Runners UNITE! We've graduated C25K, so let's keep on going!

[corinnak]

Of course you still have a distance named after you. I ran a GREAT "Kim" tonight on the treadmill. Kind of nice to be done so quickly, almost like normal people.

I'm so sorry your DD isn't feeling so good. Pumping meds doesn't sound so good, but I understand where you are coming from. Talk about rough conditions for packing. Yeesh!

We'll miss you too - or at least I know I will miss you! Enjoy and have one of those Dole Whips for me and I'll do a couple of runs for you, deal?

So did I mention that today was my birthday? I got a card from my dad today (get out your tissues, Kim) and he used to run marathons, but the past few years have been pretty stressful for him and he's gotten out of shape and incipient diabetes and some other health concerns. And this is what he wrote to me in the card:

"Thanks for inspiring me to run again! I've used my new fitness to evade 7 year olds playing tag and to elicet laughter when running to deliver door prizes at the barbershop show. I never could have done either 6 months ago. Maybe I'll catch up with you, but even if I don't, we'll have some fun races and I think of you whenever I go out running. Thanks! Love, Dad"

Guys, it means the world to me that I could inspire anyone, let alone my former marathoner dad to increased health and fitness. Amazing and now
I am the one who is all except where is the emoticon with the drippy tears and the big grin? There really ought to be one of those.


So, I decided to push it, given my training plan and given that 4 days in, I already have 10 miles. Last month, I almost got 50. This month, I'm going to HIT it. And I'm actually going to count only the running. Can I do it? Well, if I don't, that's the way it goes, but if I do, I will feel very myself.

 

[kimwim8]

Oh man. That one certainly got me. ( need the blubbering smilie)

You ARE an inspiration, girl. To more than just your dad. I hope you realize that.

I know you'll do really well with this month's goal. No doubt in my mind.

Sorry, but I can't hold up my end of the deal - I'm not a pineapple fan. (that's me turning my nose up to pineapple, not being snooty ). But how 'bout I have a mickey bar for you? That's something I can definitely handle.

I shouldn't have said pumpin' her with meds. That really really sounds bad. What I meant was around-the-clock, every 4 hours for the inhaler like the dr. said - and making sure she gets her antibiotics 3 times a day as prescribed.

(haha, and you thought I wouldn't be back before I left. )

 

[corinnak]

OK - fine - skip the Dole Whip. Enjoy that Mickey Bar, though! They are Soooo rich!

It sounds like you are taking good care of your little girl. I hope she's feeling good on your trip. YOUR TRIP!!!! I can't believe we are missing each other by so short a span of time. you sure you can't stay a couple of extra days? Have a great time! I look forward to the report.

 

[kimwim8]

OK, wait. It just hit me that you threw that little tiny comment in there about your birthday yesterday. (you stinker)




HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY, CORINNA!!!

 

[corinnak]

Oh, Kim - you threw me a surprise party! Thank you!!! I am pretty evil, aren't I?

 

[katerkat]

Happy birthday, Corinna!! If I had known it was so close, I would have tortured you in WDW too.

Thanks for thinking of me - I'm here, just a bit busy. I've been trying to get into my Nano, which wasn't flowing very well at the beginning but is getting better now. Tell Austin and his wife my username on there is katerkat as well - I like to keep things simple. I haven't run a single step since the race over a week and a half ago... I have been eating a LOT of Halloween candy and after three months of low-carb, I'm feeling the effects of a bad diet! But, my DH left today for deployment (again) and I'm heading to New Jersey on Friday, so once I get there I plan on getting back into the swing of things. Hopefully! I really want to work on toning while I'm at my parents' so that maybe - VERY maybe - I can wear a bikini on the cruise in January.

Anyway, Corinna, you're gonna make me cry over here. It really has been so inspiring to do this program this year with you and Kim, and all the newcomers to the thread as well. Running with you last week really felt like the perfect culmination of the year, the first time I've ever really followed through on a New Year's resolution. Y'all rock!

 

[corinnak]

Why do you think I didn't mention it in WDW? Seriously, it wasn't on my radar at that point. I am sure my DH was thinking about it, but me, I was all about the RUN. Oh, and the Kungaloosh.

It sounds like you are very busy over there - you have had so many deployments this year. I'm glad you'll be with your family for much of this one, anyway. I'll be toning, too, but NO bikini for me ever again. I bet you can do it, though! It is amazing how fast a person can tone up.

