Calling all runners...

juanwilly1 wrote: »

72 years old and TKR runner here! Average about 20 miles a week--sandy beach, sandy trails, concrete bridges and asphalt roads. Soft sand slows you down and trails have their rooted peril but love living in Florida where all is available. Just switched from Brooks Beast for many years to Hoka Cliftons 7's and love the cushioning, but the negative heel takes some getting used to and they do help the knees! Keep on running folks! Cheers

@juanwilly1
I also used to run in Brooks Beast and swapped to Hoka Gaviottas, as you say, the difference in cushioning is huge and although I used to love the Brooks, I'll never go back after using the Hoka's.

Got up this morning begrudgingly at 2:30am to get my run in before work, to my surprise once I started running I felt great and pushed close to my threshold pace. So glad I got up now haha

Hi I'm a long term runner. I'm easing back in after two weeks off. Nice to meet others!

SwtHedgehog wrote: »

Does anyone have flat feet and supination? I know it's rare, butI have that. If so what running shoes do you run in?

I made it to physical therapy and had my leg/gait checked out. My summary of that is my hip is tight so it fights that by going the opposite direction of where it should be and my *kitten* (technically glutes) x too lazy to do anything about it, so the poor little guys I. The lower leg/foot are forced to take more load. She did give me some exercises (some were tweaks on ones I've been doing anyway ) to help with that. She did confirm my self-diagnosis (I wasn't going to trust myself) that I have flat feet and I suppinate.

I suffered a string of calf, ankle and achilles injuries from 2016-2018 due to the same root cause: tight hip flexors, and glute muscles that didn't fire as a result. The cause in my case was a combination of too much sitting at a desk, coupled with cycling. Both of those activities had me in hip flexion for long periods of time. Then, when I started to run, (especially in triathlons after cycling) my glutes didn't engage, forcing my legs to do all the work, leading to imbalances and injuries.

I had to make significant changes in order to continue in triathlon (with its "bike to run" transitions). I bought a stand up desk in order to reduce sitting, did hip flexor stretches multiple times/day, plus a number of hip extension and glute activation exercises. The goal was the break the neuromuscular pattern that develops when we repeatedly engage one muscle group (hip flexors).

I'm sure your PT gave you some hip flexor stretches and glute activation movements (bridges, squats, etc.) I've also become a regular yogi, since the entire posterior chain from the lower back to the feet need to be aligned. A brief round of yoga that includes Up Dog, Down Dog, pigeon pose and twists provide the counter stretches and different planes of movement that help maintain balance and flexibility in the muscle groups.

Good luck with your PT and running.

@SwtHedgehog - Gotcha. Your story sounds familiar. I lost all of 2019 to my chronic achilles problems, then I got derailed in 2020 by the pandemic, just like most everyone I know. With three races cancelled, I just threw in the training towel. My wife said I was "fairly pathetic" during most of 2019-20, lol.

Regarding swimming: My Garmin 920 tracks lots of data about my swims, but we don't use HR in the swim. The output from my chest strap HR monitor is usedfor establishing my HR zones for bike and run. Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and/or time per 100yds (1:45/100, 2:15/100, etc) are what most people I know use to understand swimming's impacts on their fitness and fatigue. Hope that helps. BTW: swimming is a terrific cross training tool for runners. Really builds the lungs, no pounding on the joints, and it provides a different movement pattern for the muscles used in cycling and running.

Thanks for the info. On Thursdays, after my swim, I use a pool belt and do pool running. For that, I'm not sure if I use a run or pool swim activity since a hybrid of both? I wasn't sure if there's a reason HR is shut off for the pool.

neffyworld wrote: »

Did my first parkrun today. Took 56 minutes to walk/run 5kms. I think I walked slower after running about twelves poles because my shoes were no good and my feet were sore.

