OT - Running

[Joe Muscara]

Hope the ankle is good, soon, Husk!

 

I still can't imagine doing a marathon, but it's not as crazy of a thought as it used to be for me. The funny part is, how my wife has been reacting to my running. I tease her about me doing all this running, and she's often like, "I know "

 

OTOH I'm encouraging her to do it. I'd really love to be able to run with her sometimes. "Otherwise I'm going to have to find another hot babe to run with... "

[Joe P]

The funny part is, how my wife has been reacting to my running. I tease her about me doing all this running, and she's often like, "I know "

 

OTOH I'm encouraging her to do it. I'd really love to be able to run with her sometimes. "Otherwise I'm going to have to find another hot babe to run with... "

 

It's a good way to spend time together. I've logged a lot of miles with the missus. We did the Philly Half together. We did 4 on a muddy, slushy trail on Saturday.

 

My times are a lot slower with her, but I think it's because we talk a lot, not because of her fitness, she's in WAY better shape than me!

[Joe Muscara]

Sigh.

 

I had to do a reset. I guess I was overdoing it, and started seeing a doc because of problems I've been having with my right hip/thigh. He was really against running (or doing any particular exercise) every day, as he felt you need at least one day a week to let those muscles recover. I started backing off and doing some of the stretches and rolling he suggested which helped, but not completely.

 

I started going again and by the end of last week I felt things starting to get bad again. I ran on Monday and it wasn't great either. Tuesday morning it rained steadily and I decided to take the day off, and I didn't run from then through Friday. Then, I had an idea. Jeff Galloway's method claims to not only build strength and endurance, but to be pain-free. So I've decided to try his "Easy 5K" app. I gave the first workout a test run on Saturday and I really liked it. The app can play music with the tempo matching the pace you should be going. It was funny because it started a song and I thought, "I didn't remember it was that fast," and I was right. When I finished that interval, it slowed the song down!

 

Anyway, I've decided I'm going to go with his program for the duration, skipping the days he says I should and see where that gets me. I'm bummed about not running as much as I was before, but hopefully this will get me back in the game better than before.

[Dave Ferris]

Because of the fractured pelvis/sacrum bone, my last run was on August 22. It was 3 miles. After that I had to stop and was walking up until Sept. 3. Then the pain got to be too much for even that.

 

I received the results of the MRI on Sept. 6 and have been mostly house bound since then.

 

But yesterday I ventured out for my first walk "for exercise" in just under 7 weeks. It was .63 of a mile and it took me 18:37. No pain, just walking very slow.

 

Today I bumped it up to my mile loop around my neighborhood. It has one short hill. It took me 24:10.

 

The Ortho cleared my to ride my bike around the neighborhood but said try to stay flat, which is difficult to do around here.

 

He wants another MRI at 3 months out before he clears me to start running again. I'm hoping for a Dec. 1st return date. But that's not set in stone as I'll adhere to his recommendation on when to start up again.

 

In the meantime it's walking and riding. In a couple of weeks I hope to be able to work up to start hiking the steep trails behind my house in the Verdugos - at least part of the way up.

 

Just getting out the last two days, doing the mile today and getting some oxygen to my brain and body feels incredible.

[Joe Muscara]

Congrats on that, Dave. I imagine being home bound all this time must have been difficult. I know I get crazy when I don't get my runs and walks in.

[Joe P]

Dave,

 

I'm sure you know better than me, but take as much time as Dr. says and then take more!

 

Good luck to you.

 

 

[Dave Ferris]

Thanks for the well wishes guys. I will be back out there again at some point, hopefully in the not too distant future.

[Dave Ferris]

I feel like the first line in Fagen's "Deacon Blues" -- and it's pissing me off !

 

Walking 65 to 75 minutes a day is good and I'm thankful to be doing it but I gotta get back to running.

 

Aug. 22 was my last run when I gimped through a 3 miler. At 4:30 today I meet with the Doc to see how the MRI looks from last Friday. Sure hope he clears me to start up again.

[Markyboard]

Wishing you the best Dave. Of course when I'm huffing & puffing up the hills I'm envious of those laid up .

[Joe P]

Dave, hope the MRI has some good news for you. For me, I am not the expanding man, but shrinking. Doctor told me to lose weight because he said I am pre-diabetic. My score was within the margin of error, but I lost 17 pounds anyway which is not insignificant on a 6 ft. 192 pound frame.

 

Anyway, it's kind of depressing. 20+ years and thousands of miles and to hear that is depressing!