I never make New Year's Resolutions, but it is so great that you completed yours! That has GOT to feel great! I was reading another little report just a few minutes ago that mentioned the brutal humidity - did it bother you during the race? I mean, yes, we were sweat-tee, but do you think it impacted our time a lot? I suppose it might have, but it's really hard to say for sure.


Well, ladies, it is feeling almost wintery here. If I hope to spend time running outdoors in the next.....5 months, I'm going to need to go running gear shopping again. This time, cold weather running gear. Anyone have opinions or advice? Experience from the end of last winter? I have discussed it with Austin a few times and keep getting daunted.

 

[corinnak]

I am all scattery tonight - katerkat, I forgot to say this, but

YOU are the one who totally rocks! I was super impressed with the way you powered through that race!!! Have a safe trip to New Jersey if you are way busy between now and then and can't stop in for the last minute "safe trip wishes."

 

[aldisneygrl]

OK RL really got in the way, and I am soooo behind here!

Kim left to go to Disney?

Corinna you had a birthday, and a wonderful card from your dad?

katerkat your dh has been deployed and you are going to NJ?

Well here is a and for all of you!

I talked to my nurse friend about my knee and she told me to get a brace. I did over the weekend, and it is feeling much better. It started to hurt ALOT on Sunday evening into Monday. She told me NO running, and to only walk on flat surfaces. I have a Gazelle in the playroom, but have yet to make it up there and actually use it. I am taking Advil, but don't want to take too much because I want to know if the pain is getting better by itself or if it is just the medicine. She also told me to go to the DR if it isn't better by later in the week. I don't have time to go to the DR right now (due to work) so hopefully it will heal on its own. I know it can't be seriously hurt because all that happened was those guys falling on it.

I'll try to keep more current from now on. Hope everyone has a safe trip!

 

[corinnak]

I know it can't be seriously hurt because all that happened was those guys falling on it.

OK - reality check here - a couple of guys fell on your knee!! If they were toddlers, I might agree with you, but full sized guys? I really hope that you are not seriously injured, and it sounds like you are doing OK in general terms, but do take it seriously because that is a lot of force to apply to a joint. Definitely try for some non-impact exercise. Improvment in your heart and lungs will benefit your running no matter how you get it. gazelle, swimming, bicycle? I'm not sure what is going to feel OK to your knee, of course.


Here's a for you too - stay strong and don't let RL get you down!!

 

[aldisneygrl]

OK - reality check here - a couple of guys fell on your knee!! If they were toddlers, I might agree with you, but full sized guys? I really hope that you are not seriously injured, and it sounds like you are doing OK in general terms, but do take it seriously because that is a lot of force to apply to a joint.

Yes, here is the rundown that I posted a couple of pages back. I think I posted it while you were running. I think I will be fine, it is just going to have to heal. It is just weird that it hurts more now than it did when it originally happened.

I was picking up my son from his former hockey coach's house. (where he was having a Halloween party) Well the coach and his nephew got into a little tussle. (all in good fun) Well, they ended up falling on my foot and then knocked me down and fell on my leg. OUCH!!! Well, his coach is NOT a small man. He probably weighs about 250 -300 lbs. and the nephew probably weighed 150. So ALL that weight came down on my leg. I guess I should count my blessings that it isn't broken.

I know y'all don't "know" me that well, but let me tell you accidents happen to me all the time. I say that it is a genetic defect. Mainly because the same thing happens to my mom. Anyway, my DH noticed a BLACK bruise on my derrière tonight. I remembered hitting the foot of their recliner when I fell. Anyway, I figure I better take it easy because my knee just feels tender. I sure don't want to injure myself for January.

Like I said, I am klutz and things like this happen to me all the time.

 

[corinnak]

Allie, I remember reading about the incident before - I am glad you are feeling better. It just sounded like you were trying to downplay the situation, and I'd hate to see you re-injured, that's all. It's no fun being accident prone!

When I was in 4th grade, I had a wonderful teacher - her name was Mrs. Ford and over the course of the school year, she gave nicknames to all the kids in her class. Not sure if that would fly these days, but at the time, it sure seemed like a fun thing. Anyhow, there was this one kid in my class, John, who was tall and lanky. He played football and he always had some sort of injury. He finally got his nickname from her when he came in on crutches with a broken leg. She decided that from then on, his nickname was "Calamity John" or just "Calamity."

Feel better soon and remember, as I told my mother who injured her ankle last week, "It's never too late for ice!"

 

[aldisneygrl]

Allie, I remember reading about the incident before - I am glad you are feeling better. It just sounded like you were trying to downplay the situation, and I'd hate to see you re-injured, that's all. It's no fun being accident prone!

