Last week I completed a few runwalk sessions on the treadmill and felt great. I tried my Brooks Ghost 4, with the custom inserts, with the thought that these were the shoes that I was fitted for, let's just wear these to keep my form and feet in line, to avoid injury.
Two days ago I decided I would get a new pair of the Brooks Ghost, excited that after injury I could start running again. I went to Road Runner Sports, and was 20 minutes too early, the store wasn't open yet. Instead of waiting, I just turned around and went home.
That may prove to be the best decision I made, because it gave me more time to listen to the Mickey Miles Podcast, in which this particular episode Michelle Sribner and Mike Scopa and their guests talked about shoes ... and the one that got my attention was ...
The Hoka One Ones!
Never heard of them before, but sounds like the opposite of the whole minimalist movement. These shoes look big and clunky, but are described as very cushiony and "like walking on clouds" or pillows. On further research, they are both maximalist and minimalist. the heel toe drop is minimal, only 4-6mm, yet the stability is there since there is a wider base. But the obvious thing is that the midsole is oversized.
The point is that there is an 80% reduction in impact!! from both the cushiony EVA midsole and keeping the feet low to the ground. This is what I need. Given my stress injuries, this may give me a new lease on running. run longer.
I ordered them yesterday site unseen. Can't wait.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Soft
I did a run-walk workout today on the treadmill, 1:1 minute ratio. Felt awesome. My run was more of a shuffle, and I really concentrated on relaxing and running softly. I imagined myself running light yet strong, and focused on Chi-running technique. I watched Jeff Galloway's style of feet low to the ground and running upright today. I also came across the acronym SOFT (from thenakedrunners.com soft style running i think) which is immensely useful:
SOFT = Stride (180/min), Over (center of gravity over base), Flat (midfoot strike), Tall (upright).
Awesome. Take it easy. I can do this. Injury no more. Light and strong. Atlantic City Half Marathon here I come ... And then the 2014 Goofy Challenge.
SOFT = Stride (180/min), Over (center of gravity over base), Flat (midfoot strike), Tall (upright).
Awesome. Take it easy. I can do this. Injury no more. Light and strong. Atlantic City Half Marathon here I come ... And then the 2014 Goofy Challenge.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Yellow light means go
My endocrinologist gave me somewhat of a yellow light to run ... Kind of in passing said it would probably be ok to start running ... Then on second thought wait till I see him officially.
In any case today I did a modified form of running. I did a walk-run workout on the treadmill (after a great upper body dumbbell workout), with a 90 sec:60 sec ratio, like week 1 day 1 of the couch to 5 k ... Yup, "baby steps" yet again for I don't know how many times due to injury. But today I did something different -- during the "run" phase, I did a light shuffle. I kept the speed of the treadmill the same (4.2mph today) as my walk, but increased my cadence to 90 (or 180/min), kept my feet low, with nice light relaxed form, and concentrated on midfoot striking, very lightly and relaxed to minimize impact and also reduce tension in muscles. Again to avoid injury ... But instad of thinking of avoidance, i'm just feeling good!
In any case today I did a modified form of running. I did a walk-run workout on the treadmill (after a great upper body dumbbell workout), with a 90 sec:60 sec ratio, like week 1 day 1 of the couch to 5 k ... Yup, "baby steps" yet again for I don't know how many times due to injury. But today I did something different -- during the "run" phase, I did a light shuffle. I kept the speed of the treadmill the same (4.2mph today) as my walk, but increased my cadence to 90 (or 180/min), kept my feet low, with nice light relaxed form, and concentrated on midfoot striking, very lightly and relaxed to minimize impact and also reduce tension in muscles. Again to avoid injury ... But instad of thinking of avoidance, i'm just feeling good!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Run
I ran today. I wasn't supposed to, but I did. And damn it felt good.
