Runners' Rambles: Week of 5/21/01

[BernK]

OK I'm going to vent a little too. I have had a pinched sciatic nerve for the last two weeks. Walking is hard let alone trying to run. It looks like no YMCA run for me also. I have been going to a chiropractor for the last week and it is slowly getting better but I miss being able to exercise. You know I never thought I would ever say that. Anyway I suppose it could be worse.
Bern

[SusieO]

Eva, I'm sorry the PT visit made you sad. However, I see it as a pretty positive beginning to pain-free running. The prescribed plan sounds like a good one. I know it's hard to think long-term right now, but there will be other races. I also applaud your commitment to healthier eating, etc. (Although, I saw your wedding pictures on the site you posted a while back, and I do not think you are overweight by any stretch of the imagination. Just my opinion.)

I made it through a seven-mile run pretty successfully yesterday. Not the best time, but after last week's disappointment, just getting through it without giving up was good enough for me. I had my husband meet me at the end with our dog so I could run a little way with him (the dog). He can't go far, but he sure can run fast! And he so obviously enjoys himself I can't help but have fun, too.

[KValley]

Oh Eva, I'm so sorry for the disappointment, but I also congratulate you on seeking out help and committing to a plan. Emily's right- it's a short period of time compared to a future of pain-free running. Just keep us updated on your progress and know that we are here to cheer you on. One step at a time...

Just curious- what brand of shoes do you wear? I have been soooo happy with New Balance running shoes for every activity (except hiking). I have very wide but very short feet and they are they only brand that work.

BernK- I'm wishing you healing, as well.

Emily and Susie- so happy to hear that the runs are much better this week. SOunds like your bodies needed some time to work out their kinks and to take it easy.

As you know, I conquered my first 5K this weekend. Now that I know I can run 3 miles without stopping when the pressure is on(at 4:00 am no less), my next goal before the next 5K on June 3 (I can't do the June 2 YMCA run, but there is one here in town on Sunday) is to improve my speed. I'm shooting to get it under 30:00. Today I ran 29:18.

Funny story: Saturday evening we had dinner at my brother's. My lower back was aching a bit and I realized that I had not stretched out AFTER the 5K- my thoughts were on those pancakes- and I was paying for it with a bit of lower back pain. My brother said "Well, think about it- how often do you run or walk 5 miles in one day?"(I walked another 2 after finishing the 5K run) DH and I looked at each other and sort of sputtered, "Well, just about every day, actually..." We were both factoring in our walks together in the evening, DH's morning walks, my gym workouts, hiking, my every-other-day runs. Made us realize how little exercise B gets and how we take for granted what we do.

And DH has decided to start running again- his alarm went off at 5:00 this morning. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by KValley (edited 05-21-2001).]

[emilycat]

Julie,
This may be none of my business, so forgive me if I'm being nosy, but why did your husband give up running altogether?

[aggie94]

Thanks for all the kind words, guys! I know I shouldn't be disappointed -- I knew what he would say before I even got there. It's not like I was expecting to find a good PT who would tell me, "Oh, just run through the pain. You'll be fine!"

I am trying to keep remembering that there will be lots of races, if not this year, then next. And you're all right -- 8 weeks is really a drop in the bucket, especially if it means that I can run for years and years to come.

Emily - I'm glad to hear the hamstring is healing nicely. You are so awesome -- I can't wait until the day that I can post that my "normal" mileage is 12-13 miles! I hope this board is still around in 10 years! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Bern - Sorry to hear the bad news. I know how you feel! I hope you're feeling better soon.

Susie - You are really TOO sweet! I have slimmed down even more since the wedding, but I am nowhere close to where I was in college (although I'm sure I'm much healthier and in better physical shape). Plus, I don't "look" my weight. Friends drop their jaws in disbelief when I tell them what I weigh, and I don't think it's the "muscle-weighs-more-than-fat" principle at work. I think it's just distributed evenly and I carry it well!

Julie - my current running shoes, which will be replaced in the next few days, are Brooks Addiction. They're a little old, which I knew, but he also wants me to find something with even more support (I thought these had enough) and more of a curved last (? -- need to do some research here). I also have wide feet, so the Brooks felt good to me. But I think I need to explore some other options now.

I will be thinking of all you guys on Saturday when you're doing the YMCA run, and looking forward to hearing updates, whether you met your goal or not!

[KValley]

Originally posted by emilycat:
Julie,
This may be none of my business, so forgive me if I'm being nosy, but why did your husband give up running altogether?

Hi Emily,
Not nosy at all. Brendan ran track and cross-country in high school and then went to the University of Oregon, which at the time (early-mid 80s) was one of the top track schools in the nation. He realized pretty quickly that although he was a high school star, he couldn't compete with athletes who were recruited from around the world to run in Oregon's program. That type of competition also took away the joy of running. So he ran for pleasure and for intermural competition, but I think he just burned himself out physically and mentally after several years of pushing hard. He switched to cycling later in college and went hardcore with that up until the time we met. He's a very peaceful, non-competitive person and he loves the calm and meditative aspects of walking and hiking, but I think my new-found interest in running has stirred up some of those old feelings!

