Foot Turning, Shin Splints and changing the stride.

This is a repost from my Wordpress Blog.

So, ever since my long run in my marathon-training attempt, I have suffered from some shin splint pain on the left shin after a run. This week has been true to form, with the pain returning as my running has. Then, I began to look at the picture from the Pete Keyes Turkey Trot that I did on Thanksgiving day, and noticed my foot. If

you look at the picture to the right, you can see that my toe shoes are clearly NOT pointing straight ahead.

After I saw this, I decided to google the phrases "does running with feet pointed out cause shin splints." This brought back many different results. So, after reading countless pages, some of which did help, others were unrelated in their entirety - I discovered that this was a common thought on contributions toward shin splints.

running with toes pointed outward - was a contributor according to one site, along with "Tight Achilles and calf muscles."

Pete Keyes Turkey Trot 8k Race Report!

This is a repost from my Wordpress Blog.
The Sleeper Has Awakened!!! Ok, so now that I have my Dune quote out of my system, My apologies for being absent for so long, We have expanded our locations at Work - so things like running, blogging and sleep fell by the way side. But the new location is open, which means my free time is returning! With the coming of the Thanksgiving Holiday - to runners that means TURKEY TROTS!!! So this year I headed out to the Pete Keyes Turkey Trot 8k at Ostiningo Park in Binghamton. With it being an 8k, it was a guaranteed PR, since I had never run one before. In addition to it being a "first time" in that sense, it was also the first time I had volunteered at a race. I showed up early (in my Perry the Platapus hat) and helped pass out the Pre-Registrations (A-H!) It was actually a lot of fun, although the person who put the envelopes in "alphabetical order" had more of a theoretical sense of the alphabet rather than a practical one. Luckily runners are patient people!

Perfect Running Weather!!! Whether my Running technology works or not!

This is a Repost from my Wordpress Blog.

This unseasonable weather - is AWESOME!!!! Normally I am unable to run whenever we get "perfect running weather" - so I am enjoying it even more! All those days this year where the sun was shining, are being made up for - NOW! And I love it. Last night the timing was going to be tight - Our kids had "Family Dodge Ball Night" (Horace Mann does some of the absolute coolest things for their kids,) and it was Voting Day, so I couldnt' do a nice leisurely long run in the 68 degree (IN NOVEMBER!!!!) temperatures. I decided that the "run for the ride" was the way to go - so I headed out toward my wife's work.

Listening to my body, even when it seems lazy.

Two miles on the Dread-mill last night. This allowed me to appreciate one aspect of "starting over" -- a 2 mile run on a treadmill is easy to deal with. 20 minutes comes and goes fairly quickly, especially when compared to the days I have done 7!! I kept the dreadmill at a steady 6.2 mph, and ran for 20 minutes plus a dash to make it an even 2.1 miles. Felt fine (though boring), no real pain of any sort - no noticeable tightness in my foot like my run outside. One difference is that I wore my old Vibram Five Fingers Bikilas, instead of my new ones. The new ones are a size bigger (42) to help with room for socks in the winter.

I also did the calf-lifts 3 different times throughout the day. I suspect these are the reason that when I awoke this morning, ready to hop on the dread-mill, that my calves were sore. Going under my new "listen to the body" - I skipped running. I am concerned that I have to be careful here.. My body may just be slothful. Seriously though, I figure that I needed to skip it - as I am building my calves up from NOT running in the VFFs for almost two months. This is especially true as I stopped running, due to calf injury. My wife was also nice enough to point out to me that the calf exercises I am doing also strengthen the ankle in general. BONUS!

Thats it for the day - only a few more days of my "Feasting" existence.. We have a reservation on saturday for Fogo De Chao - the greatest restaurant of all time. Once we get back from our little vacation however - back to eating properly!

As a Note: I had to edit yesterday's posting. The new toe socks were NOT Injinji socks, but from a company called "SMARTWOOL"

Product Review: Smart Wool Injinji Toe Socks

This is a repost from http://oddfutures.wordpress.com/ - The original location of the "Once and Future Runner"

So, After wearing my black toe socks since I got them in May (washing them every night), They finally got a little hole in the heel. (Those Darn Socks!) I figure that I got my money out of them - considering I wore them at least 5 times a week. Yes, one pair - five times a week - washing them every night. I figured at $12.00/pair - I was going to get my moneys worth!

Well, I have not yet attempted to darn these darn socks - but figured I needed another pair. Off to EMS with my wife!!!!!! They had no black Injinji Socks.. Or VFF Trek LS... or Red Bikilas... Wasn't a good shopping day there. My wife insisted I get at least A pair - even if they didn't have black, so I went with the greenish-grey smart wool. I chose this pair because it was the only pair they had in the right size.

On the road again… I just can’t wait to get on the road again…

This is a re-post from: http://oddfutures.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/on-the-road-again-i-just-cant-wait-to-get-on-the-road-again/ - the original location of my blog.
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So, on my before-last post - I was talking about doing the couch to 5k.. And here is what I discovered.

I can't do it.

It was BOOOOORRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!! And exceedingly aggravating. Now Mind you, I'm not saying it isn't a good choice for a new runner - but to go out there and "jog" (I'm notajogger either!!!!) for only a minute, and then walk for a minute and a half (and repeat until you hit 20 minutes)- when I know I can just run the entire 20 minutes.... I couldn't do it.

Stupidity is painful in running (unlike most of life ) to the stupid person.

This is a copy of  a post on my Wordpress blog. I have begun to post in both as I decide which interface I like better - and which one draws more readers.

First comment today - is on my leg. The calf/shin doesn't "hurt" anymore. Though It still feels off, definitely not up to running yet. Its hard to describe how it feels (wonky doesn't explain it does it?), kind of tight, almost sore - but not quite.. Today is my first day of not wearing a Compression Sleeve to see how it feels.

Now the rest of Today's post is brought to you courtesy of my old friend Michelle, who was kind enough many (many, many) years ago to rent me a room back in my Navy days. She had responded to my last post with this:

Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’ve been thinking about your situation and wanted to post my 2 cents. Take it or leave it.

I have watched you post about injury after injury which is “normally” a indication of over-training. I’m wondering if there is a way to have someone assess your running posture? Since you have a background in track, is it possible that you are running too forward and too fast (indicative of track running) for longer endurance runs? The shin splints tends to suggest this as well. If this is the case, I would highly suggest taking a look at Jeff Galloways running plans. He uses splits to keep you from really over doing it, but surprisingly speeds up your overall time. I use his training plans all the time. Check out the Disney World Half Marathon plans – that’s the next half marathon for Keith and I.