Well, out of 47 minutes of brisk walking on the treadmill, I ran for maybe 3 minutes, if that. i was careful. Most of the time I walked ... Briskly, then sped up to a shuffle and evenrace walking ... But a few minutes I ran for real. 8 months of crutches due to previous running injuries were a setback ... But not now. I actually achieved a runner's high in seconds!!!!
But I'll be good now. My endocrinologist said could probably start running again, then he said wait ... So i'll wait till our next appointment.
Atlantic city half coming in october. Let's do this the right way.
Well, out of 47 minutes of brisk walking on the treadmill, I ran for maybe 3 minutes, if that. i was careful. Most of the time I walked ... Briskly, then sped up to a shuffle and evenrace walking ... But a few minutes I ran for real. 8 months of crutches due to previous running injuries were a setback ... But not now. I actually achieved a runner's high in seconds!!!!
But I'll be good now. My endocrinologist said could probably start running again, then he said wait ... So i'll wait till our next appointment.
Atlantic city half coming in october. Let's do this the right way.
Monday, May 6, 2013
It's working!
I saw my endocrinologist two days ago and he had good news for me -- the medications were working and my labs were normal! Basically, my labs are showing signs that I'm not spilling as much calcium and that yes, I am now building bone.
He said no running yet, though. Maybe not until August. I feel like I'm Jack fromt the series Lost (best TV show ever) ... SPOILER ALERT ... after season 3 (I think) when he keeps flying on airplanes back and forth hoping it would crash just to get back to the island. Well, I don't want anything to crash! But I do want to get back to the island, the island of the runner's high. I still exercise (doc says I can walk, but I sense he wants me to be careful about the elliptical) and I still enjoy the feeling of exercise ... but it doesn't feel the same.
Vacations are a great distraction ... like a drug. This past April, the day after we got back from our cruise on the Disney Wonder, I went back to work. It was auch an irrational feeling, I felt ok at work, as if work itself was a distraction from the post cruise depression that I would have to deal with when I got home.
Well, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 2014 is in my sights. I've had to push back my first marathon several times already due to injury and health, most recently the New Jersey marathon held yesterday. I wasn't even cleared by my doctor to WALK the half marathon.
We'll plan it like this ... get better, start run/walking in summer, walk the Atlantic City half marathon in october 2013, then walk the WDW half marathon with my wife and walk/run the full to complete the Goofy.
yeah!
He said no running yet, though. Maybe not until August. I feel like I'm Jack fromt the series Lost (best TV show ever) ... SPOILER ALERT ... after season 3 (I think) when he keeps flying on airplanes back and forth hoping it would crash just to get back to the island. Well, I don't want anything to crash! But I do want to get back to the island, the island of the runner's high. I still exercise (doc says I can walk, but I sense he wants me to be careful about the elliptical) and I still enjoy the feeling of exercise ... but it doesn't feel the same.
Vacations are a great distraction ... like a drug. This past April, the day after we got back from our cruise on the Disney Wonder, I went back to work. It was auch an irrational feeling, I felt ok at work, as if work itself was a distraction from the post cruise depression that I would have to deal with when I got home.
Well, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 2014 is in my sights. I've had to push back my first marathon several times already due to injury and health, most recently the New Jersey marathon held yesterday. I wasn't even cleared by my doctor to WALK the half marathon.
We'll plan it like this ... get better, start run/walking in summer, walk the Atlantic City half marathon in october 2013, then walk the WDW half marathon with my wife and walk/run the full to complete the Goofy.
yeah!
