Sole Searching...

I went to the running store and asked them to recommend a shoe to prevent injuries. I explained that I am trying to avoid heel-striking and about the shin splints and he recommeded I try these Newton shoes (my new shoes). Basically, they have a reduced heel and built up mid-sole with extra cushioning. They push you forward when you run so they are great for keeping you off your heels altogether but still give you protection on hard surfaces.

This is the company’s explanation of the technology:
“Newton Active Membrane Technology allows you to land on your forefoot safely. Few shoes can come close to Newton’s impact rating in the forefoot. When your forefoot impacts first your foot has less of an opportunity to pronate or supinate as it would if you were heel striking, minimizing injuries. After the forefoot makes impact and the actuators are driven fully into their corresponding chambers (the action), then levering and propulsion come into play. As you push off and drive forward the lugs are released (the reaction) providing energy return that in comparison to traditional foam shoes feels alive and fast.”

Anyway, however they work, I really love them! I'm not sure if it's the new shoes, wearing compression sleeves during runs, the icing, leg raise exercises or some of the Chi Running and Pose techiniques I've been trying, but I haven't had shin spints at all and have been running exclusively outside 3 times a week for a couple of weeks now. I'm so excited! I should be ready for a 5K soon!

Memorial Day breakthrough!

Headed back to the gym on Wednesday and ended up in floods of tears after not even being able to run a mile. I decided to give in and rest for a few days to try and figure out what to try next...So far I think I have figured out the following:

1. I nearly always have shin splints after running on concrete and need at least 2, more like 3, days of rest afterwards.
2. Stability shoes and/or running barefoot doesn't seem to make any difference.
3. Landing on the fronts of my feet seems to help a little.
4. You can't just ignore shin splints and run anyway - it makes them worse.
5. Rest works wonders but you lose confidence, time and aerobic capabities.
6. I haven't tried ice yet because it sounds like it wouldn't work.

I spent the weekend reading running magazines and found an article that really resonated with me. It said that instead of visualizing a perfect run each time that you should visualize a terrible run, anticipate and prepare for set backs. This way you will have a plan when they happen. So this morning I hit the gym at 7am imagining the worst - terrible pain (I'll switch to the cross trainer), lousy time (that's OK - I'll keep it slow and be happy with being able to do anything at all), negative thoughts (I'll shake them off and celebrate just staying in the gym and sweating for 30 minutes), boredom (I'll listen to comedy on my ipod).

I had a fantastic run in the end - 5K in 33:33 and I felt like a rockstar! I even iced my shins when I got back to Tampa. At this point I'll try anything because when it goes well, running is just the best feeling ever:).

Fed Up :(

Not sure what's going on but despite my best efforts it's going horribly pear-shaped in the running department at the moment. After a couple of indoor runs in the Vibrams I braved the outside for the first time at the weekend. We treated it as if it were a race and got up at 7am, did our stretches and hit the road. Maddy took her bicycle and it felt really great to be exercising as a family:). I took it really slowly and used the pavement on the way out. My legs started to hurt a bit so I switched to grass on the way home. It was actually really nice to feel the blades of grass beneath my feet and I had to focus so hard on the ground to avoid holes and anthills that the time passed really quickly! So last night I hit the treadmill but for some reason just couldn't finish. After 28 minutes my legs were in so much pain I just couldn't carry on. I'm not sure if it's shin splints or calf pain from the change to landing on the front of my feet which Vibrams forces you to do. Mike asked me whether the pain was in the front or back of my legs. To be honest I couldn't even tell - it all just HURTS! Is this why they say it takes a while to get used to the barefoot thing? Was it the concrete? When am I going to be able get back to running 5 miles again? Why can't I break a 33 minute 5K when I was doing under 30 minutes just 3 months ago? Right now my legs hurt, I can barely finish a run, when I can I'm slow, and I've gone from feeling like a rockstar to a crazy monkey woman. So I'm back in the shin splint guards today to relieve the pain. I've no idea what to try next - I'm too fed up to even think about it :(.

Vibram fivefingers for two!

This morning we took a trip to Fit2Run at International Mall on the way to the beach to pick up some Vibram fivefingers. These shoes are supposed to give you the whole barefoot running experience but with a bit of foot protection. Even the Tamahumara strap bits of rubber tires on their soles sometimes! The store guy told us that they are actually selling out in many of the styles and they are really growing in popularity. Well, if that's true they must really help you run fast because they look absolutely hideous!

And here's the other problem... "monkey boy" Mike loves his new footwear so much he's now wearing them everywhere. Here he is in Clearwater later this afternoon...remind you of anything?...

Anyway, blisters are still on the mend so it's the cross trainer for me tomorrow and I'll try out my new "foot gloves" on Wednesday - wish me luck!

