Rambles about Running

[emilycat]

Okay, so my title's a bit goofy, but I couldn't wait any longer for the running thread!

I'm a little irked right now -- my hamstring's been bothering me a bit for about a week now, so today I'm cycling instead of running (it's not pulled, so riding doesn't bother it, but the impact seems to be affecting it when I run). I think I may have been a little over-eager in upping my mileage after the race; I was already back up to near-average levels in the second week, and average levels in the third. It's not hurting so badly that I can't run, but the pain is kind of nagging, and I'm worried that if I'm stubborn and continue to run on it, I'll put myself out of commission for a couple weeks or even longer (which would really, really suck).

So I guess my point of all this blabber is to fenagle some enoucouragement out of y'all so I don't feel lazy retreating to the bike and not running through it. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

Thanks for listening! How's everyone else's running going?

Emily



[This message has been edited by emilycat (edited 05-08-2001).]

[KValley]

YAY- Emily, I'm glad you started the Runners' Rambles (I like your title http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif! I was hoping to start yesterday, but who could get anything posted?

I started my 5K training last week, thanks to the Runnersworld.com site. New shoes, my 5K registration and sunshine have been my principal motivators (and this BB, which got me started).

I'm doing a training run every other day. THe off days I do the elliptical machine, stairmaster, a hike on the treadmill or hiking, biking or walking outside.

Funny story over the weekend: I didn't buy a stopwatch/pedometer at REI as I said I might in my other post- couldn't decide what I wanted. SUnday, I was supposed to go for a 1.5 mile training run. I also wanted to add in some brisk walking afterwards, so I was looking to do about 4 miles. DH suggested a road path that he guesstimated to be 1.5 m one way. I took my old pedometer to measure and clock it and I set off. I ran his suggested route and halfway back again before checking my pedometer- it registered only 1.04 miles. I was pretty disappointed, but kept running through campus and the surrounding neighborhoods and finally clocked about 1.75 miles, then walked for a bit. I told DH about my route and he looked really surprised. So later in the day we took the car out to trace my route. Turns out my pedometer was way off- I ran over 3 miles without realizing it (the timer wasn't working either!)

What I realized though, is that I will want to run a mile or two immediately BEFORE the 5K- it takes that long for my body to warm up. DH used to run cross-country and he said this was pretty typical for his team on race days- to run a few miles before and after the race to warm up/cool down.

I think I will use my road runs and the treadmill to work on speed and trail runs to work on distance (can't run too fast on the trail as it's pretty gravelly).

Today it's a 2.25 run.

How is everyone else doing?

[aggie94]

Not so good here. My shin splints have been bothering me more than usual lately, so I'm down to only running twice a week. I went to kickboxing Saturday morning for a particularly brutal workout, then stopped at the gym on the way home to run and lift weights. BAD idea. I had an awful run, partly because I was pretty beat after kickboxing and partly because I had only had a cereal bar for breakfast that morning. I felt like I was going to die. After two miles, things started to pick up, but it still wasn't good. I was feeling sluggish, running slow, and just couldn't get into a good rhythm. I'm taking a few days off to rest my shins, but I'll be back on Thursday for at least a 45 minute run.

I am planning to do the YMCA run on the 2nd. I haven't registered yet, but it's on my "to-do" list. I'm still working on firming up a goal time for that race -- as it gets closer, I'll nail something down for sure.

[NydiaC]

I've been training for about 6 weeks now using the training program on the RunTex.com website (they're local to Austin). I ran 6 miles for the first time (in my life http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif) on Saturday. I was so excited! (I never liked running in school.) Now I can't seem to get enough of it. I'm having a bit of a problem this week, though, because I feel like I'm coming down with a cold. I have a bit of a sore throat. I don't want that to stop me from running though. I'm determined to finish this 12 week training program before I go on vacation.

Does anyone have any suggestions to help me make sure I don't flake out?

[Gina O]

Emily-

Sorry to hear about your hamstring http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif My words of encouragement would be to do exactly what you are planning to do. After fighting my injury for over 2 months, I finally decided to give in, stop running completely and let it heal. Combined with the physical therapy, it was better in 3 weeks. I hope yours heals in a lot shorter time. I pulled a hamstring a couple weeks ago, and it healed in about a week.

My running has been okay, I am enjoying it, but wish I were going faster. Had a little problem the other day... I started running and within 5 minutes was having nasty stomach cramps. After about 12 minutes I finally stopped running, they went away after another 5 minutes or so. It was after a tremendously busy/stressful 12 hour day at work. I was very worried about the next time out, which was yesterday, but thankfully, it went great.