Eva I just received the latest issue of Walking magazine. I kept thinking of you while reading it over lunch. I highly recommend it- Walking is an excellent overall fitness magazine, but I think it might also help inspire you as work through your recovery plan. Walking is such outstanding exercise and the magazine is very motivating!

Oh, I just reread what you said about your shoes. I just bought two pairs of New Balance- one with a curved last and one with a straight last. I didn't know what a last was until the salewoman explained and discussed the shape of my foot with me. I'm trying the straight last because it allows my foot to spread out more, rather than forcing it to conform to a curved last. Sounds like you have the opposite problem .

The jury is still out, as I've been alternating shoes on my runs. I prefer the curved lasts for style reasons and the soles are a bit more rugged (trail runners vs. road runners), but they are both extremely comfortable.




[This message has been edited by KValley (edited 05-21-2001).]

[Kristine]

I want to thank you guys for motivating me to start running a bit....I love the feeling afterwards. I have to admit that I've never been much of a runner, but I think that is mainly due to the fact that I was always a dancer and so most of my time was spent doing that. Then those dreaded runs in PE during high school kind of scared me for life (or at least until now http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif). But recently I've started doing run/walk intervals on the treadmill--maybe outside sometime soon--and I am getting better and better. Right now, I usually spend about 35 minutes and go a little more than 3 miles, (I know that's slow for all you pro runners--haha http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif--but I just started, so I can't expect too much too soon).

So everyone keep on posting so that I'll have an incentive to keep working! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[misstapioca]

hi everyone, i have been lurking around these posts the past few weeks. They are very inspiring. i started a few weeks ago after reading an article in Fitness magazine. How to run a 5k,10k,1/2 marathon etc. I am interesting in being able to run a 5k. Well when i first started out i could barely run around the track one time, so I would alternate with walking. i have been going 3x/week. The gym i go to has an indoor track which 7 laps makes a mile. I am now up to running 5 out the 7 laps now and i always push myself on the last lap and try to go as fast as i can. It's so true that the feeling i get after running is euphoric and confident. i go home and make poses in the mirror,laugh, dance around my apartment like a looney lady!
Thanks all you runners for giving me inspiration!

[aggie94]

I decided to start the thread this week because I'm having a bad day and wanted to vent. I had a physical therapy appointment this morning with a new PT. It didn't go well. To start off, he said I have really bad feet, structurally. I already knew that, but apparently my shoes and inserts aren't doing me any justice. First assignment: new running shoes. Second assignment: he sent me home with a foam roller and gave me some new exercises that I've never seen before to strengthen feet and ankles. That's fine, but then it gets worse. If my ultimate goal is running without pain, my third assignment: NO RUNNING. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

He's starting me over from square one to see if we can gradually ease into running with no pain. For the first two weeks, 45 minutes of comfortable pace walking 4-5 times a week. For the second two weeks, if I haven't had any pain, he'll introduce some walk/jog intervals, with the jog intervals being half the walk intervals. If still no pain, more walk/jog intervals, with the jog intervals being twice the walk intervals. Then, if still no pain, I can run. That's at least 6-8 weeks away. And even then, he said it'd be a mile or two at the most.

Bottom line: no Butte to Butte for me in July, and even worse, no YMCA 5K for me in June. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif I left there feeling like I wanted to cry, because for the first time in my life, I actually WANT to run, and am finally enjoying it.

On top of that, when I asked him why I used to run in college without any problems, he asked how long ago that was. I had to admit it's been almost 10 years!! (Good god - has time flown that fast??) And then, he asked: "Well, have you gained any weight since then? Are you carrying more weight around with you than you did ten years ago?" Ok, as if my day weren't going badly enough, he had to kick me while I was down!

So today is a new start for me -- no more giving into excuses when I don't feel like working out. I'm going to bite the bullet and get to the gym at least 5 days a week if it kills me. I'm bound and determined to get rid of the "extra weight" I've been carrying since college! That means good eating, too. And I will stick to what he tells me, even if that kills me. That means being diligent about doing the stupid foot and ankle exercises and NOT running.

Sorry to vent, but no one else seems to understand what a disappointment this is for me.

How is everyone else doing? Better than me, I hope. And don't forget: only 12 more days to the YMCA 5K!

[This message has been edited by aggie94 (edited 05-21-2001).]

[emilycat]

Eva,

I'm so sorry about your disappointment http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif It sounds like you had a really crappy day.
But if you're as bound and determined to kick this "bad feet" thing in the butt as you sound, I know you can do it.
You sound like you have a great plan to accomplish it, and that's the first great step -- hopefully everything will fall into place as the weeks go by http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
And also, it sounds like you found an awesome PT. He really sounds like he knows what he's doing, and although I know you didn't want to hear what he had to say, at least he's not letting you ruin your body without giving you his opinion first. And won't it be great when you can run pain-free! In the great scheme of things, 6-8 weeks is a small price to pay for that. Keep your chin up, girl!

