Doctor's Visit

So today was my checkup. All went well. Dr. Natarajan was pleased with my leg strength. We can say case closed on the IT Band issue. He checked out the achillies issue. He told me it would heal soon. He gave me a prescription for an anti-inflammatory, and recommended PT. I am still not sure about that. I've written how I really don't enjoy it.

The good news is he really liked the marathon training plan and my running in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in September. Woo Hoo! He thinks I can train in a couple weeks. Double woo hoo!

So all seems to be on the upswing. I took the medication, and I have to say I am noticing a difference already. While I won't start running tomorrow, if the pain is gone by the end of next week, I would like to see if I still remember how to run. :-)

Charlie

Tomorrow - The Doctor

Friends will tell you that I really don't like going to the doctor. That changed when I found Dr. Natarajan. He has got to be one of the nicest doctors I have ever met. He is encouraging, knowledgable, understanding and a runner.

Tomorrow I meet with him. Originally it was just to go over marathon plans. Now I have to talk to him about the achillies issue. I am hoping he will tell me I can still train. Maybe he will have some other positive news for me.

I want to stress the importance of finding a good doctor to work with. You want to make sure the doctor is listening to your needs, issues and concerns. I have had doctors seem like they are listening, but never am convinced they are. Mark's doctor is like that, and it pisses me off.

This doctor wants me to continue running. He has told me if he were another kind of doctor, he might tell me to find something else to do. Dr. Natarajan tells me he wants me as active and happy as possible. Tomorrow I will find out how I can do more of that.

Charlie

Pain...and How I Hate It

So sadly, this is yet another post about me not running. The pain in my heel and achillies area has been bad. Today I have an appointmet for a theraputic massage. Next Friday I see the doctor. I am so unhappy about this, you have no idea. Actually some of you hard core runners knoow what I am saying.

I hate pain. I am also not a very nice person when dealing with pain. I get grumpy and short. People should steer clear of me when I am in this mood.

I have decided to take it easy and not run, even on good days, because I am afraid of what may happen. I felt good a few days ago...and bam it hurts again. Arrrgh!

Charlie

Tired of Pain

Yes, I ran the other night. Yes I was in pain most of yesterday. I am not a patient runner, and I know few who are. I am just so tired of being in pain.

The Achillies pain is not as bad as it has been, but it is bad. Arrrgh....I was supposed to run today. Instead, I am going to cross train. I am determined to do this. I need to hit the gym.

The holidays saw 4lbs come my way...not happy about that either. Running has been my best way to keep the weight in check, so I am at a loss at how to do this.

I know...I know...not a great post. Must be the mood I am in.

Charlie

Two Ugly Miles

In the log it simply states - 2 miles - 24:39. A slow pace to say the least, but I was damned determined to run in some capacity tonight. I hit the gym, and took it slow. I took walking breaks every 5 minutes. My legs were not great. I was still feeling the effects of the pain of the last week, and my ankles felt stiff, but I did it - I ran 2 miles. In fact they are the first miles of the new year.

I didn't feel great during my run. I wanted to stop at one mile, but I told myself to get to 1.5 miles, and then I could quit. Once I got to 1.5 miles, I thought...ok, just a 1/2 mile to go to two, let's go. I chugged along, and as I have said, I did it.

I go to the doctor next week, and I want to go with the thought that I have some runs under my belt. Tomorrow...no running, but I will be back on Thursday.

Charlie

Damn Achilies Pain

Google is an amazing thing. All my symptoms point to achilies tendonitis. DAMN! I am so tired of being hurt and in pain. I want to run!!! So I am taking it easy - yet again. Some of my fellow runners will feel my frustration at not being able to run. Arrgh!

Today I am contacting the New Balance rep, and let her know what happened. I am so angry right now.

Charlie

New Balance 1063 - PAIN!

Over the course of the last two years I have worn two shoes for running: The Brooks Dyad and the 1060 series by New Balance. As many of us do, I usually groan when I hear a shoe has been changed. I liked the 1061 and really liked the 1062. I was told by NB that the 1063 would be a bit narrower and had a new last to make it performance driven.

I ran in the shoe a few weeks ago and my ankles hurt. I thought it would be ok to walk around in though - I was wrong. BOY was I wrong.