I am traveling all week this week, so I am enjoying running in different locations. I just finished scouting for tomorrow's run and am REALLY looking forward to it. Good luck to all, Gina

[Laura]

My run today was blech http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif. It was rather windy, but I was tired of running on the treadmill. I ran half a mile and was really hating it, then walked for a minute and then finshed my run but at a much slower pace. Two things I have learned: I am a wimp, and as soon as I start thinking I can give up I will, and two, if you stick it out it will generally get better. It ended up not being a bad run but not what I wanted. I get rather discouraged because despite all the beautiful places to run in Colorado Springs, none of them are close to my house so I am limited to running rather busy streets. I am looking forward to a trail run I am doing on Saturday in a park called Garden of the Gods. It is a park here that has these incredible huge red rock formations that just come out of no where with a spectacular view of Pikes Peak right behind them. That will be one I look forward to running

Em. Sorry about your hamstring. I hope it heals quickly. I am really impressed with everyone elses diligence. It really is keeping me going.

[Kerri]

Oh Laura, you aren't a whimp! You did fine. There is nothing wrong with walking a bit or running slow, as long as you do it. That is my thinking anyway.

I took most of last week off after my soccer game. I did run on sunday and I had one of the worst runs of my life. I have brought this up before, but I have what is called um, "runner's trots" and I just had a really painful episode sunday. I ended up only running half of what I planned to do, which was discouraging, but it couldn't be helped.

I have noticed that if I am really tired or really don't feel like running, but still force myself to go, I have one of the best runs ever! Does anyone else experience this? Sometimes when I am feeling down, that is what gets me out the door.

I hope your hamstring feels better, Emily. That is really good that you are still able to cross train. It will keep you from going crazy!

[Mbart]

Thought I'd throw my ramble in here...my running is going fine, but it's about to change, I hope for the better. I ran into an acquaintance from the neighborhood today who commented that she's seen me out running in the a.m. (we were both afternoon runners and would occassionally see each other while running). Well, she asked if she could join me running in the morning. I said sure, but I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I really enjoy my alone time, and I always run with music or other radio programming, which really puts me in the right frame of mind for my day, and I hate to give it up. But I really do like this woman, and think it would be nice to get to be friends with her. And what if we're totally different paces? I told her I run between a 9 and 10 minute mile, and she said that was fine. But she also said she wants to train to run a marathon, and I'm very happy with my 3 to 4 mile runs. So...I don't know why I'm telling you all this, I guess I'm just hoping this works out well and I don't miss my solo runs. We start tomorrow, so I'll soon know...!

[This message has been edited by Mbart (edited 05-09-2001).]

[SusieO]

I was really looking forward to posting on this thread today when work interfered. I hate it when that happens! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Sounds like we're all plugging away. I had to take about a week off because my foot was bothering me, but I managed to run seven miles on Sunday and four yesterday. I also ran some intervals yesterday. When I finished, a runner I had passed told me I made him feel lazy because I was running so fast. Of course, he had only caught me running a fast stretch, but it made me feel good. (Very gratifying for the kid who was teased in elementary school for being a slow runner.)

[emilycat]

Everyone sounds like they're doing so well!
Laura, I'm so envious of your running locale -- it sounds amazing, and quite worthy of Runner's World's "Rave Run" section. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
Ever thought about sending them pictures?

Julie -- that's so awesome that you ran even farther than you thought! Sometimes we surprise ourselves; I'm sure you had quite a runner's high after that one.

Susie, I'm glad your foot's better; mine was bothering me about a month ago, and after a couple days of cycling it was fine. Very cool that you received the speed demon compliment -- intervals aside; you were still running fast! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Thanks, all, for your words of sympathy -- oh, and KaliforniaKim, if you're passing through this thread, your post (on the race thread) was exactly what I needed to read this morning. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
It's extremely difficult for me not to give myself a really hard time for taking even a day off, even when logic tells me I need to. I manage to convince myself that I'm just using my "so-called injury" as an excuse for being lazy, and that it's really not that bad. (Even though when I had to cut a run short yesterday because the pain was extending through my whole leg, affecting my form and my other leg, as well.) I can be incredibly stubborn when it comes to giving myself a break, and I'm still not sure if I can take time off completely, or if I'm going to have to cycle at least to save my sanity (yes, I know I have a few issues. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif )
Gina, when you pulled your hamstring, did you rest entirely, or did you crosstrain?
Anyway, sorry to ramble more here, but I love this thread!
Mbart, be sure to let us know how your parter run goes!
Hope everyone has a great day!

