friction on the front of the foot, but I felt better than I had in weeks. (I was embarrassed for the people I beat.) Took a few weeks for the fracture to heal, but it didn't hurt as long as I had the boot on.

    Temps are going in the wrong direction here. Spring, but an extreme cold alert. But I hope it won't be long now.

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  • Oncearunneralwaysarunner
    Oncearunneralwaysarunner Member Posts: 252
    edited March 2015

    thanks goldlining for sharing your stress fracture incident. I might be able to do the half in May after all :)

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited March 2015

    Once, you have two months to find a shoe for the other foot that has the same thickness of sole! ;)

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  • Rseman
    Rseman Member Posts: 281
    edited March 2015

    UGGHHHHH just over two miles into my run today and the knee was killing me!! I was told it was an overuse injury but I've rested for a few weeks so I don't get it. I am going to call the rehab place and get to work. There is no way I am taking chances for the NYC Marathon.

    lovestorun--I just finished watching the Spirit of the Marathon for the second time. First alone and second with my husband!!! Thanks for the recommendation.

    Who runs to music and whats your top running song? I'm always looking to spice up my playlist :)

    Renee

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  • meljo614
    meljo614 Member Posts: 180
    edited March 2015

    Renee, sorry about the knee.  Mine act up now and again for no apparent reason and it is so frustrating.  I'm assuming you've tried bracing or KT tape?  I almost always run with music.  Favorites right now:  Shake (MercyMe) and Uptown Funk Smile

    lovestorun, thanks for sharing the info about aqua jogging.  Not at all what I thought.  Had no idea your feet don't touch the bottom.  Somehow I don't think this activity would give me that running 'fix' I'm always looking for but I'm still interested to try it. 


     

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  • meljo614
    meljo614 Member Posts: 180
    edited March 2015

    No posts for three days?  Where is everybody?  Oh, yeah.... out RUNNING!!!   Loopy

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  • LuvLuLu
    LuvLuLu Member Posts: 377
    edited March 2015

    Yes, meljo, now that there's finally a hint of Spring in the air, that's where the party is . . . out on the ROAD!! 

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited March 2015

    Not warm enough for me yet, but profoundly exhausted. Right now, not sleeping. I think running would help but too cold to start outside (wouldn't be bad temps for someone who had run through the winter, but still far below seasonal). I'd like to read some nice runs :)

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  • meljo614
    meljo614 Member Posts: 180
    edited March 2015

    18 degrees in Southeastern WI this morning when I walked my dog.  It will be another sad day on the treadmill for me Sad.

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  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 980
    edited March 2015

    Oncearunner, please add a run for me. Mother's Day Classic, 10 May, 8K. I'm hoping for a better run than my last outing......I'll post a report on that shortly...

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  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 980
    edited March 2015

    I've been meaning to post on my last official run for some time. I completed my first ever 5K track run on Valentine's Day and it is a tale of the good, the bad and the ugly......

    The run was Saturday, I'd had a hard a week at work and felt shattered on Friday night. I had a headache and I wasn't sure whether it was due to the hard week or the virus going around the office. When I woke on Saturday I still had the headache and felt a little ill. I decided to wait until lunchtime until I'd made the call to run or not. It was also a very hot and humid day with a storm brewing and my run was late afternoon.

    I felt better by lunchtime and made the decision to run. It was a community event prior to the State Championships so it was going to be interesting! I looked up the other runners and found "Dot", 72 years old, so I decided I'd try to beat "Dot".

    I was very excited when I arrived at the stadium and hubby was there to cheer me on but that only made me feel a little more nervous to be watched during my whole run. We marshalled prior and I got talking to the other novice runners and although hot and humid I was excited. I spotted "Dot" and she looked amazing - strong and fit!

    Quickly it seemed we were on the starting line and running. I forgot to start my GPS watch in the excitement and couldn't follow my pace. Within the first 300m my mouth felt dry but I was running strongly and passing other runners....a mistake in retrospect! At the 2K mark I grabbed a drink but swallowed the wrong way and started to cough. At the 3K mark I had to walk for a 100m. One of the officials came over a ran with me for a little while to get me back on pace. I was struggling and I had to have another couple of walks a little later and "Dot" went cruising past. One of the other runners and I played a passing duel but they finally just pipped me to cross the finish line.

