Cake!

I help coach a women's beginning running group(called 'FIT'), and we had our graduation party this evening. It's a group designed to help women train for and run their first 5k- although a large percentage of the members are repeaters. My mom kindly made the cake for our party (although my entire family helped with the shoe). We shaped it out of rice krispie treats and fondant. There's a full 3 layer cake underneath (some sort of butter/vanilla, chocolate, and the same butter/vanilla).

It's not perfect- or Ace of Cakes worthy, but, it served our purposes and everyone thought it was fun. So, I decided to share! ( Take a look! )

Today i spent a solid hour working out on different machines (not weights) at the gym and drank a litre of water afterwards while in the sauna... before i went in I had a pain in my forehead and my temples. Im home since and still feel a bit fuzzy? I dont really get headaches.. I thought it might be because i was thirsty? im still sipping on water and still no good.

I was fine before working out and like i said i dont usually get headaches? Maybe i should have drank more water before i began... although i hate feeling it slosh around my tummy.


Have others experienced post workout headaches?

Do these things work?

Do any of you wear them? Have they helped your "runner's knee" pain go away??

TIA!

So, I was feeling really lazy for the past two days because I hadn't run since I got pink eye and I was totally congested and feeling bad yesterday and the day before. I woke up this morning all pumped to run and when I did go outside, there were rain clouds, but I figured it wouldn't be too bad.

I was wrong.

It literally started POURING. I've run in the rain before and living in South Florida, it isn't uncommon for it to rain this hard in the middle of July. Well, it's actually kind of expected. I thought about turning around, but by that time, I was already soaked all the way through and there was no point, since it wasn't thundering or anything. I was almost to the point where I turn back when the lightning alarm at the local park went off, so I pretty much booked it back home.

So, my question for you runners: at the first sign of a rain shower, do you turn around immediately? If you knew there was going to be no lightning, would you keep running?

Also, my shoes are completely waterlogged. I took out my insoles to let them dry seperately and put then on some newspaper. I was wondering if I could put them in the dryer; would that ruin any integral part of my shoe? Or is it better to just let the newspaper soak up all the moisture?

My work is only about 7 miles away, and now that I am running that distance at least twice a week (as my medium-long runs), I've been feeling guilty/stupid for going for a run, then getting in my car and wasting gas.

The short way is 7 miles but is along a 55 mph road. The long way is 8 miles on 35 mph roads. I'm thinking I would run the short way in the morning when there is less traffic, then the long way at night. But am I going to be able to do 8 miles after running 7 only 9 hours before? How do you guys do it? I don't want to die.

ETA: I'd do this once or twice a week! I'm not that insane. ;)

...and I feel AWESOME! XD

I absolutely hated running as a kid and swore I'd never do it again after senior year of high school. It took a lot to even try this, and when I started, running for one full minute was torture. Running five laps of the little gym track made me think my lungs would pop. But I'm absolutely amazed by how quickly that changed. I could feel the improvement each and every run. I recovered faster every time. All of a sudden I can three miles...and I *enjoy* it! Unbelievable.

( So...now what? )

Good morning runners! Here's the daily training thread!

I switched yesterday to a heat training 5.4 miles which was slightly less miserable as most heat training runs have been. This may be because I wasn't wearing quite as much. Today I plan on running in normal attire and getting about 7-8 miles in, including two miles barefoot. Should be a fun day. I'm also going to do today's WOD in my backyard: 7x1 hang power cleans. Basically 7 sets of 1 rep, you do whatever weight you feel like, trying to go as heavy as possible.

So what is everyone else up to today, training and otherwise?

I can't think of a question so instead here's the men's (Marcos Farinazzo) and women's (Jamie Donaldson for the second straight year) champions finishing Badwater:





Discuss... and HAPPY RUNNING!

Does anyone use insoles for running? What is the best kind?
I am having ongoing issues with one foot. I am having a hard time getting in to see a specialist, and I have an 8 hour adventure race on the 25th.
I don't own the highest end shoes, but I can't afford to buy a super-duper pair of runners/multi-sports before next week, so I am hoping that insoles will do the job temporarily.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Background:
The foot issue is something that has been on and off since my pregnancy with my son 3 years ago. My old doctor thought that it was a Neuroma. After my son was born and my weight decreased, the pain went away, but since I started running, it has started to return.

I get to try the G-Trainer tomorrow. I'm so excited! I'm going to make the best out of a bad situation and do some overspeed training while I'm injured. It's also amazing that I get to run, even if it's on some space-age dreadmill. I'm definitely going to write an entry about what this feels like.

Hopefully tomorrow I find out I don't have a stress fracture! Hahaha.

Okay, I have quit smoking...not promising I will stay quit, but doing my best. I have now started to add running to my couch to 5k.