 

But I gotta admit the weight loss has had a huge positive effect on my running. And I had a nagging hamstring issue for 3 years that has all but disappeared. But my dedication to running is not what it used to be because it is easy to think "what has it got me?". I'm 53.

 

Nevertheless, I will never stop running. I need a goal, maybe I'll do a half in 2018. :idk

[Joe Muscara]

I still can't imagine doing a marathon, but it's not as crazy of a thought as it used to be for me. The funny part is, how my wife has been reacting to my running. I tease her about me doing all this running, and she's often like, "I know "

I came back to this thread to write about something else, and this was the first post I saw. It's funny because I've decided to do Galloway's training schedule for a half marathon. I don't have any plans for actually doing an official one, I'm more interested to see if I do it, or can do it.

 

Badges? I don't need no stinkin' badges!!

 

That brings me to my reason for posting. I don't care about my time generally. Have any of you done his Magic Mile? If I don't need to do it, I won't. I did 10k on Friday and my pace was pretty consistent throughout. If I do it, I have to find a track to run it on someplace I can access. I usually do my long runs on Fridays but school is in session so I can't use a school right now. And, I'm just lazy. I'd rather just run.

[Dave Ferris]

At this time, I wouldn't concern yourself with the mile time trial thing. That's for determining your race pace at different distances -- and even then I don't consider it to be an accurate barometer for every runner. If you are serious about the half and it's your first , you just want to be able to finish.

 

You shouldn't even worry about a watch at this point in time, other then to check the duration of your longer runs. But as far as thinking about mile splits and all that, which I don't think you are..

I don't care about my time generally.

I'm just throwing all this out hypothetically. Again, you just want to be able to go the distance.

 

In your runs leading up to it, your body should instinctively tell you what pace it wants to go to finish. That is given you've done the appropriate mileage leading up to it.

 

For the Half, I would try to work up to a minimum of a 10 or 11 miler, and at least 3 weeks out - a month optimally- from the race date, so as to give yourself plenty of recovery time.

 

Regarding should I go ahead and register for one -- why not ? You did the training. It could be a great motivator and totally different stimulus. I never entered races for the medal - although I have a box full of them sitting up in the attic. It can be more about the camaraderie, atmosphere and experience of being around other runners who are busting their butts going for the same thing you are.

 

For example , you might hook with someone late in the race where you both are struggling , running the same pace and use that to help you get through the rough spots and finish. You might meet new people and join in some running groups or weekly runs. I ran by myself for many years but when I started running with people and joined a running club - I learned so much more about the sport. Not to mention meeting people that have become life time dear friends

 

You know the other cool thing about running in races - what other sport could you possibly line up with, or behind, an elite athlete to compete for same goal ? It's not like you could ever play basketball with LeBron James but you could say - hey this morning I ran a 10K with Joan Benoit Samuelson.

[Joe P]

Yeah Joe, Dave speaks wisdom.

 

I've done 2 halfs and I used Hal Higdon's schedule both times. I'm not sure how useful the Magic Mile calculation is, especially with changing conditions. But knowing your mile time is handy, particularly if you are consistent, you can run anywhere and know the distance.

 

I really want to do another half this year, but I got nobody to run with. My wife needs a new ACL, she did the Philly Half with me. It's so much better running with somebody, the long runs can be pretty boring and lonely otherwise.

 

I really enjoyed both halfs I did, but the Philly one was totally awesome. The people lining the streets, costumes, music, just an all-out street party.

 

I'm looking forward to the time change here, then I can get off the hamster wheel and back onto my trails after work.

 

I encourage you to do a half, it's a blast.

[Dave Ferris]

I really want to do another half this year, but I got nobody to run with. My wife needs a new ACL , she did the Philly Half with me. It's so much better running with somebody, the long runs can be pretty boring and lonely otherwise.

 

My gosh, what happened ?! From running ?

 

There's nothing that can boost the endorphins or *high* you get from running then running with a good group of people. Even just one or two can change your whole stimulus on a run.

 

I've logged ten of thousands of miles by myself but given the choice, I enjoy running with friends. It makes things even that much more enjoyable.

 

I'm still recovering from the fractured pelvis. I'm now at 6 months in..

 

Thought I'd be back in the saddle by now but at 64 sh*t just takes longer to heal. Basically things aren't feeling right with the sacrum bone so still walking but getting some good mountain and road bike rides in. It's the only way I can get the heart rate up - walking, while being great, simply doesn't cut it.