A few days ago I wore the shoe for the day, and on the way home I felt a twinge in my achillies area. Yesterday I wore the shoe....and all the way home I had sharp shooting pains in my left achillies. I had to have Mark meet me at the EL and help me home the pain was so intense. Today I am still hurting. I am hoping to run tomorrow, so I am really going to be angry if I can't run.

So what happened to the shoe? I am more of a mid-foot striker. The shoe is now designed for more forward motion, and the heel is very soft. Because of my severe supination, I roll way to the outside. I had no support. The result - PAIN!

I will let our New Balance rep know what is going on. She already knows my run was not successful. Because NB is going in this direction with most of their shoes, I am doubting I will be able to wear them for a while. For now I don't want to. Wish me luck as I hope to go for my first run of 2009 tomorrow.

Charlie

Welcome to 2009

Happy New Year Everyone!

The new year brings new promise to all runners. For me this is my return to serious running. This is also my 5th anniversary of running. 2004 was when I took my first steps as a runner, and I fell in love with running.

So I think my goals for the year are pretty clear: to become a stronger runner, with the ultimate goal of finishing sub-6 hours at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. I also want to do more racing in anticipation of the marathon. If there are some 8K's I would like to do, and a half marathon. I am entered in the Mini 500 Half Marathon in Indianapolis in May. We will see how the doctor feels about that.

I am very much looking forward to the new year. I hope everyone has a healthy and prosperous 2009.

Charlie

The Year in Running - 2008

There were some amazing stories over the course of this year. I am not ranking them, but I would say these were the top stories in the running world. Feel free to submit your thoughts and opinions.

9.69 - Usain Bolt set the world record in the 100m in Beijing. His performance was effortless, and in the video it looks like if he hadn't slowed at the end, the record could have gone even further.

Oregon Men - I have to say this is one of my favorite moments of the year. Eugene, OR hosted the Track and Field Trials for the Olympics. The 800m final was thrilling. Nick Symmonds came from the back of the pack to place first. Second and third place were fellow Oregonians - Andrew Wheating and Christian Smith respectively. Until last 200m, Symmonds stays in back, then he pours it on to win. Wheating is a shocking second, and Smith fell forward to take third.

Joan Benot Samuelson and her last competitve marathon. Samuelson took the road in the 2008 Women's Olympic Marathon Trials. She was not going to qualify, but she wanted to set an age group record in the marathon. She finished 90th overall with a time of 2:49:08, and set the American record for women 50-54. Trials champion, and Athens Marathon Bronze Medalist Deena Kastor was at the finish cheering on the Gold Medal winning Samuelson.

Dean Karnazes races the world. The Ultramarathon Man ran the 4 Deserts Challenge this year, and won the overall title. This is a grueling set of races, where runners run across the following deserts: Sahara, Atacama Crossing, Gobi and Anarctica. Karnazes is one hell of a runner, and his journeys inspire runners all over the world.

The Men's Olympic Marathon. There were three main stories here: the weather, the winner, and the Americans. The weather in Beijing was always going to be an issue. Poor air quality and humid conditions were what everyone worried about. Haile Gebrselassie, the world record holder, declined to compete due to the possible conditions. In the end, a Kenyan, Sammy Wanjiru took everyone by surprise and took Gold - a first for Kenya in this event, in a time of 2:06:32. Americans did their country proud by placing 2 in the top 10. Dathan Ritzenhien and Ryan Hall finished 9th and 10th respectively. Clearly the Americans are becoming relevant in the marathon world.

Berlin is FAST!!! 6 of the top 10 marathon times have been accomplished at the Berlin Marathon. This year, again, Haile Gebreselassie lowered his record in this event - 2:03:59. Folks not to out a too fine a point on this, but that is FAST. Usually at that time I have covered about 10 miles.

So there are the stories of the year in my humble opinion.

2009 is already looking to be an interesting year. Kara Goucher and Ryan Hall are entered in Boston. So you know that will have the running world's attention.

Happy running to everyone.

Charlie

Running Break

Last week I did not run due to weather and Christmas. This week...the flu! I feel horrible, and want to curl into a ball and die. Still I know this too will pass....the flu always does, but it makes you feel so miserable. ICK!

Later today I will go over some highlights in the year of running.

Charlie

2008: Charlie's Year in Review

"Recognize your victories." JOAN BENOIT SAMUELSON


In looking back over 2008, it would be easy to say that this was a year of failure for me running wise, but upon further thought....it wasn't.

