Bear96

Hmmm . . . just posted this in the Who We Are thread, but maybe it is more appropriate here.

I am a distance runner who was sidelined by a running-related injury for the last month and today realized I am finally (almost) back to 100%. I am so happy about that I wanted to share with anyone who gives a crap - most of the non-running world does not - so I searched for "runner" in the TH&F forum and found this thread.

So for the runners out there, you will get this (and we get that the rest of y'all will not), but I am a 50-60 mpw runner who did something nasty to his obturator muscle(s) about two months ago which has taken forever to heal. (My worst running injury to date.) I admit this has been largely due my own stupidity. For the first few weeks I would not admit to myself that there was anything wrong, so I kept running through the pain because the thought of a day without running was just too terrible. (My normal weekday morning pre-work run was 8 miles @ ~ 7 min/mile; long run on the weekends.) Then one day on an 18-mile run it got really bad - I could hardly walk the next day - and I forced myself to not run for a few weeks. It was terrible and I was cranky / depressed. And scared that I would never be able to run normally again, which is my worst nightmare.

But it gradually got better, once I got the message that I just needed to lay off for a while. Two weeks ago I started doing a couple of miles every couple of days. In the past week the pain has almost gone away. Just did two consecutive days for the first time in about a month and am feeling great! Not quite 100% (still some pain but very slight) but for the first time, I feel that I am almost there and that this whole thing will be behind me shortly.

So happy that I can run again that I just needed to share. (Again, it's a runner thing.)

Happy running to my fellow FT runners!

annerj

Congrats.

I don't think its a runner thing at all. I assume any of us who do something for as many hours/week as you are running feel the same about that activity and when its taken away from us.

aztimm

yesterday was the big day, el Tour de Tucson.

I went down to Tucson early Friday, worked from there for the day, then went to my hotel, the expo (the largest expo I've been to, far bigger/better than that of the PHX/PF Chang's marathon), met some friends for dinner on 4th Ave (Tucson's version of Tempe's Mill Ave), then went to bed.

I was so paranoid that I'd oversleep or something Friday night that I hardly slept. I woke up every hour to pee... finally woke up for the race and it worked out ok:

http://app.strava.com/activities/28136005

My official finish time was: 6:18:37.23

I commented to several people how something like this could never happen in the Phoenix area. If you look at the map, you'll see that the course hits most of the area:


I can't imagine how many police were involved to close the roads. we had flow through for most stoplights (sorry to those stuck in long lines of traffic...)
I did get stuck by a train though, it seemed long, but probably only 2-3 min, up near the Cortaro Rd/I-10 area
I'm still trying to figure out how many freeway exits along the I-10 had to be closed; I'd guess 10 to 12, and in 3 different areas. I saw plenty of Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana PD out, together with Pima County Sheriff's dept, as well as ADOT officers.

the community support for this is simply amazing. there were hundreds (maybe thousands) of people out cheering, ringing bells, giving high fives, some giving water and their own snacks, throughout the course.


I was really glad I reserved a hotel for 2 nights. I debated if I'd drive back last night, but I decided to stay down there. I had no problems sleeping, pretty much just passed out and slept through no problems. I really love the mountain views. this is the view that greeted me from my hotel room this morning:


I took a rather leisurely drive through town back to the freeway, then drove home. was back around 11, then ran some errands. eventually decided to drop my bike off at the shop (for a tune-up and to put my good pedals back), and for a swim...

the swim was a bit tougher than I thought it would be. I managed to get in 2100 yards, when normally I'd crank out 3000+ after a normal Sunday ride. I think the race together with a little travel, took a little toll on me.


I'm really looking forward to a little time off the bike. I don't have anything formally scheduled, but I have a couple of tentative things in mind for next year.
I really just can't imagine going from riding this...to running a full marathon.
having done both (well 3 marathons), I can safely say that the bike portion is easier, for me at least.

annerj

Nice man

annerj

Found out they do 2,000 meter indoor row competitions all over the county.

