New "Work" Shoes!

YAY!!!! A new pair of shoes for work!!

So this is a running blog right? You must be asking yourself - why is this idiot posting about his work shoes?  Well, let me answer this brilliant question you have!  My new work shoes?  

[caption id="attachment_445" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="My new "work" shoes!"][/caption]

Vibram Five Finger Treks!

I thought that I would try going full-time in VFF's, as a Podiatry site mentioned that if you were after the "supposed" health benefits - wouldn't you want to wear minimalist shoes all the time?  This tied in with the fact that my every day dress-shoes caused me knee and hip pain made it sound like a really good idea.   PLUS it should have the added benefit of decreasing any calf-pain while running since my calves will always be "Extended" by not being in any shoes with a raised heel. (see? it applies to running!)  I am wearing them with the Injinji socks today (and I still find the socks to be annoying.  Hopefully I will "get used" to them soon.)

On a running note, last night was a nice 4.5 mile run.  I am looking forward to starting my 18-week marathon training plan next week!

Post-Surgery Recovery update... And how it isn't going to affect my running!

So, as you probably recall, I had an inguinal hernia repair done on Jan. 6th.  Well, it has never totally stopped hurting following the surgery - but was far better, with a much lower pain level.  When I had stopped running to let my calf heal - it got progressively more painful.  The pain went both up and down my side from the hernia making it painful to sit/walk/do anything.  So, I finally called the Doctor and made an appointment.  the interesting discovery was that once I started running again, the pain got less. 

[caption id="attachment_441" align="alignright" width="260" caption="This is NOT my doctor."][/caption]

Yesterday I went and saw Dr. Brennan, the doc that performed the surgery. I explained what was going on, and where it hurt and how it got better when I was running. He had me repeat it, as it was the opposite of what is "normal" for pain like that.  He did reassure me (After checking) that I did NOT have a recurrence of my hernia.  Some ideas he had were that he may have put a stitch to near to a nerve, or something along those lines.

The Doctor also said as far as options to see what is going on, that MRIs and other "looking" types of medical tools aren't very good at finding hernias, or issues.  The real focus (in his eyes) were that I needed to ask myself - is this affecting my quality of life enough that I would want him to cut me open again, and see what was going on. (no.)  He did not seem worried however, and saw no reason I shouldn't keep running.  This was a good thing, as the likelihood of my stopping was quite low regardless.

So, after the quickest doctor's visit of my life - I was out the door.  On the way home I got a call - they decided to do an ultrasound next week, just to "make sure."

I know this entry isn't directly running-related, but as it affects MY running - I thought it worth posting!

Injinji Performance Toe Sock Review

Good Morning out there!  Today is an interesting post - but then aren't all product reviews interesting? I love to try new things!  Today you get to hear about my first run in my Injinji Performance Mini-crew Toe Socks!

One of the things I have been asked over and over in wearing my Vibram Five Fingers, is "Doesn't having things between your toes drive you nuts?"  Well, with the VFFs alone? No.  The Injinji socks are a bit thicker than the VFFs and I DEFINITELY feel them compared to just the VFFs.  This was to be expected, though it annoyed me as I walked around in them.    I was not going to let this get me down, as running in something is very different from just wearing them. The VFFs were very noticeable when I first started wearing them, but now I don't notice them.

2011 YMCA Corporate Challenge Race Report

So, most "race reports" I have seen on people's blogs are marathons or triathlons.  unfortunately, I am not up to those esteemed races as this point in life!  BUT I did do a 5k, followed by a 1 mile leg of a relay.  Lets see how those went.

[caption id="attachment_429" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="I can not possibly say enough good things about KT Tape!"][/caption]

It really started out at lunch time - when I stopped by home to grab my KT Tape.  Since my lovely wife was there, and she pre-taped my formerly injured calf for me.  Now fast forward to after work, I picked up my kids and headed over to the college that it was being held at.  I was a bit nervous about it as I haven't been running for the last 4 weeks due to injury, but Bryce and Elspeth (my son and daughter) did a fantastic job of keeping me from getting nervous! 

Quick Run!

As I am doing my first race today, last night was just a quick easy two miles.  The problem is the QUICK part.  I ran it one mile an hour faster than I normally go running.  Today, my two miles has made me a little bit sore, but my left calf is tight.  It's amazing how poor I am at doing the "Right thing" when I try to prepare for things properly!  I suppose the problem is that it was the perfect weather to run.. It was warm, but not HOT.  It was a little humid, but not anything abnormal. 

Tonight?  It's the "YMCA Corporate Challenge" over at Broome. I am doing the 5k race, and then will be doing the "Team Relay" that is a mile for each person.  I have had several people ask me how quickly I plan on doing the 5k - and I have no idea.  Last year I ran around 25 minutes, but that was pre-surgery and pre numerous injuries.  I will let you know how it feels!

Rest Days...errr.. Cross Training.

Good Morning! I have been thinking about rest days. As runners, we hate them and often skip them if we can. I posted on Facebook once that I had run two days, and that I felt guilty taking a rest day. One of my running facebook-friends quickly responded with "Studies have shown that if you are running it right, you can go six days a week." <-- I think that sums up most runner's mentality perfect. We run because we love running, and want to do as much of it as we can.

The counter to my running-friend's comment however, is the comments from physical therapists and sports doctors on how we are over-training. I was reading a sport's podiatrist's website that was discussing the foot-issues they have seen whose primary problem is that they don't believe in rest days!  On  Active.com, there is an article on how to improve your running - #4 is "Take a Break" .  My largest "injury-free" period this year has been when I was running two days, and resting for one.  The marathon training program I am going to be using has 2 rest days a week (still higher than that 6 days straight).

So, with all this "Resting" in the plan, how can I as a runner keep from going crazy?  CROSSTRAINING!!!!  I don't have a bicycle at this point, so that form of cross training is out.  I do like to lift on my non-running days. IT gives me the sense of having done something, while still giving my legs a chance to recuperate from whatever cruelty I have inflicted on them. It also has the added benefit of being #8 on Active.com's list - giving me the idea that I am even doing something right!

First "race" of the year.

This thursday, I am running in the YMCA Corporate Challenge at Broome Community College.  I will be running in the relay (3 legs, 1 mile each) and the 5k.  When I first came up with the idea of the agency I work for competing in it - It seemed like such a great idea.  With my surgery-site causing me pain and my recent lack of running due to my calf strain - this should be a rather interesting run. 

I ran this weekend, and (as usual) it felt GREAT to be out there, the VFF's moving as light as can be.  I'm back down to ~6 mph, but I am moving with one foot in front of the other - that makes me happy.  I am headed back for a follow-up with my Doctor regarding the hernia repair surgery.  The nurse agreed that increasing pain 5 months afterwards was probably not what should be happening.  But I Digress.

The running, followed by getting injured - has somewhat hurt my motivation.  When I walk out the door, I wonder what pain is going to start-up, or if I am doing something "stupid" without realizing it.  I am hoping that the 5k will help encourage me again. I need to get that "fire burning" and with 138 days to go, the timing would be good.  I should be starting the beginners marathon training plan by Hal Higdon at 126 days.  (For the math unfriendly, that is 12 days from now).

I suspect my time is going to be miserable, but I am looking forward to my first race in VFFs.  As long as I beat my non-runner co-workers, I'll consider it a "success."