ILX running running thread

Blue = important information

thanks!

5 miles yesterday. Very little pain, sub 9 pace. Achy it band today. So goes life.

The big thaw has restored all of my routes, so I'm happy I don't have to go up and down the same street 3x a week (more like 2x these days but who's counting). Running the same route is a quick way for me to lose all running mojo.

somehow i ran 10-13 miles today. i am wrecked.

need a physio but money making me wary, 99 per cent sure i have shin splints but whatever it is the inside of my right shin/ankle hurts when i walk, and if i go up/down stairs or try to run it gets worse. so annoying, i am addicted to running and haven't done a decent one in 3/4 weeks. feel myself becoming a fat and unfit slob, even if that's prob just in y head.

had a nice 6 miler. im only running every 2 or 3 weeks, but it would be nice to be able to step it up to weekly, just to keep from having to start at zero if i want to do an event.

after a big 20 mi weekend, i had a good 40 mi week. definitely won't repeat that this week, but at least i can still run this week.

can anyone recommend any 50+min mixes? i think i've played out the LCD Soundsystem Nike mix. about to start working through the other Nike mixes today.

Almost got sucked into Lake Michigan today.

have enjoyed the ame fact mix on recent runs. it's about 50 mins. it's gone from the fact site but you may be able to find it online somewhere. if you can;t give me a shout and i'll upload it to a file transfer thing for you.

http://www.factmag.com/2011/01/10/fact-mix-212-ame/

found it here:

http://core.thomaslaupstad.com/fact-mix-212-by-ame/#more-4629

i like that mix for running a lot.

finally feeling like my right ankle/shin is getting back to normal. been too broke for physio, but it's not twinging as much as it was in simple daily tasks. so annoying, nearly 4 weeks off after building myself up to 11 miles or so. learned my lesson for the second time now though, don't go enthusiastically running two days after you smash your previous distance. feel so unfit and rubbish after 4 weeks off, can't wait to fight my way back into it, hopefully won't have lost much fitness.

thanks jed! downloading now

Ronan, this link might help, it stresses the importance of stretching (for new runners esp.) (i know you've been going a lot longer than i have!) but i had shin pains which were def, i think, muscular rather than actual bone pains. the link is saying that if you don't catch the muscular pain and pull back a little then it can develop into shin splints which are harder to recover from.

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_5/196.shtml
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_1/126.shtml#wallpush

My runs this week: .40, 3.5, 11

It's been a polarizing week. ITBS is the cruelest injury. It will bring you down immediately one day and then let you think that you can run again, before bringing you down again.

I had ITBS once; it totally sidelined me. Never saw a dr about it, but ordered a simple $9 velcro band off the internet just to see if it would help and amazingly it just about cured the problem. I'm not sure how this is relevant or helpful cuz I'm sure you've probably tried everything you can, but I was just amazed how quickly something so simple and cheap fixed a problem that had me so down.

I use the strap, and it does help. I haven't had a run in 9 months where I haven't been wearing 1 or 2 of them!

feel so unfit and rubbish after 4 weeks off, can't wait to fight my way back into it, hopefully won't have lost much fitness.

my life ^^

after 50 miler i took 4 weeks off basically, running maybe once a week 2-3 miles. uggghhhh! just did 6 yesterday, today off, big run tomorrow. (maybe?)

i need to buy running shoes tomorrow

so i can, like, run

my shoes are SO old and need to be replaced very badly. i even got a groupon for a running store to go get new ones. but i have yet to actually get there.

thinking abt getting into the whole mid striking natural running born to run etc craze via buying these http://www.shopnewbalance.com/newbalanceMR10BG.htm

tried a mid striking gait the other day for like 7 miles and it was interesting, been reading up a lil

btw the born to run guy is horrible and i have vowed to never read his book

i feel like i need a running coach to tell me if i am doing something wrong. i just worry because i started running on my own and never really figured out if my form was 'right' or not. my steps are very short, and i feel like i will always be slow because of this, but trying to take longer strides feels really awkward. is that something you work up to? /n00b

this current trend i was referring to is v into short strides

here is some infos http://www.newbalance.com/performance/running/good-form-running

cool, thankig u

I've pretty much transitioned to mid/forefoot running. I don't know if it has helped at all, since I'm injured all the time anyway. I think the lighter shoes has helped me more than anything else. My old Adidas where heavy and clunky. Love my Newton Gravitas Trainers.

