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

[smileyk8]

aldisneygirl, glad to read your knee's feeling better. fingers crossed it'll hold out for the run.
I went to the gym yesterday and ran for 60mins, which was 9.1km. It was about 3km more than my last longest run- these running plans are mean!!!!
Everything hurts today so i guess i need to do more stretching next time.
Happy new year

 

[corinnak]

Last thing I remember, I was getting ready to type out my PF tips for C4Me, and then WHAMMO - the holidays sent me for a total loop and my browser crashed and I just never got back to starting the reply again.

So here's what has really helped me the most:

Good shoes, all the time.

Massage of the calf and the foot around the heel area - I found I had some real sore spots around the sides of my heel and after I massaged those out, I felt a lot better.

Stretches for PF - the one I know has you put your ankle across your opposite knee, you pull back on your toes to stretch the PF and then massage the bottom of the foot with long, slow strokes with your thumb.

And the thing that I think has made the hugest difference (why didn't I put it first??) is getting my tight hamstrings generally stretched out. My trainer helped with this a lot, but you can do it yourself with a towel. Lay on your back with one leg up straight in the air with a towel around the bottom of your foot, holding onto the ends with your hands. Pull the leg in to you as much as you can without hurting, then, keeping the leg straight, push your leg like you are trying to put it down - but the towel keeps it up, you know? And then you should be able to use the towel to pull it a little closer to you than you did before. Do this several times on each side. Does this make sense? Do I need to find a picture?

I have covered a piteously low number of miles this month, for a non-injured person. I'm back at it, though. I managed 4 last night on the treadmill. The first 3 were, as usual, the hardest.

And no one else knows about this yet, but I am considering a local half marathon the first weekend in June. I need something to push me. You'd think the minnie 15k would be enough. It really should be. I had been planning to run the associated 5K and have been trying to rope my chiropractor into it as well, but when I looked at the website and it mentioned the half marathon, I didn't think, "no way!" I thought, "hmmmm." So not to say I will do it, but I am considering it. I actually would need to get my mileage back up again before even starting the training plan on coolrunning, but that would probably be good for me anyhow. I still wish the conditions were a little better outisde, though.

Everyone ready for the new year? Any resolutions to declare?

 

[corinnak]

Happy New Year everyone! Here's to a GREAT 2008!!!



Allie, we are coming right up on your 5K - you must be heading out for that pretty soon, I guess. Are you getting excited? I am getting excited and I am not even running it! I'm sure you're going to have a great time. Good luck with that packing (my least favorite part of travel).

 

[aldisneygrl]

Happy New Year everyone! Here's to a GREAT 2008!!!



Allie, we are coming right up on your 5K - you must be heading out for that pretty soon, I guess. Are you getting excited? I am getting excited and I am not even running it! I'm sure you're going to have a great time. Good luck with that packing (my least favorite part of travel).

Yes, we leave a week from tomorrow. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I have looked at a satellite picture of the course, and it looks like the whole first mile is UPHILL! Good thing is you turn around at 1.5 miles and go back downhill! I go for a followup visit with the Ortho Dr. next Tuesday.

I am looking forward to spending mommy/daughter time with DD.

 

[corinnak]

It looks like a really fun course, and I'm thinking you want to do the uphill first, while you are still fresh. Are you concerned about your knee on the grade? I am so envious - I LOVE Animal Kingdom, and this just looks like it will be such a fun event to share with your daughter.

 

[katerkat]

Allie, it's getting close!! Good luck!

I am adding to the mishaps of our thread. Yesterday I made the mistake of heading outside to shovel the snow. Fell flat on my back and did some serious tailbone damage. I can walk and sit (on a comfy chair!) but running and carrying Russ? Not a chance. I hope it heals soon - I wanted to get some running in on my cruise!

 

[aldisneygrl]

Allie, it's getting close!! Good luck!

I am adding to the mishaps of our thread. Yesterday I made the mistake of heading outside to shovel the snow. Fell flat on my back and did some serious tailbone damage. I can walk and sit (on a comfy chair!) but running and carrying Russ? Not a chance. I hope it heals soon - I wanted to get some running in on my cruise!

Yes it is!!! We leave Wednesday! Just hoping the weather holds out. The weather forecasting sights are all over the board. I've told dd that we have to run rain or shine. Her reaction..... It's only a 30% chance, so hopefully that early in the morning, it will be a 0% chance.

I've been meaning to check in and tell you all my good news. I finally went to Fleet Feet and got me some new shoes! They are Asics Gel Kayano's. They are like running on . I tried them out on Saturday (the day I bought them) and ran 2.95 miles in 40:30, and NO knee pain at all! I know, I know, that is the first thing I should have done before starting to run, but I guess I'm a little hard headed. Actually, I'm cheap! I didn't want to spend a lot of money if I wasn't going to continue this habit. Well, I'm a believer now!