 

Moved up my third MRI from March 1 to April 2. I'm going to ratchet all activity down even more in March to give the bone more chance to heal. Hoping for a return in in mid-April, early May. Last run was on Aug. 22 , sure miss it.

[Joe P]

I really want to do another half this year, but I got nobody to run with. My wife needs a new ACL , she did the Philly Half with me. It's so much better running with somebody, the long runs can be pretty boring and lonely otherwise.

 

My gosh, what happened ?! From running ?

 

Karate incident (she's a Black Belt )

 

First opinion was replace it (with cadaver ACL ), we are getting a 2nd opinion in March, but based on how she feels she thinks it probably needs to be replaced (she's an RN). She's mobile and in fact has a dance performance on Sunday. I don't understand how she can have a torn ACL and do all that when the guys in the NFL go off on stretchers. I guess it is the degree of the tear, but I don't know anything about that stuff.

 

Hope your healing speeds up, Dave!

[cphollis]

A contrarian viewpoint? Just because my KC buddies can handle it?

 

I am now a speed walking dude. My body is not designed for running. It is what it is. I totally suck at running. Lord knows, I've tried it dozens of times, and it's just not for me on all sorts of different levels.

 

So, next best thing? Find a measured mile trail, and bring game. Move yourself from 3.8 mph to 4 mph to 4.5 mph and beyond. My best time is four miles at 4.7 mph, which -- in the world of fast walking -- is pretty nuts. Scary fast, faster than most joggers.

 

The good news? I can do it 6 times a week. I burn 500+ calories every time. No, I don't get the social thing, because *nobody* in my world walks as fast as I do. Oh well.

 

But the health benefits are obvious, and I'm not going to change anytime soon.

[Joe Muscara]

Thanks for the input, Dave and Joe. I'll consider signing up for a half, those are not bad reasons.

 

Chuck, I'm a fast walker too. I often get around 8 min/km when walking. I think that's around 4.7 mi/hr. More often it's closer to 8.5 min/km or 4.4 mi/hr. That tells me your times are pretty good!

[Dave Ferris]

So after 9 months and 8 days off ( but who's counting ) from the fractured pelvis/sacrum, I started to run again. It seems like it has been 9 years !

 

Today was day 6 back and I'm starting to see a bit of progress. I was able to extend the duration of all my run intervals to 6 minutes and only needed a 2 minute walk recovery.

 

And the total time ran in just under 4 miles was 30 minutes out of 49. In this early stage of comeback it seems I get best results out of running every other day and continuing with the walking or light bike on the off day.

 

Next goal is to run a mile without stopping. It's beyond humbling to see how much I've lost in the 9 months.

[bennyray]

Dave you will recover much faster than you think being consistent is the key.

 

I used to be an avid runner and run 5k's and half marathon. I am in my mid 50's but I haven't run in about 5 years need to get the Mojo back. Gosh when you quit for a long time it is really hard to get motivated.

 

Running is so relaxing and clears your mind from all the stress of everyday life. Good to see you back running.

[Joe P]

Yeah, keep at it Dave, it will come back. My running has suffered terribly due to....Little League! My 2 boys 10 & 12 are in full blown baseball mode right now and it's killing me!

[area51recording]

Tell you what....if anyone sees me running, they better assume something BAD is chasing me and they might want to join in.....

[Joe Muscara]

Congrats, Dave!

[Doerfler]

Next goal is to run a mile without stopping.

 

you inspire me.

[jefsco]

Next goal is to run a mile without stopping. It's beyond humbling to see how much I've lost in the 9 months.

i can imagine!

just two days off in a row, makes my 3 miles a day significantly more difficult.

but thats just age taking its toll . . .

i have to run to maintain my sanity!

 

 

[David Emm]

I bought an exercise bike because my version of "running" closely resembles that of a lava flow. I once loosely hiked n' biked, scuba dived and the like, but my knees went belly-up, so the home bike at least allows me to hold the line. Side point: it also matters because even just playing lil' controllers is an intermediate contact sport. Triple that if you play acoustic keys or weighted controllers. Its more than worth it to keep my stamina and reflexes rolling.

[Dave Ferris]

This past Sat., at Day 16 back, I attempted a combination run/hike on one of the more steep trails in this area.

 

The Beaudry South/North loop in the Verdugos behind my house.

https://modernhiker.com/hike/hiking-verdugo-mountains/

Sorry Modern Hiker but there ain't nothing moderate about it.