When I was in 4th grade, I had a wonderful teacher - her name was Mrs. Ford and over the course of the school year, she gave nicknames to all the kids in her class. Not sure if that would fly these days, but at the time, it sure seemed like a fun thing. Anyhow, there was this one kid in my class, John, who was tall and lanky. He played football and he always had some sort of injury. He finally got his nickname from her when he came in on crutches with a broken leg. She decided that from then on, his nickname was "Calamity John" or just "Calamity."

Feel better soon and remember, as I told my mother who injured her ankle last week, "It's never too late for ice!"

Yeah, my friend who is a nurse told me to fill up a dixie cup with water, and freeze it. Once it is frozen rub it all over my knee until it is numb.

I don't want to injure it anymore, but I want to get back to my training, but I AM willing to wait. I just hope I don't have to end up at the DR. They only work half days for the rest of the week, so I probably wouldn't even be able to get in until next week. I am just going to keep icing, taking advil, and magnesium. (it's good for the joints )

 

[corinnak]

I've gotten the dixie cup advice, too. Just be glad you didn't get the ice bath advice!

 

[lklasing]

I've gotten the dixie cup advice, too. Just be glad you didn't get the ice bath advice!

Hi everyone. Another lurker chiming in here. I've run for years and am more into running these days than ever (I've completed 4 half marathons and am training for my first full marathon in February ), so I'm always reading anything I can find about running. Therefore I've been following all of you for some time and really enjoying your accounts of running, especially discussion about the TOT 15K, which I would have loved to have done.

Anyway, the reason for me chiming in now is that I recently have become a fan of ice baths! Crazy sounding, I know, but they really do help your muscles from becoming sore after a long run. I first started taking an ice bath when my long runs got up to about 16 miles and it is amazing how I wasn't sore after taking one. I will say that it's quite shocking as you ease down into that freezing cold water, especially when it hits your nether region. But, once you're in, it's really not as bad as you would think.

So, sometime when you're sure you're going to be sore after a hard run, give it a try! Grab something to read and soak about 10 minutes and see if it doesn't help! And, of course, if you do try it, you'll have to post about the experience here!

Good luck and keep running!

Leslie

 

[corinnak]

Hi Leslie! Nice to hear from you!

I don't think it's in this thread but the original C25K, but I did some ice baths before my first 5k cause of a pulled hamstring. You're right, they aren't as bad as they sound, and can be SO beneficial. I'll keep your advice in mind when I up my mileage. I actually have a neck wrap that can be warmed in the microwave - it was hilarious, but I would sit in the ice bath with this warm neck wrap keeping my neck and shoulders warm. They are a lot more psychologically appealing in the summer, though! My feet are cold today.

Thanks for stopping in - chime in any time, really!

 

[corinnak]

Soooo, I'm just plugging along here. I finished my first week of REAL 5K training, well, as real as it can be when you jump in at week 6, do a shorter slow run instead of the Long Slow Run and skip one of the days. It went pretty well overall, but I've had a couple of issues creep up. Not actually related to the 5K training, I'm thinking.

Monday, my trainer had me do some sprints with her in the racquetball court. I wasn't wearing my running shoes, but instead the "walking" shoes I usually wear to workout in the gym. I should have said "no, I'm not wearing the right shoes," but like an idiot, said "I'm not wearing the right shoes, but OK." Cause that's what you say to a trainer, I guess.

I was a little slower than she was (partly because as soon as I'd get up some speed, I'd have to slow down again). She was totally winded by the end of the sprints (She ran them opposite me) she was gasping for breath as she finished filling out my workout form, and was still breathing hard after I had recovered completely so evidently all my training has been good for something???

Anyhow, the upshot of the whole thing is that I seem to have irritated something and the muscle attachments around the inside of my right knee were all taught and sore. Even after I got them to ease up with my magic purple lotion , they still felt bruisey, so I took an extra recovery day in the middle of the week (there went that 3 mile strides run) and felt like I could run the 4 mile pace run and 2 mile recovery run on Thursday and Friday. Which I did, and they were pretty much fine.

But then Friday night, it's rehearsal for Kung Fu night (which is tonight) and I did OK until we had to go over this kicking sequence about 12 times. I wasn't warmed up or anything, but I managed the kicks OK. But about halfway through, yowch, my shin. It hurt a bit, just in one spot. So of course, I'm thinking about that woman in the NOVA program about the Marathon who ended up with all those stress fractures. So during the waiting, I kind of poked around and massaged my shin and decided that it seemed like a muscular sort of thing. It feels a lot better today, so I think that is true. I'm going to be doing this kicking routine in front of a whole gymnasium bleachers full of other people's parents, though. Scissors kick, front kick, roundhouse, heel kick. Yup. I don't think I'm even going to embarrass myself.

