G* Running Club

[Melmont]

Thanks, underage_elf! I have had my gait analyzed in the past, but I still find it daunting to find a good shoe without the ability to run in it for a while first. I ended up going with A*S*I*C*S Bl ur 33s, which are lightweight and simple, with nice cushioning around the heel, so they don't rub. They're not as bouncy and responsive as my old shoes, but they seem a lot less taxing on my feet and knees. And they look like a million bucks, too.

Does anyone have any good tips for really heinous seasonal allergies? I occasionally take anti-histamines, but they're expensive, often make me drowsy, and I just generally try not to take too much superfluous OTC stuff. I feel like running would get a lot easier if I could breathe through my nose. I feel like I border on hyperventilation too often, if I'm not REALLY conscious of my breathing.
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[lozenge]

underage_elf - It may be. I mainly feel tightness in my calves after so have been focusing on that. oops! will try some foam rolling on the ITB and see how i go.

Melmont good point. I haven't had my gait looked at but I focused a lot on getting it right when I was going through the couch to 5k. I did change shoes recently but they are essentially the same shoe. I will probably get it looked at anyway as a precaution but might have to start introducing ice into the stretching/foam rolling I am already doing.

I did another 5k run tonight and it wasn't as bad. Will still check with my trainer and maybe visit a doctor for a referral.

[tinyrock]

Melmont, I use guaifenesin (an expectorant, often marketed for colds) for seasonal allergies. It is charmingly described as "mucus relief DM" on the package, I think the DM is because the last stuff I bought also contains dextromethorpan (cough suppressant).

I tried running a bit this weekend - the start of C25K wasn't enough for me, I'm going to try week 3 next. It's nice to have another workout option now I don't have a uni gym membership. However, given that all the women in my family get joint replacements, I probably won't make it an all-the-time thing.

[milyssa]

running 7 miles for my weekend run, now!

And it was a horrible 7 miles this last Saturday...I actually have a 7.1 route from door to door, but stopped running at 7m (and I was really plodding along) because I thought I would have to throw up if I didn't (and I'd been pushing through that, "if I don't stop, I might puke" feeling for at least 1.5m) My time was still really good, which suggests to me that although I was feeling pretty good, I must have been going really just too fast for me for the first 4-5 miles.

I've been feeling some tightness in my lower back/upper butt -- any stretching recs?

LOVE G*running club :)
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[PurpleDoor]

Another run for me this morning! I did my "speed" workout again, picking up the pace at a few pre-planned points. It worked okay for the 1st half, then I had to make a port-a-potty dash at the halfway point, and I kind of lost momentum after that, though I managed to finish the whole loop at a jog. Also, I was talking to a running friend last night and he suggested I try backwards walking lunges as another way to build up leg muscles. So, I tried a few this morning after my run and--wow. They're definitely going to take some getting used to. I managed to do 10 and then I gave up and did my usual forward lunges and side squats.

Boyfriend and I are planning a 3-4 day backpacking trip at the end of the month and I'm excited to see how my increased attention to running/fitness in general plays out there. Usually he takes most of our shared gear (tent, food, etc.) and is still generally faster than me. This time I'm hoping I'll be able to keep up better, especially on the uphill parts (I'll still let him carry more of the gear though, ha!)

[underage_elf]

Side stitches!! So maddening! They've been plaguing me on my longer runs, mostly during downhill stretches - the more jarring the trail, the more likely the stitches are to appear. I'm starting to think that they're caused in my case by overhydration, so I'm going to play with drinking less. But...does anyone have any great tips on getting rid of them once they start? I try putting pressure on the area and breathing out fully through pursed lips, but it doesn't work.

On a happier note, indulge me while I show off one of our awesome nearby trails :) I ran there solo this weekend, so this picture is actually from a run last year with my husband and the dogs. I'm fully in love with running this time of year; the wildflowers are out, everything is green (this was a uniquely rocky stretch), and there's still snow on the higher mountaintops. Magical!


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[Lassi]

love the pic, underage_elf! It looks like a challenging trail! We should make a point to post more inspirational running pics :)

I used to get side stitches from downhill trail running. I found that slowing down helped a lot.

I have been keeping up, for the most part, with my running routine. I took it easy on my long weekend run this week because I was feeling quite blah from allergies. It is getting hot, hot, hot in the desert these days (broke 100 today!), so I have to get up and out really early to run while it's nice and cool. I kind of like it though because it makes me feel very centered. I also love the early morning culture here--it's bumping in the park right at 6am with yoga classes, dog walking, fitness bootcamps, rugby games... I feel like I fit in :)

[Melmont]

I've been struggling a bit, mostly due to my stupid allergies. I've started taking daily medication, but it doesn't seem to have really kicked in yet, or else it isn't strong enough. I start my runs feeling great, but by the mid-way point, my nose and sinuses are totally blocked, and I spend the rest of the run basically hyperventilating from not being able to breathe fully. Very frustrating. Hopefully it won't last too long. I'm still going out at least a few times a week, trying not to get too discouraged.
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[smalltowngirl]

more gorgeous photos! wow!