My racing was highlighted my two 10 mile races - the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile and the Soldier Field 10 Mile. While running them, I wouldn't know that those would be the longest races of the year. A bad IT Band, and coping with an arthritis diagnosis would be my challenges.

So what were my victories? I was able to get back to running. That is a major victory. I am beginning to get my running stamina back.

Athletes always have an off year. We are going to chalk this year up as an off year.

Looking ahead.... I start training at the end of January for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. I would also like to run some cool races during the year in preparation for the big one in September. I have a sound training plan. If I learned anything this year that I can take into the next is patience with my running. A 32-week marathon training plan will take patience.

So I am going to take a deep breath, and "run" into 2009! Happy New Year!!!

Coming next - the year in running around the world.

Charlie

Some Adjustments

As I prepare for marathon training, there is one thing I will have to make adjustments for - metric readings. The race will be in kilometers, not miles, so I have to plan for that. Today I found a pace chart done in kilometers. This gives me a rough estimate on what I should be doing each km.

In order for me to finish in 5:50, or there abouts, I need to run 8:20 a km. There are 42.2km in a marathon, or 26.2 miles. I now have a pace chart as a guide. This should give me plenty to think about during long runs....hehehe.

Also.....

I have ordered a heart rate monitor. After a couple years looking at them, I am getting a Suunto, which will not only measure my heart rate, but my speed and distance as well. I will go into more detail about the HRM once it arrives.

Charlie

I Am Official

I am not an official entrant of the 2009 Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Woo hoo! Yes....I have a goal... a big one. I am so ready to take it on. Official training begins in a month. Until then, I am working on my base and strength.

Goals for this race? Same as the last marathon attempt - to finish, and finish under 6 hours. I feel I have a good plan, now all I have to do is train. Hehehe....ALL I have to do is train. Yeah.

I will go over all of this with the doctor in a few weeks.

Hope everyone had a good holiday. Will have some year end thoughts in the next day or so.

Charlie

Happy Holidays

Later today...if the weather permits, I am off to visit family in Wisconsin for Christmas. I doubt I will be running on this trip. More importantly, the goal is to avoid being a pig, so when I do run next, I don't feel gross. :-)

In the meantime I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukhah, Kwanza, and whatever festive celebration you may be observing this time of year.

Peace....
Charlie

Baby It's Cold Outside

This morning it is a nippy -5 F outside. Brrrrrrrrr! Personally I don't think anyone should go run on a day like this. Good thing it isn't run day for me. Brrrrrrrr!

The week ahead will most likely see little running. Tuesday I head up to Wisconsin to spend Christmas with my cousins. It will be very fun and festive, and a lesson in self-control. No one, and I mean NO ONE goes hungry at this gathering. There will be food galore. So the "plan" is to enjoy, and do my best not to over do it on the food. Yeah....right. :-)

The winter months - for we are now in winter, usually means we gain a few pounds. I'm ok with a couple pound gain, as long as you are in some way exercising. Even it if it cutting back due to the holidays, exercising and moving is still important.

So now....let practice our egg nog lifts. Take the class...and lift....and down....lift....and down.

Charlie

A Steady Long Run

Today was another 4 mile run for me. I have to say I felt absolutely great during the run. I was at the gym and happy to be running. My time was 47:40, which is a nice even pace for me. My goal was to run for 7-8 minutes, then walk 1 minute. I followed that until the end. I did do a 5 minute run, and 1 minute walk, and that is fine.

As I was nearing the end of my run, I thought about running a little more, but held to my plan to just run the 4 miles. I don't want to ramp miles at this point. I made sure I increased 10% this week over last week. I don't want to do anything which will jeopardize the recovery I am in.

Charlie

Snow Day

We have been hit with a lot of snow overnight...again. So I have decided to look out the window and see the pretty snow, instead of running my longer run this week.

"But Charlie, you're a wimp, you head to the gym on days like this."

Yes...yes I do, but it's my rules, and I can change them. Hehehehe.

I was reading some articles from Runner's World about the year in review. There are plenty of things to look at when it comes to 2008. I will go over those in the next week or so. Fight it as I may...I am not ready for a year end posting.

So my day will be taking it easy, then heading into work.

By the way....last minute shoppers....gift cards from your runner's favorite running store is a terrific gift(shameless plug).

