Rocktape.. Another new experiment.

I have mentioned my calf pain here - and how it has limited my distance.  For example I can do 4 miles in conventional running shoes - This will lead to muscle fatigue and soreness the next day -but not major pain. 2.5 miles in the Vibram Five Fingers puts me limping that day, not running the next day, and possibly the following one as well - but only in one leg.

I posted on a Vibram site and someone suggested I try "RockTape"  - based on what i have read online this is some snake oil..  There are alot of claims that it has helped various people with various types of pain. Their website shows how to use it, and explains that you should leave it on for a couple of days as it works during the work out as well as helping you recover (now doesn't this sound like good 'ol fashioned Kilmer Swamproot?)  Not being one to really believe such claims, but also WANTING to believe such claims - I conintued to see what i could find online.  And Woo hoo!! Free sample!  On the daily mile - Greg from RockTape said:

"So here comes the spam (i prefer offer)! Send us an email to admin at rocktape dot com and we'll let you try it for free. No scam, no money, no nothing. Totally free."

Only it was 11 months ago.  So I sent an email off - as if i can try it for free it is definitely worth looking into!  Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be sold locally. Their Prime competitor seems to be "KT Tape"  Which doesn't seem to sell itself as the cure-all that RockTape does.  That is sold locally at Dicks Sporting Goods - so I may try and pick some of that up to try it as well.  Apparently the basis of both is kinesio tape, used by physical therapists and chiropracters to help treat ailments, and athletes to help with recovery by helping to support and stabalize joints and muscles.

Hey, if it lets me run further with less pain - its certainly worth looking into!

Running.. it isn't enough..

So, I have been running lately - but I don't htink that is quite enough to really prepare myself for the marathon.  So here are some other things I have been contemplating:

Dieting - It is easier to move a lighter weight, then a heavier weight (see what public schools taught me?)  So, I have started using "calorie counter" on my phone to track what I eat.  This way I can try and get rid of the spare tire I have been working on.. After all, spare tires are for cars and bikes - not runners.

Core Strength - Well, like most people - I hate situps and pushups.  But they are two great methods for working on core strength so I am beginning to implement them into my daily routine.  I have tried the "hundredpushups.com" and "twohundredsitups.com" challenges in the past - but never finished them.  I think it is time to revisit this. 

Other workouts - I won't join a gym at this time - because I don't think I will go.  When I can consistently get up and run at 5am every morning (or 3-4 times a week), I will revist the idea.  But, we do have EA Active 2 for the PS3.  Suprisingly this does a great workout - including core as well as various muscle groups.  This is going to become my non-running day workout.

Overall, I hope that the marathon preparations will not just let me run 26.2 miles - but will put me in fantastic shape!

Hills... Equal to more mileage/pain...

Hmm..  So it was beautiful today, and I took advantage of that - to take  nice run.  I went with the Vibram Five fingers - and it was nice..  There is just something very different about running in these.  I could feel it along the bottom of my feet - some tendon/muscle/something - that almost seemed tight.  With some time - it took care of itself (although i can still feel it now).  I decided on a four mile loop in the VFFs, although I suspected I was going to feel it at the end of the run.  One of the nice things about this particular loop - is it has a really nice hill in the middle of it, one that my old cross country coach used to torture us with.  I didn't stress myself going up the hill - took it nice and easy although it was definitely not "simple" - could feel it as i went..

The problem was when I reached the top of the hill - it hadn't occurred to me how much more running up hill could stress the calf..  I had run 2.3 miles at that point - which was the limit of what I had been able to do pain-free until then... and it seems it was or should have been the limit today too.. luckily my wife was able to come get me... the problem is these feel so good to run in - it is so easy to over do it.. and unlike sdealing with some minor sore ness the next day - since it is using muscles  differently than they ever have been - the pain is far more immediate..

So, it looks like tomorrow's run will be in my ASICS..  unfortunately.

Wonder if I can come up with a way to carry my normal shoes.. could run for 1.5-2 miles (gradually increasing it over time) and then swap to my ASICs, and carry my VFFs..

hmm.

Calf Pain

So, I love running in my vibram five fingers.. It really forces me to change HOW I am running. It also makes the entire process more enjoyable!  Something about the change in the way my stride works improves the experience - But there are some unfortunate side effects to them.

All of the reading i did online before i really started going - and everyone warned against "too much too soon" - so I have been trying to take it easy.. I started with 1/2 a mile and worked up (for the most part).

My right calf has been KILLING me. Yet, I didn't feel that I had done much beyond what seemed reasonable - and not by a runner's stand point. It turns out that when learning to run barefoot, or in VFF's - that if one doesn't actually let their heel hit the ground, the calf muscle gets an INCREDIBLE workout.. in otherwords - agony. So, rather than running in my VFF's full time and being limited to a mile or two - i have begun to do a couple miles in my old running shoes, then switch and concentrate on making sure that right heel touches the ground!!

It took alot of research through various forums and websites to find that one gem of wisdom. I knew I was doing something wrong, just couldn't figure out what it was!

Marine Corps Marathon Registration

 So.. I have decided it was time to live one of my dreams that I have had since Highschool, and signed up for the  Marine Corps Marathon. Some background may be in order.

Personally, I served four years in the United States Navy working side by side with Marines, while my father served in the Marine Corps (Which is where he met my godfather - also a Marine.). My best friend - served in the Marine Corps. When I was in highschool, I ran cross-country - and talked of "Some day" doing a marathon. In fact, I decided it was going to be the "People's Race" (as the Marine Corps Marathon is called - it requires no qualifying time and is simply a first come, first serve - sign up.) So since It was half my life ago that I decided to do this - I felt I probably should do it sooner, rather than later.

