The Running Thread - 2021

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

Walk to the end of the driveway and back multiple times.

Good advice! That's what I just did.

Here's our plan, taking into account the advice I've been given: (Thanks @camaker, even though I'm not quoting you here.)

Freezer stocked up with frozen dinners (healthy and gluten free!) to get us through the next couple of days. Take-out is not an option for us.​

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Creating a low effort weekly menu plan, with a standard once-a-week grocery list​

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Suspend recycling and composting efforts, as they just add to the to-do-list. Sorry Mother Nature, we're in survival mode here.​

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Furniture rearranged to provide easy access. Ready to do it again if needed. We have enough open space to host a 15 couple dance party. Accepting reservations now.​

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Successfully completed our first 'necessary' transfer.​

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Wife is getting the hang of the wheelchair and already muscling it over thresholds. I had an extra pair of finger-less weightlifting gloves to give her that pro feel.​

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To do: knock together a ramp for the exterior door we're using. We made it in today, but it required a lot of horsepower.​

Day .5 went as well as could be expected.

 

[Bree]

Good advice! That's what I just did.

Here's our plan, taking into account the advice I've been given: (Thanks @camaker, even though I'm not quoting you here.)

Freezer stocked up with frozen dinners (healthy and gluten free!) to get us through the next couple of days. Take-out is not an option for us.​

​

Creating a low effort weekly menu plan, with a standard once-a-week grocery list​

​

Suspend recycling and composting efforts, as they just add to the to-do-list. Sorry Mother Nature, we're in survival mode here.​

​

Furniture rearranged to provide easy access. Ready to do it again if needed. We have enough open space to host a 15 couple dance party. Accepting reservations now.​

​

Successfully completed our first 'necessary' transfer.​

​

Wife is getting the hang of the wheelchair and already muscling it over thresholds. I had an extra pair of finger-less weightlifting gloves to give her that pro feel.​

​

To do: knock together a ramp for the exterior door we're using. We made it in today, but it required a lot of horsepower.​

Day .5 went as well as could be expected.

I bought an aluminum ramp from Amazon. My DH was non weight bearing for a long time. We still have it and use it occasionally for other purposes.

 

[jmasgat]

We have enough open space to host a 15 couple dance party. Accepting reservations now.

I think you've remembered one of the most important things for survival....don't forget to maintain your sense of humor! Good luck with the next few weeks (and Mother Nature understands your temporary shift in priorities)

 

[GreatLakes]

I have my first non-virtual road race since Christmas Eve 2019 Sunday. I'm excited and actually feel a little nervous which I haven't felt for a non-marathon road race in a long time. It is 5 miles just like that Christmas Eve run so I wonder what my time will look like.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Furniture rearranged to provide easy access. Ready to do it again if needed. We have enough open space to host a 15 couple dance party. Accepting reservations now.

Sorry to hear about your wife's surgery. And glad to see that you're able to keep a sense of humor about everything. Even if for just a few moments, it can help. And remember that your wife has an outstanding caregiver even if you're still learning some new ropes.

 

[run.minnie.miles]

It's been a while, so let's jump in with a new QOTD. In the spirit of recent posts about post-injury (surgery) care, let's talk running injury prevention/care.

QOTD: How do you stay injury free?
Ice after every run? Foam roll? Definite rest days? Tell us your secrets or lessons you've unfortunately learned the hard way.

 

[jmasgat]

SAFD.....oh, wait...QOTD

First, I do yoga to try and build strength and also flexibility.

But injuries will happen, so things I've learned while injured....Rest, rest and rest again. For most overuse injuries, e.g. stress fractures, IT band issues, etc, the answer for me is to rest longer than I think I should.

Don't be afraid to take time off from training to preempt an injury. Better a week off now than a month off later.

Stretch and strengthen (although if I spent time every day doing this for my formerly injured areas, I would never have time to do anything else!)

I never seen to get the same injury twice, so I guess that's good. I just get new ones!

 

[PrincessV]

ATTQOTD: The only injury I've had that was directly linked to running was ITBS and after a lot of time and trial and error I discovered it was 100% attributable to wearing stability shoes. Hasn't been an issue since I switched to neutral shoes.

I've been an athlete my entire life and I really think that base is mostly to thank for staying injury-free*. I suspect that "cramming" in training rather than taking years to build a solid base of strength and endurance must account for a large number of runner injuries.

I do yoga, Pilates, and ballet in addition to running. And I do a foam roll/stretch/dynamic warm-up before running. I can't honestly say if that keeps me from being injured, but it feels good and my running is better for it!