    The good...I loved running on the track and I achieved a number of PBs - a 30 min 5K (30.00.24 to be precise), a 5min 22 sec 1K and a record 2K. "Dot" finished in 29 min so I've something to aspire to!

    The bad...I tired due to "the good" PBs and had to walk a few 100m sections - embarrassing in front of the stadium crowd! The ugly...I ran a horrible, horrible race!

    I've learnt a few lessons and I'm getting ready for my next track run!

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  • Rseman
    Rseman Member Posts: 281
    edited March 2015

    Great job Tammy!!! I've never done any track running. I imagine it being harder mentally. I like not being able to see the end :)

    I've been sidelined for a while. I am in PT twice a week for ITBS. I've been told not to run which is annoying since I have the Ragnar coming up in May. But also, I tend to get depressed when I haven't run for a week and at the two week mark, I am unbearable to be around. I've been using the bike to try and keep my fitness up. Has anyone one else gone through this and if so, about how long did it take to resolve itself. I hate going to PT where we are doing what seem to be such simple light exercises that I am having a hard time with. I'm am determined to get this fixed though so I am following all of the rules as hard as it is to do so.

    I'm almost happy they are saying more snow here tomorrow instead of it being nice and wishing I was out there. Sorry I'm being selfish now!

    Run a mile for me!!! :)

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited March 2015

    Aw Rseman, that stinks for you! Sorry about your forced break! I did myself in with ITBS at the Princess Half, my first half. I did not even know I had an IT band at that time (I've learned anatomy one injury at a time), and didn't know about the cold bath, or any of that stuff. Within four hours of the run, I couldn't walk down a ramp. That was early March and I basically took a time out until late April. I did two 3K outings in that two months, and tried 9K late April, nibbled away with a couple more 2 to 3K outings until mid-May 10K, sort of that kind of pattern for a while, and really didn't get into full frequency running until July. I was pretty jazzed about having kicked the butt of the half, but didn't want to wreck myself either.

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  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 219
    edited March 2015

    Hi Rseman,

    I had ITBS some years ago. It took me a good month to be able to get back out to run again. What I did was LOTS of specific stretches and strengthed my gluteus medius muscles with certain exercises. Because I live in the mountains I had to find an area that was flat to get back into it and wore a Patt strap! Knock on wood no issues again with my ITB and that was 9 1/2 years ago!

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  • meljo614
    meljo614 Member Posts: 180
    edited March 2015

    Rseman, I have never had ITBS but did have to do PT for my patella-tracking problem.  I can completely relate to how annoying it is.  It is soooo slow--holding static stretches forever.  It is what I imagine yoga is like.  Ha!  I tried so hard to do it but found myself just getting angry every time I had to get those dumb stretch bands out.  Ugh!  I hope you can stick with it and that it helps.  I know some people swear by PT.  I just did not have the patience. 

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  • lovestorun
    lovestorun Member Posts: 167
    edited March 2015

    Good job Tammy - a 5K on the track sounds really challenging! Hang in there Gold!  Rsmn sorry about the ITBS.  In addition to what others have said, I'd recommend a foam roller. And yes, a pat strap might help too!   

    Ran a local 5K this morning that was a hoot. Lots of college kids there, many of them dressed up and a few who looked like they were still up from the night before.  There were oompa loompas, Mario brothers, tacky tourists, Cinderella.....  It was not a 5K where you could hope to get a great finish time, but oh what fun to see such enthusiasm! 

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  • Oncearunneralwaysarunner
    Oncearunneralwaysarunner Member Posts: 252
    edited March 2015

    WHOOOOO HOOOOOO! No air boot for me I saw the sports med doc this week and he diagnosed it as a bunionette and a biomechanical issue. My physio is a little concerned given my history but she is willing to take the wait and see approach. I think she's just being overly cautious and would have rather seen a bone scan to rule out a stress fracture but I understand the reasoning the doc gave me. I just need to make my way to the orthotics place I deal with to see about these little toe wedges. Might be hard to do since I'm tentatively starting a new job on April 13th. One that will have me at an awesome location for lunch time runs, much better than running in the burbs like I do now! There are still some formalities with the job but it looks very good.