Okay, so now I feel almost guilty posting about my happy news -- my hamstring's doing so much better. It's still a little nagging, but slowly healing each day with the massage, stretch and ice after each run. My mileage was back to normal last week, and I managed a "sort of" long run on Saturday (almost 12). I'm planning on 13 or so for next weekend, so I hope it goes well. No speedwork, though, for a little longer, though, so workouts can be a bit boring, albeit relaxing and stress-free. And that's what running's all about, right? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by emilycat (edited 05-21-2001).]

[emilycat]

Kristine,
I don't know how long you've been reading the running threads, but I just found it so interesting that you were (are?) a dancer!
Ballet was my life until I started college, which was when I started running. I still miss dancing, but I can't imagine my life without running.

So glad you decided to join the thread! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Emily

Oh, and Happy Birthday! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Kristine]

Emily~
First of all, Happy Birthday to you too! I hope you have a great one. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

That's so neat that you were really involved with ballet....so was I. Seriously, ballet and rhythmic gymnastics were basically my entire life up until last year. I'm glad to find another former dancer here. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Who knows, maybe in a few years I'll be as good a runner as you--haha, we'll see about that.

[emilycat]

Kristine,
Oh, you never know -- I disliked running (to say the least) until I picked it up, and I never imagined how much I would accomplish. Dancing takes incredible strength and disclipline -- don't underestimate yourself http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by emilycat (edited 05-22-2001).]

[aggie94]

Yesterday evening, DH and I went for my first of 5 45-minute walks this week. And guess who we saw on the way back? My new PT! He was running, of course, but thank god I wasn't, because I'm sure he would have given me a lecture right there in the middle of the road. We didn't do a wood chip trail like he suggested, but we did find a route from our house to the golf course (in the road, not on the sidewalk http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif), around the golf course (on grass!), and back, that took almost exactly 45 minutes. Plus, it's a pretty hilly neighborhood and golf course, so I got the added workout from walking up and down hills. The weather was nice enough that it made it a really enjoyable walk. DH was cursing the whole time trying to keep up with my "comfortable" pace, but I felt like I got a decent workout. And I even did all my foot/ankle exercises last night.

AND, in the midst of more moving last night, I had Subway for dinner. A 6-inch turkey breast sandwich on whole wheat bread, with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles. No condiments or cheese. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[SusanMac]

I'm so glad to be back on this BB after taking a few weeks off (I was painting my living room...which I learned takes more time, focus and calories than I expected!)

Aggie94 -- hang in there. This injury will probably force you to pick up some other low-impact fitness options you wouldn't have explored otherwise. Keep us posted.

SusieO -- I loved your story about having your dog meet you at the end of your run! My dog is my running partner much of the time. It's amazing how a dog is enough to keep you motivated, but it's true. And he's always in the mood for a run (don't know how he does it :-)

KValley -- You might not remember, but a few weeks ago on one of the threads several of us were chatting about rowing. I finally went out and found a local club with beginner classes, and I start in July! I can't wait. I think it will be a nice complement to running and yoga (all totally different...I'm hoping that will keep me motivated)

YMCA run...I'm torn. The Race for the Cure here is on the same date as the YMCA run (bad planning on someone's part!!) I've never done a Race for the Cure before, but it's such an awesome cause. I figure I'll compare courses and decide which one to do that way.

[KValley]

SusanMac0 I do remember! In fact, I was wondering last week if you had found a place to row. I'm happy for you and not a little envious.

I looked into a Master's swimming program at the city pool: they haven't been able to gather a critical mass to get one started, unfortunately. The university women's swim coach, however, has been opening her Saturday practices to the community and offering lessons of a sort, so after I get back next week, I'd like to look into that.

I just did the Race for the Cure this past weekend- you're right- that is poor planning. You could walk the Race for the Cure relay, at say, MIDNIGHT, then run the YMCA 5K. Or not. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[KValley]

Just checking in to report on the newest aches and pain. I strained my right groin doing lunges (I guess). My supposition is that the addition of running exascerbated what may have been a slighter strain.

It feels like it's pinching around my ovary, which scared me, so when I went in for my skin check yesterday I talked about it with the Dr. She reassured me that it was a simple strain and to lay off lunges for a bit.

I ran today and could feel it- more of an ache than a pain, but it didn't slow me down.
I will take it easy, though- my next opportunity to run is not until Sunday and I'm glad- I need to let this heal.

I won't be checking in at all next week, unless I can escape to an internet cafe, so I wish you all an excellent weekend and a lovely end to May. Happy Trails!

Julie

[Gina O]

Hey all, just a note to say hi. I am back from 5 days on the road for work, running I Wichita, KS and Hays, KS. Wichita was great, Hays not so good... kept having stomach cramps during the run and had to stop and walk 3-4 times.

Still looking forward to the YMCA run, hoping it goes well for all who are participating. Gina

[Natasha]

Hi fellow runners,

Good wishes to all from one of you http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Natasha