Emily


[This message has been edited by emilycat (edited 05-10-2001).]

[aggie94]

Emily,

Do you swim? KaliforniaKim mentioned it in her post, but I thought I'd re-emphasize that swimming is a GREAT workout, if you push yourself and not just lollygag around in the pool, that is easy enough on your body to allow for recovery at the same time. I have some of my best aerobic and cardio workouts in the pool, although I don't do it often enough -- for some reason, I have this mindset that swimming is "easy," so I think that if I go running or cycling instead, I'll end up getting a better workout.

When I first started having problems with my shin splints, I was training for an Olympic distance triathlon, and I really didn't want to cut back on my runs even though my PT insisted. She mentioned to me that Mary Decker Slaney does MOST of her pre-race training in the pool, and only for a few weeks beforehand does she actually get out to run. As long as you're keeping your heartrate up to equivalent levels, you should be able to get as much out of a pool run as you can out of a "real" run, but without the stress to your body. Just a thought!

[KValley]

Susie, Emily, Eva- I am thinking positive, healing thoughts for your aches and pains and using your words of wisdom about taking it slowly. Another training run today- leaving as soon as I finish this.

Eva, I have been kicking around the idea of signing up for swim lessons for some time now. I can swim certainly, but I want to learn proper stroke form and a variety of strokes as a way to cross train and to keep moving towards my goal of competing in a mini-triathlon. Your message has inspired me anew.

Do you have any suggestions for workouts-are you talking pool running, laps, aqua aerobics...?

Thanks, Julie

[This message has been edited by KValley (edited 05-10-2001).]

[KaliforniaKim]

Hi Emily,

Thank goodness you found my thread. I am having more problems with the BB. I keep hitting some wayward key and knocking myself out. Who knows how I mistakenly posted my response last night to the 'Racing' topic. I was there at one time, but didn't mean to reply there. Oh well...

By the way, I did pull my hamstring a few years ago. I don't remember how, but it did take quite awhile to heal -- maybe six months. Of course, the length of time couldn't possibly have been due to my reluctance to give it any rest. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/rolleyes.gif

I do think I finally made progress when I started more cross training. The running was wicked on the hamstring--if you think about it, it makes sense; I just didn't like to think about it. I focused on more step aerobics (on a low step) and biking with lots and lots of ice. It did get better when I cross trained and let it rest.

Good luck! I feel for you. I remember feeling pretty depressed when it went on so long. It's a major muscle, so it does take it's own time to heal.

[Mbart]

Hi all,

I'm so sorry to read of all your injuries! As I read through this thread, it strikes me that most everyone is doing just fine with sticking with working out, it's the resting of our bodies that we all have trouble with!! Why are we all like that? I SO dread injuring myself, because I hate the thought of missing a run...yet I'm always reading that runners should mix it up to give our legs a break. I just can't seem to get myself to do that! Aggie94, Emily, Kerri, etc., I am very impressed with your discipline to do other things (even if its killing you, Emily! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif) You should pat yourselves on the back!

I had my run with my neighbor this a.m., and it was fun. She's a very nice person, and running with someone did make it seem to go by more quickly. The pace was a little slow, though...I arrived home feeling like I didn't quite get a good enough workout. So I'll have to see if we can pick up the pace a bit tomorrow, or maybe I could do half my run before I stop to get her? She's a flight attendant so I don't know if she'll be able to run every day anyway.
Well, congrats again for listening to your bodies and trying other things...I believe it requires just as much discipline, if not moreso, than getting out there and working out!

[cooksrhot]

Emilycat...I just started running "seriously" in January and finished my first 2 5K's in the last month. I love reading about everyone's ups and downs because it gives me encouragement and hope that I WILL be able to increase my endurance and speed.
Regarding your hamstring and cross-training...I think aggie94 hit the nail on the head when she suggested training in the pool. I like to swim, but get so winded that I feel like I'm drowning! I know that college sports programs use the pool a lot to condition their athletes. Another option is Deep Water Exercise. I teach at a YMCA in Charlotte and know that you can REALLY get your heart rate up in a class if you want to. Deep water would be best because there is no impact and I think it's a tougher workout. Most people think water exercise is just for grandmas, but it can be an awesome cross-training tool if you find an instructor who won't take it easy on you.

