To Infinity and Beyond - Becoming a Better DopeyBadger (Comments Welcome)

[DopeyBadger]

Snowboarding in northern Michigan a week ago. Words of advice: if your 14-year daughter says “follow me” in a terrain park, think twice before doing so.

Ugh! And duly noted!

 

[FFigawi]

Snowboarding in northern Michigan a week ago. Words of advice: if your 14-year daughter says “follow me” in a terrain park, think twice before doing so.

Ouch! Heal fast.

 

[roxymama]

Ouch! Heal fast.

I would like to second this statement!

I hope you got some sweet rail-grinds and flips and toe grabs @opusone prior to the ouches. (These are all terms cool snowboarders say, right?)

 

[evre13]

So sorry to hear about your calf, and @opusone, you too! Seems like everyone is having a rough January (she says with 2 pulled back muscles). Hopefully we are just getting 2018 injuries out of the way now!

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

Sorry to hear about your injury, hopefully you get better soon and if needed, get appropriate treatment. Sounds like what DH had. I think what helped him the most was going to a good PT . He went to one PT for the initial eval b/c that's the first person he could get in with. He then switched to a different PT who has decades of experience with athletes. In addition to some new exercises, his manual therapy really helped a lot.

So sorry to hear about your calf, and @opusone, you too! Seems like everyone is having a rough January (she says with 2 pulled back muscles). Hopefully we are just getting 2018 injuries out of the way now!

Ugh...pulled back muscles are not good for running. I agree that we are hopefully getting the injuries out of the way now. Besides, January is a good time to take time off, right? (I know; for runners there is never a good time to take time off). @opusone was the rest of you spared injury and you can continue running?

 

[DopeyBadger]

So sorry to hear about your calf, and @opusone, you too! Seems like everyone is having a rough January (she says with 2 pulled back muscles). Hopefully we are just getting 2018 injuries out of the way now!

We will all come back stronger than before!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Sorry to hear about your injury, hopefully you get better soon and if needed, get appropriate treatment. Sounds like what DH had. I think what helped him the most was going to a good PT . He went to one PT for the initial eval b/c that's the first person he could get in with. He then switched to a different PT who has decades of experience with athletes. In addition to some new exercises, his manual therapy really helped a lot.

Thanks! Great advice!

 

[opusone]

Everyone, thanks for your well-wishes!

@opusone was the rest of you spared injury and you can continue running?

No additional injury. I am getting a waterproof cast on Monday, so I can get back on the road then.

 

[Baloo in MI]

I was at a good running form class (this was a while ago and I should probably start going again) and the instructor asked how many of us had dealt with a running injury. More than half the runners in the room raised their hands. Then the instructor said - don’t worry the rest of you will have a turn too. I am very sorry that it is your turn! If rest, ice and compression are not helping see a doctor. It is crazy how a little nagging thing can become a big thing! Wishing you a successful rest period and a return to your demon like speed very soon!

 

[DopeyBadger]

I was at a good running form class (this was a while ago and I should probably start going again) and the instructor asked how many of us had dealt with a running injury. More than half the runners in the room raised their hands. Then the instructor said - don’t worry the rest of you will have a turn too. I am very sorry that it is your turn! If rest, ice and compression are not helping see a doctor. It is crazy how a little nagging thing can become a big thing! Wishing you a successful rest period and a return to your demon like speed very soon!

Thanks! Totally agree! I have been very fortunate to this point to have avoided anything serious (and I still don't think this is serious yet either). It's given G and I some great time to crush some Wii Mario Kart and Wii Angry Birds Star Wars (which she got me for Xmas). Those racers and birds don't stand a chance!

 

[IamTrike]

Thanks! Totally agree! I have been very fortunate to this point to have avoided anything serious (and I still don't think this is serious yet either). It's given G and I some great time to crush some Wii Mario Kart and Wii Angry Birds Star Wars (which she got me for Xmas). Those racers and birds don't stand a chance!

That's a great way to take advantage of some downtime. My kids are now good enough at video games that they are much better than me.