I've rowed maybe 450,000 meters lifetime (just something extra I do...row class or row 5-10k on my own every once in a while).

Anyways I did my first 2,000 test today in 7:14. If I can get sub 7 I think I may sign up for the one in Denver coming up.


*not to win but just something that I can focus training on.

CalVol

2 days in a row. 5.5 miles @ 12 minute pace on the treadmill.

annerj

did some 500 meter intervals on the row.

1:50 split is about 260 watts
1:39 is 362 watts


I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around so much extra effort for so little time benefit.

CalVol

After a follow up visit with my cardiologist on Monday where I got some reassurance about some nagging little things...mostly psychological he encouraged me to up my time and intensity on the treadmill.

So, I've been to the gym 5 days this week, started some strength training and got 27 miles of walking/running in.

Katja

Finally got back in the pool after too many months of travel. I was slow and now I'm tired (not a big surprise).

CalVol

6 miles yesterday @ 10 minute pace

5 miles today @ 11 minute pace.

The _Banking_Scot

Hi,

Just returned to the UK after being in Las Vegas for a week.

Last Sunday I did the Rock n'roll half marathon.

The first runners in the half set off at 430pm ( about sunset) and we set off about 10mins after.

We ran south for a mile ( some people stopped at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign for a photo op) then turned around and ran the strip to downtown past all the hotel casinos and the Bellagio fountains that were playing when I ran past) then a few left and right turns before running past Fremont street ( the full marathon ran on Fremont Street ) before joining the strip just north of the stratosphere and finishing at the Mirage ( followed by walking back to my hotel at the Luxor)

It was very windy for the last four miles or so from downtown back to the finish with a constant strong headwind.

I did it in 1:46 and came 785 out of 22114 finishers ( 3.5k finished the marathon)
There was also a pasta party at the mirage on saturday evening and the convention on friday/saturday at the Sands Expo.
The event was well organised with plenty of bag drops, lots of water and gatorade stations ( on both sides of the strip) and at the finish we got;

A medal
Foil blanket
gatorade
chocolate milk
apple
bagel
and other items which you could get but my hands were full ( this was before picking up your gear at the gear check pick up point ( UPS vans)

Running the strip at night was a great experience ( about 100 couples got married/renewed their vows at a run through ceremony at NYNT ( mile 3) and lots of Elvis. ( or is it flying Elvi?)

Regards

TBS

annerj

Glad it sounds like they've fixed their issues. Last year was a total disaster (a quick glance at the old posts on their facebook page would give plenty to read).

After that race I thought there was going to be a flat out personal ban on rock-n-roll events for my group. But after a bit of time they are thinking either san diego or seattle (or portland?).

aztimm

Sounds like a great time, especially considering the crowds and winds.

I'm a bit surprised they didn't throw in some casino chips or a card to entice you into the casinos

I did the RnR Phoenix (locals here call it PF Chang's) back in 2009, and I'd never do that, and probably not another RnR race ever again. Way too crowded, the course is just ok, not nearly enough aid stations (especially on the back half), plus it was a bit pricey. Seemed more of a social event than a run for over half the participants. But I guess if that gets people off the couch, all the better...just not for me.

There's a few other local marathons and halves that I'd recommend. I actually recommended one to a friend who always does PF Chang's. He did it a few weeks ago but hated it, said it was too serious for him

annerj

Last years vegas has two big problems IMO:
1 - the full marathons merged into the same spot as the half marathoners were starting. This was mass chaos and some REALLY pissed off full marathoners trying to weed their way through the more causal walking halfers

2 - at the end they tried to funnel everyone through one casino. It took our group 1+ hours to get from the finish line and out of that casino. There were people passing out in the hall ways it was so crowded.

Katja

Congratulations on your finish! A friend I used to train with won the wheelchair division, said it was a great race (but I bet any race you win is a great race).