78 Days Later.....

It's been 78 days since I last put on these shoes for a run.  Those 78 days have been pretty friction miserable. On the morning of January 13 I woke up, took a step off my bed, and a nasty shooting pain between big toe and second toe on the left foot began. I swear that is all that happened. 

I didn't want to run until I had been pain free for at least 7 days. Well it's been 10 days(I was extra careful). So this afternoon I headed out for a 2 mile run. I laced up ------------------------->

then I headed on the Monon Trail and ran.

My first few steps I could feel my feet asking me what the HELL was going on. I did not push myself at all. I just went at a slow steady pace. I ran an interval. Instead of my usual, I ran for 3 minutes, and walked for about 1 minute. 

It was sunny and in the 50s, so it felt great. There were plenty of people out on this Easter Sunday. One gentleman on a bike went past me twice. Each time he waved at me and said, "Keep it up man!" I thought, "Ok, who told his guy I needed that?" 

This run won't go down as my fastest, or my best. In my log it looks like 2.08 miles 31:28. It will go down as an important run. It's important for my body and my soul that I get back on the road and run. Today I did it.....and I am feeling good.

Charlie

Time to Ease Back

I have gone relatively pain free in my left foot for a week now. Let me be clear, I am not feeling the stabbing pain, and it feels better, but I am also feeling just a general ache - I call that arthritis. So my goal is to do some walking and short running next week.

The Soldier Field 10 Mile is at the end of May. Will I run it as I would like? Doubtful, but I want to be able to run. How I would like to run is going to take a back seat.

What about my fall marathon? I am still planning on that. I need to get started running though. I feel achy, but like I said, I think that is the arthritis talking to me.

Happy to talk me running again....crossing fingers.

Charlie

No Magic Pill

Interesting encounter with a runner who has suffered from the dreaded plantar fascism(as I call it), who asked me if there was anything that was 100% at curing his ailment. Nope. Well, that's the short answer. He didn't like that answer.

We talked about various things to do, or products he could buy which would help him get over it, but no. He has suffered for months. Won't do what the physical therapist suggested, but he couldn't assure him it was 100% effective. He didn't want to do massage therapy, because there is no 100% certainty. He didn't want to try any products I suggested, because I could not assure him he would be cured.

Finally I told him that none of these things do what you want to do, but if you do a series of them, and continue to work on it, it can go away. That wasn't good enough. No to arch supports, Strasbourg Socks, supportive shoes. He finally said it, "I just want the magic pill."

Folks there is no magic pill to curing any physical ailment. There is also no one thing responsible for the ailment(most of the time). Go ahead and blame the shoes, because they don't talk back. Nothing happens in a vacuum though. Chances are you have plantar fascism because of a combination of things.

Because a combination of things brought you to this point, there will be a combination of things which will get you out of it. Just know there is no 100% of any of it - alone.

Charlie

What Should You Run?

As I work with runners, I am frequently asked if they should run such and such distance. There is no easy answer for this. If you have never run, and you have a marathon on your "bucket list" I advise people not to do that right away. I stress the importance of building up your running to a marathon distance.

First of all, you need to determine if you like running. As I have said many times, how do you train for a 26.2 mile race if you don't know if you like running? Figure for now what is manageable for you. Maybe you need to focus on the 5K.  Nothing wrong with 5Ks.

Maybe you want the challenge of the half marathon? This is actually my favorite distance to run. It's challenging, but without the intense training. Most of our bodies can take a half marathon.

I never think anyone should run just one distance, or focus on one distance. Running gets stale if that is all you do. Mix it up! Throw in a 10K for giggles. Do a 5K for a speed workout. Run a half and get the medal. Marathons are always going to be there. They will always require a lot of work. Before jumping in, figure out what you want, what you are capable of, and how much time you want to dedicate to it.

Charlie

Depressed

For those who regularly read this blog, you may know that when I am down, I tend not to write here. Well, I am more than down, I am down right depressed. I haven't run since January, and today I was signed up to run a marathon, which I had to back out of. I hate not running. I also hate complaining that I'm not running, but I'm going to do that here.

I have gained weight. I feel gross. I haven't been able to run, or get time in to see a doctor to see why I can't run. On top of this, I have races coming, that I will have to back out of. Did I mention I hate that?

Originally the pain was the left foot between the big and second toes. That is lessened, but both feet are sore all the time. I know some of it is from the weight I have gained. I can't be active though.

I am also dealing with stresses in my non-running life, at work, and non-work. As an emotional eater, you know what has happened. I know things will get better, because they have to. The problem is, they aren't, and that bothers me, because of my impatience.

Tomorrow, my first goal is to see when I can see a doctor. I have tried this before, but things get in the way. I am hoping by posting this here, I will be committed to calling the doctor.

So, yes, I am dumping today. Yes, I need some bucking up. Sorry to be so needy today.

Charlie

Every Now and Then

In my job, every now and then, I hear something from someone which takes me a back for the moment, but once I have thought it through, it reminds me why I love what I do. This spring I am coaching folks for their spring half marathons. I know the people who I help train appreciate what I do. Still it's nice when someone makes a point of telling you.

