Running Aimlessly Around the Countryside

I've been easing back into running for the last 2 weeks. My physical therapist gave me a return to running plan that started with walk/run combinations and finally this week switched to a full run. The plan has been working well for the tendonitis but has really revealed how much my fitness level has dropped. That really surprised me since I was dedicated to getting to the gym and using the cardio machines when I couldn't run. So what do you do when you have been on the roads for two weeks and have run one time for 25 minutes? Sign up and run a 5k! I really didn't have much of a choice. Today was the Z-run, our local 5k that supports the local schools. If you are a long time reader, you might remember that I won my age group last year. However, that was then and this is now. Last year I was base building and training to pace Jil through her first running half marathon.  This year, I had 2 weeks of running under my belt and had just spent the week fighting either severe se...

In the last week I've finally been able to begin running again after what is basically a 3 month layoff. I've started an advanced return to running progression that my physical therapist gave me. It begins with some walk/run combinations to ease back into the effort. If all goes well, over the course of 7 weeks I will be able to run for about an hour. If it wasn't for the fact that I am on the roads at all, it would be somewhat discouraging, but the fact is, I am on the roads. The good news is that my knee feels good while I'm running, although my left knee (from the injury when I was 14) as been a aggravated by some of the strengthening exercises. I do still feel a little soreness when I'm still for longer periods, but I can definitely sense progress. The worst part is my fitness. While my legs are holding up for about 3 miles in 30 minutes, my lungs are screaming. I don't think it matters what cross-training you do, there is a specificity requirement to perf...

It has been hard the past couple months not to be running. I grew a beard to protect my face during long runs, didn't need it. It was easier because only the most dedicated runners were out on the roads. As of late, that has changed. As the weather as gotten warmer and training programs for the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon have ramped up more and more people have been out on the roads. Seeing everyone out and about has been torture. I want to be out there so bad, but it's just not time yet. Last week I finally got in to see my favorite PT, Brian. In addition to overall evaluation and providing of exercises, he got out his Graston tools, and went to work on my lower quad. It was not comfortable and knew it was not going to be pretty when he said, "good, we're starting to see some red spots."  I followed up with some ice massage then got changed and headed to work. When I left, my leg didn't like being touched, not even by my dress pants. The leg stayed swollen ...

I mentioned in my last post that I got a new pair of shoes just to verify that the shoes I was wearing weren't causing the issue with my knee. After a couple of 3 mile treadmill test runs, I determined that MJ was right and Mars was wrong. It's not the shoes. (Remember the old Nike Air Jordan commercial with Spike Lee?) So what next? Today I went to see my friendly sports med guy. I had scheduled the appointment for knee pain, and because of my history, he was surprised that it was my right knee and not my left. For those of you who knew me growing up, you'll remember that I had kind of a nasty encounter with the rear end of an AMC Gremlin when I was 14. Maybe I should tell that story someday. Anyway, we figured out it's not the IT band, it's not the meniscus, it's not the ligaments.... It does appear to be something with my quadriceps tendon. We did take the opportunity to take some x-rays of my knees just to see where they are structurally at this point in ...

Let me start with the blogger's apology: sorry that I haven't posted here for awhile, life has been a bit crazy. The sad thing is that it's true. Also, the main point of this blog is my running, and over the past month there hasn't been much of that. I've been logging way too much time on the equipment in the gym and while I enjoy the elliptical, stationary bike and rowing machine, I really wish that I was out on the roads, cold weather or not. For those of you who have been following along, my right knee is still bothering me. Not to the extent that it was at the beginning of January, but its still there. I have begun to get some running in, but it's been all treadmill, no time on the roads. While at The Running Company getting Anna her shoes for track season, I went ahead and got a new pair of shoes in case dead shoes are contributing to the problem. I liked the low profile and the lightweight of the Mizuno Wave Elixir 4s, but as a regular trainer they just...

I'm continuing to struggle with my knee/IT band as well as the sirens that reside near my couch, but used the opportunity to take a very non-scientific look at training effect on others this week. Our local club hosted a swim meet this past weekend, and while it may not apply directly, I looked at the training my two kids have been doing, and what their results were at the meet. Anna, who is 14, trains 6 days a week. All of those days include 2 hours of swimming, with 4 days including an additional hour of dry-land training(active strength training like running stairs, hops, lunges, crunches, etc.). The swim sessions vary in intensity, but range from around 5,000-8,000 yards a day. Will, 11, trains 6 days a week. 5 days are 15 minutes of stretching followed by 1 1/2 hours of swimming, the sixth day is just 1 hour of swimming. A hard day in the pool for him is usually around 2,000-2,500 yards. School comes first and homework load occasionally wins out, but both kids make practic...

Before I wish the new year a happy welcome, I would like recap 2009. My goals for the year seemed to be fairly simple: train intelligently to remain injury free, help Jil complete her first running half-marathon, and run a fall marathon (with a PR), and break the 1000 mile barrier for the year. None of that seemed very hard and the year started off very well. I followed the 10% rule and made sure to include rest days as an important part of my schedule. My base miles tallied up and I was right were I wanted to be to pace Jil through her spring race. Things were going well even to the point that I ran a trail half for fun just 2 weeks prior to running with Jil. Success continued as I crossed the finish line with Jil as she completed her first half as a runner. It was about that time that the sweater started to unravel. My calf/shin started to bother me so I began a sequence of 2 week rest periods. And by rest, I mean complete and total rest followed by a single, pained run. At the en...