Finding that edge between pain and progress

After running 5 miles on Tuesday, which is a "long" run for me at the moment, I figured I would do something a little bit shorter yesterday.  I tossed on my Vibram Five Fingers (after all, it was just going to be a short run), and headed out.  I ended up doing 3 miles, although I had only planned on 2.  My calf muscles never crossed into pain, but were tired by the time I got home - but some quick advice from a friend (Ice, and Roll on the foam roller!) helped me ensure that today they would just be tired, as opposed to crippling pain.  It is amazing how much better it feels to run in them. I averaged 6.9 mph for the run - significantly faster than any of my other runs.

An interesting thing that I noticed while out on my 5 mile run, which I verified yesterday on my 3 miler.  My "traditional" style of running - I don't really use my calves.  My thighs do all the work, while my calves stay at the end of my legs with enough control to not be flopping around like a dying chicken.  This also explains

Milestones

I think every sport, perhaps every activity, has it's milestones that we strive to reach.  When we pass these there is a sense of accomplishment, and a setting of that new goal to reach.  In baseball, it might be a certain batting average.  In a drive across country, each state that is entered.  And in running our milestones are usually.. well.. Miles.  Most runners I know see the 5 mile distances as being noteworthy milestones.  5 miles, 10 miles, 15 miles, 20 miles that can be run without stopping (or perhaps run without causing pain, or in a certain time..)  Last night, I ran over 5 miles - with no crippling pain during or after.  For those that have been following along, you may recall that I ran 5 miles on March 16th, but then had fairly crippling calf pain that kept me from running again until March 24th.)  This is also important as my best friend and I are going running on saturday to do five miles.  I thought it might be important to be sure I could actually run that distance.

Workouts and varieties of exercise.

So, I have (obviously) been running in an effort to increase my abilities, stamina and speed.  But, like most people I am an instant (or quick) gratification sort of person.  I would like to grow stronger, lose weight and run further NOW.  (This probably helps to explain how I manage to over do it and cause myself injury on a regular basis.  My wonderful wife put a lot of effort into keeping me from hurting myself just after my surgery.)  I started to do some research into exercise programs that could be done at home to increase my strength and lose the girl-scout-cookie fat that likes to stick to me.  There are three main ones I have looked at so far: P90x (heard incredible things from several people on this), Cross Fit (I have come to the conclusion that this is something like a cult and you can't figure it out without help.  I have no idea what the "exercise of the day" is, or how you find out) and Insanity (I liked the commercials).

My first priority is that it has to be able to be done on my own, at my house on a varying schedule as my family's schedule is anything but consistent.  The second aspect is that it can't require much in the way of the equipment.  I don't have the money to buy much equipment, nor the room to store it.  And third, it has to be something I will actually do.  Unfortunately this one will only be tested by time.

Lack of pain is very.... pleasant!

So, I have mentioned my on-going calf-pain here in the past.  Well, I don't know how or why, but it seems to have settled greatly.  I got on my Dread-mill this morning and did 1/2 of a mile barefoot, and then 3.5 miles with my traditional-style running shoes with NO pain.  Granted I have been taking it easy, using the KT Tape and running only short distances - but the complete lack of pain took me by suprise - in a pleasant way!    If we hadn't had to rush out to my son's Odyssey of the Mind competition - I probably would have done 5 miles with my shoes on... In otherwords, I probably owe my son a large thank you for keeping me from over doing it to much today.

I have felt some pain over the last week-week and half where I had surgery in January.  From my reading online, it seems that about 10-15% or up to 25% (depending on the source) of people that gave open inguinal hernia surgery with mesh repairs end up with ongoing pain.  I plan on going in to talk to the doctor since it has been shy of three months, but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse, even considering the mileage I have been doing.  I will not be happy if I have to stop running, but considering that it isn't getting worse, I'm not too worried .

KT Tape and Taking it easy...

So my free samples of the KT Tape and the Rock Tape did arrive last week, I apologize for slacking and not mentioning it sooner.  The Rock Tape company sent me two excellent little sample packs. Bright red tape with their logo on it.   Then, two days later the KT Tape arrived in the mail.  And they sent two full size BOXES of tape.  I was pretty excited to try it out - so my wife helped me put it on (ie, i stood there while she put it on.  I decided to go with the KT Tape, as there was more of it - so more room for error and wastage.  We followed an easy to follow instructional video.

It was interesting, as it seemed to help.  I won't lie - I didn't really expect it too and was pleasantly suprised.  The tape did start to peel off in 1.5-2 days (tried two different applications).  As an addtional test, I then took the tape off for a couple of days.  The pain in my calf definitely came back faster while I was running, and lasted longer as far as healing/recovery.

Domino Effect.

When one domino falls, the next one will go with it... and the next one.. and the next one...

For many people the "Domino Effect" is very real and noticeable effect.  I know if I have a bad day, I rush around - I may not shake that grumpiness for a while.  Since I am in a "funk" - I don't pay as much attention as i might, going through my morning routine.  This could (and often does) lead to spilling my coffee, not paying attention and having to re-write an email several times, etc, etc, etc... Turning what started out as a simple "waking up late" - to a bad day, as I let each thing effect the following thing.

Running and working out, it's not hard to see this in effect also.  Starting with the bad --  If you skip a planned workout on monday, then on Tuesday it may bother you, encouraging you to go work out.  But if I miss Tuesday, then weds. becomes much harder to get off my butt and go.  Thursday?  probably not going to happen either.  I have talked to other people with "plans" on getting in shape

Climbing Hills Raises the Level of Fun!!!!

Ok.. So most people don't really view hill running that way,  but "back in the day" when I ran Cross Country, I used to love hill running.  In a race, it was a fantastic time to pass people.  I would come up from behind, seeing another runner bent forward, slowing down, gasping and wishing that they were anywhere on the course - but a hill.  As I approached, I would stand a little straighter and speed up as I hit the hill.  As I would pass them, you could hear comments, gasps of surprise and depression - basically you would mentally beat them by blowing them away on the hill - or even worse, bursting over the top.  (Thanks Mr. Hyland for teaching that!) It could be better than passing the person in the last 10 feet of the race!

Most people, especially if left to train on their own, have a tendency to avoid hills as much as they avoid speed work.  They are far more work, less fun and wear you out in no time.  But these things are the very reasons to DO hill workouts.  Something to think about - many races have hills, and if you don't train on them, how can you run a race on them?  Especially if it is a half marathon or full marathon?  Not to mention the obvious benefits to strengthening calves and quads! (one good hill workout lets you know you are indeed doing THAT!)

I started thinking about my training plan for the Marine Corps Marathon, and realized that I didn't know what sort of hills were on the course.