Comments on: So Tired

By: Flo

Flo — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:19:18 +0000

Raffi, I agree…you are picky.

By: Raffi

Raffi — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:55:05 +0000

my daughter has a tshirt idea for you
FRONT: Yes, I farted.
BACK: Don’t like it? Try and pass me.

And your chugga chugga choo choo shirt really should have the train flipped so it is moving forward in the direction the eye is reading. But I’m a picky graphic designer.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:22:55 +0000

Very glad to hear that your 11-miler went well. That means there’s hope. :-) And, although I am definitely chomping at the bit to get out there, I am forcing myself to play this smart. I did push a bit too hard the other day, I admit, but it’s tough to know where that line between a shadow of pain and damaging pain lies. I always worry that my lazy side is trying to trick me with pain that’s not really there… Anyway, I haven’t gotten back out there yet because my knee’s been hurting ever since and so I don’t think I really was ready. I’ll see how it feels tomorrow and then (hopefully) do a couple light miles. I have an MRI Friday so I’ll be able to find out for sure if anything else is going on after that. Thanks for all the advice! I appreciate it.

By: Flo

Flo — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:55:30 +0000

Thanks Runforlife. Woohoo on the almost non-teen status, that’s exciting! You better say hi to me before August or I’ll be pouty for all of July.

By: runforlife19

runforlife19 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:49:12 +0000

I just checked out Gifted Runner and I like the shirts. You are quite the entrepreneur with all these websites:) I love how you give the option to personalize a shirt for less than $4! I may have to get my parents to order one for me as a present for my bday in August (no more teenage years for me, I’ll be 20…yikes!) So, if you see someone soon wearing one of your shirts along the Kelly, that’s probably me

By: Flo

Flo — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:41:28 +0000

Update: Had a great run! Yes, there was a shadow but I was able to keep it just that by paying attention to my gait and toe-off. My next test will be to see if the IT band bothers earlier on tomorrow’s run or holds off till the usual time. Whew, looks like this Sunday I can attempt my first 13-miler since my Half back on May 3rd! Oh happy day (hoping anyway).

By: Flo

Flo — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:49:11 +0000

La Casalinga, you too?! Spending your hard-earned money on me? Thank you, sweet woman! Many hugs and a future pretend dinner for you too, lol. What a bummer to hear your ITB is still giving you so much grief. I’m hoping that July becomes your month for a strong return to the pavement. At what point in the run do you feel it come on? And are you able to stretch and get a little more running in or does it really hurt by the time you have to stop?

Robert, I read your latest blog entry and ouch on the doctor’s bill, thank goodness for insurance. Here’s hoping, like La Casalinga, that July will be your return month with no false starts on the way. My mileage cut hasn’t been too drastic (knock on wood) because in my case it mostly hasn’t shown up till after an hour, whereas lots of people only get a couple miles in before it appears.

IT Band Thoughts…
Though it should never get to the point of really hurting (that horrible burning knee pain), Noakes in “Lore Of Running” says he allows his runners to run with “some discomfort”, which I take to mean when you can feel the shadow of it, just when it gets a tad stiff. At that point, a stretch can often quiet it, but if it doesn’t, continuing to run until it gets the burning feeling will just set you back (Robert, are you listening? :-). If either of you have that book, it has a great section on ITBS, says that it’s not a chronic condition and that most everyone can be fixed in 6 weeks.

He cites one study in the book that had them immobilize the knee for three days (along with ice and stretches) and the runners were better immediately afterwards, so that’s a hint to not bend the knee too much if you can help it. I often sit with my feet on seat of the chair and my knees at face-level (bent as much as legs can be bent, lol), so I’ve been trying to stop doing that.

Also, something I read online from an Ultra runner that I accidentally discovered myself as well, is to pay more attention to toe-off. Engaging the front of your foot more, as soon as the tightness comes on, can help dissipate the feeling before it blossoms. I think this is related to why running faster hurts less (besides it changing the 30-degree angle of the knee that ITBS loves) and why Pose technique people seem to avoid IT problems (though they get calf trouble, so no free rides).

Not to say you should run fast, I’ve taken to running slower this past week, but I noticed I was shuffling a bit, and when I increased toe-off, it seemed to help. I say this with pure caution, because changing your gait can mess you up in other ways, but this is a simple, temporary thing to try and the Ultra guy that was doing it said he and his wife are both able to shush the IT monster on a run by making this small change until it quiets.

I’m going on my 11-miler in about 10 minutes. Here’s hoping the ITband finally shuts up for the duration. If not, I’ll try the stronger toe-off instead of immediately stopping to stretch and will report back…