Today I had to buy my eldest son some shoes. He's got extremely flat feet...to the point that he had an abcess on one of them in his arch! Ouch! Poor kid never told me...I saw it by random chance. Anyways, reading online I found that Keens are supposed to be some of the best for his problem so off we go today to find some shoes for him...
We ended up at Dick's Sporting Goods, where he found some Keens that were comfortable (on his feet...not my wallet ;) ) and I found myself looking at the running shoes for women. They had several asics on sale and I could recall that asics were a brand that came up repeatedly for stability needs for people who tend to pronate.
I've had heel issues and shin pain every time I've gone out now for a while in my old shoes. I've been wanting to go be fit for shoes "officially" but taking the hour + one way is a bit much for me most of the time. I tried on a few pair...some sauconys (since I have worn that brand for years), some brooks and some asics. I found that the asics gel 1130's felt great on my feet...and since they were on sale I got them for under $70! A bargain (especially compared to my son's shoes. Gack.)
Tonight was my first run in the new shoes...I also wore my new running skirt for the first time. I've had my eye on them at Target for a while and found some on clearance on Friday while I was shopping for my youngest son's birthday gift. Only $13 and I got a black skirt for running! They have shorts underneath and don't ride up like most shorts do when I run...I loved running in it! The shoes were great too. I did have some shin cramping, but it was the back of my shins that tightened up. I did a longer-duration of running this time than I have done in the past and I think that combined with the birthday-crap I've eaten for days combined to cramp my legs a bit. We'll see what happens on Tuesday :D
I look forward to breaking in the new shoes! So far what everyone says about getting new shoes seems accurate...
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
I thought I'd try it at night.
Today I decided to run at night...sort of by default since it was sleeting all day. Lovely weather for mid-April in Georgia :) and I've not yet figured out how to run in the rain with glasses...so tonight after it dried up was it.
In the past, night runs have done well for me. The problem lies in going to sleep afterwards...the endorphins apparently rush in and then I'm awake for *hours* afterwards. Not such a great thing when you have to get up at 5:30a to put the kids on the bus. That said, I've wondered if the last few runs I have had, where I was injured, weren't impacted by the fact that they were morning runs. I know that walking and just plain living all day long warms us up to a point and certainly gets the blood flowing. In the morning it just isn't the same thing...so I've wondered if that hasn't contributed to the tightness in my calves, ankles and heels. Of course, it could be the shoes too...or, it could be just plain and simple that I'm out of shape. All are good possibilities and probably all contribute somewhat.
So tonight I headed out at about 9:20p with Marley. She's a great running partner. Doesn't complain, is thrilled to see the leash in my hand, doesn't pull the lead *at all* and is all around a great girl to hang out with. Being a large, black labrador, she is also somewhat intimidating to people who don't know her (meaning she can be intimidating if she doesn't know you and she feels like you're not in my best interest.) She's *very* protective of me, in particular. So, on my night runs especially, she always comes along. She joins me almost every time I go out, but definitely every night run.
Tonight she "saved" me from two dogs who were off-leash and just running in the subdivision. She did a great job! She's certainly earned her nap (which she's doing now at my feet.)
I did 1.53m according to googlepedmaps (or whatever you call it.) Officially I'm still working the C2 5K program and since I have been so sore the last two times I went out, tonight I backed it up. I did the week 1 program tonight to see how my legs would do. I figured the walk/run combo would be a good way to stretch out my calves without subjecting them to too much strain.
I was right! I felt some tightness around the 5th cycle (there are 8) of running, but nothing that kept me from continuing or even wincing. The 8th cycle was challenging as my right calf/ankle were really getting tight on me, much like they did on Saturday (but on Saturday they did it before I even finished my warm-up walk!) I was able to consciously let those muscles go and I could feel them relax some...enough to get me to the end.
In terms of cardio, tonight wasn't even a challenge for me. I was fine the entire time, didn't even get winded much less totally out of breath. I think I've found my stride (which is slow but hey...it's a stride and it isn't on the sofa!) which allows me to move forward yet still keep my heartrate at a reasonable level. I pushed some during the run cycles but only enough to keep my legs loose. If I held back for fear of causing them to tighten, I found they tightened more than if I just stretched out in my stride and let my legs go. Interesting.
So, this is an interesting point for me. I have had to consciously step back some in my running to allow my legs to catch back up to me after the heel and shin pain recently. For the first time *ever* I have come to a point where the cardio is not straining me at all and I'm just biding my time while my body catches up. Interesting place to be...
