Recently, I've been seeing a chiropractor for my left hip. What happened? Well, it goes back to my fall during the Turkey Trot. Since then, after initially taking a week off from running due to hip pain, I have noticed that my left hip flexor tightens up after running at around 5 miles. There is also some compensatory tightness in my left low back that occurs at the same time. Finally, I decided to get some work done on it, because it wasn't getting better. Dr. Adamson confirmed that my hip flexors were all messed up, even mentioning that it felt as if I had torn some muscle tissue. I haven't been running well since that time, so it would make sense that I'm trying to compensate for injury.
The funniest thing is that my left leg feels "tight" after I run, as if it is jammed up and would feel better if someone yanked on it. Well, guess what? At my last visit, Dr. Adamson said, "You know, I think the muscles are causing you to have a leg length discrepancy; here, I'm going to distract your leg," grabbed my leg and, yes, yanked. And you know what? It felt better. I started laughing.
Yesterday, I ran 6.5 miles without significant pain, although I could feel my hip tightening up a bit at 4 miles. The good part is that, as I kept running, it seemed to let up a bit and I finished my run without pain or tightness. Looks like progress is being made.
I'm hoping that, if my left hip improves, I'll be able to feel better while running, and maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to run another marathon.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
A wolf in goose's clothing or playing chicken with a goose
It's springtime... the time when sentient beings find it important to procreate. Why? Well, having progeny ensures that the species will survive. This survival mentality can make parents and prospective parents very cranky. And I ran into one of those a couple of days ago.
I have tried to get back into my routine of running at Noon. I have found that doing this ensures that I get at least one workout in during the day. Too often, if I delay my run until later, "something" will come up. It may be a meeting that I didn't remember, or it may be an errand that I need to do, but delaying my run usually leads to not running at all. At the very least, if I've got to wait until later, running after work before I head home works reasonably well. The limiting factor with my Noon runs has been my clinic schedule; if I have a busy morning or a Noon meeting, the run can't happen at that time. But, if I make sure I get my work done, I can head out for a run that provides, among other things, stress management.
On Tuesday, I headed out the door for my run, planning to circle the lagoon before heading out to the Log Center. As I headed down the path, there was a goose in the middle of path just standing there. I planned to run by and didn't give it another thought... until it started running towards me. Now, this was a bit unusual, as most birds run or fly away when you head towards them. Not this one. It dipped its head, hissed and ran at me with its beak open as if it was going to bite me. Sheesh! I've had dogs chase me while running, and, in most cases, if you don't back down and run at the dog, it will turn tail and run away. This goose was not going to back down. I don't know what was funnier: seeing a goose that reminded me of the AFLAC duck on steroids charging me, or the idea that a goose could scare me back into the building. I eventually headed back out, careful to avoid the goose by taking the stairs up to the main path.
On a more serious note, I was shocked and mesmerized by the events and coverage of the Boston Marathon on Monday. Watching the coverage, I had flashbacks of my previous Boston races, finishing down Boylston Street. The images were particularly disturbing to me, as I could recall the explosion locations exactly in my mind. And I kept watching, hoping that, similar to watching the twin towers fall and the Lady Diana car crash, it was a nightmare and wasn't real. Even though the rational part of my mind knew that this was real, somehow, the innocent part of my brain didn't want to believe that something like this could happen. My heart and thoughts go out to all of those who were affected by the events of Monday.
I have tried to get back into my routine of running at Noon. I have found that doing this ensures that I get at least one workout in during the day. Too often, if I delay my run until later, "something" will come up. It may be a meeting that I didn't remember, or it may be an errand that I need to do, but delaying my run usually leads to not running at all. At the very least, if I've got to wait until later, running after work before I head home works reasonably well. The limiting factor with my Noon runs has been my clinic schedule; if I have a busy morning or a Noon meeting, the run can't happen at that time. But, if I make sure I get my work done, I can head out for a run that provides, among other things, stress management.