Yesterday I received a call from one of the participants. He ran a 10K yesterday, and he wanted me to know how he did. I asked him, as I usually do, if he won. He laughed and said no, but, "I was told I could run with the Kenyans." I told him we can all run with them, we just can't pass them. He laughed.

What he really wanted to tell me is how much he appreciates everything my co-coach and I are doing. This is a guy who comes in, or calls me with any question about running and racing. He thinks he is keeping me from doing something "important." I tell him that talking to him and answering his questions is important, and I am happy to do it. 

He is "blaming" me for his next move. After the Mini, he is going to train for his first marathon. He has been asking advice on which one to do, how to train, what to expect. I am happy to pass along anything I learned in my running life. This is what we do, or should do.

When someone comes to running, excited, I think we have an obligation to share that joy with them, help them along the way, and answer any and all questions they may have. Maybe I'm not a running coach, maybe I am more of a running mentor/advisor? Either way, it brings a big smile to my face to know that I have helped someone achieve their goals.

So while I am temporarily awkward when the thank you comes, I know it's genuine, and I love and appreciate they think kindly of me to thank me.

Charlie

Throwing Under the Bus

Every now and then I will talk to a runner who feels the person who sold them their shoes got everything wrong, or they will feel a shoe brand is wrong for them, and they will ask, "Don't you think they got it wrong?" I will never throw a person or a brand under the bus. Nope. I won't do it.

Here is the thing about gait analysis, what I see at that moment is what I see. Now, a runner could come to me, and they have plantar fascitis, and what I see is them running making adjustments, and I think they need a stable shoe. They could come in a month later not hurting, and I might see they need a neutral shoe. Was I wrong in my initial assessment? Not at the time. I might re-think based on what is in front of me.

Also, gait analysis is not an exact science. We all know what to look for in the business, but there is so much to take in, and yes, sometimes we get it wrong. I won't though tell a runner so and so really goofed.

I also won't bash a brand to a runner. Yes....I hear all the time about that demon - Nike. Here's the thing, Nike makes some outstanding shoes. Nike makes some less than outstanding shoes, but so does every brand. I have yet to find consistency in a brand, because they are trying to reach a broad audience.

The truth is I sell a lot of Nike's so someone likes them. I sell a lot of Brooks, so someone likes them. All I can do is talk about the benefits of a shoes, and why I think it might work for them.

Mostly I think it is poor taste to throw a fellow associate or businessman under the bus. I also think bashing a brand is equally as bad.

Charlie

It's Also Mental

As we train for long distance races, we tend to focus on the accumulating of miles, focusing on our form, how we breathe. We tend to forget that a race is two parts. Yes it's half physical, but it's also half mental.

How do you mentally get through long runs and distances? Everyone has their own way to do it. My way is part game playing and depending on support. The game playing is "easy." As you fatigue mentally, you have to make challenges for yourself to get you through a stretch of road. Let's say it's mile 17, you know you are achy. This is the point the brain begins to tell you to stop, or as I call it, this is the point where the wheels can come off.

I get it, you have miles to go, your body is aching, and you want to stop, but you can't. Do some mind games. Fix a point, and tell yourself to jog to that point, and if you succeed, you can walk a bit. Of course the trick is, once you get to the point, try to move beyond it, as a way to show the brain you can keep going. I find this works for a time. Of course at some point the brain catches on, and you have to come up with a new challenge.

If game playing and challenges aren't working, I depend on support. Support usually means I race call. You've never heard of race calling? I bet you've heard of drunk dialing or texting - same concept. Take your cell phone with you, and when you really need to get through a particular mile, call someone. Make sure the person(s) you call know you may be calling them. This way they can answer the phone and talk to you.

The usual victim of my calls is my sister. She has talked me through many a race. Of course I am usually an emotional mess, so I may not appreciate her words at the moment, but the brain hears them, and it helps me keep going.

Does anyone out there have other ideas?

Charlie

Chicago Marathon Registration Debacle

As you know I don't have a great history with the Chicago Marathon(2007). I do love the race, and I think it is an outstanding marathon. I don't always agree with what organizers do, and their recent problems with registration and the outcome have me really scratching my head.

Quick history lesson.....earlier this month registration for the fall marathon went live. Technical problems ensued, and many people were charged multiple times for registering(at $175) a pop. The marathon shut down registration, and determined 25,000 registered that day. So the question is what to do with the remaining 15,000 slots?

The easy answer is fix the bugs and open up registration. That's not what they did though.

Yesterday organizers announced a lottery system for the remaining 15,000 slots. Starting March 5, going through March 7, you can enter the lottery for an entry. The lottery is free. If they choose your name, you will have two days to decide if you will enter. If you choose not to enter, that entry will not go to the next person in line. It will be vacant. They will not award that entry to anyone else.

To be honest, this makes no sense to me. Now you have created a rift. There will be those who followed the rules and entered just like normal. Now, though you will have a random drawing for the rest. Why not just open registration up again and let the chips fall where they may.

Carey Pinkowski has made an error in my mind. He is now setting up a different system for runners, which I don't think is fair. Why not work more with Active.com to fix whatever the issues are? I understand the system was overwhelmed, but in this day and age, can't that be anticipated?

I give the Chicago Marathon a big BOO on this one. They blew it.

Charlie