kaburns1214 Mentor Group 2012 Part 2 - CLOSED (Page 12)

Do you foam roll at all? My shins get sore/tight and I'll even try to roll those out sometimes. Seems to help a bit. 

Yeah man.  Thanks.  Helps out a lot. 

Jen - go see your doctor.  Have you ever had a bone density test?

As to competitiveness: dont worry about it.  Just do your best.  you have plenty of time to compete.  get healthy, sell your house, mother your kids, have fun, etc.

Congrats that's a great accomplishment. Are you going to take on clients?

Rest DAY 

15 weeks of training in the books!!

15 weeks till IM Lake Placid

Got my 1t ever massage today what a great rewards after my tough weekend of training!!

No, no bone density test.  I had a full blood workup done when I had the stress fracture though, and calcium levels were good.  My doctor said that osteopenia usually presents itself in the wrists, forearms, and hips.  I've never fully broken a bone in my 33 years.....only 2 stress fractures - one playing volleyball at 17 yrs. old and then this past Feb.  If they keep bothering me, then I will absolutely go see my doctor, because that would be a sign of a much bigger problem.  

I can't help that I'm a competitive person.  Doing a race for fun just isn't going to happen (because it wouldn't be fun that way for me, if that makes sense).  It's not my personality    

Question......for those whom run early in the morning before the sun rises (more for the women but it applies to men as well) - - Do you worry about personal safety when you're out running alone?  Do you have to worry about it?  If you do, then what do you do to ease your mind?  

I live in an urban area with a moderate to high level of crime.  I worry about running outside in the dark alone, which is why I do early morning runs on the treadmill.  I'd like to hit the roads more, but I'd also like to properly prepare for that.  A whistle?  Pepper spray (isn't that illegal anymore?)?  Would a cell phone be enough?

**edited to add that you can forget the jokes about firearms.  My husband and I are not gun owners and never will be due to our personal beliefs.

Oh I have female friends that are getting their concealed handgun license to carry in their bento box on the bike so carry whatever you need.

I run alone in the early morning hours all the time.  I would consider it suburban.  I take a dog with me as often as I can, unless I'm doing a hard workout requiring me to focus and not trip over a leash.  (Or the lazy mutt won't get out of bed.)  The roads I run on are either all in my huge neighborhood, or I add on across the street in another huge neighborhood.  Both have street lights every so often.  I don't worry too much, although maybe I should.  It's pretty quiet most mornings, a few cars here and there either heading home or leaving for work.  And then there are the usual runners and walkers out too.  I do try to be aware of my surroundings.  If something looks out of place, a car parked in a spot where one typically would not be, I'm on alert.  If a person or car passes me going the other direction I always look back a few times to make sure they continue on and don't disappear down a side street.  Not a guarantee I'll be safe, but I think being aware of what's going on helps.

I worry about this too and have kept other than light hours inside because of it.  My lazy mutt pulls too hard otherwise I would feel comfortable running with him. He is a brown lab so most people don't know what he is until they are close to him and he usually tries to jump at people to lick them (although they don't know that).  I would carry a phone, ID, spray anything that will fend someone off.  

I wish there were emergency self defensive classes out there.  I don't want a black belt, but what to do if jumped.

Congrats Kelly on the cert.

Jen hang in there I too know how it seems to feel like you are always in recovery mode rather than building and competitiveness.

 I was definitly discouraged yesterday, but feel better today and cut seven minutes off the same 12 mile route I road yesterday, today even had a nasty little head wind on some of the climbs.

  I lived in DC for ten years and always carried pepper spray when I ran or biked in the early am.  I live in a pretty suburban area now..I've tried running a few times before sunrise, but found myself way too distracted by sounds (usually squirrels or such) running in the grass.  I've had to adjust to running on the treadmill or waiting till after work since I mainly run alone.