On Tuesday, I headed out the door for my run, planning to circle the lagoon before heading out to the Log Center. As I headed down the path, there was a goose in the middle of path just standing there. I planned to run by and didn't give it another thought... until it started running towards me. Now, this was a bit unusual, as most birds run or fly away when you head towards them. Not this one. It dipped its head, hissed and ran at me with its beak open as if it was going to bite me. Sheesh! I've had dogs chase me while running, and, in most cases, if you don't back down and run at the dog, it will turn tail and run away. This goose was not going to back down. I don't know what was funnier: seeing a goose that reminded me of the AFLAC duck on steroids charging me, or the idea that a goose could scare me back into the building. I eventually headed back out, careful to avoid the goose by taking the stairs up to the main path.
On a more serious note, I was shocked and mesmerized by the events and coverage of the Boston Marathon on Monday. Watching the coverage, I had flashbacks of my previous Boston races, finishing down Boylston Street. The images were particularly disturbing to me, as I could recall the explosion locations exactly in my mind. And I kept watching, hoping that, similar to watching the twin towers fall and the Lady Diana car crash, it was a nightmare and wasn't real. Even though the rational part of my mind knew that this was real, somehow, the innocent part of my brain didn't want to believe that something like this could happen. My heart and thoughts go out to all of those who were affected by the events of Monday.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Why do I run?
Not quite like Forrest Gump, but a long time ago, in a cornfield far, far away, I started running. It has been a bit over 33 years ago that I started running for the sake of running. Before that, it was strictly to get into shape for basketball, and I couldn't see why you just ran. Of course, going back even farther in time, my Dad decided to wake up and jog around the block back when I was about 7 or 8. He would wake up my sister and me, and we'd accompany him on a run a short run. Even back then, I wasn't a morning person, so my morning runs were (and still are) painful.
I decided to go for a run yesterday afternoon. It wasn't raining, but was a bit chilly. Instead of trying to do a "workout," I just decided to go for a run: no intervals, no tempo, just run. And to change things up a bit, I decided to run along the water. The sun was even out, although it was a bit chilly. As I ran along the water, I looked around and remembered why I still love to run and ride. The days of competitive racing may end, but the pure enjoyment of being out and moving along using my own body to propel myself will continue. And yesterday, there were no distractions: no headphones, only an occasional car, and even my legs and feet were cooperating. And then I looked up and saw the eagle. It was soaring above me, effortlessly moving along on the wind. For a moment, it was just the eagle, the water, the sunshine, and me. And that's why I run.
I decided to go for a run yesterday afternoon. It wasn't raining, but was a bit chilly. Instead of trying to do a "workout," I just decided to go for a run: no intervals, no tempo, just run. And to change things up a bit, I decided to run along the water. The sun was even out, although it was a bit chilly. As I ran along the water, I looked around and remembered why I still love to run and ride. The days of competitive racing may end, but the pure enjoyment of being out and moving along using my own body to propel myself will continue. And yesterday, there were no distractions: no headphones, only an occasional car, and even my legs and feet were cooperating. And then I looked up and saw the eagle. It was soaring above me, effortlessly moving along on the wind. For a moment, it was just the eagle, the water, the sunshine, and me. And that's why I run.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Exposing the flaws
I've learned a lot about asymmetry over the past couple of weeks. I always tell my patients that, much as we like to believe we're symmetrical, we're not (as a species). So, for instance, while we have two kidneys, they are not placed in exactly the same spot in our anatomy. And while we have two lungs, the right has 3 lobes, while the left has 2. And most of us are naturally right- or left-handed. Using a couple of new devices, I've learned how asymmetric I am.
I bought a pair of Five Fingers several months ago. I have been curious about them, and found them on sale, so I figured that I'd give them a try. I hadn't used them until two weeks ago when I brought them to Arizona. After one of my runs, I changed into them and took them out for a quick spin. I immediately noticed that my left footstrike was funky, something I had never noticed before. I'm not sure how it has evolved over time, whether I've always done this or this is something new over the past few years, but the VFF's exposed this. Since then, I have been more conscious of this, especially when using the VFF's. While I am only up to about 0.75 miles in them, they do feel good in an interesting way.