 

I frequently go up the North trail but the South is a whole other degree of steepness. Lacey dog and I started out with a 20 minute walk warmup as it right away starts climbing and I wanted to get a bit warmed up before attempting to run.

 

Well. my first running interval was 3:50 and that was the longest of the initial climb up to Mt. Thom. It took me 44:06 to reach the first summit and I only manged a total of 9:24 of that time running , and even that was a trudge.

 

I've been running on the streets and thought I was coming along pretty good but no way am I ready to tackle that kind of sustained incline at this point. There was one particular section where all I could muster was :34, and then I had to walk for 4 minutes to recover. Beyond humbling.

 

After I reached Mt. Thom, the rest of the run went better as it was less steep. I finished the entire loop in 1:28:27. But I figured when I reached Tongva Peak at just under 55:00, I could run all downhill back to the gate.

 

Not so fast... It's around 2 miles steep downhill and I was bonking at 5-6 minute intervals and had to take walk recoveries. Possibly my legs were fatigued at that point but also, it's running on a trail, uneven surface for the first time in 10 months. So my body was not at all used to it. Totally different dynamic then running on the street. So I was hammered and useless the rest of the day and took yesterday totally off.

 

I did my 5 mile loop this morning in the neighborhood at 1:01: 36 and fared much better on the run to walk ratio.

[jefsco]

 

i have a tough enough time dealing with the heat and humidity, running this time of the year . . . stay away from the hills as much as possible.

cant imagine going up a mountain trail.

nice to hear im not the only one getting exhausted to the extent of being useless the remainder of the day.

 

good to hear you are making progress!

 

 

 

[Dave Ferris]

i have a tough enough time dealing with the heat and humidity, running this time of the year

 

Even in my regular shape, I struggled highly with the humidity whenever I'd go back to St. Louis for a visit and ran. I recall maybe 5 years ago, I ran out 4 miles on that Katy Trail/ Rails to Trails by my sister-in-law's house in Lake STL. Around mile 5 coming back, I started feeling the humidity and I literally bonked at that point and had to alternate walking and running the final 4 miles. I know now it would take me a solid year to acclimate to the humidity coming from running in LA for the last 40 years.

 

Day 19 back - I did my second 6 miler this morning. I was able to take fewer and shorter walk recoveries. Although still not able to quite run 2 miles, I'm around a little over a mile to 1.5 currently.

 

I did feel fresh enough at the end to re-trace my route on the Potts 29er. That added another 40 minutes to the 70 minute run/walk. So overall getting stronger, just takes time to get it all back.

 

We're having great weather this time of year, compared to other parts of the country. Hope the heat stays away just a little while longer.

[Joe Muscara]

We're having great weather this time of year, compared to other parts of the country. Hope the heat stays away just a little while longer.

You're lucky. I was trying to get to a half-marathon distance (for no particular event nor reason except to do it), but then my left hamstring acted up so I backed off and then I was sick for a few days and then... the heat came. When the mornings are around 80° and the humidity is up there as well, I'm lucky to do a maintenance mode at around 6 km every other week. I'm hoping to try again when it cools off. Sigh.

[Joe Muscara]

Summer's over, sort of. Houston can be hard this way. It was 65° and somewhat humid (okay, maybe a lot) when I went for my run this AM. But, I had decided that I'm going to try to get back on track for the half marathon training. Today was just going to be a normal 30 minute run, though.

 

About half way through my run, I passed a guy and his dog. Then, I got to the intersection, and for some reason decided to overdo it as far as checking. I usually look left, right, and then left again. This time, I think I looked both ways a couple of times. I think I was looking left when suddenly I was going down. Maybe I twisted myself around. But really, I don't know what happened. My hands hit, as did the front AND side of my right knee, my left knee hit something, my right elbow hit on the outside of my arm, as did my right shoulder. I even grazed the ground with my face though that barely left a mark.

 

Best of all, I shattered the display on my Apple Watch, which I was wearing on my right arm. Fortunately, I have AppleCare and it should only cost me $70 to replace it. It's scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

 

Between the lack of progress I've been having lately and this, I'm wondering about running again at all. I used to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment but I'm not sure I feel like I can make any progress. And, I don't expect to run again this week. Whatever banging I did to my knees may preclude that even if I want to run.

 

When I fell, the guy walking his dog asked if I was okay. I don't really know the answer to that, still. I mean, I went home, running some intervals as scheduled. Blood was dripping down my leg and arm. I have other soreness in spots like my triceps maybe from the extension to catch the fall.