Monday, April 22, 2013
Run
just a quick word, as I'm finishing this nice Rogue yello snow IPA ... IPA's apparently have high levels of bone-building silicon, and the hops can prevent calcium loss from bone ... hopefully along with the medicines I'm taking and my weight bearing exercises I can reverse my osteoporosis...
and run again.
that's all I want to do. Run. be outoade, tun far. get that feeling again. race. 5k, 5 mile, 10k, half marathon ... marathon. goofy. i don't care. I wNt to run again. i will run again.
and run again.
that's all I want to do. Run. be outoade, tun far. get that feeling again. race. 5k, 5 mile, 10k, half marathon ... marathon. goofy. i don't care. I wNt to run again. i will run again.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The Runner's High
It is often talked about, sometimes in whispers, sometimes in wonder, maybe disbelief ... but for those who believe, it is praised, and those who have felt it, there is a nod of acknowledgement. It is the runner's high. It is the feeling of elation and euphoria, felt during and after running ... the feeling that keeps runners going, the feeling that runners go back to. It IS the reason for the running addiction. It is the force that allows runners to wake up at 5am to run outside, in the dark, in the cold, in the snow, in the rain. Even when it hurts.
But what is it? Is it real? Is it an urban legend, as some (undoubtedly non-runners) say?
I have felt it. And I can only describe what it is like ...
The runner's high is Christmas morning. It is the last day of school before summer vacation, when the final bell rings. It is hanging out with friends at a really great party, feeling good, with great music, drink, food, and company. It is achieving a goal -- personal, professional, and spiritual. It is being at home, with your loved ones, your family, not really doing anything, but just being there with them. Yes, it's that good.
But really, what is it, and how does it work?
Science points to endorphins that are created during exercise. The hormones that make you feel good. Like a drug. Literally getting drunk and high from running.
This may be true, but there has to be more to it from running. Because of my injuries and health conditions, I have not been able to run. I have tried my hardest to recreate the runner's high. I have tried my best to get my body to release these endorphins to get me to that place ... that place of the runner's high. But I haven't come close. Today I used the elliptical for over an hour straight. I used my whole body, I got my heart rate in the target 80% of max range for 90% of that time. I sweat. I felt some muscles burn. I burned calories.
Exercise feels good ... but it doesn't come close to the runner's high. It doesn't come close to the feeling of stepping out the door first thing in the morning, taking those first few steps, and knowing you are going to have a great run. It doesn't come close to that moment during a run when you feel like you're floating, effortlessly, and feel that you could run forever, tirelessly. It does not come close to the feeling at the end of a run when you look back at your mileage, your time, your PR, your new mileage record, your sense of accomplishment.
And no way -- no way -- does it even come close to that feeling in a race when you see the finish line, you kick it, you hear supporters, including your family, cheer you on all the way to the end.
Only running can give you that feeling.
Damn do I miss it.
But what is it? Is it real? Is it an urban legend, as some (undoubtedly non-runners) say?
I have felt it. And I can only describe what it is like ...
The runner's high is Christmas morning. It is the last day of school before summer vacation, when the final bell rings. It is hanging out with friends at a really great party, feeling good, with great music, drink, food, and company. It is achieving a goal -- personal, professional, and spiritual. It is being at home, with your loved ones, your family, not really doing anything, but just being there with them. Yes, it's that good.
But really, what is it, and how does it work?
Science points to endorphins that are created during exercise. The hormones that make you feel good. Like a drug. Literally getting drunk and high from running.
This may be true, but there has to be more to it from running. Because of my injuries and health conditions, I have not been able to run. I have tried my hardest to recreate the runner's high. I have tried my best to get my body to release these endorphins to get me to that place ... that place of the runner's high. But I haven't come close. Today I used the elliptical for over an hour straight. I used my whole body, I got my heart rate in the target 80% of max range for 90% of that time. I sweat. I felt some muscles burn. I burned calories.
Exercise feels good ... but it doesn't come close to the runner's high. It doesn't come close to the feeling of stepping out the door first thing in the morning, taking those first few steps, and knowing you are going to have a great run. It doesn't come close to that moment during a run when you feel like you're floating, effortlessly, and feel that you could run forever, tirelessly. It does not come close to the feeling at the end of a run when you look back at your mileage, your time, your PR, your new mileage record, your sense of accomplishment.
And no way -- no way -- does it even come close to that feeling in a race when you see the finish line, you kick it, you hear supporters, including your family, cheer you on all the way to the end.
Only running can give you that feeling.
Damn do I miss it.
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