I noticed it last Fall, as I was watching my son Jake run. He was out running around the yard, in his skater-boy shoes, and landing on the balls of his feet as he ran. I thought to myself, "i used to run like that when I was younger, but now that I am older, I have learned the proper heal-strike, let-your-shoes-do-the-work-for-you technique". Ironically, I was thinking this as I was takiong some time off from running to let my Achilles tendon heal.
I was one of them. One of the dumb masses who believed what I heard and tried to correct my natural running form. I had read shoe reviews that emphasized how the support in this model will help your foot go through the "full, natural motion" of your foot strike. I was further influenced by a person at my Chiropractor's who insisted that custom-fitted or orthotics. I had flat feet, and she commented on how developed and strong the inside muscles had become because of there having to deal with this flaw. I had gone there because 13 miles into a 15 mile run, the inside of my right knee gave out and I could not put any pressure on it. Knowing what I know now, I should have worked on strenghtening my legs, not adjusting the mechanics of the whole thing. But, I digress.
As I was running the 3rd workout of the 1st week of the C25k plan, I realized it was easier to focus on and maintain my natural mid-foot /strike form if I picked up the pace a little bit. Last Summer, when I thought I would just run through the little pain in my Achilles, I focused on heel-striking, to let the shoe and orthotics work their magic together and ran at a slower 11:20 pace to make it easier to maintain the heel-first form.
In the 2nd running segment of today's run, I noticed that it was easier to maintain the mid-foot/front-foot strike if I ran a little faster pace than before, around a 10:15 to 10:30 pace. I will try to maintain this as I progress thru the C25k pace. Since I am not starting from square 1, like I did in January, 2007, whne I became a runner again, I should be able to do that.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
C25k
Tuesday was gonna be the official return of me to the world of runners, but I am thinking that tomorrow morning might be the actual start dae. I don't have to go into work until 10 am, so I could sleep in. then on Wednesday, I have the day off to march in the St Patty's Day Parade in S t. Paul with the Taffes. I can get up a little bit later that day, too. I also may not be in condition to start the program on Thursday morning, 5 am.
Going to bed soon...back on the road soon...<3 running
Going to bed soon...back on the road soon...<3 running
Friday, March 5, 2010
Getting Back At It!
One thing that I enjoy doing, but have not been able to do in a long, long time is running. I have tendinitis in my Achilles Tendon and the damn thing is taking it sweet ole time healing. I haven't done enough to help it heal, but I think I have the plan that will get me back on the road on April 1st. No foolin'.
http://www.c25k.com/
OK, so it isn't my plan, but I figure it is a way to slowly expose the goddam thing to the road a little at a time.
I tried running through the injury when I first felt it. I thought I'd be able to just do long slow runs with no speed work. The problem was that I kept running, not resting and beat the shit out of it for four months. On top of that, I was wearing these hard, custom-fitted, $250.00 insoles that the chiropractor assured me would be just the thing my sore knee would need. Needless to say, they weren't made for running and I am still suffering the effects from their abuse.
I am watching what I am eating, not eating at night and not drinking as much as I was in the past. I am hoping that all of these will add up to a smaller version of me that will put less strain on the tendon. I have also been going to the Y, although not as often as during the past few weeks. I am also trying to go to bed earlier, so I can get up earlier, and eventually use that time to get in my daily runs.
Progress has been good, the heel feels better after walking the dog in the a.m. two of the last three days. I have lost 12 or 13 lbs since the beginning of the year and I have cut back on my imbibing. I had two tonight with Chris, and certainly could have had 5 or 6 more. More on this subject in the future.
Well, it is 10:30 and time for this old fart to get to bed,so I can get up way too early on a Saturday morning and walk the f'ing dog. What I won't do to get back out on the road. Gotta turn off the TV, that dumbass Jay Leno is on. I can't stand him.
http://www.c25k.com/
OK, so it isn't my plan, but I figure it is a way to slowly expose the goddam thing to the road a little at a time.
I tried running through the injury when I first felt it. I thought I'd be able to just do long slow runs with no speed work. The problem was that I kept running, not resting and beat the shit out of it for four months. On top of that, I was wearing these hard, custom-fitted, $250.00 insoles that the chiropractor assured me would be just the thing my sore knee would need. Needless to say, they weren't made for running and I am still suffering the effects from their abuse.