My followup with the Ortho dr. is tomorrow, so I'll keep you posted. And I'll come say bye before I go.

 

[corinnak]

Kate! I hope your poor backside feels better soon. Slipping on ice is so scary.

Allie - I can't believe you are leaving TOMORROW! Have you told your daughter that some people prefer running in a light rain? It provides a refreshing cooling effect. I bet your weather will be good though. Doesn't Disney control the weather? Here's hoping for perfect weather for you. Have a great trip and a great run!



As for me, I hit the treadmill today, but found that my cat had chewed through my headphone wires (can't leave them in the treadmill cupholder, I guess) and I was left music-free once again. Sheesh! It really puts a damper on. So, I walked some and I ran some. And I continue to try to eat smartly on account of the poundage I put back on DOES make running harder. Or I'm losing conditioning. Or BOTH.

 

[corinnak]

Oh, I almost forgot. Allie, congratulations on your new shoes - they really do make a world of difference, don't they? Enjoy them and remember: DO NOT pack them in checked luggage. That is one of my tips for life. Along with ALWAYS park next to the cart corral.

 

[smileyk8]

corinna, maybe u should feed your cat more then you might have some music Why is it they only chew useful things!?!?!

Good luck to everyone preparing for the runs at WDW, i hope you have a fantastic time and i'll be for you whilst writing my essay!

I've not been able to run for a few days cos my arm's really swollen from an incident at work nearly 3 weeks ago (work on a mental health unit for adolescents- who seemingly don't want to stay on the ward!). For the first time ever, i'm itching to go out and run. Does that mean i'm converted to a runner?

Allie i hope the new trainers continue to feel super snuggly, i run in asics nimbus 9 and they're so comfy and def worth the money.

Bye for now

 

[contempory4me]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write all of that down. The towel exercise has helped alot. Along with wearing my sneakers (with orthos) as much as possible. I wear my New Balance most of the time and save my Aasic Nimbus 9's for running. Orthos also fit in Crocs if anyone is interested Of course sleeping with that dang foot brace helps the most Yesterday was my first real attempt at a run since the day before Thanksgiving (true confession) and it was pitiful- I think I only ran for 1 mile out of the 3. But my New Year's Resolution is to get back to 2-3 days per week (3.5 mile loop). What's that saying about "life gets in the way"??
The Disney runs sound like alot of fun and I will look forward to reading the trip reports!!!
c4me

 

[corinnak]

Smileyk8, I am afraid you may be right. Phineas is a big kitten, though, and he and his sister are both obsessed with string, which is a little dangerous so we try to keep things put away. I just wasn't thinking of the headphones as "string."

C4Me, Soooo glad to hear you are feeling better. Everything together seems to make a difference. Seems like it has to be a global approach or it just keeps going. I don't know what the saying is, but I know the phenomenon. I am trying to get back to 3-4 days and really, still haven't picked a training program, so I'm improvising along, which is always risky. For the first time in an age, I had my shuffle on and running and new headphones and it was SUPER. Well, no. Not really SUPER, but nice to have the normal musical arrangement. It is ridiculous how much I like running to The Hamster Dance. As a 34 year old, I don't think I'm supposed to even be able to tolerate that song. But it kind of reminds me, for some reason, of a movie I used to love in the 80's - OT, but does anyone else remember "Electric Dreams"?

 

[corinnak]

Also, I am offically registered for the Minnie Marathon 15K as of about three minutes ago. Maybe that will kick me into high gear. We had a room booked BUT that's not the same commitment as registering. It's only... 4 1/2 months away! Should be pretty cool!!!!

 

[corinnak]

Well, I didn't manage a run over the weekend - I was out at Polar Cubs with my son all day Saturday. It was exhausting because we had to walk from activity to activity, and the way the snow was, there was probably 6-10" on the ground and it had melted and refrozen with a crusty top and ten thousand footprints. The footing was SO uneven and unpredictable. But the weather was fairly perfect - we had snow (bumpy though it was) AND temps were in the 20's with very little wind. And I felt exhausted that night and the next day too, if you can believe it.

But I decided that I would definitely run today, and you know, I did it. Things were not optimal - I spent longer at Target than expected and got a later start. My only nominally clean sports-bra had a funky odor when it came out of the dryer, AND the only shorts/skirt/leggings available were a pair of old bike shorts that I started out running in, but they are cottony and not the best for wicking. Plus, I had heard from Austin that he was not going to be able to do the 2009 marathon weekend - his car recently got totaled in a car accident (he's OK, but for a bruised knee and ruined car) and so I'm kind of at loose ends as to how 2009 is going to go. So kind of at sixes and sevens before this run.

But I said what the heck, I'm doing it. Put on what I had and hopped on the treadmill for the 45 minutes that I had to work with - including warm up and cool down. And you know, it was one of the best runs I've had in a long time. My legs felt pretty good - they had been feeling kind of exhausted early in the runs lately - and my breathing was just what I'd expect it to be. I ran the first mile pretty fast, and the second mile, started about the same and then even faster for the second half of it. The music was good, my headphones worked and I didn't run out of charge on the battery. It was nice to have a good run after a whole series of turkeys!

