Posts Tagged ‘stability shoes’
10/2/10 – New Pictures! Eight Months and Counting :-)
Posted by admin in My History on October 3rd, 2010
Ok. It’s that time again! More feet pics on the intarwebs 🙂
Let’s start with the February 27, 2010 pics and compare to now:
Front:
THE FEET!
Feet Front 10/2/10 – Still Lookin’ Good!
So, the left ankle is still noticeably straighter, and the left foot is quite a bit larger and healthier looking! Yay! I wish I had taken measurements of my ankles to see the difference. I postulate that my left ankle is bigger now, but I don’t have the data to support that.
The Back:
Before 2.27.10
Feet Back 10/2/10
Yep – straighter and straighter on both ankles. ‘Nough said.
From the Top:
Before 2/27/10
Feet Top 10/2/10
The left foot is still, today, somewhat more unfortunate than the right foot, but it does not resemble a fan any longer. I can see that there is work to be done to continue “beefing up” that foot so that it does not look like it collapses toward the outside. However, it looks so much healthier than before.
I still marvel at how I ever ran on my feet previously. They were so ill prepared for running, and I didn’t even ease into it. I just started running 2 miles. It is a wonder that my feet have not suffered more damage. The human body is truly impressive, biomechanically speaking.
I also took more pics of my body as a whole to see if there are improvements.
The front:
Running Gear Front 2/27/10
Front Running Pants 10/2/10
I cannot tell much of a difference in this gear. So, I decided to start a new comparison with shorts instead of pants.
Front Shorts 9/25/10
Back Shorts 9/25/10
Side Shorts 9/25/10
So, those are my new stability shoes in the pics. Also, I wanted to be able to compare the muscle tone in my legs as well as my shoulders, which was not happening with the pants and other shirt. I don’t think I’ll get hit by traffic anytime soon….
All this aside, my new goals are as follows:
1. In two months, I would like to see more development in the muscles of my left foot and ankle. I have been putting off the foot specific exercises in favor of my shoulder exercises, but now, I think it is time to return to the original plan.
2. Overall better muscle tone across the board. I have been working with Melissa on this, but my schedule and general laziness have severely impaired my progress in this area. I am currently working out about twice per week – NOT ENOUGH. My goal is to do my workout from Melissa at least 3 times per week.
3. Better cardio training. I would like to do elliptical at the gym 30 minutes 3 times per week with actual running happening twice per week. I think this would ease my feet into the longer distances with much less inflammation.
4. More time in my barefoot shoes. My goal is to wear my barefoot shoes for 2 hours each day for 7 days. Then, up the time each week by 30 min per day.
Ok. Time to get to work! See you at the gym 🙂
9/26/10 – Another Attempt at a 2 Mile Run….
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on October 2nd, 2010
So, I tried for the 2 mile mark, again. This time I ran alone, still wearing my new stability shoes. This time, I had a few problems.
The first half mile was great. I was feeling good and moving at a nice pace of about 9.5 min per mile. Then, my right calf started to cramp.
I have not had a cramp in my right calf while running before, and, let me tell you, it is not fun. I kept going for a 1/4 mile until it was just excruciating. Then, I decided to stop and stretch it out.
However, when I started to run again, it cramped right back up. ARRRRGGGHHH!!!!
Needless to say, I did not run much further that day. What a disappointment. I figured I would run a couple of times that week, but since I am writing this well after, I can report that between my job and my social life this past week, I did not run again.
Meh.
Training is getting very difficult right now. I’m not sure what is holding me back so much, but I can recount a few things:
– Getting out of bed in the morning to get to the gym before work is simply NOT happening.
-Going to the gym after work is NOT happening.
-Getting to the gym is simply not happening, which also means that running is not happening.
What am I going to do about this situation? I am not sure. I am going to make getting to the gym BEFORE work a priority b/c then I will not have/need to slog around town with my gym stuff in my bag. We shall see….
9/18/10 – A 2 mile Run! – I had a little help from my friends…
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on October 2nd, 2010
So, after such a wonderful experience with the race, I figured I would up my training with a longer run. I also invited my husband to join me, and he did. I’m glad he did because I was not quite as up to the task as I was last week at the race.
We started running downhill toward the waterfront where we live. I truly despise running downhill because it is so jarring to my knees and back, even though I was wearing my stability shoes. However, here we were going downhill, which does lend itself to speed. The terrain leveled out at the water, and we began to run along a long flat stretch. I was really flagging. So, I decided in my head that I would run one mile and take a 1/4 mile breather/walk before starting my second mile. I told my husband to be prepared b/c I was going to walk. He encouraged me to keep going, but I was tired and a little scared that I might over do it and cause my posterior tibial tendon to flare up again.