The thought has really been running through my head that I should look stronger at this over the last couple of years. Last year it was held ON Halloween, and it didn't seem fair to do that to my children (6 and 8 years old at the time), Well, there is also the fact I wasn't in shape for it.. Nor had I registered in time.. But that's not really relevant is it?

This year, I they opened up the sign ups at 11ish on Feb. 23, and I signed up ASAP (I also signed up my best friend - yes he did know I was going to do so.) At this point, I have 240 days, 17 hours and 40 minute to get ready for it.

For further background - when i really decided I was going to do this - it was last year.. Which lead me up to the point that I worked my way up to running 13 miles in early November. I had some pain in the right hip area at the time, but didnt' really worry about it. After two weeks off I tried running again, and felt horrible pain.. After attempting physical therapy for a strained hip flexor.. well, it turned out it was an inguinal hernia. On January 6th, I went in for laparoscopic surgery.. That couldn't be done laparoscopically.. So recovery from the "open hernia surgery" has taken longer than I hoped. I am working my way back into running - doing some training in my Vibram Five Fingers (which i hope to be able to wear for the entire marathon by October) and some in traditional running shoes - as my calves aren't strong enough to do it all in my vibrams.

So this is going to be where I document my training.. my thoughts on it.. and even just input on shoes/water bottles/gel, anything else that seems pertinent..

So Currently I am doing most of my training on a dred-mill, but as spring approaches that should be changing!

Running, Running and the looks you get when you are carrying your shoes in your hands instead of on your feet!

So my foot has mostly healed from an injury I had picked up a while back (and promptly ignored for 4 months) after a week off.  The physical fitness test I have been training for was postponed due to the injury. While I would like to get this done and over (in a passing way), I can't complain about a few more weeks to train!  So Although my running for the physical fitness test is only 1.5 miles, I have mixed distance into it - as I view myself as a distance runner.  Saturday I did 10 miles, 3 miles longer than I have run in the last 16 years.  (my knees still hurt from this stupidity).

So this week I have limited my running, 2 five mile runs earlier in the week, and a 3.5 mile run yesterday, with the last half mile in bare feet.  The times haven't been horrible - but a 45 minute five miler, or a 29 minute 3.4 miles are certainly not the sub-20 5k I would like to get back to.   They say slow and steady wins the race, so I will keep my progress going - even if it is slowly.. Though with fall here, and winter approaching, it means the race season is mostly done.  This bodes well for next spring if I train all winter.  I did my last 5k in sub 24 minutes.. Perhaps I can shave 4 minutes off over the winter?

So, the last 1/2 mile last night was in bare feet. I have been doing alot of reading on barefoot running and the benefits that it can offer. The problem being my feet have been in shoes for 35 years, so I need to build the muscles and tendons up to the idea of doing their actual job.  All of the sources online for barefoot running, or for running in the vibram fivefingers - That you start out VERY slowly.  Hence my 1/2 mile run.  For the record, most of the sites I read DID mention 1/4 of a mile, not 1/2... And my calves are certainly quite tight and sore today.. 

Running barefoot was interesting.  Down hills seemed far less controlled, possibly due to my paranoia of foot-pain... But I imagine as my feet toughen up and I get over my mental blocks - that aspect will become far less of an issue (I hope.)  I don't know yet if I plan on actually going with the whole barefoot running concept, or if I am just building up strength for Vibram Five Fingers, or just to make my feet stronger.  But I have to admit, IT would be pretty cool to line up at a local road race with no shoes on.

On a funny note, I headed out for my run last night, and right at the beginning I went by the person who runs my kid's after school program.  On the way back (in barefeet), there she was again! She asked why I didn't have shoes - so I showed her they were in my hands!!!

She may think I am a bit odd...

Foot-Technology..

An amazing thing..   When I began to run 20 years ago, American runners knew that you needed good shoes to protect your joints as you ran.  More padding, such as Nike added with the "Air Max" would help protect your joints from pain and damage.  Everyone understood this fact, and bought the best shoes they could afford.

I recently ran Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, the story of a 260 pound man that wanted to run, and wouldn't accept "modern medicine's" response of - a 260 pound man can't run without pain, and eventually ALL runners are going to face injury.  His research took him to a tribe in Mexico made up of the greatest runners that mankind has ever seen.  They ran in sandals.

There seem to be several different shoe choices now - for those that want to run "like they are barefoot", but without the danger of glass landing in your foot.  From the Luna Sandal (sold by Barefoot Ted from the book Born to Run), Vibram Fivefingers (with toes!!!), Runamoc, or even Nike Free Run+ we can now spend $85 or more to run like we have no shoes on!  (There are those that suggest we can run like we have barefeet for far less money.. But that involves a level of bravery that my poor sensitive feet don't yet grant me..)

There is a series of experts that are well regarded that point out that barefoot running (or minimalist running) strengthens the foot, and changes your running style in  such a way as to help prevent injury.  When you don't heal strike - you don't send the same level of "jarring" up your legs and back.  The suggestion is that Running shoes, while trying to "fix" our stride - is actually causing us damage. (Podiatrists are NOT fans of this thought process).  With my upcoming Physical Fitness test in a week and a day, now is not the time for me to be experimenting with new running styles, yet I do look forward to passing my PFT (and having my broken toe heal) so I can try out a pair of the Vibram Fivefingers and see how they work!