Posts Tagged ‘super stiff running shoes’
Run 7 – Saturday, March 6, 2010 – Not really a run…
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on March 7th, 2010
Remember how my physical therapist said no weight-bearing exercises? Well, I decided to follow his advice. However, I have enlisted my friends to join me on the wonderful gravel 3 mile loop runs on Saturdays. So, how was I going to keep up my commitment and not run? Oh yeah, I have a bike!
I went down to the storage room to unearth my long-forgotten and completely neglected bike. I did this, of course, 30 minutes before I was supposed to start picking people up for the run. Yes, it was dumb.
Of course, the tires were flat. So, I had to dig out the bike pump. Then, I had no idea how to use said bike pump. So, I had to get my husband to help. Then, I had to yell at my husband because I also had to add the bike rack to the car, and OMG I had to pick people up in less than 20 minutes now. Thank goodness the bike tires held air! We get to the car to add the bike rack. I couldn’t quite remember how to do it. Then, I had locked it – WHERE WAS THE KEY TO THE BIKE RACK?! @#!$@##@#% Oh, right, it’s on my key chain. Now, the bike won’t go onto the rack – AAAACKKKK – the bike is falling. Ok, caught the bike, and, with the help of a guy who saw us struggling, we got it secured and ready to go. Whew, and I’m only 15 minutes late 🙂
I did two loops, that’s six miles total for those who are counting, and wore my super stiff running shoes with my orthotics. My foot was so relieved that day. I iced it for 15 minutes, and it felt fine. My friends were great, too. They ran and had a grand ole time.
So, for now, I am going to start biking to work to help give my feet a break from walking the one mile each way. I hypothesize that this will help the healing go faster. I am still going to bike on Monday and Thursday; I’m just not sure how to handle my running commitments. Maybe my friends who run with me have bikes, and we could switch to bike riding. Also, should I continue to wear the stiff shoes on the bike or could I try my barefoot shoes? Hmmm….. [Edit – my husband has just pointed out that when bike riding shoes act as a helmet for your feet. He’s got a good point. I guess biking in barefoot shoes is not a great idea. Nevermind]
Keep going!
Run 6 – Thursday, March 4, 2010, oh man.
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on March 7th, 2010
Okay. Remember how I said that I had been trying to run since I was 18. Well, the cycle is something like: don’t run for a long time, run, inflame a tendon (patellular tendonitis, IT band-itis, etc.), quit running to let it heal, and don’t run for a long time….. I am continuing the cycle.
On Thursday, I was on the fence for running, but I ultimately said to myself, “Self, let’s try to establish this routine and go run.” So, that’s what I did. I met my friend, and we did a different location run/walk for about 3.5 miles. I wore my super stiff running shoes with orthotics. When we finished, the run proved to be another posterior tibial inflamer! WAHHHH!!!!
I am not going to lie. At this point I was incredibly disappointed. I went home Thursday night and did the ice, heat, ice cycle twice. It felt better by the time I went to bed. However, Friday morning was another story. The left foot really did not like it when I walked on it. I even broke down and took ibuprofen when I got to work. I was at wits end.
How can I prove to the world that I can run in barefeet with my flat feet if this stupid tendon won’t stop hurting?! Doesn’t it understand that this is really important? GGGAAAAHHHH!
Then, I realized this is part of the process. The process of getting my feet acclimated. So, hang on tight, folks, as I take you through some additional steps for getting over the beginning bump of working out with flat feet.
First, I enlisted the help of the physical therapist I had been to in October when I was going to start training for a half-marathon (no specific half, just any half-marathon at this point). However, once I quit going to him, I pretty much just stopped running and working out period. Man do I need to have some stick-to-it-tiveness in my life.
Anyway, I emailed him about the inflammation with two quesitons: 1. How long does it take inflammation to clear up. 2. Should I stop weight-bearing exercise while letting the inflammation heal?
His answers: 1. 2-3 weeks depending on the inflammation, etc. 2. YES! Stop the weight-bearing exercise immediately.
He also said that ice is the only thing that I needed to do (no ice, heat, ice), and that I should do 15min 3x’s MAX ice per day. He also recommended that I come in for an appointment so he can see my foot and give me some pointers on training in barefeet (his company had recently done a mini-seminar on barefoot running – what timing!).
My response since then, I iced for 15min on Friday night. I am planning to call on Monday to make an appointment, and hopefully I’ll see him next week to get new stuff going.
