Official inaugural Tower of Terror 10 miler thread. September 29, 2012

[Danhockey04]

Training has been lacking here, I did 8 miles two weeks ago and 2 miles yesterday in 15 minutes. Still trying to get back in the role of working out again.

 

[poohbear8]

I couldn't squeeze a workout in today. I have to take DS down to college tomorrow, but hopefully it's a day trip and I will be back on schedule on Thursday.

The official results are done for my 10k race. They had me down as 1:20:46, which I think translates to 12.9/mile. Is that right? If that is right, I am faster than I was when I ran the Royal 5k non-stop. I really want to get my running interval to a longer amount, maybe two minutes to one minute walking.

I went to my foot dr yesterday, since he is retiring. I figured I would ask him about my bunion which is bothering me some when I run. He said custom insoles will help relieve the pressure, so I agreed. BIG $$, but I figured since I consider myself a runner now, I need to take care of my feet. He was nice and gave me samples of cream to soften my rough heel and an anti-inflammatory to use on the bunion for now. He did like my purple shoes.

 

[MinnieDiva]

SUPER cute running clothes arrived in the mail today! Guess who's gonna look all bright and coordinated on her run tomorrow?

 

[Cripey]

I've been trying to avoid this statement for several weeks now, but I don't think I can anymore: I think I have PF in my right foot! It hurts soooooo bad this morning! What to do?

 

[JacksLilWench]

Quick question- does anyone know what the iPod policy is for the race? I remember reading somewhere they advised against it because of safety warnings on the track, but not that it wasn't allowed. Any input would be great!

 

[jeanigor]

Quick question- does anyone know what the iPod policy is for the race? I remember reading somewhere they advised against it because of safety warnings on the track, but not that it wasn't allowed. Any input would be great!

They suggest not using one, but it is not something they enforce. I ran the Princess in 2011 and the battery died before Mile 1. I thought it would be miserable, as I am used to having my music. It wasn't so bad.

 

[JacksLilWench]

They suggest not using one, but it is not something they enforce. I ran the Princess in 2011 and the battery died before Mile 1. I thought it would be miserable, as I am used to having my music. It wasn't so bad.

Yikes! I'm making sure I pack a charger for mine, lol. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my ipod to run with- I'm a little needy and high maintenance when I run, I can't lie. Thanks for the info!!

 

[mickeysgal]

Quick question- does anyone know what the iPod policy is for the race? I remember reading somewhere they advised against it because of safety warnings on the track, but not that it wasn't allowed. Any input would be great!

I used mine for the WDW 1/2. I kept only one earplug in so that I wouldn't miss any of the music, entertainment, and road announcements. They did have a flashing light/road announcement when we approached the ticket booths on the way to the Magic Kindgom to be careful of the speedbumps. Being that the race is at night for the ToT, I would imagine that there very well be road announcements due to the dim/dark lighting.

 

[ludari]

Quick question- does anyone know what the iPod policy is for the race? I remember reading somewhere they advised against it because of safety warnings on the track, but not that it wasn't allowed. Any input would be great!

Yes, they advise against wearing headphones for safety reasons and annoucements but they do not enforce this policy. I've worn my headphones for all the races I've done at WDW and DLR.

 

[ADP]

I typically wear my earbuds for long races, but may not do it for this race simply because it's at night and not a half marathon. It maybe nice to hear what's going on around you this time.

 

[jeanigor]

I used mine for the WDW 1/2. I kept only one earplug in so that I wouldn't miss any of the music, entertainment, and road announcements. They did have a flashing light/road announcement when we approached the ticket booths on the way to the Magic Kindgom to be careful of the speedbumps. Being that the race is at night for the ToT, I would imagine that there very well be road announcements due to the dim/dark lighting.

For the Wine & Dine, the only course announcements I can recall were going through the entrance to AK and exiting the parking plaza of the AK parking lot. I heard the announcements even with my headphone in. But it wasn't like you could miss them. The lights that blind you in the middle of the night. You may feel like Bambi racing toward Lightning McQueen.

For the first one, there was a seriously dark black out along the course, from World Drive until you entered the Studios. No announcement. No back up lights either.

 

[pmama]

I've been trying to avoid this statement for several weeks now, but I don't think I can anymore: I think I have PF in my right foot! It hurts soooooo bad this morning! What to do?

I'm a lurker on this thread since I'm actually running the W&D but can definitely relate with plantar faciatis. I've dealt with it for nearly a decade. I even gave up running for a couple years but started back after gaining 20 pounds.

Here's how I continue even with the pain. Hopefully yours doesn't become cronic like mine.

1. Good quality supportive shoes
2. Spenco Polysorb shoe inserts (amazing!)
3. Foot rocker before bed and first think upon rising (or basic calf stretches, some stretch foot with towel before getting out of bed)
4. Ice foot every day you run
5. Don't run 2 days in a row. Give your foot time to heal.

 

[Cripey]

I'm a lurker on this thread since I'm actually running the W&D but can definitely relate with plantar faciatis. I've dealt with it for nearly a decade. I even gave up running for a couple years but started back after gaining 20 pounds.

Here's how I continue even with the pain. Hopefully yours doesn't become cronic like mine.

1. Good quality supportive shoes
2. Spenco Polysorb shoe inserts (amazing!)
3. Foot rocker before bed and first think upon rising (or basic calf stretches, some stretch foot with towel before getting out of bed)
4. Ice foot every day you run
5. Don't run 2 days in a row. Give your foot time to heal.

