How's Your Training Going?

[rph13]

Thanks, Stephanie, I can't use the energy drinks either, my heart would totally jump out of my body and the caffeine just makes my hands shake too much. But today I added a cheese stick to my breakfast and an extra serving of fruit mid morning and I did feel much better today. Of course this is my day off from teaching or taking any exercise classes so I will see how the new food routine works tomorrow with my classes.

[fairestoneofall]

Since my PF is calmed down and the vicious blisters on my foot are mostly healed, I decided to go for a short run last night. It was great. I felt slow and my hips felt as stiff as a tin man's, but I was able to keep my :30/:30 intervals for the whole 30 minutes. And, even though I was slow, I did feel like I pushed myself to a good point. I was really tired when I got home, but recovered quickly and felt really great before I went to bed. It feels good to be back in the saddle again, even if the saddle does need some breaking in.

[fairestoneofall]

Just got back from vacation and I'm taking advantage of the fact that it's a slow week at work and I don't have to show up early in order to cycle commute Tu, W, Thurs. It's only 4.5 miles to work and back, but on Tues/Wed I took a longer route home.

Olympic distance triathlon this weekend. We'll see how that goes.

Sorry for the double post. I forgot I wanted to ask how this went.
So, how did it go?

[tappenfeat]

Ok, so tonight was my first night back at the track. I just walked quickly around 4x. Then, I did a full set on the bleachers. My foot is throbbing...but I said to my foot..."Foot! We don't have time for this!!! You need to get better and that's that!!!"

Then, I attempted a little tennis...but Foot wouldn't allow that...LOL! Baby steps!

PS

I went to a brand new Wal-Mart today and there was the Dr. Scholls foot station. So, I figured...ok, let me see what kind of feet I have.

Low and behold...I have flat feet that need arch supports and I am very prone to PF. No kidding! The inserts are $50!!! I'll wait until my current inserts wear out.

[timl33]

Olympic distance triathlon this weekend. We'll see how that goes.

Sorry for the double post. I forgot I wanted to ask how this went.
So, how did it go?

It's getting much hotter and humid here, but all in all I think I did alright. I'm feeling more comfortable in the swim. Not that I'm swimming so much faster, but I'm not stopping every 10 strokes to catch my breath now, so my swim times are improving. I did decently well on the bike course, but slowed down quite a bit on the run which was when the sun was getting quite hot too. All in all, I beat my goal time (though I did have low expectations) so it's all good!

I just did a century ride yesterday. There were plenty of hills. Now I'm recovering.

[fairestoneofall]

Glad you beat your goal time, timi33!

[Hannahbelle]

I'm still fighting soreness and random aches and pains in my leg, foot and ankle on the left side from my 6 mile run last weekend, so I did a lowsy 1.8 miles on Tuesday evening and basically walked the whole way because my legs just didn't want to work right.
I skipped Thursday knowing I needed to rest and my "3 mile weekend run" turned into a 5 mile bike ride yesterday.
I really don't have time for all this soreness nonsense!!! --Just frustrated..... but at least I got in "some" exercise on the bike. (Silver lining)

[fairestoneofall]

I hear ya! I had so much frustration in April and May with my foot pain.

[timl33]

Pulled a hamstring on Monday playing softball of all things. That'll set me back a little bit. I had a great June for training, I hope this doesn't set me back too much

[Andrew]

I'm in week four of Higdon's Half Novice 1 program for the Disneyland half. I considered going to Novice 2 but with my extended time off after Avenue and my wrist surgery, I felt it best to restart almost from the beginning. I actually jumped in at week 3, with three shorter midweek runs and a longer run on Sunday, plus the strength and cross-training I'd already been doing. My 3.5 mile treadmill yesterday and 2 mile street run today both felt great! I'm hoping to improve on my Avenue time, if only by just a little - I finished in 2:45:59 - but my real goal is just to finish.

Then, after a short break to recover, I'll jump back in to week 2 or 3 of Novice 2 and gear up for Wine & Dine. Coast to Coast!

[stan4d_steph]

Hot and humid weather is no fun to run in. Also my right leg issues have flared up again. Back to the PT I go. Still chugging along until ToT, although I'm not really following the Galloway "get faster" plan I downloaded. Mostly doing either 6 or 8 on weekend, then a couple of weekday runs plus spin class.

[Drince88]

Hot and humid weather is no fun to run in. ...Back to the PT I go.

You can say that first part again!! Fortunately, I'm on vacation in the one part of the country that is not having super hot weather, so I actually got 3 sessions in already this week. Actually, yesterday was an actual race, and I PR'd for a 5k, despite the 'rolling country hills' of the course. Granted it was my first timed 5k, and I thought I was going to die on the last uphill, but my sister and I were NOT last!!! (there were 2 people behind us) I kind of wish I'd been wearing my heart rate monitor so my sister would believe that I was just about ready to die, but I did keep going despite the huffing and puffing!!! My almost 16 year old soccer-playing nephew got third in his age group, and somewhere in the top 10 overall, and he was happy, since 'everyone else was actually a runner' that finished before him! He's decided he's not going out for cross country to keep in shape because it was too boring!

And I hope the PT helps, Steph!

[tappenfeat]

Well, I have found a very strange concoction that works for my PF. Before bed, I take 1,000 mg of Fish Oil. When I missed a dose, my foot is very stiff in the morning. I also purchased Gold Bond Lotion for foot pain and I apply it before bed. And, I found a great foot strap called Strutz at our local drug store. I can walk barefoot and wear flip flops with this strap. It's wonderful!!! It was in the section of "As Seen on TV" and it was only $10.

http://www.amazon.com/Strutz-Sole-An...eywords=strutz

[timl33]

Started Half Ironman Racine this morning. I still have hamstring issues, so there was a decent chance that I'd drop out of the run after swimming and biking. Swimming went well. I haven't put much time in the pool but I still managed to swim close to my "normal" half ironman swim time. Probably because I"m more comfortable with the water. The bike course was flat, and even with the bad hammy, I managed to do all right as well. Once I got off the bike though, the outer part of my right foot started hurting whenever I put pressure on it. I went to the medical tent and we determined that it *might* be a stress fracture. Plus my back was quite stiff and it was pretty hot, so I decided to call it a day.

