Learning more about barefoot running or Blisters are far better than pulled muscles!

So, its friday - always a good day for countless reasons!  Today, despite my graphic pictures posted yesterday, I am able to walk pain-free.  The quick recovery from blisters sure beats the weeks of recovery required for a calf strain!  After managing to do some pretty good damage to my feet this week, I wanted to figure out how I could do to prevent recurrance of the same pain.  My wife had a very simple solution - stop running.  This was followed up with other helpful suggestions of "stop running barefoot" and "don't be such an idiot."  I decided to keep looking elsewhere for ideas.

One of the things I had looked for in the past

Barefoot Running - Day 2!

Last night was looking to be a pretty busy night, and to be honest - if I had been physically up to running the distances I SHOULD be running, I wouldn't have even tried to work it in.  I was going to a Binghamton Mets baseball game that was sponsored by my wife's workplace (we were handing out free bags.)  I knew I wasn't up to 5 miles or so, but I decided I had plenty of time for a quick mile.  I had really enjoyed the mile I ran barefoot with my son the previous day, so I thought another barefoot mile would be perfect! (as a side note - this also had the added bonus of my VFF Bikila's not being all sweaty and gross, letting me wear those to the game.)

Running Again!

[caption id="attachment_349" align="alignleft" width="174" caption="Its not often you get to use a picture of a hurt calf multiple times..."][/caption]

So, I have not been allowed to run, due to my strained calf muscle - my physical therapist thought it would be wise to actually let it heal.  The only running one time in three weeks (which ended with my calf muscle being unhappy again).  Well, it hasn't "hurt" in over a week, although it has still felt tight.  So yesterday I asked my physical therapist if I could go and run - he told me I should wait until my doctor gave me the o.k. 

Well, since I wasn't seeing a doctor (he just gave me a reference to they physical therapist) - I figure it must mean I was good to go!  So I figured I would head out for a small run of a 1/2 mile to a full mile - which of course means that I was going to do a mile.  So I picked up my son after PT, we got hair cuts (less weight to carry around you know!) and then headed out for a run!  The only question ahead of time - was how I was going to limit myself to one

[caption id="attachment_348" align="alignright" width="300" caption="well.. it wasn't raining when my son and I went. and we weren't on a track. And we ran slower than this guy probably did. But other than that it was JUST like that!"][/caption]

mile and stay there (you runners that read this understand.)   Well, my son and I went out and ran it barefoot!  I figured it was a good way to work on my form, as well as making sure I didn't over-do it.

It felt great.

Sigh..Didn't I play this game with the other leg?

[caption id="attachment_343" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="These are especially slippery when wet!"][/caption]

So, I did go for my run.. and it felt AWESOME!!!!!! that is... until around 1.8 miles.  I had been running a nice steady 6.5 mph, enjoying the run - and watching for wet flower petals on the ground (those things are worse than ice as far as slipperiness is concerned!)  Really felt good to be out there - no headphones, just enjoying the sounds of things going on.

Around mile 1.5, my left calf started feeling a little tight. I stopped and walked, using a nearby tree to strech it out, and went to a slow jog.  at 1.8, it got really tight. I decided that discretion was the better part of valor and switched over to a walk.  After I got home, I iced it for 20 minutes before heading out to cubscouts.

[caption id="attachment_342" align="alignright" width="128" caption="I'm VERY proud of my new Bear scout!"][/caption]

After returning from scouts (where my son got his Bear patch!  Webelos here we come!) I used my foam roller to work some of it out. I am not sure it worked anything out - but it hurt... and then hurt less..  After I got up this morning, my good friend the foam roller came out of the closet again.

So, It looks like I am not running for the next few days.  It seems my loft goal of 2 to 3 miles was too lofty.  I remember going through this with my right leg as I got used to my Vibrams.  If I recall from then, my Asics were much easier on

[caption id="attachment_344" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Get it? Its an injured Calf!"][/caption]

my calves (duh) then my VFFs, so it looks like those are coming out of the closet again.  I'm not to worried about this keeping me from doing the Marine Corps Marathon at this point (164 days to go!), but I am 23 weeks out - and my "program" I plan on following starts at 18 weeks.  So I definitely need to stop this injuring myself crap.

Urge to run!

So it has now been one week since my calf got mad at me for running down a steep, long hill.  I have spent every day apologizing, sent flowers and chocolates and FINALLY it seems that it has forgiven me!  It stood up well to going hiking on Saturday, didn't get mad that it was forced to sleep in a sleeping bag and even maintained a certain level of contentedness with all of the walking I have done recently.

I read up on the results of the first annual Greater Binghamton Bridge Run - and Several of my friends ran and did quite well!  Chris Coleman came in at a very respectable 1:50:22 (I'm sure I could have done a 1:50:21....), Doug Russell came in at 2:30 (not bad at all for no training/preparation!) and Cathy Fairbanks came in a 2:22:01 - not bad for bad knees!  While I do wish I had been able to run it, I am glad I did not. Without my calf strain I would have finished it -but who knows if it would have caused me injury that could have hurt/prevented my Marine Corps Marathon run?

So, I am planning to do two or three miles tonight (probably three, as less than that seems like I am only doing a warm up), but plan on waiting until my wife is home - "Just in Case."

I will let you know how it goes!

Motivation and Frustration

Not being able to run is frustrating..  On the way home, I ran into a friend of mine that was out running, doing a "nice easy three miler" as he prepared to do the half-marathon this weekend.  This is the same gentleman that sent me a Facebook message 1.5 years ago asking if I wanted to go do a 5k, which I went and ran - with no prep, and didn't do near as horribly as I thought I would.  The St. James 5k also had the added benefit of getting me back into running.

Had a great talk with him (and he was nice enough to humor me as I interrupted his run) about looking for more interesting runs, focusing on distance over speed and other running-related things.  I was definitely jealous, both of his running today as well as his doing the half-marathon.  The not being ABLE to run right now is hard.  The good news is that my calf continues to loosen every day.  I probably could run, but since there is still a knot there I am going to do the smart thing and wait (I know, hard to believe.)  Hopefully I will be pounding the pavement again on monday.

So, In an effort to keep motivated and in shape, I need to watch what I eat (as I am burning less calories) and find other ways to exercise - such as my "imitation-total gym.)  I haven't been terribly successful at either.  For some reason, when I am not able to run my dietary habits get REALLY bad.. Probably trying to relax and deal with stress by enjoying things like chocolate instead. And while I like lifting, its not near as enjoyable as running is when I am looking at solitary exercise.

Ah well, today is fruit and healthy stuff - and tonight I will do some lifting.. And keep wishing i could be running.

As for the half marathon this weekend? Good Luck Chris!

Injuries... To see a doctor or not?

It's always interesting to decide how to handle an injury.  There is that question of - should I see a doctor, or wait and see what it does?  As a guy, you would think my standard response would be " 'eh, we will see how it feels tomorrow."  And in general, you would be right.  However, with the Marathon looming in the future, and my realization that a couple of weeks of NOT running could make the difference in being able to do it or not - It's not the case.  So yesterday morning, right as the office opened, I gave my doctor a call.  4 hours later, I get a call back from the nurse.

"Stay off it, take it easy and see how it feels in a week or so."