 

[DopeyBadger]

That's a great way to take advantage of some downtime. My kids are now good enough at video games that they are much better than me.

Completely agree. Plus, we had no idea there were so many extra vehicles, characters, and tracks to unlock in Mario Kart. I showed her all the stuff we could get and we've been grinding ever since. She chose her unlockable favorite character and of course it was the "complete the game" character..... I'll cherish the time that she gets better at these games then me, that'll be a true challenge for me.

 

[garneska]

Billy, I am well versed in injuries. I think rest is good. The other piece of advice is timing. I have been told and have followed that if after weeks of rest it is not getting better, then see a doctor. Runners get lingering pains, a little rest helps. If two weeks is not cutting it time to get it checked out. I have been lucky most of the time the nagging things are not too major that a cortisone shot does not help. My major injuries usually involve an accident. For some reason I enjoying eating pavement. For those out there, trust me, it does not taste good, so don’t do it.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Billy, I am well versed in injuries. I think rest is good. The other piece of advice is timing. I have been told and have followed that if after weeks of rest it is not getting better, then see a doctor. Runners get lingering pains, a little rest helps. If two weeks is not cutting it time to get it checked out. I have been lucky most of the time the nagging things are not too major that a cortisone shot does not help. My major injuries usually involve an accident. For some reason I enjoying eating pavement. For those out there, trust me, it does not taste good, so don’t do it.

Thanks! I think this is great advice. Agreed, that if two weeks of nothing isn't enough to make a difference, then it's time to take the next step.

 

[FredtheDuck]

Glad you're making a smart decision and keeping the long-view in focus. Hoping this is just a quick pause and that you're feeling good and ready to go again soon. In the meantime, I'm loving that you've found some silver lining in the extra time you get with G.

(side note: @opusone - ouch. wishing you a comfortable recovery.)

 

[ZellyB]

Snowboarding in northern Michigan a week ago. Words of advice: if your 14-year daughter says “follow me” in a terrain park, think twice before doing so.

This is the parent equivalent of the college phrase, "Hold my beer and watch this!"

 

[DopeyBadger]

Glad you're making a smart decision and keeping the long-view in focus. Hoping this is just a quick pause and that you're feeling good and ready to go again soon. In the meantime, I'm loving that you've found some silver lining in the extra time you get with G.

Thanks! Hoping this short reprieve will pay dividends in the future. Best to be healthy at the start and able to attack the training 100%, then struggle through it at 80% and potentially cause more issues. Even with the rest, while it does feel better, I can tell it is still there.

We've been having a good time for sure!

 

[DopeyBadger]

67 Days to Go (Rosalina)



Date - Day - Scheduled Workout (Intervals within desired pace)

1/22/17 - M - MBW
1/23/17 - T - 7 miles @ 7:42-8:16 min/mile
1/24/17 - W - 7 miles @ 7:42-8:16 min/mile
1/25/17 - R - 7 miles @ 7:42-8:16 min/mile
1/26/17 - F - OFF
1/27/17 - Sat - OFF
1/28/17 - Sun - OFF
1/29/18 - M - OFF

Total (training) mileage = 21.0 miles
Number of SOS intervals within pace = nd/nd (nd%)

Monday

Leg was feeling better. I was feeling confident that the 60 hours rest like I got pre-Dopey would be enough to clear up any lingering issues I was having with my right calf. I did my standard medicine ball workout.

Tuesday

Not really any issues throughout the day with the calf. I decided to go with my old Kinvara 8s which are still in good shape. Still avoiding the Triumph Iso 3 in case they were the source of the problem.

WC of 18, 5 mph wind, night. The calf issue was apparent from essentially the first step of the run. It dissipated within the first 4 minutes and things seemed to be going fine. But by the end of the run the soreness was certainly coming back. There was some snow and ice on the ground which didn't make the run very easy at all. Slipped a few times, but never fell. Average pace 8:18 and HR of 136. Once inside there were no lingering issues.

Wednesday

Noticeable issues throughout the day, but not too bad. I decided to go wth my Zealot Iso which are still in good shape but nearing the end.

