Coach's Corner - It's Summer!!!!

[cewait]

Wow, has it been a busy summer. We are settled into our home and beginning to have some normalcy to our lives. I kind of forgot how taxing a new position can be so I have avoided most of my internet life for a few months. I am also nursing a very weak left side of the body… simply something is out of alignment or atrophied so that I have a rotating pain/issue on my left leg. Anyway, happy to be here.

I was thinking this morning as I wobbled around my 4 mile loop about those who may be suffering out there as they ramp up training for races this fall and winter. Galloway’s plan has started in earnest and miles are beginning to accumulate. You may find yourself lagging and just not able to make a run on a given day. It happens to all of us. If you are on a long run, try to get the miles/time in before calling it quits. Even a run that ends with the last few miles walked in is a productive run. Do not give up on the run. As you figure out the mental games that keep you on the trail, try to remember what these games are. You will need them on race day.

If you just don’t feel like heading out the door on a day scheduled for a run, do this.
Dress out for the run and then head out for 10-15 minutes. If you want to bail at that point, you will at least have a 20-30 minute run in the books. Chances are that once you get out the door and warmed up through that time, you will just want to finish out the run from there.

I hope all you are having a great training season so far.

 

[jmasgat]

Glad to see you back coach. Hope your issues resolve themselves soon.

Maura

 

[dreams91]

Great to have you back! Hope the new job is treating you well.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Thanks coach! I needed this yesterday and today. I had a really bad run with some new leg pain, mostly when I walked. I wanted to throw in the towel but then my power song came on so I finished what I set out to do.
I am supremely nervous that I won't make the cut for the 1/2 in Feb but I'm going to keep on trucking and see what I can do.

 

[bumbershoot]

Even a run that ends with the last few miles walked in is a productive run. Do not give up on the run.

Thanks for that!



I wish I had a good chiro to send you to, but it seems you live in Florida and I don't know any there anymore. Come on out here; my guy will help you get things back into alignment so you won't be so weak.

(it's something I'm currently dealing with, realizing how unstrong my left shoulder and arm are, and how obvious it is now that I'm weight training and getting things back into position after decades of just sitting there, all with the help of my chiro who is willing to look at and help my shoulder joint, ribs, scapula that likes to float around willy nilly, and of course the vertebra all around in there...)

 

[Diskidatheart]

Welcome back to the boards Coach. I know you've shared a few things here and there since your move, but it's always nice to hear your words of inspiration! Bummer about the out of alignment. Hope you get that fixed soon!

 

[PrincessV]

Good to see that FL is treating you (mostly) well, Coach! Summer's a real joy here, isn't it?

When you said you're having issue on your left side, I immediately wondered - have you been running our super-cambered roads a lot? Facing traffic? I wind up with all sorts of issues on my left if I don't mix it up so I'm not always on the left side of the slope. Didn't realize just how steep that is around where I live until I ran up north - what a difference! Just a thought that came to mind. Hope whatever it is works out quickly for you!

 

[goofeygirl]

Hope you heal up well....soon!

I am going out in the am for 8 miles. The plan is to walk/jog and sprint up hills...then walk...jog and sprint up the next. The park I go to is full of up's and downs...and its 4 miles one way...a great workout...and it was where I practiced for the Goofy this year.

I am looking forward to the Dopey...but have a good few races between now and then to prep me.

 

[JennyDrake]

Glad to see you back. I'm moving SLOWLY down the road to recovery from Achilles rupture. Hope to be released to jog a bit next month.

 

[ChallengeFlag]

I really needed to read those words, Coach. I started two training runs in the last week and felt like I was really going nowhere, but still ended up staying on pace and fulfilling my distance goal.
Getting out of bed (my feet hit the pavement at about 5:15 every morning) and lacing up my shoes is 75% of the battle. Once I hit my stride, I know I'll be okay and I don't want to give in to the mental battle and not meet my goal.
BTW - I'm not new to the DIS (have been reading for about 13 years) but I'm still newish to posting. Hello everyone!

 

[cewait]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. I have hit the basics hard for the last few weeks. The best way to not be injured is to strengthen the weak points. The basics include…

1) Lunges, squats, straight leg dead lifts, calf lifts, push ups and pull ups. They start with body weight in front of a mirror, progress to weight bearing, then from to an unstable position. The local gym has a TRX work area, so that will come in a few weeks.
2) twice a day, foam roller and stretches
3) since I cannot find a Pilates studio that is not hocking up sales to the extreme, I am taking a yoga class 2x a week.
4) hills, hills and more hills. This works the weaker back leg and balances out the leg front to back.

I have to say, I am slower but healthier. The twinges in the left side are less frequent on the run. I am focusing on strength for another month then will push endurance – hoping to have a nicely run W&D.