Pine Belt Pacers Forum

P.S. I'm over getting stood up. You'll pay for it on Saturday Just kidding. Can't push you to hard or you'll get Arthur screaming at you again. But will push you hard enough to make you feel like you've accomplished something. I need to push myself more than anything. I discovered that being by myself wasn't as scary as I thought it would be this morning. I stayed around the track at the Lion's Park and just watched out for anything that could happen. At least the dogs didn't get after me this time. I called the cops the last time (leash laws rule).

Oh we are not running the usual route on Saturday morning because by 7:30 a.m. the traffic will be bad and the dogs will be out. We will run on the Rails to Trails. Start at Epley Station.

Keep up the good work.

Yikes! Maybe I should invite others to join us on Saturday, so there are witnesses to the abuse.

I've actually been trying to get my brother to go running with me on Saturday mornings and he always has something to do (he had to go get married and now I'm not even second fiddle, go figure). Besides, I'd rather run with someone who isn't 6' something, try keeping up with him, it takes all I have and then some.

On an easier note, I did go to the Payne Ctr (plz don't clap). I managed 6 laps in 9.35.08 before my form started to fall apart. Susan I wasn't doggy paddling this time. Dewey would be proud. When I get tired, the first thing to go is my kicking and the form, my hips sink and my kicking looks like a mad woman drowning, well maybe not that bad, but close enough. My first 2 laps were 3.51.49, the middle 2 were 3.34.05, and the last 2 were 2.49.54. My form may have been falling apart, but I was picking up speed.

Tomorrow I'll run, either outside or inside on the track or on the treadmill. It depends on how I feel and whether or not I beat Karen there (she'll make me do the track inside if she finds me before I get started , I'm messing with you Karen).

I'm not sure how it happened, but Karen has become my 'pusher'. Thank you very much Karen, from my heart.

I'm back from the gym. I chickened out of running outside, I was afraid I'd be frozen by the time I finished. I haven't run since last Thursday, so today was a "get your feet movin' again session" and I did, with Karen right by my side. I managed 2.5 miles in 39-40 minutes, not good time admittedly, but I didn't want to kill myself with tomorrow's run looming. Karen has promised slow and easy, so I'm holding her to it.

I'll send a Melissa and Karen report sometime tomorrow. Stay tuned....

I had to pull and push myself, almost kicking and screaming, to the Payne Ctr at lunch. I don't feel too good today, for whatever reason. I managed to get in 3.1 miles, but only .5 of that was running (at 4.93.00). If I could have maintained that pace it would've been a 10 minute mile, but nooooooooo. I just feel off kilter. I don't know if it's the weather, the changing of the Earth's position, or if I'm coming down with a bug. I just hope and pray it's not the latter. I did my 3.1 in 51.37.67. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

In spite of the nasty stomach and headache, I made it to Thames yesterday and Coach, Karen, Charles, and an older gentleman I didn't know, was there. Coach and I walked an 800, Karen then joined us and we (I was pulling up the rear) did a mile warm-up. I cheated and used it as part of my 3.1. After that. we broke off and it was to each their own. I did 2 miles worth of 400sx100s. At one point, I thought my lunch was going top-side, but I stopped running and found my water, that helped. Needless to say, I did get a work-out in, although I wasn't happy about the results. I'm sure I would've had a bit better time if my stomach hadn't taking everything in it for a swim, and my head was pounding.

Results:
800 wu (didn't record)
1.10 miles (13:02)
2.19 miles (31:04)
TOTAL: 3.29 miles (44:06)

I'm so excited! My LYL 5K time was 41:28:08, my time this past Saturday at the 5K Eagle Run was 37:58 - that's FASTER than last month's!!!!!!!! Ahhh! It averages out to a 12:12 min/mile. I'd like to get it btwn a 11:15 & 11:45 min/mile for next weekend. I don't know if I can do it, but I'm going to give it one heck of a try. For now, I'll be content to just shave off a little every race. I would love to get it to a 10 min/mile. I'd consider myself moving up.

Stay tuned for next week's time, I'll better the 37:58. This coming Saturday's is a flat course, on the trace. I'd love to get at or below 35 mins. That's my goal, for now....

My first farlek! I have two words to describe it - God Almighty! I didn't think those would be any thing other than running faster then walking, but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I am sore from the very top of my hip bones to the end of my toes. Gee whiz how can that be?