I need to internet search what a park run is. We have none locally to me; I do know that much. You got out and ran, so nice job on what running you did manage to get in! I hope your feet feel better soon.

smal48 wrote: »

Hi, new joiner to this thread I started running again a couple of months ago after a few years off with knee issues and then a baby emerging. Really happy to be running 5k again. @neffyworld I didn’t think Park Runs were going? My local ones have been cancelled since the summer I think, hopefully starting up again soon tho. Well done for doing it, are you going to go regularly?

I'm in New Zealand where Covid 19 is pretty much gone, so the parkruns are on. I went to my first and last one, because I need new shoes. I'll probably venture out again in a few months.

I run 3x week, but short distance. 2-4 miles. I did it in my younger days for soccer training, but now just for heart health and to help increase my HDL cholesterol. Not to mention it helps keep the pounds off. My one friend always told me though...."you can't outrun a diet".

Hello all, I recently completed C25K for the third time in my life and am currently running around 3 miles three days a week (including the full 5k today). However, my priority is weight loss so speed and time is not important to me. Instead of timing myself, I use a heart rate monitor to keep myself in the 70-90% of max heart rate zones. I'll stay focused on diet because I want running to get easier so I don't burn out. In the past I have found I lose interest and quit running after 2-3 months.

@jelleigh I would recommend timing yourself and use a heart rate monitor. If you're not hitting 80% max heart rate you could push yourself to go a little faster. 37 minutes for a 5k is about a 12 minute mile (5 mph), so really anything in the 33-43 minute range sounds great.

Question for you runners:

Yesterday we had a heavy downpour of rain, the type that has you wiping the rain water off your eyelids so you can see through it. It was difficult. Tomorrow I'm running my 20. Now if it's a lighter rain tomorrow the way it is today, I'll run 20 in the rain even though I imagine it will be pretty miserable. If it's a hard rain I'll either have to change when I run or make adjustments.

If things are "bad" tomorrow, husband suggested I go to our community center where I can pay a day use fee to use the gym facilities. I love the suggestion. Could I get the same benefit of a 20-mile training run on a treadmill? I do need to get it done!

Also, big epiphany, wear a hat to help block the rain!

Any and all suggestions welcome!

Adding: I'm already two days behind in getting this training run done so I'm a little desperate to get it over with!

I never run in full rain. I'm fine with sprinkles...I just don't know how to dress for rain. I wear glasses, so it's hard to see and I'm afraid of ruining my shoes. I have a lot of hair and don't know what kind of hat to wear. Any suggestions? My other issue, since summer is coming, is high heat and humidity. We get up into the 90s-over 100 with high humidity. I try to run mid-morning if possible.

DancingMoosie wrote: »

I never run in full rain. I'm fine with sprinkles...I just don't know how to dress for rain. I wear glasses, so it's hard to see and I'm afraid of ruining my shoes. I have a lot of hair and don't know what kind of hat to wear. Any suggestions? My other issue, since summer is coming, is high heat and humidity. We get up into the 90s-over 100 with high humidity. I try to run mid-morning if possible.

You and I are both in Texas, although, I think you're farther south than me. I'm in central Texas. I've run through hundreds and hundreds of scorching days, even up into 100 + degree days. I use hats when it's cold or super sunny out. Lately, though, I've been wearing bandana handkerchiefs around my head. When I wear a hat, I wear any hat where I can pull my hair through the back and that has some sun blockage in the front.

LoveyChar wrote: »

..............I did not know there was such a thing as a wind vest or running glasses. Thanks for letting me know these things so I can look into them.

Lots of choices out there. Its typical to find cycling/running glasses with multiple color lenses. Here's mine with clear, amber and dark lenses. Note to holes in the lenses to help let moisture escape. These weren't too expensive ($60-$70) and I've had them for years. They've lasted through hundreds of bike rides, runs and many races.



The vest has a two way zipper, so you can unzip from top or bottom as needed. When its cold, I wear this with a neck gaitor and slip my hydration vest over it. Don't know if you ride a bike, but its a game changer for cycling as well.