Tag Archives: running

09.17.11
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couch to 13 miles

Hola!! my readers..

So with a good feeling on my foot, heels responding great to the 3 mile run two days back. I did a 12.44 miles of long and easy run. Well, honestly it was being nuts to do this long run after being away from the trail and pavement for a month. I was instead planning to gradually bring it up to a 13 -15 mile distance.

But only a runner can get to know the excitement and anxiety to hit the trail. Adrianne and me signed up to do the distance on Friday morning. Started off well, with me focussing a lot on my stride, because I was very particular on hitting the road with either the foot or the mid-foot. So I kept the strides small.

Honestly, and after experimenting I found that, if you keep your strides small, your turnover is quick. Your foot leaves and hits the ground faster. This definitely helps you improve your pace. If you want to catch the guy ahead of you, try running with longer strides, you may or may not catch him, but you would have exhausted hell lot of fuel. The next time, catch the guy ahead of you with shorter and quick strides, you will definitely spend less energy and catch him.  

So that was my footwork, but at around 9 miles, I was feeling soreness in my heels. Nevertheless, at an easy pace, completed the distance. It was so much rejuvenating. Awesomeness was at its prime 🙂 …..

To avoid any inflammation of the Plantar fasciitis, I took my icing bottle to the office, and kept icing the entire day while sitting at my cube. Took ibuprofen. And gave ample rest to the foot.

The run was possible, because I was biking and swimming, while giving my heels the much needed rest.

09.14.11
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Getting out of the cradle

4 weeks of rest to the sore heels, popping in ibuprofen’s lot of stretching and icing… and NO RUNNING…

Since last Monday I did not get the pain in my foot, so an extra day of rest, and thought I should hit the pavement…

The run today was easy, with change in the stride. Made quick turnovers, by keeping shorter strides. Shorter strides helped me in a faster run, and less impact on the heels. Landing was more on the toes, and mid-foot. Though it always feels to run more after a long lay over period, but it is good intelligence not to. Start slow and steady, and build it up with strength.

Ofcourse one does not loose the stamina and lungs are still as strong as they were before, because swimming or biking or any other form of cross training keeps them in shape.

Anyways, I hope that the heel pain doesn’t come back during the day, have taken anti-inflammatory, and am icing while writing this post.

For readers, here is an article on Running Form- http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267-268-8210-0,00.html

as far as strides are concerned, there is no sacred stride 🙂

till I post again painless running !!

08.20.11
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Runner’s low and Runner’s high

Every runner, from a novice to an experienced, and to an elite one, all have their high and low moments during the run. Low point is when you feel yourself to be an insane being, who is running and running. You feel demotivated, fatigued (even though you would have hardly covered any distance), feel like stopping. A runner’s high is when even after covering the maximum distance, you feel an adrenaline rush inside, that urges you to keep running. You feel no pain, no lactic acid in your calves, and feets are responding at their all time best.

I have experienced both, and numerous times. When I run on the Los Gatos creek trail, I don’t know why, on certain parts of the trail, I always pick up speed. Its amazing, there are few uphills, and flat portions, where I feel my best while running. I love the Rancho San Antonio park trails, because of its tricky curvy trails, which give me immense low and high moments.

Well, the high moments are always good, and I feel that you should just explore your max potential when you feel that


adrenaline rush to just keep running, however for the low moments, everyone has their own way to counter.

I counter the low moments, by not thinking about running. I slow down my pace, just think something good. Think of
 some appreciation that you received at work, think of good family moments, think of how proud your close ones be, when you complete a marathon. May be if there is a nice hot chic running, use her as a motivation to run ;), what if she becomes your girl (no harm in thinking)….. But certainly dont stop running, because once you stop, it will be very very difficult to pull yourself out of the couch the next day.

08.16.11
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Train, but No Strain

true!!

Do not train so hard, that you strain yourself to the extent that you might have to pull out of the event.

With sore heels, or the heel spurs, I am planning to pull out of the full marathon with just a month to go. Have not been able to put enough miles on the legs, for the training.

Injury is so depressing that I run a day, and rest for next two days, further ensuring that I walk less. I have had IT band and knee injuries before, and they rehab process and keeping oneself away from the trails was so frustrating, when that is the thing you most badly want to do.

Biking/swimming/Gym cross workouts are some of the ways to avoid the body fitness level from going down.

 

 

 

08.09.11
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The tricky trails

Less strain on the heels yesterday, and good amount of icing on the heels, helped my morning run at Rancho San Antonio. The Hill run was awesome today, and I covered the steep rise with just two small breathers, nearing the peak.

Trail winding back down the hill

 

The hilly, windy trail is always tricky. When it seems to you that you are nearing the peak, it surprises you with another climb :(. And then if you motivate yourself to run till the next turn, hoping this is the end of it, it surprises you again … 🙂 …I reflect on my uphill run, while running downhill, and try to motivate for another gentle uphill, if I can find.

My running partner John, who pulled out of today’s run because of a splinter in his foot, never likes the tricky trails. They are steep, and as soon as they seem to end, you find the route further up. These trails are good for split runs on the hills. May be today’s trail can be one of my training tracks, for leg strengthening, and speed. Sprint for a minute upwards, walk for sometime downwards, and then sprint up again for a minute. Repeating this for 5-6 times.

Hikers have their own way to explore the trails, and runners their own. I find that we can explore a park quicker than a hiker can … lolz!!