chriscm70 Member

I have a really basic strength and core routine I do at home 3 times a week for about 25-30 minutes. It's mostly body weight except for dumbbells for bench rows and a resistance band for clamshells... and a stopwatch for not cheating on my planks ;-) It helps a lot, both for running and just in general. I had some back…

Thanks for the responses. The doc and therapist say it's a calf muscle dysfunction, what Carson is saying. I'm pretty good about stretching but I think I just let it get to the point where stretching alone wasn't doing anything for it. It has only been a day but there is noticeable improvement as far as my calf being tight…

I got the "Scosche Rhythm+", it goes on your forearm and is Ant+ so it pairs with the Garmin fine, and it doesn't seem to be affected by things like static, and it doesn't need to be wet to work. It's also rechargeable and supposedly lasts 8 hours on a charge. More info here:…

Another vote for the 310XT here. I wish I had just gotten it to start with instead of the 210. I use it with a foot pod and an optical HRM (no more chest strap), it works great, no issues for me. The only issues I have are with the Garmin Connect software, but that's a different story. You do need to calibrate the foot pod…

Yeah, the "Sync now" worked again for me too. I guess I'll get used to the "modern" view so I can just click it quickly... they will probably make everyone switch to the new one at some point anyway.

I've been having trouble the past few days. It used to sync immediately, then was syncing duplicates, then wasn't syncing at all for a couple of days. Yesterday I tried switching to the Garmin "Modern" view and clicking "Sync now" in the calories in/out, and that seemed to make it sync. That was once though, may have been…

My understanding is that BayState is pretty fast. I might go for that one next year myself, not sure yet. There's also Sugarloaf in Maine, which is mostly downhill I think, so fast but painful, haha :-) You've probably already seen this site but in case you haven't:…

Yeah, I'm certainly not going to count it as my Half PR. It's not like I was THAT close anyway, I figure I still wouldn't have PR'd. I would have been over my PR by a full minute or so I think. That's a good idea about the HMShort designation. Unfortunately they aren't sure exactly how many people shorted the course. My…

This is a very nice group and I think anyone is welcome :-) I don't post here much but browse though pretty frequently to see what's going on and get some tips. There's a lot of good info here.

My girlfriend and I had numbers '2' and '3' once... just because I registered us right when it opened. People were commenting on it at the race thinking it was because we were really fast!!

I had a soleus strain diagnosed a while back, got some PT, including graston. I never stopped running, but I went to a sports medicine place for it, not a regular doc. Once I felt what they were doing with graston I figured out how to get in there with "the stick" and work at it myself. It was gradual, maybe a few weeks. I…

Quick update... I was going to do the "screwshoes", and still might, but I got a pair of the YakTrax Pros for Christmas and wow, no problem at all, even on uneven bumpy ice with water over top of it, stuff that's impossible to walk on. As long as thy prove to be durable I think these things are amazing! I walked for a few…

Haha, ok, I'll try some lube too. I have the "Ba-bump" strap cream but that doesn't seem to make a difference for this issue. A water-based lube makes sense to try though.

Hmm, maybe, it's tough in the winter. I could double up on the dryer sheets or something, or maybe try rubbing the sheets on my shirt and chest when I put it on. Just got in from a run, same behavior, I just pull my shirt out and my HR goes back down within a few seconds, so odd... It stayed spiked for almost 2 miles today…

When not carrying liquids I just use the Nathan "5k" belt. It would be a good size for just a phone and some gels, and has held up very well for over a year. The printing on it has worn off but that's it. This one: http://www.amazon.com/Nathan-Runners-Waist-Pack-Black/dp/B0000ANG1E I got it at ****'s Sporting Goods. Good…

Oh cool, I like the screw placement.. I'm going to steal your design ;-)

Thanks for the advice. I'll probably try the screws on an old pair first, nothing to lose really! I really don't mind running on the treadmill but I need to get some miles in outside as much as I can for a possibly icy February race. Good feedback on the yaktrax, I didn't realize they'd be slippery on dry roads, thanks!

http://athlinks.com/racer/138776309

I finished my first full marathon yesterday! My time was 4:21:22. The first 21 miles went pretty well, nice and steady. My half split was 2:00:49 (my previous half race time was 2:08). I started to have some knee trouble after that though, which is strange... I've never had problems with my knees before, it's usually…

Thanks all, today felt great! I pushed it a little but nothing crazy. I'll probably back it off some for the last 6 and 8 mile runs, and just run the few shorter ones at a faster pace, but still keeping it under 10k pace though. That's what I've been doing all along I suppose, just a bit faster, maybe by :30-:45/mile. Most…

Yes! this happened to me too the first time I ran in them the other day... glad I'm not the only one :-) I didn't notice it yesterday though, so I may be adjusting to them ok. I'm still going back to the Brooks for anything over 3 for now.

I did my easy 3 mile run in these tonight, no issues. I can feel some different muscles being used, but not in a bad way or anything. I'll probably just use these for the 2 short easy runs for a while, and the Brooks for the longer mid-week and weekend runs.

Nike pro combat compression shorts for sure, love 'em! I'm not sure what the "combat" is all about but they sure are comfy :-)

Congrats on completing the marathon! Great time!

Wow, great feedback! I knew this was a good group :-) I will read through these all tonight (still at work)

Thank you all so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it. It gives me a couple of things to think about and look at. My goal is just to finish of course... under 4.5 hours would be amazing though and what I'm hoping to be able to do, but we'll see how training goes though and how I feel on and after my long runs.…

Cool, yes, thanks! I definitely agree and have been getting my shoes from a running store... and working with a podiatrist and a trainer. I think I'm finally getting closer to a setup and training schedule that works for me. I'm very hopeful that I'll be able to try a full in October.

I feel your pain, literally. Those are probably shin splints from what you said. I would go to a real running store (where they watch you walk and try different shoes), even for just walking, and get some decent shoes just as a place to start. You could try ice at night too, and rest of course. I'm sure others will have…

Kennebunk here, add me if you like :-)

I just got mine changed yesterday at Batteries Plus also, also for about $10. It made a big difference, good luck!