Regardless of much I lifted with my ankle weights, when I woke up on Saturday morning told I knew I needed to see Andreas Schwerte. My acupuncturist and giver of life. Andreas and I go back a few years when gave me the gift of walking. I had Sciatica that was so bad I couldn't stand up for more than a couple minutes without being in excruciating pain. His magic needles made me all OK. So I knew I needed him again. What makes Andreas so great is he mixes western and eastern medicine. He studied to be an MD for a few years in Germany before jumping ship to the "other side". Slowly he stuck pins in my leg and applied a voltage across the needles giving me a gentle massage.
I also made a few other changes to prepare for my return to running. I got some orthotics for my Shoes called "superFeet", I bought the ITBand brace I mentioned, and I took a lot of Ibuprofen. Man, I love Ibuprofen! It really does take the pain away. All of these things together helped me turn the corner.
It was a hard run, both psychologically and physically. Three weeks is a long time to take off and expect to get back into it easily. Most of 8 miles I felt like quitting, being so overwhelmed at the 16 miler and my resulting ITBand injury. I persevered and at mile 5 I was starting to feel better and started catching my stride. I paid very close attention to where me feet were landing and how my legs were positioned making each step as pain free as possible. Landing too far to the right effected one part of my knee; to much to the left effected another.
but at the end I am ready for a 10K Nike Run hit Wonder that I will be doing on Saturday.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Friday, September 16, 2005
ankle weights
Now I have ankle weights. I can feel a difference already. Doing leglifts and leg extensions with these things have really helped my ITBand pain in a short time. I guess there is something to the idea that my inner quad is too weak. But if I'm going to do a run this weekend I'm gonna need some IT Band supporthttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
ow ow ow ow
When last we saw our hero he had skipped his 18 mile run with his group. He needed the rest and was worried about his knee and IT Band.
Well Today I did a short three mile run and my IT Band did not like it! In less than a mile my knee was starting to feel the rub. By the end of the run I was in genuine pain. I still am in genuine pain. It was good to go running again and I really missed it. Didn't feel out of shape or anything. The worst part of the pain comes when I put pressure on my leg while it's bent. This usually causes me to collapse or scream or both. If my leg is straight, no problem. If I am sitting, no problem. It's that transition section that really sucks. Especially if I am supporting any weight. I've been doing stretches, I've been using the foam roller. Nothing yet. This evening I see Yvonne the bad-ass massage therapist. May her healing touch prevail.
My coworker Joseph had this problem a while back. He found that the cause was his inner quad was weaker than his outer quad. Somebody else mentioned this might be the problem; that I have an underdeveloped inner quad. I am going to start doing leg extensions to try build that muscle up.
I'd love to hear stories and suggestions on my ITband woes.
Well Today I did a short three mile run and my IT Band did not like it! In less than a mile my knee was starting to feel the rub. By the end of the run I was in genuine pain. I still am in genuine pain. It was good to go running again and I really missed it. Didn't feel out of shape or anything. The worst part of the pain comes when I put pressure on my leg while it's bent. This usually causes me to collapse or scream or both. If my leg is straight, no problem. If I am sitting, no problem. It's that transition section that really sucks. Especially if I am supporting any weight. I've been doing stretches, I've been using the foam roller. Nothing yet. This evening I see Yvonne the bad-ass massage therapist. May her healing touch prevail.
My coworker Joseph had this problem a while back. He found that the cause was his inner quad was weaker than his outer quad. Somebody else mentioned this might be the problem; that I have an underdeveloped inner quad. I am going to start doing leg extensions to try build that muscle up.
I'd love to hear stories and suggestions on my ITband woes.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Running behind
Donation level achieved. $1000. Goal - $3000 by the end of September. Total donation goal $4000.
I want to thank all of you who have donated to the cause. Your donations have helped fund promising research to find a cure. And helped give dignity to those living with AIDS. This last week has been hard on everyone. Hurricane Katrina is a horrible tragedy. My own heart goes out to everyone in from Alabama to Louisiana who have been affected by nature's tempest. (Prospero, are you behind this?)
I got back from Burning Man a week ago and I am still trying to recuperate from it. Needless to say,I had an amazing time camping in the desert with friends. Drop me a line and I'll tell you more about my week. Or to get a general flavor of the place go to www.burningman.com.