I have a new early morning routine now, and it's working really well for me. I was finding more excuses by running after work, and felt like I spent a lot of the day thinking about the run and all the reasons why I just couldn't do it after work. Plus, I detest running in the sun and heat.

On running days, I am on the road around 5:20 and run for about an hour, so six miles or a little bit more. I'm having fun tracking out different routes around to make it more interesting. Running early has been a great way to start the day and I feel so FREE after work. The hardest part of course, is actually getting out of bed. I love that there is no traffic (I run on sidewalks or the road), I love to hear the birds, I love being up so early and seeing other early morning people and saying hi, and I love that by the time I walk my mile to work by 8am, I've already put in 7 miles of exercise!

I'm not training for anything, so I'm wondering what kind of regime I should sort of do. My plan is to run 6 miles every other day, then every other weekend do a long run of 1.5 hours. How do you keep motivated and do you set goals when you are just running for physical and mental health? (lately I feel like its more for my mental)

[milyssa]

smalltowngirl, your new running routine sounds fab! I'm also a morning runner - if I wait, I definitely don't want to go later in the day :)

I just came to complain about my intense leg pain. It feels like it starts on the outside of my knees and radiates up my outer thigh. (It started feeling funny, but not really painful, on Friday, when I hadn't run for 2 days, and I ran 3m Saturday and 4m Sunday without aggravating the slight amount of pain. Today, though, it's intensely painful.) Internet research suggest it's my IT band. OUCH! I'll forego my run tomorrow and possibly try to get an appt with my fave doctor (who is a sports med guy).

I'm not supposed to take NSAIDs like ibuprofen consistently/chronically, but A and I agreed that I can spend all day tomorrow taking it to try to help with inflammation. Blah.

I'm extra bummed to be missing my run as I've just felt like I'm back in action post-nasty-cold. Trying to remind myself that running on an injury would be worse than not running.
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[IrmaVep]

Milyssa, have you tried rolling on a foam roller to loosen the IT band? Mine are chronically tight. Well, everything in my lower body is, but rolling makes a huge difference. Your gym should have them amongst the stretch/floor equipment, and I'm pretty sure there are videos on Sparkpeople about how to roll on them.

[milyssa]

[smalltowngirl]

milyssa are you feeling any better? That sounds awful! Injuries are something I am terrified of! I hope you are getting rest!

I've been doing good on my morning routine. Last weekend I did my longest run ever of 10.2 miles...yay! I went nice and slow and felt good after! I also ran a 5K with a decent time (for me) a few weeks ago. Another yay!

One thing I'm noticing is that I'm not getting any faster on my day to day runs...if anything my overall pace is slower since I've been running in the mornings. However, I notice that the last 1/2 hour of my run is faster on average than when I was running after work. I assume its because I'm up and running within 15 minutes of getting out of bed so it takes me a good half hour to warm up?

Also, since I have no races planned, I'm wondering how I should set some new goals, or if I should just chill out and keep with my current schedule and just extend my long runs, or tone down one of my runs to half the distance and make it shorter and faster. I am more interested in endurance (I would love to be able to run a half marathon one day as a long run!) but I'm a little interested in getting a little more speedy as well, even though I don't really enjoy running "fast".

I don't feel like I should run every day or add too much more mileage b/c it gets to be too much (also have a dog to take on long walks on my non-running days!) and I am at a weight that I'm ok with, but I don't want to lose any more and don't want to spend all my time thinking about how I will get in enough eating...thinking about running takes up enough of my thinking time! I'm not sore (except a little leg soreness for an hour or so after) so I think my body is handling this well?

How do you all set new goals?

[PurpleDoor]

Milyssa, my brother had some IT band issues last year and went to a physiotherapist for it. She gave him a whole bunch of exercises but one of the big things she told him was that he REALLY needed to work on strengthening his glutes. Basically, he was just running but wasn't really doing anything to build muscle. He added some stuff like squats to his workout routine and apparently that helped a lot. Good luck w/ your doctor, hope he can give you some good advice!

[underage_elf]

I find it pretty hard to stick to specific running goals when there’s not an event on the horizon. Are you opposed to signing up for a race, smalltowngirl? You’re up there in mileage (nice job with the long run!); why not sign up for a half-marathon? Either way, you could incorporate speedwork once a week to help you get faster. Google “fartlek” for ideas (okay, I’m an eight-year-old boy…that word makes me giggle every time). It sounds like your body is handling it really well. Could your dog handle going on some of your runs with you?

Something I found when I was having IT band issues was that running on flat, even terrain exacerbated the problem because of the prolonged repetitive motion. Milyssa, you might try (in addition to all the other great suggestions) running more hilly or rolling routes. There are good hills in MA, right?

I’m up to 17 miles in my training program. Mr. Elf and the dogs and I camped out in our trailer this weekend about an hour away, by an amazing lake I’d never visited. There was a gently rolling 9 mile trail around the lake, and at the far end another trail climbed up into the wilderness towards another lake. We turned around a little short of 4 miles out on that trail, after passing a huge pile of fresh poop. Mr. Elf was sure it was wolf scat; apparently sometimes they all poop in one pile to mark the boundaries of the territory? Ummm, it was a big pile. I got a little freaked out. But otherwise, it was a great run :)


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