Question for moderate* runners: do fancy** socks make a difference?

*2-5 miles at a time, a few times a week
**"fancy" def. pricey socks made of high tech blended fabrics that claim to do everything from preventing blisters to kill bacteria

i got some - though i didnt break the bank- and i found them good.

Back out on the road today for first time in months. Almost starting from scratch for half mara in july again. Ah well.

I am a moderate runner of the type you describe and I wear regular socks most of the time and warm padded hiking socks in the winter. never found the need to buy other socks.

oh yeah i dont wear these all the time or anything, i just use yr standard 'sports socks' you get in a 5pk or whatever. The 'running' ones definitely easier on the soles over longer runs though.

I buy the fancy Thorlo running socks. They help me the most in the summer when I'm running in 90F+ temps, because they breathe really well. But they're so comfortable I end up wearing them all the time!

i very much enjoy smartwool's running socks.

local running shop totally pushing balega ultra at £10 a pair!

socks i mean

i have never used any special sox or gear particularly besides shoes

i feel running shoes i have tried, having the raised heel part, don't work too well for me since most of the shoes i feel comfortable in are either very flat or have a dipped heel (e.g. birkenstocks) so maybe this midfoot thing would be good for me with the right shoes.

i have to stop talking like a seasoned runner since i've been going about 2 months max :s

it's true 2 months is not even 1 season iirc

I like the anti-bacterial socks with silver fibers or whatev but more for when I'm working a long shift or on a long flight or other similarly constrained situation. They work pretty well ime

in glasgow we sometimes get 4 seasons in one day ;)

I only wear smartwool. For running, and everyday socks. I don't have another brand in my sock drawer.

i am pretty much a mid foot runner at this point. after shortening my stride quite a lot, i have since lengthened it a little bit. this seems to have helped my injury prone ankles and feet cope a little bit better- i didn't get a foot injury until i was actually running my target long event.

on socks, the ones that work best for me for running are cheapish mid-weight cotton nike socks. nothing technical. i have a bunch of padded thorlos that i don't use anymore, they are too hot and crowd my toes. i tried thin tech socks, but my feet are pretty low volume and the fit of my shoes really suffers. so, cheap socks, alright!

i wear any old socks unless i'm going 20 mi + distance, in which case it's useful to ensure i'm wearing something that doesnt accelerate blisters—injinji toe socks! so great. wore them for 50 miler w/ a bit of body glide, not a single blister. but i did wear holes on the balls of my feet...

I use the Nike running socks, v cheap if you shop around and they're just cut a bit better than normal socks so no pinching side of your toes after a few miles. They don't attach themselves to your feet either..

I wear these most of the time (X-Socks Speed One Socks):

http://www.sweatshop.co.uk/details.cfm?ProdID=464

though I think with socks it's just a case of finding what's comfortable and sticking with it.

Being injured sucks. I can do about five miles before my knee starts complaining - I think it's slowly improving but I'll be surprised if I'm back in shape in time for London...

On Saturday when lake Michigan almost consumed me, my feet did get soaking wet. I was surprised my socks didn't give me any trouble. Sloshy run but no blisters.

5 miles tonight, 42 minutes. The fastest that I've comfortably run in a long time. Also only 2 days after 11 miles, which is as fast as I've recovered from that distance in a long time. We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

Feeling pretty good today. I hope I'm finally near the end of this.

similar scenario...about 4/5 weeks without running, my right leg is easing in pain, feeling stronger. but it still hurts a little. kinda think might be time to just try a few runs and see if i can build it back up.