Barefoot Running Experiment...

Mike read "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall about the Tamahumara tribespeople who can run literally hundreds of miles at a time. One of the key differences between them and the rest of us is the fact that they run barefoot. We thought we try it out at LA fitness on the treadmills first:) and heading off this morning...
First of all, the treadmill is hot (Mike thought at first that it was his feet that were generating a lot of heat:)). Not too hot though and both of use started out really well. It felt natural and easy - just warm that's all. My foot strike adjusted right away and I naturally didn't land on my heels at all. I took it really steady and ran about 1.3 miles in about 14 minutes. I even had a little runner's high kick in and the time flew by. We both stopped, however at the same time for the same reason - blisters. Loads of them and some big ones. (I didn't realize just how many until I could properly assess the damage later). So we put sneakers on and got back on the treadmills planning to do another couple of miles. I had to stop after 1.6 more miles when I felt two blisters burst at exactly the same time - one on each foot! It happened right in the middle of another little runners high so I was dissappointed but it was a great experiment and I was pleased at how well it went for the first time. I will definately try it again and next time I will end a run barefoot instead of starting out that way. Mike is going to invest in a pair of the oh-so-glamorous 'foot gloves.' I may even try that myself, it's not like I'm single or my husband cares...:)
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/
I also tried to lean forward more today to move my center of gravity ahead of where my feet land which I read on a blog about "Chi Running." This was very successful immediately (although I kept forgetting to do it:)) since gravity helps you propel forward. I tried this towards the end of the run and actually had to increase the speed to stop the feeling of 'falling.' Anyway, I feel good and ready for the Moffit 5K at the weekend and no shin splints at all (I've just got to get these blisters to heal now!)

My feet...

Mike's feet (obviously)...his verdict..."I felt like a monkey boy - and I like monkeys"

At least the tops look OK:)...

Relay for Life 5K

I felt completely unprepared to run a 5K with all of the leg problems and frankly I hadn't been enjoying running lately for some reason. I had a minor surgery coming up which was on my mind a lot too. After taking a full week off I ran one full 5K at the gym the week before the race and tried to lower my expectations a bit. I ran with Mike and Emily again and the race itself was really disorganized. It was supposed to start at 9 (at which time it is already too hot in my opinion) but didn't actually start until 9:40. I wanted to just run the whole distance to be honest and not get shin splints. After a reasonable start I stopped running at 25 minutes and walked for a while. I just felt so hot and miserable. I managed a sprint at the end and came in at over 34 mins. For now, I am just going to have to celebrate the fact that I did it. It seems like this running thing is like taking 3 steps forward and 2 steps back sometimes. It's hard on your body and you get injured from time to time. And when you rest from injury it's really hard not to see a slip in your times. I really need to push through this...

Shin Splints :(

I have been suffering so badly with shin splints again lately. I actually cried in pain after running just a mile in the gym at work this week. I'm desperately trying to figure out what is going wrong. The distances I am running are so much shorter than they were. I had managed to complete 3 5Ks all in under 30 minutes in one week in the gym and had been focused on building my sprinting abilities. Maybe I am just pushing too hard too soon? The only other thing I can think is that I have been wearing my stability shoes for the new Monday aerobics which requires a lot of ankle-twisting. I know that it really hurts while I'm in class. I'm going to have to rest them completely and switch to the elyptical for a while which I really hate:(

Fit2Run

Went to Fit2Run at International Mall to try and make some progress with the terrible shin splints that seem to kick in after every race. I got some shin splint guards (which really seem to help the pain after the fact) and some stability shoes. After a week of not being able to get along with them at all and having numbness in my feet, I took them back and switched out for another pair which you can do if you join their club. The new Acsis shoes seem to be much better. I love the store and bought some really nice running clothes and I've finally broken 31 minutes on the treadmill!

My First 5K!

I actually did it! I completed the Tampa Police Memorial 5K (with Emily) on Bayshore in 39:35! I had to stop and walk a few times and it was so hot - over 80 degrees. I have to be honest though - I really hated it and fantasized about faking an injury the whole way:(. For most of the race I just looked at all of the other runners as living proof of what I couldn't do and resolved to end my running career immediately. Some of my previous theories were disproved today. Turns out that some fat people can run and some young and/or thin people cannot run. I was right that I can't really run very well though. You can see from my face how miserable I was as I came over the line. I actually dry-heaved (luckily my stomach was empty) as I came in. Far from pretty...

The next day my legs felt terrible and I had my first experience with the dreaded shin splints. After a day of rest I thought I'd take a 2 mile run outside to try and shake off the bad experience. The shin splints were brutal and after only a mile or so, I gave up and walked home with a few tears...