Since tonight worked well I think I'll continue where I'm at for another couple runs and then see how I'm doing. I may be able to step it back up a little in another couple runs. I also think that maybe every other run should be a night run. They definitely seem easier on my body, yet I see value in the morning runs (especially since the Peachtree is at 7a) since they seem to cause me to work harder and focus more.
In the past, night runs have done well for me. The problem lies in going to sleep afterwards...the endorphins apparently rush in and then I'm awake for *hours* afterwards. Not such a great thing when you have to get up at 5:30a to put the kids on the bus. That said, I've wondered if the last few runs I have had, where I was injured, weren't impacted by the fact that they were morning runs. I know that walking and just plain living all day long warms us up to a point and certainly gets the blood flowing. In the morning it just isn't the same thing...so I've wondered if that hasn't contributed to the tightness in my calves, ankles and heels. Of course, it could be the shoes too...or, it could be just plain and simple that I'm out of shape. All are good possibilities and probably all contribute somewhat.
So tonight I headed out at about 9:20p with Marley. She's a great running partner. Doesn't complain, is thrilled to see the leash in my hand, doesn't pull the lead *at all* and is all around a great girl to hang out with. Being a large, black labrador, she is also somewhat intimidating to people who don't know her (meaning she can be intimidating if she doesn't know you and she feels like you're not in my best interest.) She's *very* protective of me, in particular. So, on my night runs especially, she always comes along. She joins me almost every time I go out, but definitely every night run.
Tonight she "saved" me from two dogs who were off-leash and just running in the subdivision. She did a great job! She's certainly earned her nap (which she's doing now at my feet.)
I did 1.53m according to googlepedmaps (or whatever you call it.) Officially I'm still working the C2 5K program and since I have been so sore the last two times I went out, tonight I backed it up. I did the week 1 program tonight to see how my legs would do. I figured the walk/run combo would be a good way to stretch out my calves without subjecting them to too much strain.
I was right! I felt some tightness around the 5th cycle (there are 8) of running, but nothing that kept me from continuing or even wincing. The 8th cycle was challenging as my right calf/ankle were really getting tight on me, much like they did on Saturday (but on Saturday they did it before I even finished my warm-up walk!) I was able to consciously let those muscles go and I could feel them relax some...enough to get me to the end.
In terms of cardio, tonight wasn't even a challenge for me. I was fine the entire time, didn't even get winded much less totally out of breath. I think I've found my stride (which is slow but hey...it's a stride and it isn't on the sofa!) which allows me to move forward yet still keep my heartrate at a reasonable level. I pushed some during the run cycles but only enough to keep my legs loose. If I held back for fear of causing them to tighten, I found they tightened more than if I just stretched out in my stride and let my legs go. Interesting.
So, this is an interesting point for me. I have had to consciously step back some in my running to allow my legs to catch back up to me after the heel and shin pain recently. For the first time *ever* I have come to a point where the cardio is not straining me at all and I'm just biding my time while my body catches up. Interesting place to be...
Since tonight worked well I think I'll continue where I'm at for another couple runs and then see how I'm doing. I may be able to step it back up a little in another couple runs. I also think that maybe every other run should be a night run. They definitely seem easier on my body, yet I see value in the morning runs (especially since the Peachtree is at 7a) since they seem to cause me to work harder and focus more.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
so it begins...
I've been a trying-to-run-runner for a couple of years...but life happens and I never get past about week 3 or 4 of the couch-to-5k. Sometimes I think I've been too heavy, other times I think I went too fast, other times the weather got out of hand and I was busy. Whatever...excuses, right?
Well...I decided this was the year. And periodically, I have gone out and ran...not necessarily regularly but not really NOT running either...I have the podcast and a happy dog and we just do it. Sometimes.
Had the grand idea to submit for the Peachtree Road Race (July 4) back in March, so I called my friend (in DC) and she was all for it...I submitted two applications and two checks back on the third Monday morning in March. The application only comes out the third Saturday of March...no real advertising, it just is there in the AJC, and that's it. You have to send it in fast if you want a number...apparently all 55000 numbers go pretty fast.
The thing is...I have also commited to walking the Breast Cancer 3 Day on October 24-26 this fall. Yesterday I signed up for that after commiting to it some months ago...and then I got the news that my check had cleared for the Peachtree.
hmm...Now, the check for my friend hasn't cleared yet...but I know it will. Mailed at the same time and all that. I'm stalking the bank for that clearance...
