Ironman USA Lake Placid : Official Thread (Page 40)

Frequent pedicures.

Dream Chaser - 2011-03-28 5:40 PM

ckunst - 2011-03-27 9:45 PM

I too live in MI, ~ 35 miles north of Grand Rapids and did the Kent City Ridge Run yesterday (15K of hills) and there were some places where you couldn't find any part of the road not covered with ice.  Yet, I too would choose this over heat and humidity. 

Besides the unfriendly training weather, I have another problem that hasn't been mentioned.  Although I don't think there is any answer for this, I am going to ask just in case someone has an answer I haven't tried.  It has to do with bruised toes and toenails from running.  Right now toes on both feet are so sore, I can't stand anything touching them.  Usually by now, the toenails have fallen off bringing a little relief, but they are hanging around causing pain.  I have tried different style shoes. different sizes, have been to a sports doc, had a custom insert made - nothing seems to help.  Any ideas out there that has worked for anyone? 

There are ultra-runners who have had their toe nails surgically removed.  Gawd that's nasty though.  The thought of paying to have such a procedure.  *dry heaves in mouth* 

I honestly think it's a genetic thing.  I ran 50+ mile weeks, 1300 miles last year, and I haven't had one single problem with my toe or toe nails.  KNOCK WOOD.  However, my neighbor runs just 3 miles twice a week on the treadmill mind you, and she lost a freaking toe nail.  Go figure. 

OR, perhaps it's Running Style?  I run in shoes like I would barefoot.  I try to land mid-foot.  I also wear Asics shoes with roomy toe boxes.  I Long Runs I also lather my toes in vaseline. 

That's all I got

Well, I don't live in Michigan, but I do spend a good bit of time there, and I have enjoyed my fair share of sore, black, and lost toes. I specifically have problems with the toe immediately next to my big toe on each foot. So much so that I have actually considered getting it removed completely as DC mentions, which actually isn't as creepy as it sounds. Alternatively, I have tried a bunch of stuff thay does not work, and a few things that do, at least for me:

1. In order to prevent heel slippage, tie your shoes using a "lace lock" pattern - you can find a few methods here: http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/locklacing.htmI use the first method and it works great for me - ever wonder what those extra holes were for in your shoes? they provide more options for various lace lock techniques. YMMV, of course.
2. Instead of removing the nail completely, you can file it thin - I do this regularly and combined with the lacing advice above, have not had problems in quite a while.... probably just jinxed that though.
3. I have not tried this, but I know a couple of folks that swear by it: if you have a problem with your big toe - while it might be a toebox-size issue - it may not necessarily a problem with the length, but rather with the height. to increase the "headroom" in your toebox, you can try this lacing pattern: http://www.runnersworld.co.za/shoes-gear/shoe-essentials/how-to-lac... lock:

   

   Toebox lift:

   

    

   For me though it always seemed that simply increasing the room in the toebox just let my toes bang around more, not less. My fix has been to keep my foot from sliding forwards and backwards in the shoe.

   My Race Log

I lose my second toenail after every IM and most HMs. They can turn blue/purple but hang on until a new one grows under it. My last one from IMFL hasn't fallen off yet but close.

My second toes are longer and slant downward more than my big toes.

Strange but I don't lose my toenails from 3 hour runs or any type of training but only racing.

Hahaha.

I made my own countdown to link on my blog using this website:

http://www.countdownr.com/

You just schedule the event on a google calendar and it will count down for you.

I saw that was gone, but I do like the look of the new web page. But they need a countdown for sure.  A buddy of mine is doing it and has a countdown on his blog, so I go to that to get my fix.

116 days.  When we get to double digits, it is going to be freaky.

Hi today of 20 here in Caratunk, ME and again today the wind is WHIPPING.  Is this the beginning of March or the end?  Haven't been outside on my bike yet. Going out now for a lunchtime run.

Dream Chaser - 2011-03-29 7:21 PM I got an 'acknowledgement' from WTC that my question has been recieved and being reviewed, but no answer yet.  Yes - I'm silly and crazy... but I want my clock back!  These other countdown clocks will have to do for now, though.  Thanks for posting everyone.   tick... tock.... tick... tock....

WTC isn't responding to me either.  I e-mail them asking to change my registered name to my married name and all I've gotten is the auto-acknowledgement.

They haven't responded to me either!  I just sent them an email asking if they could freeze time so I could have more time to prepare and they haven't responded yet!  It's soo close and it's still soo cold out!

If all goes well, I should have a nice weekend of training.  40-45miles fri, 13 run or so sat, another 40-45 on sun!

It's so hard to get in long rides when it's cold.

Ok, that is pretty funny!

I'm pretty sure I won't be able to sleep the night before.

I'm getting everything with my bike squared away.  I got my frame replaced and just built everything up with a few upgrades.  I also bought some used 90mm carbon tubulars that I plan on riding regardless of the wind conditions.

I thought gluing the tubulars on was a biotch, but later finding out that they aren't even close to true and then deciding to strip all the old glue off turned into a nightmare.  I'm banking on the fact that the front is slightly more true and won't need to be tampered with for a long time.

Well my March is over! Pretty decent I think.

A few more days of my recovery week left and then I hit another 3 week build!

It's scary how fast the time has gone by...at least scary means that my butt gets kicked into gear I guess? Haha.

Great work everyone! My goal was to complete all my workouts for March and get outside on the bike more. I'm feeling great about how training is going so far! I am following a training program which so far is keeping me in low HR zones with occasional high HR zone work on the bike and run. I added an third morning swimming this month and have seen improvements there as well. I'm getting excited for the big day but really enjoying training along the way!

Ryan

Hopefully the bike volume will get easier when I'm able to ride outside.  40 of the 42.5 hours were inside on the trainer.

Run volume is down by 20 miles over Feb., but I was doing a run focused plan then.

This was my biggest month in my 4 years of triathlon. I have a Half Ironman in Texas in 10 days and I surprisingly feel rested. This was a HUGE running month for me!

I don't have my March totals because I am kind of winging some of this stuff...becoming more structured now that its much closer to the race though.

I'm surprised how good my legs feel because I've been running a much higher mileage than I have before, 45 last week, 50 this week and I'm hopefully getting a 100+ mile ride in this weekend (actually tomorrow or Saturday, whichever has nicer weather) It's weird, I don't know if it is because of the increased fitness from running or from these high intensity cycling classes i take, todd parker in philly, but I feel much stronger on the bike as well.  I can't wait to see what happens once I peak before the race and then get to back off and recharge 100%.  Still need to fix my sleep schedule....but I wouldn't put any money on that actually happening for another couple weeks haha.  Looking forward to testing myself in the Broad Street Run 10-miler in May.  This time last year the longest endurane event I had ever done was a 5-K in high school...Broad Street Run 2010 was my intro to endurance sports.  Deep down, I knew it was just all a prep for IMLP! One year ago today, was still a triathlon virgin.       

looks like everyone's training is going well!!

Here's to April and finally getting outside!!

Serious run miles -- wish I was running that fast.