Anyway, if it's not raining to bad, I'll be at the track tonight. My body can't handle it! And I have to be very careful not to run myself down because my sister has the freakin' swine flu. Tell me how that happened? She doesn't work and hasn't been around anyone that has been sick. Now it's a praying fest to stay well on my end.

I have to walk 1/2 mile, run 1/2 mile, 4x100 r/jog, walk 1/4 mile, 2x200 r/j, w 1/4 mile, 1x400 r/j, w 1/2 mile - Coach Becky wanted some company this evening....

Yesterday at the track was a disaster. I got there at 5:10, 5:15 and set out on my mission. My body was nagging me with pain, but I was determined not to let myself down, so I forged on. I managed to do 90% of everything while in great pain. I apparently injured the shins running fartleks too fast, hitting the ground too hard, or something. My shins felt like they had been turned into a push pin holder. I started giving to the shins which then aggrevated the knee, which hit the hip, you get it. My the time I got off the track, around 6:00 I was in so much pain I could barely walk. Then when I tried to push the gas pedal, I was so numb from the pain that I couldn't, so I had to use my left foot - which wasn't entirely safe for those around me.

I got home and went straight to the water, soaked the legs in some warm water, then put some voltaren gel on them. I sat down to watch DWTS, and when I started to stand up (an hour later) I almost hit the floor, I couldn't stand up on them - stupid of me to have sit that long, I know better. I hobbled to the bed, and that's where I stayed until 6 this morning. They are still hurting, and I couldn't find my shin wraps I use to running in when they flare up, so I'll be in pain for the 30 minute fartlek. [I still love this new word! ]

...so I hobbled over to the gym at lunch, determined to work through/with the shin issue. I put on my trusty workout clothes and tennies, started toward the inside track, but changed my mine and went for the treadmill. I don't know if the treadmill was a smarter option or not. One thing I do know, I was going to hurt regardless, so I just did it!

I stepped on the treadmill like I owned it. I set the elevation for 1% incline and off I went. I did a 1/2 mile wu, 30 min fartlek (which covered 2.12 miles) and a 1/2 cd. By the last run, I was experiencing so serious pain. I kept telling myself, what would happen if I was in a real race? I had to forge through the pain - feel it, accept it, and move through it, and I did. However, when I started my cool down, I was on the verge of tears, I thought my shin was going to snap into. I barely finished the cd (at a very very slow pace). I think the slower I walked the worse it hurt, how does that happen?

Anyway, I made it back to the office, lathered the shin down with voltaren gel and said a good long prayer. I need to ice it, but I don't want to get up and go get the ice from the frig in the kitchen (yes we have a 'kitchen' in our office, no stove/dishwasher, but everything else). I'll ice it eventually, and soak it when I get home, and do my running very carefully tomorrow and of course rest it very good Friday and hope I can run faster this Saturday than I did last Saturday.

I have a blessed day....

Ice massage the shins, do your ABCs, walk on your heels, take anti-inflammatory meds and if you don't understand what I'm talking about, call me.

Thank you for the advise. I have been doing the ice (but not massaging), and my legs - from the knees down - have been spasming up after the abcs. I can't take any anti-inflammatory stuff because of all the Rx meds I take, so I'm screwed there.

I'm not sure what I did to flare them up, but I haven't had trouble with them in months - I was so proud of myself. No worries though, I'll be fine, eventually. It may be my shoes, they may be blown-out.

I'll do my run on the treadmill again today, that seems to ease the pain a few points and ice afterwards, rest tomorrow, and be ready to haul butt on Saturday, as it will be flat, no reason why I can't pick up the pace and maintain it for the 3.1 miles. I'm going to set my garmin to beep if I get above 12:00/mile. My ideal would be 11:00-11:30/mile. We'll see.

Thank you again.

Saturday's Halloween Hustle 5K at the Trace was fun. The weather cooperated (thank God) and it didn't rain, woohoo. It was cold though, you'd never know I grew up in Missouri where it's even colder (and it snows), laugh. The older I've gotten, the bigger wimp I've become when it involves cold weather.

The Women's Auxillary of the Salvation Army and sor/frat had us all fixed up. (Thanks to Ben for marking us correctly.) There were krispy creme donuts of all shapes and sizes, cold and hot beverages, and 'nanas and oranges. You know what I dove into...the fruit! I was good, grin. They had some gorgeous throws on sale, and of course I'm a sucker for helping anyone who helps others, so I coughed up the money and took it home and wrapped up in it until I warmed up.

