kaburns1214 Mentor Group 2013 (Year 3!) - CLOSED (Page 76)

Hmmm...not sure how to answer that.  Other than swimming every summer like most kids and doing OWS swims as an adult not a whole lot.  I did more pool swimming last year in preparation for my tris.  My first tri I did 880 yards in 24:40; 2nd tri 962 yards in 26:52; third tri 650 yards in 17:55 if that tells you anything.

Any chance you have a video of you swimming?

this reminds me.........

LOL!  No.  The pool swimming I did last year was at a recreational center where I swam one day a week.  Nice saline pool where it was basically me and the lifeguards.  I can tell you that I am not a trained swimmer.  I do not put my head down for long periods of time and breathe side-to-side.  I've tried to work on that.  I am strong upper bodywise and the swim doesn't scare me, but I try to get through it as fast as I can any way I can.

I'm willing to bet there is some low hanging fruit to help clean up your stroke.  I can take a guess but if you had video, I could tell for sure.

Have you ever swam with a band or a pull buoy?  I can have you do a quick test that would give me an idea as to some of your potential issues / areas for improvement. 

Unfamiliar with this in regard to swimming.  And no, no band or pull buoy swimming or using any toys actually other than a kickboard, but that bored me so I only used it a couple of times.  And I will tell you that I do not kick my legs like I am suppose to.  Another "hmmm" moment - I swim using "frog legs."

Sorry about the Garmin! I don't know about forgetting things but I definitely feel old.  I envy you youngin's in your thirties.... I know almost 42 is not supposed to be that old but I feel it. In a egoist way, I am having a tough time with the fact that my fastest days are behind me .... I know some of you new to all this can make great gains in your  40's but for me having run for over 20 years the wheels are definitely coming off a bit .... I know it is life and I should be thankful I can do this at all. (I probably CAN make gains in swim and bike because I AM relatively new to those but I like those less ).  I just miss the days when I used to do six minute something mile repeats, etc.  (I would most definitely tear my whining hamstring if I tried that now).  

Sorry for the vent! 

Pain in the shins is different from shin splints.  Have you made any changes to your running (surface, shoes, treadmill, etc)?  What eactly hurts?  Does it get worse when you run or just after you run? 

If it just shin pain you should be able to stretch your shins (sit with your feet out and have some press down on the top of your feet) and ice your shins after running.  If it is actually shin splints, I would recommend water running -- FUN!

I would be willing to bet that some bike focus time would cause you to like biking more, make you a faster biker and result in improvements in running off of the bike. 

Do you drag you legs behind you or frog kick to keep lower half of your body up while you swim?

Thanks, Kelly.  The pain is on my right shin, just below the knee, a little bit to the inside of the  vertical centerline.  It is in a small spot - probably about the size of a silver dollar.  It has been hurting since my last run day - Tuesday.  Wednesday was a swim day and Thursday was a rest day.  The only changes I've made to the run lately are adding the additional day and increasing my long run of the week to 40 minutes.  I'm now running 3 days a week - 30 min; 30 min; and 40 min. 

As for the stretch you described, would the person pressing down on the top of my feet do so when my toes are pointed, or when my feet are flexed back (hard to describe, but the opposite of pointing my toes)?

The good news is that, after posting earlier this morning, I went for a shorter run - first time in my new shoes.  Even though it was only 20 minutes, I didn't have pain during the run and haven't had any since.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that continues.

That doesn't sound like shin splints.  That sounds like a meniscus issue. 

Shin splints are an inflammation of the lower front part of the tibia.  Usually there's a vertical line of pain running down the front of the lower leg.  Your issue sounds like its too close to the knee to be shin splints.  If your run today felt good, I would say to just watch the condition, ice the area post run (even if it doesn't hurt) and to consider taking a fish oil supplement.  Fish oil helps immensely with inflation.  I think all traithletes should be taking fish oil but especially if you are dealing with an injury. 

Looking at the picture, the pain is located where it looks like the meniscus is on the inside.  I'll try icing, fish oil, and TLC and see if that solves the problem.  Thanks very much. 

2 hours on the trainer + short t run in the books.  I had to shift around my schedule a bit to accommodate my travel schedule.  It's snowing here for the next week, and I don't want to drag my bike along in that.  I had to get up at 4 to get the ride and run in before the kids left for school.  Painful.  It's supposed to be a rest day (and I really needed it, as I was fatigued on the bike).  

3 out of 5 people packed and ready to travel.  When the kids get home, we're off.  I get really nervous traveling by myself with the 4 kids when there is tons of snow on the roads.  I'm just going to have to go slowly.  My sister's due date was yesterday (baby #4) but no signs of impending labor.  I'm hoping to witness another birth this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!  

If it is shin splints then you really need to baby your legs.  I ignored shin splints for months and ended up with a stress fracture.  I take shin pain seriously now and view it as a warning sign.  From what you told Kelly, it sounds like it's more knee than shin, but that could be serious too.  Don't push and listen to your body.  

I ran my first half maraton in March 2011 and it was snowy and icy so often that I got one outdoor run the entire 8 weeks leading up and that one the streets weren't close to ice free but I thought I needed some outdoor miles. While not ideal you'll be fine with the treadmill miles.

Oh, Colchester is fun.  Rick does a good job but because there's no traffic control it can be a little sketchy.

What you look for in fish oil is oil that cmes from small fish like sardines.  You don't want fish oil that comes from bogger fish because there tends to be a bioaccumulation of various toxins such as metals in larger fish that can't be completely eliminated through purification.  You also want to make sure there is a high % of Omega 3s. 

Either capsules or oil is fine.  There are lots of good brands -- I like Nordic Naturals. 

One more thought (and Scott can probably speak to this better than I can) -- There are very few supplements that are actually proven to do good (most supplements and vitamins just create very expensive pee) the few that are proven to be effective are fish oil, beta alanine, creatine (but its not super useful for triathlon) and caffeine. 

x2 on the Nordic Naturals.

Yep.  Very few supplements have good science to go with it.  A TON are very user dependent and may be more placebo than anything (cordyceps comes to mind).  Fish oil, beta alanine, caffeine, cissus for joints, and then just a quality multi.  Lots of folks will go glucosomine and chondroitin (sp?) for joints.  I don't like it because it takes a month or so to build in the system before seeing any relief.  Who has time for that?