    Tammy_M43 - great race report, it sounds like it was a very different race, great job on the PB too!

    Lovestorun - it must have been cool to see all of the costumes, people have such great imaginations.

    Rseman - ugh, ITBS sucks. I've dealt with it in the past and it too took me about a month before it started to feel better. What caused my ITB issue was wearing the wrong running shoes, I don't pronate when I walk but I do when I run so the shoes I had did not have enough support. I went for a gait analysis and through that I found the right shoes and I've been pretty much ok since then. My physiotherapist introduced me to a foam roller and it's been my ITB saver. It helped with the rehab and now I use it any time I start to feel tight to keep the issue at bay.

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  • Rseman
    Rseman Member Posts: 281
    edited March 2015

    I feel like such a b*tch right now. My husband was talking about his great run today and I'm still not allowed to run yet. He was so happy and felt great. I was such a jealous little child. I am proud of him but I needed to change the subject and it was so immature of me. I'm going to ask tomorrow night when I can get back out there.

    Thanks for all the advice!! I'm excited that I'll probably be fine in just a month. They have me using a foam roller at PT and I think I will buy one for home (any recommendations on which one to get?) But using the foam roller has given me a bruise on my leg. I'll ask about that.

    Feel good everyone!

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  • Rseman
    Rseman Member Posts: 281
    edited April 2015

    i'm not sure if I asked this before but does anyone have a recommendation on what foam roller I should purchase? There are just so many options.

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  • Oncearunneralwaysarunner
    Oncearunneralwaysarunner Member Posts: 252
    edited April 2015

    I use a blue roller with a harder inner core. I don't event remember what brand it is. I like this version better than the straight foam roller I picked up from my physio. That first roller I had did not have that inner core and compressed where I rolled over time. The ones with the inner core do give you more pressure so that is something to keep in mind. I've had it for years and I'm pretty happy with it.

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited April 2015

    I have the plain one (solid all the way through, like a big pool noodle, but denser foam). I have not abused it enough to compress it but I could imagine it happening. I've seen people buy those kind that are nubby and hard plastic with hollow core (for storing stuff inside) and while I understand the storage idea, that looks way too complicated for me.

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  • odie16
    odie16 Member Posts: 1,882
    edited April 2015

    Just signed up today for a 5k color run on May 17th. Looking forward to it as I think it should be a,ton of fun. Does it count??? LOL....

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  • HockeyCat
    HockeyCat Member Posts: 222
    edited April 2015

    My co-workers did Color Run last month. She shows me her pictures, and it looked so much fun!

    5 more weeks till Tinker Bell! I think running a half marathon around 2 hours is no longer possible... I'm trying Jeff Galloway's Run Walk Run method. I ran 9 miles to the beach and back this morning. I ran 3 miles and took 1 minute walk break, and repeat. . It was very warm but felt great!

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited April 2015

    odie- I did a color run and it was a blast! Everyone was in a great mood and they were there just to have fun. Just hold your breath running through the color stations and you will do great.

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  • meljo614
    meljo614 Member Posts: 180
    edited April 2015

    Just ran my first 8K since before DX last October.  Felt so amazing!!  I finally feel more like myself again Happy.  Now, where's the ham and cheesy potatoes?!?  Happy Easter all!

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited April 2015

    Hi there.. can you put me down for the Avengers Infinity Gauntlet Challenge (10k and half) Nov 14-15th , 2015. and as of right now 4:41pm ca time.. the half is still open, the 5k is still open and.. the CHALLENGE is still open :)

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited April 2015

    Congratulations panthrah! I enjoyed the last Avengers, but I am not so big on the superheroes and Star Wars characters, so the Labour Day run is more for me. I am waiting with bated breath for registration the WDW Marathon weekend. Passholder registration starts a week from today! Regular reg opens April 28 for full, half, 10K, 5K, Goofy and Dopey.

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