There is ice in my future, yes. And last night I was even thinking "icebath" but it didn't happen. Maybe tonight after Kung Fu night.

 

[aldisneygrl]

Ok, so please explain to me exactly what an ice bath is? Is it a bathtub filled with cool water and ice cubes? What is the benefit to doing that?

Corinna, I think I had a similar problem this week. I've been doing my walking on the Gazelle this week, so as not to reinjure my knee, and afterwards my shins were killing me along with my hamstrings. I am sure it was because I had not exercised in a week, and my muscles were just screaming.

My knee is on the mend, I think. I filled up an empty water bottle with ice and froze it. Wow! I have also been taking Magnesium supplements and Glucosamine w/ MSM. They are both supposed to help with bones and joints. I also bought some Joint Juice (it has glucosamine in it too)at WallyWorld. I figure it can't hurt. Although the JJ has a very bitter taste to it.

Now to add insult to my injury: I just tripped over my 15 lb. dog, and fell onto the hardwood floor. Guess which knee hit the floor first? That's right, my already messed up knee! Well, I am presently holding my frozen water bottle on it. I told you I am a klutz!

 

[contempory4me]

Hi girls,
Also a lurcker chiming in. Or really more of a reader than a writer but today I have burning questions...

Corinna, what is the magic purple lotion? Does it help with muscle soreness?

Second question...why ice bath instead of a really hot bath? I hate the cold (said with a whine) I'd much rather a nice hot tub.

last question...how often do you buy new running shoes? I wear mine for everything because they are so comfortable and at $100 can't really afford a new pair. Should they last 6 mos?

Finally my thoughts... I started the C25K last March with the goal of "wanting to go for a run" while I am still 20 lbs overweight, I really do love to run! I'm sure once I lose the weight I'll really love running! Currently I am running (slogging) 3.5 miles, 3 times per week at a 13-14 min./mile pace. Not too bad IMO

 

[lklasing]

There is ice in my future, yes. And last night I was even thinking "icebath" but it didn't happen. Maybe tonight after Kung Fu night.

Ok, so please explain to me exactly what an ice bath is? Is it a bathtub filled with cool water and ice cubes? What is the benefit to doing that?

Hi girls,
Second question...why ice bath instead of a really hot bath? I hate the cold (said with a whine) I'd much rather a nice hot tub.

last question...how often do you buy new running shoes? I wear mine for everything because they are so comfortable and at $100 can't really afford a new pair. Should they last 6 mos?

I'm back, everyone, guessing that I'm the only one who actually had an ice bath today. And yes, it was very cold - so much so that I was surprised, even though I've had about 4 in the past month. They're never too much fun, but like Corrina mentioned earlier, they're not nearly as appealing after a cold run as they are after a hot one. I really think they have cut down on the soreness I would be having after these long runs since I started with the baths.

Anyway, the deal with ice baths is this (I think): after a strenuous workout (I personally never had one until my mileage got up to about 16 miles for a long run, but I don't know what the "standard" might be on what would warrant this torture), the blood vessles in your muscles need to constrict or else you will be much more sore afterward. That's what the ice bath does. It's the same reasoning as putting ice on an injury shortly after it happens, rather than heat. Heat feel much much better, but that's actually the opposite of what your muscles need (from what I understand).

What I do, and again I am no expert, is to fill the tub high enough to cover my legs, then put a bowl full of ice in it. It's just a little bit of ice compared to a half-tub full of water, but it's certainly enough. Then comes the hard part - getting in. It really was tough today, but once you get in, it's only about a minute of thinking you're being tortured before you actually get used to it. I take my People Magazine and read for 10 minutes (I think that's the time that is recommended) and then get outta there.

One last thing - about running shoes - depending on what you are getting, "they" say that your shoes should last about 300-500 miles. For me, I usually get new ones after about 250 miles. I just can feel them seem to lose some of their cushion at that point. If keeping track of your miles seems like a pain, look into www.coolrunning.com . It has a great log where you can log all your runs and it does all sort of neat things for you - calculate your pace, track your miles for the week, month, year or lifetime, and keep track of how many miles you have on a particular pair of shoes. Disboards and coolrunning are my two afflictions I have online. They also have good message boards there too.

Sorry so long! Keep running!

Leslie