Charlie

A Run and an Anniversary

Yesterday was a really good 3.1 mile run. We had a big snow storm the night before, so the roads were pretty bad. The gym is my friend in conditions like that. So off I went to the gym. I plugged in the IPod, and listened to Steve Runner, The Killers and some delightful Christmas tunes. My time was 36:31, and I was pleased with how I felt after the run. A good sign of a successful run, in my book, is if you feel you could have run a little more(note- unless it is a marathon, and you feel you gave all you could). When I was done, I felt I could have done one more mile. That will wait until this week's longer run.

Today is an anniversary day. It is my second anniversary with Fleet Feet Sports! Yes for two years I have been a shoe guy, making sure runners are properly fit, and ready to pursue their running goals and dreams.

It has been a pleasure to work with runners these last two years. Some of my highlights include:

Coaching the group of women this last summer to run their first 5K.

Dining with Dick Beardsley

Listening to the woman at Thanksgiving tell me I sold her, her first pair of running shoes, and now she is a runner.

Privately laughing as I watched Gov. Blagojevich run in our store(you would have to see him run to understand). As a rule I NEVER judge the people who run in our store...he cracks me up though.

Working with great co-workers, who make everyday a pretty good one at work.

Learning to be patient as a customer tells me they want a Brooks Adrenaline, size 6 in pink, when they are a size 8, and it does NOT matter what color the shoe is.

My duties are ever expanding at the store. I work with local business and charities, and I have enjoyed that, and will continue to do that. Our owner is dedicated to expanding our reach into the community, and am happy to be part of that. I look forward to a good future with Fleet Feet!

Charlie

2009 Marathon Announcement

I have shared that I have been looking for a marathon to run in 2009. I have spent about a month researching marathons which would fulfill the following criteria:

1) A fall marathon

2) Flat

3) Interesting for me to do.

Ok....clearly the third is optional. :-)

Because of my arthritis, I have to do a 32-week training plan. So as much as I would love to run Boston, it is in the Spring, too soon to train, and I haven't qualified.

So the list I formed were the following:

Chicago Marathon

Toronto Waterfront Marathon

New York Marathon

Fox Cities Marathon

Detroit Marathon

Portland Marathon

Here is how I narrowed it down.....

I would truly love to run New York, but at this point, I think it is a bit too hilly, especially at the start and at the finish in Central Park.

Fox Cities would be near cousins, and I think it would be a blast, but again, I saw one hill too many for this go around.

Portland Marathon would be lovely, but being the wimp I am, I worried I would be running in the rain, which is a possibility.

The 2007 Chicago Marathon still holds a bitter taste in my mouth. There will come a time where I feel I have unfinished business on that course, but that time is not 2009.

So I got it to the final two Detroit and Toronto.

Detroit is flat, and at one point goes below sea level. In fact you go under a tunnel, and have your underwater mile timed. Now who would not want that?

Toronto is along the shores of Lake Ontario, and the course elevation map looks like someone flat lined.

Detroit is in October. Toronto is at the end of September. Both are not mega-marathons. So no 100,000,000 runners on the course. Detroit's dips over to Canada and back. Toronto's is all in Canada. :-)

In the end though, I have decided to run the 2009 Toronto Waterfront Marathon! The course has good reviews. I like the allure of an international marathon. Of course I love the flat nature of the course. So now all I do is go over this with the doctor.

The race is September 27, so training will begin at the end of February, following the 32-week plan that has developed for me. I am so excited about this. I have a goal! Woo Hoo!

Of course I will be happy to finish. I still have hopes of a sub 6 hour marathon - same goal I had for Chicago. We will see what my hips have to say about all this.

Very excited and happy that I have made this decision.

Here is the course map ----

Charlie

3.1 Miles and New Balance

Today I got a pair of New Balance 1063 shoes. When I have run in New Balance, I have run in the 1061 and 1062. The newer shoe is build on a different last, which is designed to be lighter, and more performance driven. So how did it handle during my 3.1 mile run? I'll stick with my Brooks Dyads for the time being.

The shoe felt sloppy for me, and I felt like my ankes were twisting around. I was sore during the last mile, and I wanted to stop, but I was determined to get this 3.1 miles in. I am not sure if I like the cushioning. I am going to let New Balance know how I feel. They gave me the shoes looking for feedback. They may not like what I say.

Otherwise, I was happy to get my run in today. I am slowly upping the miles...very slowly. I am going to stay within the 10% rule.

Within the next few days, I will announce my marathon selection. I think I know which one I will do. Just want to do a touch more research.

Charlie