Second, I had an appointment with my chiropractor (I see my chiropractor at least once per month, and I highly recommend this action for everyone – more on that later), and at the end of these appointments, I also have a massage to help the body’s muscles realign with the adjustment or something.
During this particular appointment, I was worried because I was getting a new massage therapist. It turned out that I had absolutely nothing to worry about. She was fantastic and very in tune with the body. It was interesting because they keep a file on me, and she knew about my history with TMJ even though I didn’t mention it. I always get a little freaked out when the massage therapist goes, we’ll need time to massage your jaw for your TMJ, when I have only mentioned that my left posterior tendon is killing me. My massage therapist is AWESOME!
Ok, back to the massage, when she got down to my legs, it was the usual OMG pain in the quadriceps from all the new work they’ve been doing (expected), but there was this excruciating pain across the top of my ankle. She said that this is a band of muscles that the wrist and ankle have because they are the “weak link” in the body. Well, let me tell you, my band of muscles were super tight! She worked on the left foot first, and then the right foot. Her observation was that the “right foot is a lot less gristly than the left foot.” And boy was she correct!
Overall, I felt so much better with my chiropractic adjustment and massage, that I am going to increase the frequency during my early stages of training. I will start with once every two weeks and see if that is enough. I am also going to enlist the help of my physical therapist. Let me tell you, folks, it really does take a village!
This is not the end! It is merely an obstacle on the way to success!
Run 5 – Monday, March 1, 2010 – Uh Oh….
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on March 2nd, 2010
So, I spent Sunday blogging :-), which gave my unhappy posterior tibial tendon a rest. I will say that I hobbled all day, but I noticed a reduction in pain by Sunday night. This was important because I have a standing run scheduled with my friend every Monday on the wonderful 3 mile gravel loop.
I decided that going ahead with the run would be fine given that I take it easy during said run and wear my orthotics and super stiff running shoes if I don’t feel that it is at least 50% better by 4pm. I also decided to wear my Danskoâ„¢ shoes today as they are supposed to be so good that you don’t need your orthotics with them.
Sidetrack for the Danskoâ„¢ shoes:
Up until today, I had no idea why these shoes were so great or why people loved them so much. I bought mine on the recommendation of my mother, who loves hers, and she bought hers on the recommendation of her foot doctor. Why not? My mom thinks they’re great, and she and I share some foot similarities. Plus, they are doctor approved. I wore them, and I liked them. However, they didn’t make me jump for joy because they felt so good. That is until today.
I now know why the Danskoâ„¢ shoe is so great for flat footed or orthotic wearing people, even without being able to put orthotics in them. Those shoes do all the work for your foot! I mean, my tendon didn’t do anything. The shoe is so rigid that your foot does not have to push off or bend or do anything! It was amazing to my over-worked and inflamed tendon. I was quite pleased with my Danskoâ„¢ shoes on my morning commute (walk) to work, and I had been really worried about really aggravating that tendon.
Back to the run:
Throughout the day I paid attention to how my left foot felt. It didn’t really get “better”, but I didn’t want to bow out of my run since I am establishing a behavior. I decided to go ahead and run, but I had to wear my orthotics and super stiff running shoes. I was very bummed.
We got to the super 3 mile gravel loop and decided to do the loop in run/walk mode. I noticed the difference in shoes immediately. Running in my othotics is like running with a corset on my foot. I couldn’t move my feet to adjust for objects in my way as quickly as when I am “barefoot”. I couldn’t adjust my forefoot at all. I really tried to maintain mid-foot running today, but it was really difficult as my running shoes are definitely pushing me to heel run. Not to mention, I was aware of my IT bands, again. Yes, after one day! I haven’t felt them at all in my “barefoot” runs. AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!
However, my tendon was much relieved and made it through just fine. It is happily icing right this minute. I also noticed that I hobbled not at all and the pain was considerably less after my run today in the orthotics. Hmmm.
So, I am now determined to get this tendon feeling better, and to take it more slowly with maybe a half barefoot/half running shoe run. I haven’t decided. I am going to do more balancing exercises specifically for the left ankle. I have found the most effective to be standing on the Bosu® on one foot for 30 seconds. Talk about challenging – definitely be prepared to fall off 🙂
I am still disappointed, but I will say that my right foot is adjusting perfectly. It is no longer sore. All I have to do now is get my left foot up to strength. I think I can! We shall see.