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Yep just headed over there
He is one hell of a bloke
I have added it to my collection
We could have an inspirational thread......
"Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can't......
You are right"
Hi Mick
((()))
I was brought up in a very negative household - "Self praise is no praise", that kind of thing drummed into me on a daily basis. I've never had any confidence in my ability and have always had a "When one door shuts, another one slams in your face" defeatest attitude. But I blame myself too - there comes a time in life when you have to take responsibility for your own destiny and stop blaming your parents and, at 50, I think that day has dawned for me!
All a bit heavy for a Saturday night, though. I'm off now to see what's passing for "entertainment" on the telly these days....
Yes. Tis a bit philosophical for this time of night.
Realisation is the first step to changing that, so well done
((Tikka))
Not a lot, unfortunatly
Just found "Have I got News For You"
Went to Ashby 20 tough hilly- ish mile race today clocked a slow 3.26, but then that happens
would never have missed it for the world, it was simply a magic day
Phillip felt very heavy on hills at 18.5 - 19.5 , so had to walk a little, but that won't take away the pure magic day we had
WE can be so very proud of what we did and we are proud
it was great meeting people , made our whole day
Thankyou all so much
Mick n phil xx
You have every reason to be proud Mick
Keep on keeping on
And maybe I will meet you at the FLM yet
Wooohoo, Mick, another triumphant day for the Marathon Lads! Bliddy well done the both of you!!!!!
Tikka, you should be proud of yourself too. That early conditioning is hard to overcome, and it's so sad when it leaves people with such harsh views of themselves. Of course you're right that the only person who can change it now is you, and hats off to you for doing it. But it's not an easy job, so be very proud of yourself for doing it!!!
How are the tendons doing? Settling down at all? It just sounded SO painful, really hope it's starting to get better! xxx
Oh Tikka, do hang on in there. They will get better, of course they will, but it's obviously going to take time. Does it still hurt a lot? Are you still RICE'ing?
Nice of you to remember my knee! I went to the podoloog yesterday (I'm in the Netherlands, that's what they call someone who is a specialist in foot and leg motion, mine works in a running shop) and he listened to my woes, and then took a video of me running across the back of the shop (they have a camera specially positioned to take your legs and feet, so they can then play it back frame by frame and watch the motion) and then said it was what he had expected. My left ankle is turning in too much, and the knee is of course following it, which means there is inappropriate stress on the medial cruciate ligament with each step and that's what's causing the pain and irritation. He said it's a very common sports injury, can be set off by almost anything---a trip, an awkward step or motion--- which then sets up a pattern. It's painful because the MCL is really a stabiliser, not a weight-bearing structure. so it doesn't take well to being part of the actual weight transfer in the stride. Luckily the condition can usually be sorted by an orthotic that cups the heel and has firm support on the inner side to keep the ankle from rolling over in the first place. He said it should sort itself in 2-3 weeks although he warned that I have to take it very easy going back to running and spread it out over several months. I get the orthotics on Thursday, so then I can make a start. Woohoo!
Sorry, that's probably more than you ever wanted to know about the MCL, Tikka, but I was just so glad that he knew what the matter was, and what to do about it. I had felt sure myself it was something to do with my gait, but I couldn't figure out what.
So like I said, hang in there. It WILL get better, even if it takes some time. When do you see the fizz again?
Wooo hhoooo
Good news GC (())
Awww, Barking, how nice of you! Yeah, it IS good news. I'd tried everything I knew---resting it, icing it, returning slowly, telling myself it was all in my mind etc etc---but it just wasn't sorting and not being able to chug has been making me fat, lazy and irritable.
So I've learned my lesson and I will go back very carefully....but gee, it will be good to feel I'm on the way back!!
How's your own running getting on??
Confuzzling
Hurt my foot in my trainers in the 5k week and a bit ago, so decided had to expedite the shoe shopping expedition. So went to shop last week, turns out I overpronate quite severely, more on one side than the other (isnt that always the way...!). So ended up in the Saucony Stabil, which is a quite comfortable but rather hard and like running with a lump of concrete on your foot. They suggested trying the Hurricane as a more comfortable but still fairly supportive fit, which they ordered in....so I went back today. More running up and down in assorted shoes - Stabil still best at stopping me go over, but I think it might get quite uncomfortable over a mile or so because its stiff. Hurricanes are lovely, but expensive, and possibly not controlling enough on my bad side. The other option is an Asics foundation, but it felt a but wide. That said, there are two other options.......ASICS seem to have a narrower firring version of the Foundation available in the US; and the older versions of the hurricane were more of a cross between the current two Saucony models I have tried, so could be a good compromise. Unfortunatly this I have also only managed to track down in the US.......
Needless to say my head is set to explode. Don't know whether to stick with ones I can try, or try ordering from US (can return, but postage qill be quite high).....