This week, Ashley has designed a couple of sets with paddles. I noticed that I'm not finishing my stroke with my right arm. While I do finish my stroke on the left, my pull stops short on the right. This didn't become apparent to me until I used the paddles. When I finish my pull on the right (to the same point as my left), I generate a lot more distance, and I can definitely feel it in my muscles on the right. Again, whether this is recent or has been present for awhile (my best guess is that is related to my clavicle) is uncertain. But, certainly making my stroke more symmetric will help me swim better.
There are some people who have a lot of body awareness and don't need these kinds of tools to perceive how they move through space. For those of us that do need the proprioceptive assistance, there are definitely things out there that can help us mere mortals.
I bought a pair of Five Fingers several months ago. I have been curious about them, and found them on sale, so I figured that I'd give them a try. I hadn't used them until two weeks ago when I brought them to Arizona. After one of my runs, I changed into them and took them out for a quick spin. I immediately noticed that my left footstrike was funky, something I had never noticed before. I'm not sure how it has evolved over time, whether I've always done this or this is something new over the past few years, but the VFF's exposed this. Since then, I have been more conscious of this, especially when using the VFF's. While I am only up to about 0.75 miles in them, they do feel good in an interesting way.
This week, Ashley has designed a couple of sets with paddles. I noticed that I'm not finishing my stroke with my right arm. While I do finish my stroke on the left, my pull stops short on the right. This didn't become apparent to me until I used the paddles. When I finish my pull on the right (to the same point as my left), I generate a lot more distance, and I can definitely feel it in my muscles on the right. Again, whether this is recent or has been present for awhile (my best guess is that is related to my clavicle) is uncertain. But, certainly making my stroke more symmetric will help me swim better.
There are some people who have a lot of body awareness and don't need these kinds of tools to perceive how they move through space. For those of us that do need the proprioceptive assistance, there are definitely things out there that can help us mere mortals.
Monday, March 4, 2013
It's a long time 'til summer
The weather here has been pretty good. In truth, winter in the Pacific Northwest has been as mild as I can remember. Now, that is a relative thing. I don't like to train in the rain. If I had my druthers, I'd take colder, drier weather over warmer, rainier weather. So, I can't complain... much. Of course, in the past 3 months, I've also spent a week in Hawaii and a week in Arizona. While the temperature in Arizona was unseasonably cold, and we even had thunder, lightning, and hail on one day (and even snow? was reported), it was still a good bit nicer than it was in the Northwest. While we were in Arizona, David and I swam on 4 out of 6 days. Typically, the temperature in the mornings was in the upper 40's-low 50's:
On the day that we left Arizona, I ran in the morning. It was 37 degrees, but the sky was clear and blue, and the sun was shining brightly. I can tell you that 37 degrees in Arizona felt a whole lot warmer than 50 degrees does in the Pacific NW. My old body also feels a lot better in the Arizona sunshine than in the Pacific NW rain.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
On running fast
(I originally wrote this over 1 week ago, but didn't have time to finish it. In light of yesterday's column, I'm putting it in today.)
I think I used to run fairly fast. I'm not sure how to define "fairly fast, though." But it sure isn't what I do now. And compared to how I ran in high school, at least for short distances, even when I was fairly fast, I was slow. Let's think about this:
In high school 200 repeats in :28 were easy. I remember doing a pre-race workout of 8 x 200's in :28 with jogs across the grass to recover and it was like a day off. Now, I don't think I could run a :28 all out. 2:40 800 repeats were also fairly easy.
When I was in college I remember running an 800 in 2:26. I was working hard but this was during a workout. Years later, I ran a 2:2x during a meet. I also ran a 4:4x 1500 during that meet. And somewhere in there were a few 5:02 miles. I don't think I ever broke 5:00 in a mile though.