My time, well it wasn't what I wanted - 39:07, but I did manage to keep a 12:00 min/mile. I would've beat my last time, but my shin took to hurting, and it was over with. I ended up walking 1/2 mile, which of course through my time off. I was okay with it though, I had fought my shin all week and while I wanted to believe it wouldn't act up, somewhere in the back of my noggin I knew it would. I usually kick myself the rest of the day for not getting the time I wanted, but that day, I didn't. I just didn't have the energy, I was hurting too bad.

Needless to say, I was in major pain the entire weekend, so much so that my mother sent out a warning to my siblings and my dad, don't mess with Melissa, she's in pain and will take off your head - I didn't take her head off, so I'm not sure why she sent out the warning...smile. My sweet momma, she was making sure no one messed with me, more than normal.

I start over this week, work toward the weekend where I'll do my 1st 10K. My plan, I don't have one yet. I'm thinking, run 1.5 miles/walk .25 until I finish. I'm excited to see if I can make my body cooperate for that distance. I know, I'm crazy. Remember, I never proclaimed I was sane!

Happy Monday all!

This is no longer fun....

I can't enjoy my runs due to the pain. The toes on my left foot start to hurt and go numb (it is even more painful when it goes numb), then I start giving to the foot (limping) and the next thing I know my left shin, knee and hip joint are killing me. And today my thumbs went numb on my hands - definitely not good! I have enough back problems to know the feet issues are causing my hips to misalign and pinch nerves (I've had those before), so now I have to start using the traction machine every night until I can get the back fixed and ween myself back off the dang thing.

Why can't I be like normal people and be injury free? I would do back-flips if I could get through one run (training or race) without hurting anywhere.

I don't know what is causing my foot to go numb. Although I'm 99% sure it's morton's nueroma. I put my sports insoles in, they are new, I only wore them a few weeks after I purchased them and put them back in the box (about 6 months ago). I have loosened my shoe so much that if I try to run faster I'll run out of the cotton-pickin shoe.... I try to tighten it,but the pain is so bad I can't even walk.

I'm frustrated and don't like to be.... I can't cough up the $ for a visit to my podiatrist, so for now I'm 'sol'....

I tried to do yesterday's workout today (because I went home yesterday and got busy then watched V, my favorite movie as a teenager, and DWTS), it was pitiful. I managed 3.1 miles in less than 46 mins. BAD! AWFUL! NOT ACCEPTABLE!

I'm stressing over the 10K Saturday, what am I going to do if my foot gets to hurting so bad I seriously can't walk on it? Crawl I guess, I refuse to let them bring me in! My 1st 10K should be fun and exciting. I'm not suppose to be dreading it because I'm afraid of the pain I'm going to voluntarily inflict on myself.

Gotta find a way to stop the pain....

I have a neuroma and I have to wear shoes that are wide and larger than most people would wear. Because of that I have to lace and tie them tightly, using the method that locks in the heel. If you have a neuroma and you have recently added insoles to your shoe, that could be the problem in that the insoles are making the shoes fit too snugly.

Regarding the 10K, if you haven't already entered it, perhaps you should not do it. No one says you *have* to do that race. Maybe, if you feel you must race, you should consider the 5K on Sunday afternoon. Or---maybe you should not do any race this weekend. Give yourself time to figure out all these issues that you are having. Just something to think about.

Melissa,

Your dedication is inspirational, but we ALL have to take a rest sometimes. I am probably the last person who likes to stop running. I can't remember the last time I was completely pain free... it is always something. I figure, "if it isn't getting worse it must be getting better." But you have to separate normal aches and pains from injury. I assure you if I was running with the symptoms you describe, I'd stop and cross-train until I figured out what was going on. Running should be fun. A little anxiety is normal, but stressing over a 10k and risking further injury isn't good for you (just my opinion). Like you mentioned, if the pain is causing you to moderate your stride, you just put new stresses on other body parts (i.e hips, knees, etc.) and risk further injury. I agree with Becky in that you should figure out your issues before racing. Taking a break from running doesn't mean you take a break from working out. This is the perfect time to work on your swimming, biking, etc. Whatever you decide to do, good luck and I hope you get it figured out. Just don't let it get you down.

Terry