August 2010
22 posts
slowdownsugarimadiabetic asked: Hi. I just read your last few posts and you mentioned you've doing yoga to help with your knee/ITB. I've been running for a few months now and my ITB has been hurting so much recently. I've been stretching it and applying ice and heat after I run and nothing seems to be helping. So, I was hoping you could list some of the poses you've been doing?
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“It’s very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not...”
– George Sheehan
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“In the beginning, you likely say, “I run.” With more confidence, you...”
– Gloria Averbuch
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Finding inspiration
This weekend, I will run 6 km for the first time since I had my ITB thingy. I consider it to be a test of sorts, just to make sure that yoga is really helping.
A few weeks ago, while I was still down, I sought inspiration from movies and videos about running and runners. I watched Prefontaine (I love the guy, but I didn’t like this movie too much), the NOVA documentary Marathon...
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15 Things That Change When You Start Running
I thought about how running has changed me, and I came up with these. Do you guys agree?
You become aware of your physical and mental limitations, and you learn how to push past them.
You appreciate accurate weather forecasts.
You learn the value of discipline, especially when it comes to diet (gulp!) and training.
You finally understand why runners wear special clothing.
You see the outdoors...
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Fingers and toes crossed
Maybe it’s all in my head, but I think yoga is working for me! I had an amazing run yesterday. Well, maybe not amazing is too much, but it was a good run! I wasn’t able to run in the morning because my upper body was achy from the yoga session the day before (I did the shoulder stand for the first time!), so I ran right after my afternoon nap.
I was afraid that I’d started out...
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Drizzly run
It was cool and gray outside when my alarm rang at 6 AM. I kept hitting the snooze button because I figured I can start my run late today since it’s not hot and I’m only doing 3 km. Finally got up at 6:45 and started getting dressed. What really woke me up and made me look forward to the run was splashing cold water on my face.
I spent a good 15 to 20 minutes stretching (paying...
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“If you want to be a better runner, you’ve got to run more. It’s as...”
– Tom Fleming, running coach
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So... yoga
Yesterday was the start of yoga classes I signed up for. I’ve been reading a lot of stuff on the web that says yoga is good for people who run. Primarily, I’m hoping it will help to ease my ITBS. Anyway, after the hour or so yoga session, I felt really good. I felt… lengthened.
But this morning my muscles were so sore. They haven’t felt this sore since that time I learned...
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Best runners' pick-up line
“Your pace or mine?”
Just had to share. Happy Friday the 13th, people!
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Some improvement
I was able to go an easy almost 3.5 km this morning and I’m feeling optimistic about being able to hurdle this ITB annoyance.
The other night I dreamt that we moved to a place where there were a lot of hills and running trails. Ohh, that was a good dream. I remember thinking that it would sure be nice to have a Garmin while running the trails there. Yes, I’m still obsessed about...
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“For me, as for so many runners, there really are no finish lines. Runs end;...”
– Dean Karnazes (via ambertherunner)
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This morning's run
Truthfully, it kinda sucked.
I’d planned to run for 30 minutes, just to get a feel of how my knee was doing. I woke up, drank some water, and stretched thoroughly. I also made sure to do the IT band stretch that I saw somewhere online. Then I went out and went at it nice and easy. I felt like a new newbie (pardon the redundancy) but it was so GREAT to be outside again.
However… about...
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Guess what...
I went to the sports doc this morning and he said that he suspects ITBS is what’s causing my knee pain. I haven’t run since Thursday morning and I’ve been miserable. Miserable! I asked him eagerly if I can continue running given my condition, and he asked me to have my leg X-rayed first.
The good news is, he didn’t find anything on my X-ray suggesting that I should stop...
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NOVA - Marathon Challenge →
From a sedentary lifestyle to becoming marathoners… novice runners undergo 40 weeks of training, which culminates in running the Boston Marathon. The first one from the group finished sub-5. Wow!
If they were able to do it, then I guess almost anyone can!
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Taking some time off
My right knee started acting up again after my run last Thursday. I did some research and I think it might be ITBS. The pain was so bad after my run that I couldn’t walk straight, and I’ve been so worried that I’ve decided to take a break from running. Until I consult a sports doctor at least. Yesterday, I had gone to see an ortho that my friend recommended but the line at his...
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“My running shoes have become giant erasers on my feet. Every foot strike rubs...”
– John Bingham
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“Running gives me a sense of controlling my life. I like the finiteness of runs,...”
– Nancy Gerstein, runner
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Post-race thoughts
I finished my second 5K yesterday, and I learned some things:
Just because you’ve run a 5K before doesn’t mean the succeeding ones will be easier. Never underestimate the distance.
You don’t always get a new PR every time you race. I was off my first 5K time by almost half a minute. :(
A flat course doesn’t necessarily mean an easy course. Prior to the race, people in...