So, I walked at my one mile mark.
I then decided to run the last mile.
OMG – that was so hard! What a mind game! I ran a half mile, gave up, but my husband urged me on. Then at the last .1 mile to go, I completely gave up. My husband did not. He placed his hand on my back and began to literally push me to finish. So, I did.
That two mile run was one of the most difficult ever. I know that I upped my training from an easy 1.5 miles with walks in between to trying to do 2 miles straight through, but, seriously, that was intense.
I am happy to report that I did not have a tendon flare up, and the rest of my body (right shoulder included) did just fine.
Not so sure I’m keeping 2 miles as my training distance, though….
9/12/10 – Aflac Iron Girl 5K: I Ran the Whole Thing! Plus, a VIDEO!!!
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on September 18th, 2010
OMG! As the valley girl would say, I ran the whole thing! All 3.1 miles!
It was a beautiful, overcast, 60 degree Sunday morning. Although rain had been forecast, not a drop was falling. I was all set with my new stability shoes and my racing chip attached.
I had never run in a race before. I’ve been to several of my husband’s races, but it is very different when you are the participant. The mass of people exuded an energy that is so infectious that you cannot help but feel excited and exhilarated. To say the very least, I was pumped!
After arriving an hour and a half early (b/c they said to), we finally got to line up according to our average mile time. I chose the end of the 10 minute mile as I have been clocking around 10:40 seconds per mile in training (but that was only running 1.5 miles with walking in between). I hoped I had not chosen incorrectly.
After the national anthem where no one sang, which I thought was so weird (Tangent: I love singing the national anthem, and I figured that being surrounded by a bunch of women, I would get a great chance to sing in an impromptu chorus. Nope, no one sang.), the Aflac duck screamed the start, and we were off!
My heart was racing as I wondered if I would be able to run the entire 3 miles. Then, I decided right there in the chute that I would run the three miles. I weaved through the clump of women as we all began to find our paces. The first mile was cake. Then, in the middle of the second mile, I started getting tired. That’s when the mind over matter became very real for me.
It was my determination to keep going, not my physical prowess, that kept my body jogging. I had one thought, “I want to be able to tell everyone that I ran the whole thing!” I did not want my first race to be me wimping out half way through!
Thus, I kept that mantra in my head the rest of the way, and it worked!!!
Now, as I hit the chute for the finish, it was about 150 or 200 yards until the finish line. I decided to sprint this last part because it wasn’t that long, and I figured I might as well. So, off I go. In my mind, I was running like the wind. I had Chariots of Fire in my head. Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun, dun dun dun dunnnnnn….. I could feel that I was really extending my legs and making huge strides toward that finish line!!! Boy was I looking good in my head!
So, when I finished and found my husband, he told me that he had videoed my finish. I was so excited!! I could see how good I really looked! Yay!
Here’s the video – I’m in the pink hat:
Alright, I couldn’t help but laugh my ass off at this video. I looked nothing like I was picturing! Where’s my awesome extension??? What about the speed? Where did that sway back come from???
Man, I’ve got some work to do. However, let’s not lament here. There is a lot of good stuff to say. For example, when comparing my first ever run video from April, I definitely have a lot more extension than I had then. I’m just not at an olympic athlete range like I was picturing myself as being. So, all is not lost.
Overall, my finish stats were good! Especially considering how spotty my training was.
I placed 371 out of 1371 – that means that out of the total 1371 ladies who ran, I finished before 1000 of them! Not bad 🙂
In my age group, 30-34, I came in 65 out of 255! I was in the top third! Also, not bad 🙂
My time was 32:50, which is an average pace of just under 11 minutes per mile. Woohoo!!! I maintained my estimated pace!
I enjoyed this race so much that I think I’ll try to find another one, and soon! I’m going to stick with 5K for a little while longer to make sure my feet are ready. This race did not cause any symptoms in my left foot, which is awesome. I am so relieved!
Anyway, onto training!!!
8/14/10 – Run 8A – The HEAT! The HEAT!
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on August 14th, 2010
Having changed locations from the lovely and cool northwest to the much hotter and more humid southeast, i.e. Tennessee, and I must run in the wee hours of the morning so that the temperature is below 80. However, early morning is not necessarily my strength. So, I was out by 8am and 80 degrees. OMG.
Goal today:
walk 1/4, run 1/2, walk 1/4, run 3/4, walk 1/4.
Actual run:
walk 1/4, run 1/2, walk 0.2, run 0.62, walk 1/4.
It was great running today! My ankles felt awesome, which could have been partially attributed to the gravel I was running on rather than the usual concrete/asphalt combo. Still in the stability shoes and orthotics. The great challenge was surviving the heat.