You wish you hadn't asked now, dont you
Hello Chuggers, hi Barking. Blimey, Chuggers, I won't even pretend to understand the nature of your problem but hats off to you for being able to articulate it so well - my physio goes into great detail about what it is that's wrong with me and I just nod my head knowingly, look really interested and then promptly forget everything she's just told me. I figure that's why she's got letters after her name and I haven't! But, hey, great news that the problem is fixable. I got custom-made orthotics a few years ago and they've made all the difference to my gait, I haven't looked back since. Or at least I hadn't until I attempted running and did my calf in.... mmmm, moving swiftly on.
I'm just back from my second physio appointment and although I didn't feel like there'd been any improvement apparently there has, albeit just a little, and I must admit after tonight's session I do feel things have loosened up slightly. She said I have the tightest hamstring and calf muscles she has ever come across - they're literally knotted they're so tight. She's going to give me some exercises to do but not yet - I need a few more manipulation sessions and the swelling needs to reduce some more before I can start. So even though progress since last week has been minimal, and it's likely to be a long slow haul because of my osteoporosis, I feel much more positive tonight because she's still pretty much convinced that it's tendinitis and not a stress fracture.
Barking, what a dilemma about the shoes. All I can say is that I've used Asics trainers for years now (for my walking) and find them fantastic. Because I have orthotics, I have to wear a neutral shoe so I have the Asics Nimbus, but Asics frequently comes out in surveys as being the best shoe in all categories (neutral, stability, etc). Having said that, they always say the best shoe is the one that suits you, not someone else, so it may be that's Saucony for you. Maybe go to another running shop and get a second opinion - or would that just confuse things even further?
Thats good news too Tikka. At least that should heal a lot quicker than a stress fracture, even if it only means that you can at least get back to walking sooner to keep up with that fitness. Tis all progress. Good progress.
I'm with Barking, Tikka! Good news that you're improving, however slowly, and extra good that it's not a stress fracture. These things often turn into vicious cycles ( tendons very tight, so exercise causes swelling that makes everything tighter still etc etc) so if you can break the cycle things will get better all round. And your fizz seems to know what she's doing, so it's a matter of taking your time. You WILL get there.
Barking, all the shoe manufacturers use different lasts, so in addition to the degree of control you need, also see which shape feels best on your foot. No single make is 'best', as Tikka says. I started with Nikes, then tried some Asics which were a (very expensive!) disaster. They made my feet and ankles hurt. So I had a gait analysis done; the shop put me in some Saucony's and I've never looked back. I think I'm on my 5th pair and frankly I'd never look at anything else.
Are you confident of the shop you went to? Did they give you a proper gait analysis? Maybe Tikka's right, and you ought to go for a second opinion. I mean it's always possible that you are really, truly weird
) but I'd be surprised if you were such a bizarre runner that it was impossible to find a suitable shoe in Europe. 
)
Do let us know what you decide to do!
Hi everyone!
It sounds like there are some positive things happening with you folks. Even if it is just finding out what ails you.
Any update on the shoes, Barking, or is your head still frazzled? Interesting that you couldn't get on with Asics, Chuggers. I feel about my Asics the way you feel about your Sauconys - it would take a fool to try and split us up!
LOL, Big David, that's one way of looking at things.
I wasn't busy in work today so I finally twigged where to find Granny Denny's blog about her marathon training. Every since she featured on the home page of this site a few weeks ago I've been wondering how she's getting on. If you haven't already read it, you should - she's fantastic. I felt a mixture of excitement at the thought of what's ahead of me when I do finally get out there running, and frustration that it can't happen right here, right now. I'm looking longingly at my running gear and wanting to get it on, especially now that the nights are getting longer. My first "target" has fallen off the calendar already - I'd really hoped that I would by this time be up to running a continuous mile so that I could make my first race the Sport Relief Mile on Sunday. I'll still do it and walk - it's all for a good cause - but I'd so love to be running it. Anyone else doing it, or is it not far enough to make it worth while putting your kit on for seasoned runners like you guys? I'm sure a lot of people think like that and don't bother with it. I think the organisers should have made it at least a 5K. That way anyone who wants to run can run and still feel like they've had a workout, and it's still a manageable distance to walk even for those who aren't particularly fit. (You gotta wonder why they didn't seek me out for the organising committee, don't ya?
)
Tikka, wanted to pop in to say hi and how nice it was to see you on the Working At It Slowly thread last night! And it was SO nice of you to be concerned about the orthotics---you ARE nice!!
Yes, they are working very well. I'm being careful not to do too much at once, I was warned against that, but I am walking a couple of miles at a time, with a few teensy bursts of running, and things are going really well. The knee pain is entirely gone and so, interestingly, is some metatarsal pain that I've had for the last 2 years or so and thought I just had to live with. Some of the other muscles are a bit tired as they are having to work properly again, but I am really awed to find how well designed the human body is. Just put things in the right alignment and it all works.