Thanks! By some miracle I was able to get an appointment tomorrow morning with my doctor, so hopefully I'll know for sure if that's what it is and can get started on whatever he thinks I should be doing. I did the frozen water bottle today on it for a while during my lunch and it actually did help some. Now that I've been hobbling around today and favoring it, my quad is super-sore!

 

[pmama]

Thanks! By some miracle I was able to get an appointment tomorrow morning with my doctor, so hopefully I'll know for sure if that's what it is and can get started on whatever he thinks I should be doing. I did the frozen water bottle today on it for a while during my lunch and it actually did help some. Now that I've been hobbling around today and favoring it, my quad is super-sore!

Be careful with Podiatrists. I finally stopped going to mine because I realized he was just on a mission to keep me coming back. He'd give me cortisone shots and wrap my foot which are temporary fixes but didn't provide any lasting relief. With that said I may get a cortisone shot before the race to help me get through the rest of my WDW vacation.

 

[MinnieDiva]

I've been trying to avoid this statement for several weeks now, but I don't think I can anymore: I think I have PF in my right foot! It hurts soooooo bad this morning! What to do?

That sucks! I've dealt with it for years in both feet with multiple injections and orthotics. Is it on the inner part of your heel or the outer part? Outer side flare-ups are difficult, if not impossible to stretch...it's like a game of Twister to find a way to get a stretch out of it.

Inner foot flare ups are easier, in fact, until my podiatrist pointed it out (duh), I'd never given it much thought: If you hang your right foot off a stair/elevated step of some sort as if to stretch your calf.....bend your knee. You get a completely different stretch with a bent knee versus a straight knee.

And as another poster said...ice! There's also the tennis ball to roll on the painful area...good luck!

 

[Lynn57]

I've been trying to avoid this statement for several weeks now, but I don't think I can anymore: I think I have PF in my right foot! It hurts soooooo bad this morning! What to do?

Been there. It's such bad pain! I was wearing really bad shoes to work, where I stand on concrete all day. I had to switch to more supportive shoes and do stretching exercises every day for it. If it gets bad, I don't exercise for a few days and rest and ice it. If you freeze a tennis ball or golf ball and then stand gently on it, applying on a little pressure, it really helps.

While a podiatrist might help, I've found that the most help I have gotten is from a high quality shoe or running store. I wasn't interested in cortisone injections, so I nixed the podiatrist.

Good luck! This is something I've been thinking about since mine tends to flare up after touring around the parks. I'm going to have to force myself to take it easy before the race!

 

[APrunner]

I've been trying to avoid this statement for several weeks now, but I don't think I can anymore: I think I have PF in my right foot! It hurts soooooo bad this morning! What to do?

Get loose and strong in your feet. A couple good exercises:
Find a marble, pick it up with your toes. Drop it and repeat. If you do not have a marble, find a small rock, or even a small towel / wash rag. Anything to pick up/squeeze with your toes.

Calf raises with eccentric drops. Yes this strengthens the calf muscles, but it will strengthen your feet too. Do them barefoot.

Spend time walking around barefoot. The muscles in your feet are like anything else, you don't use them, you lose them.

Balance exercises. Stand on one foot awhile. Too easy, close your eyes. You can add other things in to challenge your balance (single leg squats for example).

Rolling with a tennis ball can help. Think about the idea behind using a foam roller. Same idea here. Some use a golf ball. Whatever you prefer.

Watch out for too much arch support. I am running mostly in the Kinvara 3. I decided to run in the Lunarglide 3 the other day. The lunarglide has alot of arch support. Well, my foot was sore. I am done with that shoe (waste of money, but at least I got them cheap). Luckily I was able to put the Kinvaras back on this morning and get my 18 miles in without any pain. Sometimes less really is more.

Good luck.

 

[Cripey]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone...I saw my doctor today and she ordered an x-ray and ultrasound to rule out any bone issues in my heel first and to check for inflammation, so I'm having that done tomorrow. She prescribed some anti-inflammatories, ice and stretching and I'll see her again in 3 weeks. Hopefully I can get it under control. I don't know what I did to bring this on though...haven't changed anything in my running routine really...same kind of shoes, same running surfaces, same stretch routine before and after a run or workout, etc.

 

[poohbear8]

I also have had PF and saw two doctors. I would skip the shots if they suggest them, but if you consider them, research the pros and cons. I was lead to believe the shots would "heal" or "fix" the pain. It was a bandaid and I later found it could have side effects I didn't like. (plus, it's not a comfortable experience to get a shot in your heel)

2nd dr ordered PT and insoles which after 6 months finally it was gone. I was told to NEVER walk barefoot, which I try not to. Right now, I have a pair of sketchers tone ups clogs on, which I use as my slippers. They were a huge life saver when I had the pain. Something about the way they are angled, took the pressure off the heel immediately! I also own a bunch of tone up flip flops and fit flop brands. They may be hard to find now (the sketchers) due to a class action lawsuit going on now, but it might be worth looking into them also for the times you aren't running.

Other exercises I did (besides the already mentioned marble pickup), outline the ABC's with my foot every morning and night, Roll foot over frozen OJ can, windshield wipers with foot, and flex & Point using an elastic band.

 

[sumlee]

Checking in from Utah! I'm here visiting family for a couple of weeks. I'm determined to stick to my training schedule, though I'm definitely not used to the heat, dry air, and altitude. I am running my first 10K tomorrow night with my sister; hopefully I will survive. Wish me luck!