enginerd's geek heaven - FULL (Page 26)

The pool goes 0 to 3.5 mph ish with 100 speed settings that increase by like 1 percent per setting.  You can program intervals, all kinds of stuff.  Eventually I will need to get a flow-meter to calabrate the speed for figuring out my paces.  But in general if the number is larger I am going faster.  Oh well time to go swim 8). 

Edited by Baowolf 2009-10-05 7:01 PM

Only 50 miles, huh? Have fun!

My IT is slowly getting better. I think continuing to bike was aggravating it, so now I'm down to just swimming, plus foam roller, ice, etc. And super-duper anti-inflammatories from the dr. ! I jogged a little on a dirt trail with my kids today, no more than 200m at a 3-yr old's pace, but nothing went snap crackle pop, so I'll take that as progress. My injuries are always on the left, I think because I have a pretty heavy heel strike on that side. Poweredbyfear, thanks for posting that video, I've been reading about minimalist running and wondering if doing some of my running barefoot or in minimalist shoes would improve my form. I've seen some people recommend racing flats, what do you guys who are trying this think is best (flats, 5-fingers, just plain ole barefoot)? Are you seeing any improvements in your form?

Congrats, Kyla, on a great race!

I agree with Jules... "ONLY" a 50-miler? How does one run one of those? Do you do a run/walk? How do you break it down mentally? What do you eat? I'm totally fascinated by ultra-running (I don't think I'm fascinated enough to do it, much beyond a 30-miler or something, but never say never). I just don't "get" how you can run for sooooo many hours.

I have one side that tends to be chronically tight as well (right). I feel like the balance is off the more I bike -- like there is something in biking that contributes to tightness in my glute/hamstring region. I plan to see my bike PT this winter again (he did my initial fit) and want to ask him about that. I also truly believe that everything is all inter-connected and that where we feel pain doesn't necessarily mean that's where it is coming from. Could be hips, ankles, etc. Hard to find a doctor/PT, though, who will get to the root of it all from an athletic perspective.

treehugger,

I had the same issue where my right side would always get hurt.  Every injury under the sun and it was always the right.  I went to a chiropractor who told me my hips lean down to my right; after a few visits he's evened out the hips and it feels better (and now I'm getting injuries on my left side =\)

Go see a chiropractor, it may help.

It's always far easier to maintain fitness than to have to rebuild fitness...plus a marathon easily translates as training for an IM!

I think my marathon training for January last year helped alot onthe run portion of the IM.  I was able to just maintain the run while focusing on the bike and swim over the summer.  

Good luck to you this weekend, Donato! I hope everything goes smoothly and you enjoy every step of your 50 miles. Oy, my legs hurt just thinking about that. You are amazing and awesome!!

Looking forward to hearing about that 50-miler... While your legs are recovering, Donato, come and post all about it!!

Race went well.  PR'd by 6 or so minutes.  What was even better though was that I felt much more relaxed even at the end.  One of the guys from our tri club paced me for the last 1.75 miles and somehow I found the legs to do sub 8 minute miles at that point (insane). 

My muscles feel fine, but what was painful was a blister that I developed on my arch (was using some new thick socks...I also have very flat feet).  I remember it getting really annoying at mile 13 (thought I had a little rock in there), so I ran with that blister for at least that long.  My left IT band, which is much tighter than my right one, bugged me starting around mile 20 or so and was still sore the next day so I'll need to work on that (foam rollered a lot yesterday).   Hopefully, I'll get my RR together (of course, I still haven't finished my last RR).

All in all, it was a good race and I'm feeling pretty good about Javelina in 3 weeks. 

Very impressive.  How many years have you been distance running again?  50 miles is still like wow.  Even a 50k trail run would be like hrmmm.

I'm so glad you had a good run, Donato! Congratulations!

Yay 30k trail run with 8,000 feet ish of elevation gain (according to garmin) for a 20 minute PR on same course as last year gets me a 2nd in age group and 3rd overall woot!

WOW!!! Woot is right! Congratulations!! I can't believe the elevation gain -- egads! Did you start at sea level? Did you get short of breath at the top? Or did you not end up that high, just lots of ups and downs? Congratulations on the 2nd place. How are your legs feeling? 