Now, what about you? Have those tendons settled down enough for the fizzy to start trying to relax them? I think you were going to see her again this week, weren't you? I've slightly lost track because I've been working on a big project for the last 5 days so fill me in!
And if you have time, why not pop into the WAISter thread again? We're crazy, but friendly!
xxxx
Hi Chuggers. I've been reading the WAISter's thread for ages now but because I'm not actually running at the moment I think I'd feel a bit of a fraud chipping in. But don't encourage me because once I start running there'll be no stopping me - I'll be on every thread bar the Ultras!
The orthotics sound wonderful. It just goes to show - a lot of people pooh-pooh podiatrists and orthotics as a waste of time and money but I think when you find a good one who knows what he/she's doing it really does work. I was lucky to get recommended the guy I went to and he was brilliant, well worth the small mortgage I had to take out to pay for them! Interestingly enough when I went to my local running shop recently to get my new shoes, the guy doing my gait analysis told me he didn't know why I was wearing orthotics and tried to persuade me to try running without them, implying that my current injury was because of them. Admittedly when I got the orthotics a few years ago I wasn't running, only walking, and so the podiatrist only looked at my walking gait and made the orthotics on that basis. The guy in the running shop said walking gait is completely different to running gait, therefore the orthotics were at best useless for running and at worst causing an injury. But my podiatrist was highly qualified and the guy in the running shop.... well, lovely and all as he was, "Qualified Podiatrist" isn't on his CV so for the moment I'm sticking with the orthotics. (I might post what he said on the 'Gear' or 'Health & Injury' site sometime and see what others' views are on the subject.)
Re progress so far, I've seen the physio twice now and both times my leg has felt marginally better afterwards, not a huge amount but hopefully moving s-l-o-w-l-y in the right direction. I think I'll just have to be patient, there's no quick-fix cure. I've cut down a bit on my walking too to try and help things along. It's playing havoc with my sanity though!
Me, me, me, me, me... a charming little monologue about me.....
So it's back to reality and some vicarious running, reading about everybody else's progress and dreaming that one day it will be mine!
Hey
Good to hear that you are both doing OK
Sorry have been AWOL, started a new placement couple of weeks ago and can't get my head round it all!
Did you do the SR mile Tikka? Which one? I did the Cardiff one with a forumite who I met who dragged me around the 5k the other week, we did the 3 miles, which was basically 3 laps and hurt like hell - but no walking! She has also dragged me to a local running club, which is a branch of "Womens Running Network" - its nice because they are really really uncompetitive and dont seem to mind me being slow. Do think I may have started doing a bit to much too soon - I figured if I am able to run for X distance, then I should, but tonight (after SR 3miles yesterday and club tonight - 1.8 run then another 1.2 of jog/run/walk laps) I am thinking that might not be the best idea I have had and I need to put some more slow run/walks in. Interesting to hear your experiences with orthotics - I am starting to think I might have to go down that line as I am still having problems. Have one pair upstairs atm to take to the gym and run on the treddie for a couple of miles.
Oh and Tikka - less of the "seasoned runner" - well not if you are applying it to me!!!
Take care all
Slowly and surely onwards and upwards!
Tikka, that's interesting. I don't know how different walking and running are---I mean, obviously they ARE different, but whether that would argue for separate orthotics I don't know. I'm inclined to think not, at least not in all cases, cos my podoloog (that's what they're called here, I think it's the equivalent of an English podiatrist) is a very highly qualified chap and he said to start with walking and mix the running back in very slowly. If you needed different orthotics for the two, I don't see how that could work. So I'd incline, like you, to take the word of the podiatrist rather than the salesman! (By the way, my podoloog works in a running shop, and is a runner himself, so I think he has every interest in getting me back on the road!) And I would certainly be sceptical of someone who thought orthotics were silly: not everyone needs them, but if there is a purely mechanical problem because the linkages are not properly aligned, then they are just exactly what you want. Fix the alignment, and it all works!
Barking, your approach sounds very sensible too. The Womens Running Network has been a great starting place for a lot of wmen I know. But you're right, the idea shouldn't be to push yourself to go further than you comfortably can, certainly not at this stage. There is a 'hair on your chest' brigade who think you should try to avoid walking periods if you possibly can, and maybe it works for them: but there is a different school of thought that says you should ALWAYS keep in some walk breaks, because you will avoid injury, enjoy yourself more AND improve your times if you do. The doyenne of this school is Jeff Galloway, who is a former Olympic runner who has coached something like 100,000 runners. Have a look at his site here. Tikka, if you lurk on WAISters you will know that a number of us have been using this method, and several people have deffo increased their PB's.