12 weeks. I have 12 weeks from yesterday until I have to run a 10k. And...I've never run a 5k. Hrm. Well. Motivation.
So, you can follow along with me as I chronicle my journey. I love running...I love how I feel in my head when I am doing it (not so fond of the body but hey...it's all about endorphins, yes?) I love how I feel afterwards, all over.
Today I went out and ran. Interesting. Last time I did that my heels hurt for a week. Plantar fasciitis. Today, it was my shins. I hadn't even completed my 1/2m warm up (~5min) when my shins were so tight I could barely swivel my ankles. Figured some stretching would be enough, so I paused, stretched and proceeded. I probably made it a total of a mile/mile and a half...part of that was walking (beyond the warm-up) and my shins/ankles were so tight I was hobbling. It HURT. Now, I've had 3 natural childbirths. This hurt. I decided to call it a morning and came home...nearly called my husband to come get me.
So, I'm trying to figure out if this is the kind of pain you push through (how?) or not. I'm thinking not. I've had the shoes for a few years now...but haven't really worked out in them regularly. They've probably had 100 miles or so (less than 200 definitely) on them in all this time. I run in Saucony's. I've never been officially fitted. Maybe this is the time, given the training I will be doing for the Peachtree and 3 Day? My husband was an athelete at one point and feels this is something I should push through slowly...walking when it hurts but keeping on with it. He also didn't feel it could be the shoes...I'm not so sure since the last two times I've gone out I've been injured.
The problem wasn't endurance. I wasn't even winded at that point...maybe I "glistened" a bit :p but that was it. Fully conversational, I'm sure, had someone been along with me. The problem was that my calves were so flipping tight they burned like pokers. Shin splints? Perhaps. Stretching did not help and in fact, further tightened them.
Maybe I'll look into a running store this next week.
Well...I decided this was the year. And periodically, I have gone out and ran...not necessarily regularly but not really NOT running either...I have the podcast and a happy dog and we just do it. Sometimes.
Had the grand idea to submit for the Peachtree Road Race (July 4) back in March, so I called my friend (in DC) and she was all for it...I submitted two applications and two checks back on the third Monday morning in March. The application only comes out the third Saturday of March...no real advertising, it just is there in the AJC, and that's it. You have to send it in fast if you want a number...apparently all 55000 numbers go pretty fast.
The thing is...I have also commited to walking the Breast Cancer 3 Day on October 24-26 this fall. Yesterday I signed up for that after commiting to it some months ago...and then I got the news that my check had cleared for the Peachtree.
hmm...Now, the check for my friend hasn't cleared yet...but I know it will. Mailed at the same time and all that. I'm stalking the bank for that clearance...
12 weeks. I have 12 weeks from yesterday until I have to run a 10k. And...I've never run a 5k. Hrm. Well. Motivation.
So, you can follow along with me as I chronicle my journey. I love running...I love how I feel in my head when I am doing it (not so fond of the body but hey...it's all about endorphins, yes?) I love how I feel afterwards, all over.
Today I went out and ran. Interesting. Last time I did that my heels hurt for a week. Plantar fasciitis. Today, it was my shins. I hadn't even completed my 1/2m warm up (~5min) when my shins were so tight I could barely swivel my ankles. Figured some stretching would be enough, so I paused, stretched and proceeded. I probably made it a total of a mile/mile and a half...part of that was walking (beyond the warm-up) and my shins/ankles were so tight I was hobbling. It HURT. Now, I've had 3 natural childbirths. This hurt. I decided to call it a morning and came home...nearly called my husband to come get me.
So, I'm trying to figure out if this is the kind of pain you push through (how?) or not. I'm thinking not. I've had the shoes for a few years now...but haven't really worked out in them regularly. They've probably had 100 miles or so (less than 200 definitely) on them in all this time. I run in Saucony's. I've never been officially fitted. Maybe this is the time, given the training I will be doing for the Peachtree and 3 Day? My husband was an athelete at one point and feels this is something I should push through slowly...walking when it hurts but keeping on with it. He also didn't feel it could be the shoes...I'm not so sure since the last two times I've gone out I've been injured.
The problem wasn't endurance. I wasn't even winded at that point...maybe I "glistened" a bit :p but that was it. Fully conversational, I'm sure, had someone been along with me. The problem was that my calves were so flipping tight they burned like pokers. Shin splints? Perhaps. Stretching did not help and in fact, further tightened them.
Maybe I'll look into a running store this next week.
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