We started around 1100 feet above sea level and went up to 2500 feet above sea level and then back down to 1200 and back up etc.  Lots of up and downs.  Biggest climbs were like 1400 feet kind of all up.  I live at 4500 feet so no elevation issues with breathing, nice thick air down there.  The stream crossing through mid thigh deep water was a bit more than refreshing.  Hopefully next year I can get in more hill work prior to this thing.  There really wasn't any flat.   

I can feel the legs, not as bad as last year, we see how they feel on a bike ride today.  Just a little sore, but no Frankenstein walk.

Edited by Baowolf 2009-10-25 11:35 AM

That's awesome! Congratulations! 

Well awesome for you!! Stream crossing at mid-theigh??!! Egad!! Did that end up trashing your feet (wet shoes/socks)? I don't get that part of trail running. Do you just endure whatever nature throws at you? Sounds like you are in amazing shape and recovering well. Great for you!!

And a shout-out to Jules for good luck in her half mary in a couple of weeks. Hip feeling OK?

Steve, amazing job on your race!!  Impressive AG and OA placement!  That's a heck of a lot of elevation for a race.  Yikes!

After running the bike ride and entire run in the rain at Boise I figured running in wet shoes would not be such a big deal this year on the trail run.  It kind of sucked getting a shoe full of sand in that first stream crossing, but I have enough calous on my feet that it did not cause any blisters.  I am, however, considering getting some trail running shoes since I rarely actualy run on pavement.  Anyone run in trail shoes they like?  Do they help a lot or not so much? 

But ya, on the trail run it is pretty much the trail and you cross the distance, whatever is in the way, rain or shine.  I am still shaking my head about the guy who won, running this course at a 7:48 mpm pace.  I don't think I could hold that on the flat for that long, although my coach wants me to hold a 7:40 pace for the January marathon.  I am thinking maybe 8:00, but we will see. 

Oh and I am getting to love the swimspa.  It sure doesn't let you slack off on your pace towards the end of sets.  And saving 16 to 24 hours on driving time to the pool can't be beat. 

I have another 30k trail race in Malibu next month, probably without any stream crossing.  So who else has races coming up?

Edited by Baowolf 2009-10-27 11:07 AM

I don't have any tips on trail shoes but I do love my smartwool socks for running when it's wet. Last winter and spring, they keep my feet toasty and blister-free even on runs through the winter mix (rain/sleet/snow)!

I have a half marathon Nov 7, but otherwise no races planned until spring. My hip isn't giving me any trouble while running, but I have to foam roller it after sitting around too long .

Good luck to Donato on his big 100 miler this weekend!!

I still can't wrap my mind around a 100 mile run, or a 50 for that matter.  Best of wishes on your epic run. 

I do lots of running on trails -- not overly technical, but plenty of rocks/roots/horse poop/sloppy sections/hills. I had never used trail shoes but do run in more stable shoes in general -- so they are on the stiff side. I recently got some trail shoes, partly cuz they were on sale, and partly for water protection. I do like having them when the trails are really sloppy, but I can do OK without 'em too. I remember doing 15 trail miles last winter on a super-soggy and wet day in my trail shoes and was pretty happy with the results. I still got wet, but not quite as squishy wet as in regular shoes. One pair of mine is really hard/stable/deep treads, so I tend to pull those out on the grosser days.

Hi peeps.  Meant to post my results from last weekend.  DNF'd at 83 miles after about 19 hours.  Ran/walked almost the entire race with Jessi who is also here on BT.  We quite at 1am since it was getting very cold in the desert night and my hip just locked up and I could barely move after an long stop at an aid station.  Bryan only had to walk 5 miles with us instead of running 25.  It was a good learning experience and a great event.  Here's a picture of me and Jessi.

Ouche to be soo close after 19 miles... well close is a relative term I suppose as you were as close to finishing as my long run.  Grats on 83 miles, I am sure that that is at least 65 miles farther than any of the rest of us did.  Perhapse a shawl for the next run dropped off in a pre-race bag for special needs 8).  Are you going to give this one another try in a year or 2?

Its a shame to see you not finish Donato.  DNF'ing at mile 83 is a bigger accomplishment than most people will have in their endurance 'careers'.  Good job and stay motivated.

P.S. I'm not gay but that outfit....okay, still not but lol!