WC of 23, 5 mph win, night. The calf issue again was apparent from the beginning. Very stiff and little energy return. At times it felt like a stilt for a leg rather than getting some real energy return. I attempted to do some strides toward the end of the run, and things felt fine when running fast (but not great). After the run was over, there wasn't much lingering soreness. Average pace 8:17 and HR of 135.

Thursday

I knew today was the make or break day. I was still having soreness throughout the runs. Possibly I needed to go full nuclear and pull out the race day shoes. Since I had no issues during Dopey, maybe it was just because all my shoes are old and the only good pairs left are my racers. So new Kinvara 8s.

WC of 25, 5 mph wind, night. The calf issue actually didn't feel that bad in the beginning. I was feeling pretty good about the situation and thought maybe the new shoes did the trick. The goal was to do my EB pace of 7:42, but just try and feel the pace rather than force it. The first 4 miles were solid, but at around mile 4.5 the calf issue started to come back. As the run progressed, it became apparent it was still going to be a problem. It was during that run that I knew I was probably going to have to shut it down. I did my best to finish the run out, but as the last few miles clicked away as did my pace slow. Average pace 7:54 and HR of 140.

I got home and things felt fine. I decided to ice, elevate and put the compression on. Steph returned from her trip to Vegas and was concerned that I was still having issues. I told her I might shut it down and I think she finally realized at that point that it must be something real if I'm actually willing to stop running. I wasn't sold on actually stopping yet, it was just a thought at that point.

Friday

I woke up and could tell the calf issue was there. I still hadn't made my mind up as to whether I would bag the run. I got to work and just sat there for a little. I looked over my training plan and the possibilities of what time off would mean in the immediate plans. Then, I knew the best way to commit to actually taking time off was to post it in my journal. Once I posted it here, it would become real to me and I'd really commit to it.

When I picked Steph up from work and let her know I didn't need to run, she agreed it was probably the wise decision. So what was I going to fill my time with? Well, G asked if we could play some Mario Kart and Angry birds Wii and who am I to turn down some game playing with my daughter. We played for a while and then broke for dinner. The thought had crossed my mind. Was there more to Mario Kart that we were missing? Oh boy, did I open up a can of worms...

Here I thought the 12 characters in the game were it. But turns out there are 26!

And tons more race tracks and vehicles too. So then I showed G all the characters and was like which one is your favorite?

Obviously, she chose Rosalina. She looks like Elsa with her flowing teal dress, blond hair, and crown. Then it was all about finding out how to unlock Rosalina. Beat race? Set a record? Beat a series of races? Nope. It's quite literally beating the entire game by earning a near perfect score on every series of races in the game... Oh G... Of course it is... So off we set on trying to beat every series of races with a near perfect score. The heartbreak would literally be G asking after every race whether we got her yet. Nope, not yet, but we're getting closer!

Saturday

Spent lots of time icing, recovering, elevating, and putting compression on the legs. Some serious Mario Kart and Angry birds time too.

Sunday

Steph had to work, so G and I spent a lot of bonding time together doing a whole host of things.

That's where I'm at. Not much going on other than continuing to rest, ice, compression, and elevate. I can tell the issue is still there so taking time off was definitely the right decision. It'll just be a matter of whether 11 days is enough time or if I'm going to have to seek out a professional opinion. In the mean time, G and I have to go earn ourselves a Rosalina!

 

[ZellyB]

You are being so smart to take this time off and I know you'll be stronger for it!

And, that Mario Kart post is so stinking sweet! Watch out, Rosalina! G and Billy are comin' for you!!

 

[DopeyBadger]

You are being so smart to take this time off and I know you'll be stronger for it!

Thanks! That's the hope!

And, that Mario Kart post is so stinking sweet! Watch out, Rosalina! G and Billy are comin' for you!!

I'm certainly enjoying how difficult it has been thus far. And even though G is only 3, she has made it through 2 of 3 laps on occasion. So with the right course I think eventually she'll be able to finish a race.