When I moved up in distance, I remember running a 16:30 5K during a duathlon, and several open 16:5x's. Even as recently as 1998, I think, I ran a 17:00 5K at a race in Auburn. My PR for a 10K was 34:30 at the Super Bowl 10K in Tucson in early 1993 (I think). I remember running it in a brand new pair of racing flats, which I took out of the box that morning. I also remember tripping over a traffic cone and falling about halfway through the run. My PR for 8K/5 miles was set during the 1994 Army Ten-Miler when I went through in 27:30. I finished the race in 56:40 and was 101st out of around 10,000 (couldn't crack the top 100!). And my half-marathon PR is 1:20:xx. All of those were set in 1993-1994. And then I started running marathons...
I always said that I wouldn't run a marathon unless I could run 2:50. I figured that anything slower than that was just a slog. How naive I was! When I ran my first marathon, I was in 2:50 shape. I went through the first 18 miles at 2:50 pace and was comfortable. Unfortunately, I then got tired. Having never raced that far before, I faded badly, finishing in 3:05:59. And it has been all downhill since then.
Today, I ran 2 x 1 mile at 6:47 and 6:41. It's not fast, but I wasn't going all out, so I'm satisfied with how it went. It's still a far cry from my past, but since it's February, I'm hoping that things will get better (faster) by and by.
I think I used to run fairly fast. I'm not sure how to define "fairly fast, though." But it sure isn't what I do now. And compared to how I ran in high school, at least for short distances, even when I was fairly fast, I was slow. Let's think about this:
In high school 200 repeats in :28 were easy. I remember doing a pre-race workout of 8 x 200's in :28 with jogs across the grass to recover and it was like a day off. Now, I don't think I could run a :28 all out. 2:40 800 repeats were also fairly easy.
When I was in college I remember running an 800 in 2:26. I was working hard but this was during a workout. Years later, I ran a 2:2x during a meet. I also ran a 4:4x 1500 during that meet. And somewhere in there were a few 5:02 miles. I don't think I ever broke 5:00 in a mile though.
When I moved up in distance, I remember running a 16:30 5K during a duathlon, and several open 16:5x's. Even as recently as 1998, I think, I ran a 17:00 5K at a race in Auburn. My PR for a 10K was 34:30 at the Super Bowl 10K in Tucson in early 1993 (I think). I remember running it in a brand new pair of racing flats, which I took out of the box that morning. I also remember tripping over a traffic cone and falling about halfway through the run. My PR for 8K/5 miles was set during the 1994 Army Ten-Miler when I went through in 27:30. I finished the race in 56:40 and was 101st out of around 10,000 (couldn't crack the top 100!). And my half-marathon PR is 1:20:xx. All of those were set in 1993-1994. And then I started running marathons...
I always said that I wouldn't run a marathon unless I could run 2:50. I figured that anything slower than that was just a slog. How naive I was! When I ran my first marathon, I was in 2:50 shape. I went through the first 18 miles at 2:50 pace and was comfortable. Unfortunately, I then got tired. Having never raced that far before, I faded badly, finishing in 3:05:59. And it has been all downhill since then.
Today, I ran 2 x 1 mile at 6:47 and 6:41. It's not fast, but I wasn't going all out, so I'm satisfied with how it went. It's still a far cry from my past, but since it's February, I'm hoping that things will get better (faster) by and by.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Operator error
We have wonderful high-tech gadgets that improve our abilities to train smarter and more efficiently. Of course, all of that is dependent on whether we actually use them correctly. Sometimes that's the most difficult thing.
Last Thursday, I was supposed to swim a set of 5 x 200 with each 200 a bit different from the previous: #1 was IM drill; #2 was breast 100 fast, 100 easy; #3 was free DPS; #4 was back focusing on kick; and #5 was 200 IM fast. For the last one, Ashley said that she was going to time me. Since she didn't have an hour-glass, I assumed that she would be using her stopwatch. She even mentioned that she would start her watch when my feet left the wall. So, off I went, going as fast as I could. When I finally touched the wall for the final time and looked up, Ashley was talking to some of the kids. I had a sinking feeling about this. She then wandered over to me and apologized that she never started her watch. Oh well. I know slow... and my 200 IM was just that.