Not only is the temperature higher, the intensity of the sun is also much greater! So, when I was not in the shade, the sun was beating down upon my head. It felt like my head was going to explode.
I was really close to the goal and had there been a few more trees providing shade, I might have made it. Also, I could have gotten up an hour earlier 😉
Anyway, a success to me.
8/10/10 – Run 7A – Trying for 1.25 Miles, not so much.
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on August 10th, 2010
Today, I was going for upping my mileage to
Walk 1/4, run 1/2, walk 1/4, run 3/4, walk 1/4.
The first half mile run was going well. My ankle felt great, my quads a little tight, but not too bad. So, I tried for 3/4 mile, but I only made it to 1/2 mile on the second run due to the small, yet, sharp pain running up my posterior tibial tendon just above my left ankle. Even though I could have kept going, I kept hearing Travis in my ear saying, “There should be no symptoms. Stop running if you have symptoms.” Well, I guess a pain in my tendon counts as a symptom.
I will try again to up the mileage next time. For now, one mile it is!
Oh, I was wearing my stability running shoes and prescription orthotics.
Also, next time I run, it will be 90 degrees outside – geeze!
8/8/10 – Run 6A, One Mile! No Stride-Outs.
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on August 10th, 2010
Finally, one mile feels good! I did the usual:
walk 1/4, run 1/2, walk 1/4, run 1/2, walk 1/4.
The run parts felt really good. No fatigue in my feet! Still in my stability shoes and prescription orthotics.
I decided not to do stride-outs because I think my quads need a little more time to heal and stretch. I am not interested in actually tearing them. So, I figure I’ll get to the stride-outs soon.
All in good time, my pretty. All in good time.
7/29/10 – Run 4A – 0.75 miles!
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on August 1st, 2010
So, I finally recovered enough by Thursday to run again. It was also the first run for me where I was going to increase my mileage as follows:
walk 1/4, run 1/4, walk 1/4, run 1/2, walk 1/4 wearing new stability shoes and prescription orthotics.
I made a deal with myself that if I had pain, I would stop no matter what. So, I began.
The first 1/4 mile was cake. The walk was needed and wonderful. The 1/2 mile actually felt quite good. My left ankle did fatigue a little, but nothing painful. So, I ran the entire 1/2 mile.
I am so excited about running actual distance again! I admit that I am not ready to run a solid mile, I don’t think, but I will be able to very soon!!! Woohoo!!!
No stride-outs this time as I had guests in town, and being a tour guide requires walking. So, I figured I’d play it safe and skip them.
Also, I had to skip the weekend run due to guests and too much fun with said guests 😉
Will get back in the routine on Tuesday.
7/21/10 – Run 2A – Exactly 1.0 miles with 0.5 miles running :-)
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on July 22nd, 2010
So, I went with Option 3 (as proposed by my Physical Therapist, Travis): I kept the stability shoes and the prescription orthotics.He says, “The symptoms really might just be some increased soreness with breaking in a new pair of shoes and getting use to less support.  If you continue to have symptoms, again, you should not be increasing mileage, but rather staying at the same level until you are able to complete that distance symptom free.”
He also suggested that I continue the exercises for the “strengthening”, and I could also add stride outs (that he suggested a long time ago) with my Vibram Five Fingersâ„¢ after each run. “Stride outs are brief stints of running ~60-100 yards, where you slowly pickup your tempo until you are at or near top speed running on your toes.” Travis also said that the stride outs would increase strength, while the orthotics and stability shoes during the sustained runs will provide support to help my feet adjust to the impact of running for a longer time.
Ok. This totally makes sense to me, and I, thus, I opted for Travis’s suggested Option 3.
I am really excited about the stride outs, but I did not do them on Run 2A. Those will happen on Run 3A, and I will tell you all about them in good time.
Back to the run at hand. My friend and I had a limited amount of time. So, we found that we could really only squeeze in one mile total.
We walked the first 1/4 mile and ran the second 1/4 mile. Just like last time, this felt really good, but I was really winded. My body was definitely feeling good, and I now need to get my lungs up to speed.
Then, the second 1/4 mile walk, which is when pain will show. I didn’t have any!! None! Woohoo!!! My left foot felt fine, and my right foot was ready to keep going. So, onto 1/4 mile #2.
This one was just as good, and my breathing was getting better (as it does once you are a little more warmed up). At this point we had to stop and go home to get to a bellydancing class, which is a story for another time and blog.
On the way to class, I felt fine. All was well with feet, hips, back, shoulder, etc. I had a difficult time due to fatigued quads in bellydancing, but other than that, the running seemed to be just fine for my feet.
I am thinking that another go of just two 1/4 mile runs with three 1/4 mile walks. We shall see what the next few days bring!