I am watching what I am eating, not eating at night and not drinking as much as I was in the past. I am hoping that all of these will add up to a smaller version of me that will put less strain on the tendon. I have also been going to the Y, although not as often as during the past few weeks. I am also trying to go to bed earlier, so I can get up earlier, and eventually use that time to get in my daily runs.
Progress has been good, the heel feels better after walking the dog in the a.m. two of the last three days. I have lost 12 or 13 lbs since the beginning of the year and I have cut back on my imbibing. I had two tonight with Chris, and certainly could have had 5 or 6 more. More on this subject in the future.
Well, it is 10:30 and time for this old fart to get to bed,so I can get up way too early on a Saturday morning and walk the f'ing dog. What I won't do to get back out on the road. Gotta turn off the TV, that dumbass Jay Leno is on. I can't stand him.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Changes
Change always happens, sometimes it is welcomed, sometimes not. Sometimes it is expected, sometimes not. Many times my initial perception is completely off the mark and other times it is right on the nuts. Sometimes the change cannot happen fast enough and sometimes I don't want to ever show it ugly head.
I have been work laid off a few times in my life. The first time it happened was in the summer between my Sophomore and Junior years at Mankato State. I was working in the "Family" Granite Quarry, running a 15-foot long blowtorch, called a burner, that burned a 10 foot deep channel in the quarry floor. Dad had lunch with my brother Rich, my cousin Wayne and me. He let us know that the company could not afford to keep the summer help over a hamburger and fries at the Cash Town Cafe.
At the time, I was young, unattached and not committed to anything but having fun, making a little money and going to school. I moved back home and got a job as a Rent-a-cop. I worked at that job for the next 2.5 years during breaks at school and over the summer.
The next time I was laid off, I was working for ITT Finance. We heard the winds of change blowing in our branch in SpamTown USA (Austin, MN). I applied for a job in the Twin Cities a the Corporate Office and got the position. I figured it was better to be in the cities looking for a job than in a po-dunk town. Chris and I just moved into an apartment and I had a 13 week severance package and very little debt.
The last time I was laid off was in December, 2008. I walked into the CEO/President's Office to see my boss, the HR Manager and CEO sitting at a small table with a blue folder that was labeled CCFCU Severance Package. My office was closing and I had the opportunity to apply for up to 3 of the 30 or so positions that were opening up. Of course there were 50 of us vying for those jobs, but the odds were fine and I was lucky enough to land a great one.
My life by, by this time, has become much more complicated. Over-mortgaged house, debt, wife, two lovely kids and a dog. Not anything like the first two times. No quick or easy outs and a lot of responsibilities to be taken care of. It is the kind of thing that makes Bruce's "Hungry Heart" sound like a welcomed, inspiring anthem.
I am praying that it will be a while before I experience this kind of change again.
I have been work laid off a few times in my life. The first time it happened was in the summer between my Sophomore and Junior years at Mankato State. I was working in the "Family" Granite Quarry, running a 15-foot long blowtorch, called a burner, that burned a 10 foot deep channel in the quarry floor. Dad had lunch with my brother Rich, my cousin Wayne and me. He let us know that the company could not afford to keep the summer help over a hamburger and fries at the Cash Town Cafe.
At the time, I was young, unattached and not committed to anything but having fun, making a little money and going to school. I moved back home and got a job as a Rent-a-cop. I worked at that job for the next 2.5 years during breaks at school and over the summer.
The next time I was laid off, I was working for ITT Finance. We heard the winds of change blowing in our branch in SpamTown USA (Austin, MN). I applied for a job in the Twin Cities a the Corporate Office and got the position. I figured it was better to be in the cities looking for a job than in a po-dunk town. Chris and I just moved into an apartment and I had a 13 week severance package and very little debt.
The last time I was laid off was in December, 2008. I walked into the CEO/President's Office to see my boss, the HR Manager and CEO sitting at a small table with a blue folder that was labeled CCFCU Severance Package. My office was closing and I had the opportunity to apply for up to 3 of the 30 or so positions that were opening up. Of course there were 50 of us vying for those jobs, but the odds were fine and I was lucky enough to land a great one.
My life by, by this time, has become much more complicated. Over-mortgaged house, debt, wife, two lovely kids and a dog. Not anything like the first two times. No quick or easy outs and a lot of responsibilities to be taken care of. It is the kind of thing that makes Bruce's "Hungry Heart" sound like a welcomed, inspiring anthem.
I am praying that it will be a while before I experience this kind of change again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