On Sunday, I was supposed to run 3 x 1 mile at Z4, which for me is currently 7:12. The first thing I realized when I figured out my paces was that my current threshold pace is slower than I used to do my JRA runs back when I was in college. Of course, that was many moons and miles ago. Anyway, when I got through with my warm-up, I pushed the "Start" button on my watch. Now, if you have a Garmin 310, you know that the "Start/Stop" button is different from the "Lap" button. And since I had already started my watch for my warm up, I should have pushed the "Lap" button. I had looked down at my watch just before I started the interval, and it was at 1.65 miles; after a time and distance that I thought was a lot longer than 0.35 miles (when the watch should have beeped and vibrated), I realized that I had stopped my watch rather than started the 2nd lap. The wind was out of my sails, and I slowed to a jog, knowing that I had not run a mile, but figured I should just regroup and press onward. My next two intervals were 6:58 and 6:54 if you believe Garmin Connect. If you believe WKO+/TP, they were 7:13 and 7:24. Since my RPE was closer to the 6:5x pace, I'm using those numbers.
Also on Sunday, I tried out the Saucony Kinvaras for the first time. While they didn't feel bad and were definitely light, they still don't feel as responsive as the Newtons. Try as I might to find shoes that feel as responsive as the Newtons, I have not been able to do so. It's interesting. I was ready to have a bouncy run on Sunday in new shoes, and it didn't happen. I am now convinced more than ever that Newtons just feel different from other shoes... in a good way.
Last Thursday, I was supposed to swim a set of 5 x 200 with each 200 a bit different from the previous: #1 was IM drill; #2 was breast 100 fast, 100 easy; #3 was free DPS; #4 was back focusing on kick; and #5 was 200 IM fast. For the last one, Ashley said that she was going to time me. Since she didn't have an hour-glass, I assumed that she would be using her stopwatch. She even mentioned that she would start her watch when my feet left the wall. So, off I went, going as fast as I could. When I finally touched the wall for the final time and looked up, Ashley was talking to some of the kids. I had a sinking feeling about this. She then wandered over to me and apologized that she never started her watch. Oh well. I know slow... and my 200 IM was just that.
On Sunday, I was supposed to run 3 x 1 mile at Z4, which for me is currently 7:12. The first thing I realized when I figured out my paces was that my current threshold pace is slower than I used to do my JRA runs back when I was in college. Of course, that was many moons and miles ago. Anyway, when I got through with my warm-up, I pushed the "Start" button on my watch. Now, if you have a Garmin 310, you know that the "Start/Stop" button is different from the "Lap" button. And since I had already started my watch for my warm up, I should have pushed the "Lap" button. I had looked down at my watch just before I started the interval, and it was at 1.65 miles; after a time and distance that I thought was a lot longer than 0.35 miles (when the watch should have beeped and vibrated), I realized that I had stopped my watch rather than started the 2nd lap. The wind was out of my sails, and I slowed to a jog, knowing that I had not run a mile, but figured I should just regroup and press onward. My next two intervals were 6:58 and 6:54 if you believe Garmin Connect. If you believe WKO+/TP, they were 7:13 and 7:24. Since my RPE was closer to the 6:5x pace, I'm using those numbers.
Also on Sunday, I tried out the Saucony Kinvaras for the first time. While they didn't feel bad and were definitely light, they still don't feel as responsive as the Newtons. Try as I might to find shoes that feel as responsive as the Newtons, I have not been able to do so. It's interesting. I was ready to have a bouncy run on Sunday in new shoes, and it didn't happen. I am now convinced more than ever that Newtons just feel different from other shoes... in a good way.
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