(*I've had injuries over the years - they just didn't occur due to the athletic endeavor I was doing. Stupid stuff like breaking a toe when I accidentally ran it into a bed post.)

 

[Herding_Cats]

ATTQOTD:

Well, I haven't had to deal with any injuries yet, mainly because of getting so much great advice here!

Things I have learned here:
-Get fitted for shoes. (And yeah, I didn't get injured, but this made a HUGE difference in how I felt after runs.)
-SLOW DOWN. Max/high effort every run isn't a great choice. (And this is a hard one for me as I've started running with the baby in the stroller....it's sooooo slowwwwwww.)
-Your core matters. For everything, not just running.
-Actually do the training for your races.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

ATTQOTD - I am going to be the outlier here - I cannot stretch. Stretching causes injuries for me. This is mostly because of a nerve problem, but it is really a problem for me. My most common injuries are calf and I have learned over the years how to avoid the muscular imbalances that cause them. I also do P90X most of the year, and that really helps me avoid muscular imbalances.

I have been running for 30+ years. What works for some may not work others. But what seems to work for pretty much everyone is listening to our bodies. We can push through pain, but we should not push through injuries. It stinks to lose running miles and fitness to an injury, but ignoring a minor injury can lead to major injuries. I once ignored foot pain that was clearly an injury - turned out that I had a stress fracture and my ignoring it took what would have been 6 weeks without running and turned it into a 4 month recovery.

 

[meye1099]

j

 

[SarahDisney]

QOTD: How do you stay injury free?

Cross my fingers and hope for the best?
Stretching helps me a bit, but mostly I feel like I've just been lucky.

 

[flav]

QOTD: Probably building up the running thing progressively, looking for and listening to good advice along the way. I am generally cautious so if I hurt, I consult and rest. I also know what I should be doing more systematically: Strength and core building, stretching, foam rolling. I haven’t been particularly good at that lately and I might pay for it if I don’t readjust.

 

[Dopey 2020]

QOTD: hope for the best, I’m stubborn and run with aches and pains, when it turns into uh oh that really hurts I slow it down a bit and make sure to stretch multiple times a day

April will probably be a down month, with a Disney trip planned mid-month, but I think my legs are ready for a little break.

Yes! I’ll keep an eye out for you guys, as well. Would love to see you!

Going to be at BCV 17-24 running around crescent lake

 

[garneska]

Ugh I missed a few days and so much has happened. @OldSlowGoofyGuy sending you a pm but wish Pam the best. Had to be awfully scary.

injury leaning on @jmasgat going with a few days off now is better than weeks later. I did my usual run and Tuesday at the end my right calf was off. Had that injury before, overuse, but it was just the beginning. It hurt all of Tuesday but not bad enough to walk funny. Wednesday morning opted for the recumbent bike. No pain on the bike, but calf not better or worse that day. Woke up Thursday and calf not 100% but better than previous day. Day 2 on recumbent bike. Planning on day 3 of recumbent bike tomorrow but hoping by Monday to run again. so yes sometimes a few days off better than doing too much and then weeks off. Now the last few days I have rekindled my relationship with my foam roller. Probably the reason it is better, if I had a better relationship with that foam roller might not be in this predicament now.

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

New Shoe Day!

I swear I throw a pair away every time I put a new pair into play, but the evidence indicates otherwise.

 

[Schuldig]

It is hard for me to train with just virtual runs for motivation.

 

[FFigawi]

ATTQOTD: I find training in multiple sports helps reduce the wear and tear on any one area, hopefully preventing any significant injuries. Of course, this does open me to a wider spectrum of potential issues, but so far (knock knock), I've been pretty lucky. My one injury recently was a stress fracture due to running a half marathon on minimal running training. All my cycling helped with the fitness, but my legs weren't used to the pounding. As my coach said, the engine was great, the chassis needed help.

 

[garneska]

Walked Mallory on Friday night and my comment to DH was wow my calf feels completely fine. Super excited about that. Plan is to take it easy today and hike tomorrow and run Monday. I also need to keep up the foam rolling.

had first Pfizer shot yesterday. My arm is sore, probably skipping push ups today.

 

[jmasgat]

@OldSlowGoofyGuy Looks like you're channeling the spirit of Coco Chanel....One is never underdressed with a pair of black running shoes.

I keep one pair of old shoes for daily walks with the dog. All the others get donated. Hope you find a home for yours.