I'm going to hit Wednesday and Thursday this week as well and then hope for a "long run" this weekend. I still don't have a training plan, and I haven't decided if I am doing a 5K or half marathon the first weekend in June. I'd been leaning toward the 5K, but I was thinking about the half today and I don't know. I'm thinking about it!

 

[kimwim8]

C - you are a trip! hmmmm, 3 miles or 13 miles. What should I do? I know you'll do great no matter what you choose!!

I'm still considering January 2009, so don't write if off yet, sister. I'lll probably need a roomie!!

Take care, and rest up lady. Sounds like you're always on the move.

 

[corinnak]

Kim, Kim, Kim! It's so good to hear from you. You hanging in there OK?

I know it's crazy to be having any kind of a hard time deciding between 3 and 13 miles. 3 sounds saner, doesn't it? And maybe I should work on my sub 30 minute 5K. BUT the other thing is, I'm going to do 9.3 in May for the Minnie and a 10 mile in July, so the training for the half would be not that far off from those. Might as well build to it all at once, maybe?

Anyhow, I'm not writing off the half in 2009 - in fact, I'm thinking it's time to register for it. I just don't know what the logistics of it are going to be. I am GLAD to hear you are still thinking of doing it, too!

 

[corinnak]

It's gotten quiet around here lately.....is anyone else currently running? How are the injuries/recoveries going? Allie, how was the 5K for you and your daughter?

I was talking to my dad this morning and he pointed me in the direction of another "slow guy" runner, Dr. George Sheehan. I think his ideas for winter running gear are a little old fashioned (no one actually recommends cotton in winter these days, do they?) but he's got this great little stretch and exercise program designed to help the muscles that need it from running. He says, "When you run, three things happen to your muscles. Two are bad. The prime movers-the calf, hamstring, and low back muscles-become tight and inflexible. The Antagonists-the shin, quadricep, gluteal, and abdominal muscles-become relatively weak. This creates a strength/flexibility imbalance that must be corrected."

http://www.georgesheehan.com/essays/essay18.html

I just tried a couple of these and WOW - I kind of feel better already! Just thought I'd pass it on.

 

[kimwim8]

Kim, Kim, Kim! It's so good to hear from you. You hanging in there OK?

Hey girls! I'm doing pretty good. I'm feeling MUCH better this week than last week (had that ablation procedure), and I'm REALLY ready to start running again. I was told no exercise til 2 weeks after my procedure, so next Tuesday is THE day! I'm going to start either in week 1 or 2 of C25k and see how I feel. I'm hoping I didn't lose everything I had built up and can possibly move forward a little quicker than 9 weeks. BUT - we'll have to see how it all goes with the hip.

Corinna - thank God for you keeping our little thread alive! Thanks for the link, I'm definitely gonna look into those stretches!

 

[corinnak]

Kim, I'm glad your recovery is going well and you have a start date all picked out. I'm sure you haven't lost everything. Probably it will feel a little like that at first because, I gather, cardio is the first thing to go. But you probably will regain that fairly quickly and be back underway before you know it.

I do my best to keep us limping along and in the first three pages or so. It's tough when everyone gets injured, holidayed, wintered and tired all at once! The old C25K thread is humming along pretty good at the moment, though! These things ebb and flow. It is the way of nature. The way of all things in life.

 

[aldisneygrl]

I have had a tough time keeping up since I got back. I could have sworn I posted here, but obviously I didn't. DD and I finished the 5K in 58:30. We got our medals, and pictures to show for it. I am trying to order them off the ASI website. She did great!

I made her drink some water before the race. I had never done that before, and you should never do anything that you've never done before. Anyway, she kept saying she felt like she was going to puke the whole first mile. Well, when we got to Mile 1 and it was 19 minutes, I decided that we weren't gonna be swept, so we just held hands and walked the rest of the way. We would run when she felt like it, and then we would walk again when she felt like it. It was the best time. The sun started to rise about the time we started. It was beautiful coming up around EE.

It made for some lasting memories for us. Now I am ready to do another race. There is a 10K here in May, and maybe I'll do that, or I may just try and do the 5K at a faster pace. I still have time to figure all that out.

I LOVE my new shoes!!!!! I wore them the whole time I was at Disney, and my knee never gave me any trouble. It was well worth the money I spent on them.

I would LOVE to do the Minnie, but due to several family trips (one of which came up while I was in Disney), I will not be able to afford it. My SIL called me while I was in Disney, and said that she had planned a "girls only" trip with my mom, and all of our girls. So it will be Nana, her girls and all her granddaughters. So it should be a lot of fun, but will drain the travel budget.

I plan to keep on running once it gets a little warmer here. I'm freezing!