I suppose there are as many different ideas about how to run as there are runners, so find the one that works for you! And do drop into the WAISter thread if you feel like it---we're nuts, but friendly!!
Hi Barking and Chuggers. Sorry about the long wait for a reply but I couldn't even bring myself to log on last night to read about everyone's running, I was so green with envy and frustration - bah humbug. It was a gorgeous Spring evening and there were loads of runners out on the road when I was coming home on the bus and I just wanted to be out there with them instead of sitting on a bus dosed to the eyebrows with painkillers. For some reason my leg was really agony again yesterday. I'm back on the Ibuprofen today so I've no idea if it's any better or worse than it was yesterday but I'm taking no chances. Enough is enough! I've booked another appointment with the physio for Friday.
Chuggers, someone either on this thread or another one recommended the Jeff Galloway book and I bought it. I was sceptical about his theory that walking breaks should be part of all runs but that was before I ever actually tried running. I've since discovered that armchair running is a heck of a lot easier than road running!
Now that I've had a couple of goes at it and seen how hard it is, I'm more than happy to sign up to the Jeff school of thought! (I'm clinging to the wreckage that the fact that I was in pain during both of my recent attempts means that it won't always be quite this hard but the jury's still out on that one....)
I didn't realise that you'd been off the road for 6 months, Chuggers - no wonder you're so delighted with your orthotics. Have you tried running in them yet? As for you, Barking, you're doing brilliantly. I'll be using you for inspiration once I'm healed!
Oh dear, well and truly reprimanded - it was like being back at school! Went to the physio today and she told me in no uncertain terms that I was wasting my money booking appointments with her if I was going to undo all her work by continuing to walk and put stress on the injury. She wasn't surprised to hear it has got worse. I tried to plead that I'd cut down the miles but she was having none of it. NO WEIGHT BEARING EXERCISE was the general gist of it. So I've had a long hard talk with myself and I'm now totally committed to giving up on the walking for at least 6 weeks. I've got to rest up completely for a week to allow the inflammation to settle, then I can start doing some work on the cross trainer or stationary bike to see if that's okay - if it turns out that hurts too, then I'll have to knock that on the head and just rest.
I do hope you'll all visit me in my nice padded cell....
I'll still lurk on the forum to keep up with everyone's progress, but that's me signing over and out for 6 weeks when - fingers crossed - I'll be signing in again to say, Hurrah!, All Better!, My running shoes are laced and ready to go!
Happy Easter everyone. Run well.
Now see here, Tikka, that's no way to go on! You are a runner who is currently on the bench. Most of us have been there (some of us are STILL there
) but that's no reason to go bury yourself and just lurk. You stay with us, you hear me?!?
Although it sounds like the fizz was pretty stern, it's actually good news, you know. I mean, clearly the reason the tendons aren't getting better is because they need complete rest. And that means that if you DO rest, they WILL get better. It would have been much more worrying if you had really been doing exactly as you were told, and things were STILL not getting better. So it may be a frustrating few weeks, but it'll be worth it in the end. And with any luck you'll be able to start some gentle cross training in just a week, which isn't really so bad.
In the meantime, do keep coming in here, and pop into WAISters if you feel like it. A number of us have been, or are, dealing with various health issues that have kept us off the road, so you'll find a lot of understanding and fellow feeling!
*drags Tikka out of padded cell back onto thread*
Oi! You don't escape that easily......!!!
Hey Chuggers, so have you! I've been away over Easter.
Barking, can you email me? I'd like to get in touch.
Hi everyone. I thought I'd drop in to let you all know where I am - or rather where I'm not
- with my new year's resolution to start running....
After several weeks of physio and 3 weeks of absolutely no exercise at all and still no improvement, the physio began to suspect that perhaps inflamed tendons were just a symptom of something more serious. Turns out she was right - I've got a stress fracture on my tibia. I've probably had it since November which is when I first started to notice pain in this area, although it got really bad at Christmas when I keeled over on a kerb stone. Continuing to walk on it for the last 6 months hasn't helped.
So now I'm just resting, resting, resting (I'm so bored I've had to take up knitting!) and that's how it's going to be for at least another 3 weeks, maybe longer because of my brittle bones. After that I'm allowed to try the cross trainer and stationery bike (both of which hurt at the moment) and if they don't hurt anymore I can start on them. I feel really sluggish and unfit. And I dread to think what the scales say - luckily I don't own any. <Phew, good move Tikka!>
So I'm going to have to wait another few months to embark on my running career but I'm trying hard to remain positive and since I don't like the heat anyway look on it as a good thing that I won't have to run in the height of summer (because there will be a summer this year, right?)
I'm following everyone's progress and you're all doing brilliantly. Can't wait to be posting that I'm joining you on a plod!