BTW, coming to Hot'Lanta the end of June for our annual Braves/Mets series visit. Tell me your favorite restaurant in Buckhead!

Good luck with the hamstring!
Joanne

[KValley]

A great training run today. It was such a gorgeous day- not a cloud in the sky, lower 70s, the snowcapped Stuart Mountains in stark relief against a robin's egg-blue sky. Very inspiring!

I walked to the gym (note to self: walking to gym takes no more time than driving and looking for parking; walk serves as warm up, so can skip 5 minutes on treadmill before weights, thereby saving time!)

I did my strength training, walked briskly on the treadmill for 20 minutes, stretched, then headed out additional note to self: Don't forget sunscreen!. I followed a circuitous 3 mile route home- running 2.25. It felt so much better than Tuesday, when I ran on the treadmill and felt a tightness in my left ankle and shin- had to go back to run-walk intervals. Tuesday I warmed up on the elliptical machine, but from now on I will use brisk walking as my warm-up.

Today was the first day I felt as if I was really running- that my gait and breathing were in sync. I wanted to run farther, but am trying to stick to my plan and pace myself.

Tonight I'm going to yoga for a great stretch of my hips, hamstrings, back.

Just talked to my SIL- I'm going to give my 6 yr old niece swimming lessons for her birthday and accompany her to lessons- hoping to be a good influence and get her excited about fitness at a young age, since B and SIL are decidly NOT fit!

[This message has been edited by KValley (edited 05-10-2001).]

[aggie94]

Julie -

Sorry - I haven't been ignoring your question about good pool workouts. I am swamped at work right now and haven't had much time at all to even get on the board. I haven't been in the pool much lately, but when I do, I swim laps. I don't follow any particular workout routine, although I should. I'm the type of person who does so much better when I have a routine to follow, people in my lane setting the pace, and a guy on the deck blowing a whistle at me. If I just go to the pool and plan to "swim," I get bored quickly. Consequently, I don't go near as often as I would like.

Lessons would be a good way to learn proper stroke form. Another suggestion is to find a master's swim team in your area. I know it sounds daunting, but imagine your local community swim team for kids, and it's like that, but for grown-ups. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif There are different levels and abilities of swimmers, and they incorporate a lot of stroke drills into their workouts to help you improve your form. I am looking into a team in my area - it's just that the thought of getting up at before the crack of dawn to swim does not exactly make me smile. You can get tons of info on their website (http://www.usms.org), including sample workouts for swimmers of different ability levels.

Running in the pool is something that I never do, although I should. You can either "run" laps in the pool, using the same form as you would on the ground -- just pretend the water isn't there. The other option is to get a belt and hook into the wall and do it stationary. These are the types of workouts that my PT suggested for when I couldn't run because of my shin splints, but I couldn't offer any suggestions here because I was bad and never did them. (I just pushed through the pain and kept running even though I knew I was doing more bad than good.)

If anything else comes to mind, I'll let you know.

[This message has been edited by aggie94 (edited 05-11-2001).]

[Laura]

Julie, my fiance was a world class swimmer and he always recommends for me (definitely NOT a world class swimmer) that I do the SKP program. Basically, if I was to swim 60 laps (around a mile in a 25 meter pool) I swim 20, kick 20 and pull 20. I am sure there are more sophisticated workouts, but this one hits all the basics and it's simple to remember.

[aggie94]

Laura,

I think you meant to say 60 lengths. 60 laps would be almost two miles.



[This message has been edited by aggie94 (edited 05-11-2001).]

[KValley]

Eva and Laura- thanks so much (and I'm so glad it is not 60 laps- I just wilted when I read that http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif) I'm headed to the pool today to get info about swim lessons for my niece and I will inquire about a Master's class and/or swim lessons. It sounds like a great "summer project" for me!

[SusieO]

Hope everyone has a wonderful, pain-free weekend.

Happy Trails!

[Laura]

Oops your right, it is lengths. I always say laps, no wonder people get impressed. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

[Gina O]

Emily- I pulled my hamstring while stretching after running (had my leg up on the car and lost my balance). I took a couple days off running, then just kept running. I was finishing physical therapy at the time and the therapist checked it out. It ached a little the first couple runs, but that was all. I am guessing it was not as bad as yours.

Well, my running ramblings of the week consist of a couple thoughts... the first is how much I totally enjoyed running in different places. What a great way to get out and look around. I also ran my further distance ever today, after I busy day. It was all I could do to go outside, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. My week was crazy and pretty stressful, so I enjoyed the mental time off. Gina