I actually had big plans for the playa. I brought out my running stuff. I go tsome new shoes a couple weeks before . Not the Nikes but some Saucony hurricane 7s. Great shoes. They gave me the most support and comfort of all the different pairs I tried. (brooks, Asics. Saucony and someone else) my last pair of shoes were some $45 Asics. They were good for while but recently they felt like I was pounding on the concrete bare foot.
So, as I was saying, I had plans to do some running out in the desert. But an injury kept me from my appointed rounds. The day before leaving for the desert I did my 16 mile training run. The route was nice. 2 miles up hill with a slight ascent, two miles down. Then 1 mile straight up, and the next mile straight down. That mile coming down really aggravated my IT band around my right knee. (What is the IT band?) As I was coming down the steep hill every step hurt, and then it only got worse for the remaining 9 miles. I had to keep my leg in constant motion. During the walk breaks I exaggerated my knee movement to keep the muscle from getting cool and tightening up. From what I understand this pain is not abnormal for beginning runners. Luckily it happened now while I can do something about it. Later on it would be too late to heal in time for the marathon. Thus I chose not to run in the desert, instead giving the muscle a break. Even tonight, if I just touch where my IT band attaches to the knee it hurts. Feels kinda like a bruise when I touch it.
Decompression has kept me from my appointed rounds. I forgot how much the playa takes out of me. Out of necessity, I have been going to bed early all week, with no energy whatsoever to do anything. I spent lunches sleeping in my car. What this also means is no running; slacking on my run today as well. Today was supposed to be 18 miles with the team. I overslept. Frankly I am glad I did. Today I just rested and got my room in LA organized and I feel the best I felt since getting back from the land dust and more dust. I am excited to get my maintenance runs in and really get back into the running game.
Tomorrow I will be playing ultimate Frisbee. Go team.
I want to thank all of you who have donated to the cause. Your donations have helped fund promising research to find a cure. And helped give dignity to those living with AIDS. This last week has been hard on everyone. Hurricane Katrina is a horrible tragedy. My own heart goes out to everyone in from Alabama to Louisiana who have been affected by nature's tempest. (Prospero, are you behind this?)
I got back from Burning Man a week ago and I am still trying to recuperate from it. Needless to say,I had an amazing time camping in the desert with friends. Drop me a line and I'll tell you more about my week. Or to get a general flavor of the place go to www.burningman.com.
I actually had big plans for the playa. I brought out my running stuff. I go tsome new shoes a couple weeks before . Not the Nikes but some Saucony hurricane 7s. Great shoes. They gave me the most support and comfort of all the different pairs I tried. (brooks, Asics. Saucony and someone else) my last pair of shoes were some $45 Asics. They were good for while but recently they felt like I was pounding on the concrete bare foot.
So, as I was saying, I had plans to do some running out in the desert. But an injury kept me from my appointed rounds. The day before leaving for the desert I did my 16 mile training run. The route was nice. 2 miles up hill with a slight ascent, two miles down. Then 1 mile straight up, and the next mile straight down. That mile coming down really aggravated my IT band around my right knee. (What is the IT band?) As I was coming down the steep hill every step hurt, and then it only got worse for the remaining 9 miles. I had to keep my leg in constant motion. During the walk breaks I exaggerated my knee movement to keep the muscle from getting cool and tightening up. From what I understand this pain is not abnormal for beginning runners. Luckily it happened now while I can do something about it. Later on it would be too late to heal in time for the marathon. Thus I chose not to run in the desert, instead giving the muscle a break. Even tonight, if I just touch where my IT band attaches to the knee it hurts. Feels kinda like a bruise when I touch it.
Decompression has kept me from my appointed rounds. I forgot how much the playa takes out of me. Out of necessity, I have been going to bed early all week, with no energy whatsoever to do anything. I spent lunches sleeping in my car. What this also means is no running; slacking on my run today as well. Today was supposed to be 18 miles with the team. I overslept. Frankly I am glad I did. Today I just rested and got my room in LA organized and I feel the best I felt since getting back from the land dust and more dust. I am excited to get my maintenance runs in and really get back into the running game.
Tomorrow I will be playing ultimate Frisbee. Go team.
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