With less than 2 months to Ironman, I wasn't going to chance anything, but the foot is much better right now. It might have just been an inflamed tendon, not a stress fracture. I'm probably going to take it easy with all my other problems and then get one last build push before tapering for the race.

[Drince88]

I'm sorry you had to drop out, but I'm glad you were smart about it. I wonder if the foot was a 'compensation' injury?

I did 6 miles yesterday and got a really nice blister on the ball of my foot. Bigger than a half-dollar (probably close to a silver dollar, but not fully round).

But I finished the 6 miles, and I made a wall training chart out of a large dry-erase vinyl 'cling' I got at Bed bath and beyond and some 1/8" black tape. I can see it from 'my chair' so hopefully that will help with the motivation as well. I got colored post-it notes about the size of 1/3 of the calendar squares (which are decent sized) and a planned workout completed gets a green post it. Not sure if a missed one gets a red one or not -- but I'll want to see that wall filled with green post its by Halloween! (That's the day I leave for the Wine & Dine half and MouseAdventure - the rest of the training will be at WDW. Do you think MA will count as a long walk? Both my sister and I are walking the half the following week, so we'll be going at at least race pace while manuevering around the MK!)

[stan4d_steph]

Sorry you had to pull out Tim, but hopefully it's nothing serious.

Cathy, I get more blisters in the heat too. Too much sweat! Hope it feels better soon.

I ended up doing my mileage on Sunday instead of Saturday. Hot and humid has been the norm, and even though it rained on me Sunday, there wasn't any cooling effect. Still got in my eight though, but my pace was closer to the suggested long run pace from my plan so I guess the heat helped that anyway!

[AVP]

Saturday was supposed to be a 7-miler, but... we were training in a new location AND our assistant TNT coach was there instead of the usual coach AND she doesn't mark the course the way he does AND I *thought* I was following someone who was also training for the half but it turns out she's on the marathon team which was doing 9 miles SO... I wound up missing the "turn around" marker, and doing 8 miles.

But I was under pace the whole time, so I'm happy. However, I am dealing with the worst shin splints / calf cramps ever, and they just are not going away or getting better. I'm wearing my compression sleeves, I'm trying every stretch in the book, and I just can't resolve this. I'm getting really concerned - we're about to hit our double-digit training days, and I just can't imagine doing it with this pain.

Anyone have any sure-fire calf tricks?

AVP

[RunninDisney]

I did 15 miles on Saturday in the pouring down rain...NOT fun, but I was really happy with my time. Sorry about the shin issues AVP. I battle those myself. My shins are giving me a very little amount of pain after Saturday. I'll probably wear my compression sleeves for the next few runs. Are you wearing the thin socks or the thick sleeves? I find the thick sleeves work better than the socks.

[Andrew]

Six miles on Sunday. Not too good - never felt I got out of first gear. I'm keeping up with the training plan, and my shorter runs are going pretty well, but that's two long Sunday runs in a row that didn't go as well as they might.

[tappenfeat]

However, I am dealing with the worst shin splints / calf cramps ever, and they just are not going away or getting better. I'm wearing my compression sleeves, I'm trying every stretch in the book, and I just can't resolve this. I'm getting really concerned - we're about to hit our double-digit training days, and I just can't imagine doing it with this pain.

Anyone have any sure-fire calf tricks?

AVP

Have you tried bananas? Potassium helps the calf muscles for sure. When I have days of hard exercising, at night sometimes I get RLS (restless leg syndrome) and bananas and a lot of water helps those pesky calf muscles. Also, a lot of stretches for the calf muscles to work them out leaning into the wall while keeping your heel down. Hope this helps a little bit.

[Drince88]

I've got shin issues, too, Adrienne. I've found for me if I have a really long warm up (even the walk from HoJos to the DL start did it for me, even with the long time between getting to the start area, and the race start) I'm good. But there's just something about walking a mile or so before I do a 13 mile walk that just doesn't sit well in my brain. And I also found that if I backed off my speed when I first started feeling them tighten up, until they were fully loose again - that helps to.

But definitely talk to your TNT coach -- that's what they're there for! And at least you only did 1 extra mile!!!

[stan4d_steph]

A lot of shin splint issues come with increasing mileage too fast, which may be what has caused it. Talk to your coach; I'm sure he/she will have seen it before and have some suggestions for you. For me, I usually go searching on Runner's World for treatment options first.

[josephfive]

While you are healing, I recommend you wear a supportive shoe inside the house as well. No bare feet on hard surfaces and no flip flops.

Do you have a large foam roller? If yes, before run roll your calves and all upper leg muscles. And after running, I would ice and ibuprofen.

Good luck and I hope the pain goes away quickly.

[tappenfeat]

While you are healing, I recommend you wear a supportive shoe inside the house as well. No bare feet on hard surfaces and no flip flops.

Excellent advice! I have learned that one the hard way! And even though bare feet and flip flops are my first preference, it's just no good when you are having issues from running.

[RunninDisney]

I put in 10 miles today. It was VERY hot and humid. I think I sweat more today than I have in a very long time. I was a little slower than I wanted to be, but given the weather, I'm ok with it. My right shin started to hurt a little on my run on Thursday, so I wore a calf sleeve today and stretched really good before and after and took a cold (eeek!) bath when I got home. Wish me luck!