I had some troubles. I presume the floppy bouncy bits will wear off as I lose weight, but I could not breath while runnning. Now, the second I stopped, and the floppy bits stopped flopping, I could breath just fine agian. I could breath, just not get a good breath.

So, here are my questions (and I tried to find this info in the archives but didn't haver any luck)

1. Do the ladies have problems with floppy bits interfearing with breathing?

2. How do I breath while running (seriously more than 10 years since I ran somewhere that wasn't a life or death situation)?

3. For the couch to 5k...on the walking...Do I meander during the walk, or really get my arms and legs pumping and keep it just below a run?


4. For the couch to 5k..on the running...Do I pick my feet up and GO, or do i keep it more of a meanderin shuffle as I gut used to it?

Thank you so much!

I'm sure someone here has been to Pennsic in the past. I'm assuming the places I'll find to run are mostly unpaved, so I'm planning to take my trail shoes. I won't have a vehicle on site. Are there running trails within walking distance? (I'd be happy to walk a fair ways, as running is my alone time and Pennsic will be full of people). What kinds of trails will I find? My favorites are narrow trails covered with roots and elevation changes--Gunpowder Falls State Park in north central Maryland has spoiled me.

Is there anything else I should know about running at Pennsic? A conveniently placed water fountain, a pretty waterfall hidden in the woods, a great spot for hill repeats, etc?

hey everyone.. im just wondering how many times would you train a week / a day. I have at least one activity most days... and if i know i have football training at 7pm i might just walk the dog earlier on in the day. the thing is my hour and a half training doesnt push me enough and i dont feel much benefit from it... apart from ball skills and being with my team. Fitness wise we do plenty of running but not enough to have a fit team (in my opinion).

I have always been fanatical about fitness since i was a little girl and always wanted to keep going and going and get better to go even further.

I havent ran earlier in the day before training...but im starting to think it would be a good idea? when i was younger i would have 2-3 training sessions a night and i got burnt out from it so i realise that you can go beyond being fit and become tired and worn out. In your opinion would it be ok to train for running in the morning and play teams sports in the evening?

I am training for the Chicago marathon. After I was done running my 10 mile long run on Saturday my lower left leg hurt like a bad muscle cramp. It has gotten a little better each day since. I decided to skip my Monday run to let it get better but wanted to go to my group training run tonight.

I massaged it, used the stick and even some Tiger Balm the last 2 nights.

So I ran around my block a little while ago and it was ok, until I stopped. It is like the muscle cramp came back with full force. I called and made an appointment for an injury screen and hopefully a referral for a doctor who is a runner. I am skipping practice.

Logically I know I am doing the right thing but I feel like a slacker and worry that my body is trying to trick me into being lazy. My pride is trying to make me be stupid and I don't feel like a "real" runner.

Could somebody please tell me that I am doing the right thing : ) I really need a pep talk. I'm kind of new to distance running.

Thanks, I really respect the people who post to this community. I enjoy lurking and soaking up the knowledge here.

Anyone ever had nightmares as a side-effect of overtraining? I think I'm seeing a correlation between increasing my mileage and crazy dreams. However, it could be a coincidence. The summer has been so mild that I've had the windows open and the cats get barmy.

Good morning muggle runners! Here's the daily training thread!

After last night's wonderful, easy 5.4 miler (including a mile and a half of barefoot running on the track/infield), today I'm going to drop the pace a bit and go a little longer (something like 7 miles). I'm also gonna do this at midday (when hopefully it will actually get to 80 degrees or so) in a few layers for added heat. Should be fun. And at some point today I plan on seeing the sixth installment in the Harry Potter franchise. Sadly, this is the first movie since Chamber of Secrets that I didn't get to see at midnight in IMAX.

So what is everyone else up to today, training and otherwise?

EDIT: If anyone is in the mood for a little speedwork and strength building, today's WOD is excellent. I'm tempted, but I'll probably do a deadlift/pull-up WOD my friend told me instead. If you can't do 95lb overhead squats, scale the weight down. For those of you who have never DONE an OH squat, use a broom stick to start and watch this video and this video!

And question! If you could have one magical running ability, what would it be? For me, it would be the ability to run as long or hard as I want without ever getting any overuse injuries. I'd call it corrlibriosum.

Discuss... and HAPPY RUNNING!

     Alright, I'm a new runner, I've only been running since January. I started with 12 mpw, and now I'm running 20 mpw. When I first bought shoes (in December, on a whim), I didn't really get fitted for them. I went into Sports Authority, not knowing anything about running, having lost forty pounds and hoping to run to lose more, and bought the shoes that felt right. These perfect right shoes were the New Balance 740's. Before that, I'd been running in old New Balances that had been my gym shoes for about four years. Neither pair had caused me any problems. The New Balance 740's started giving me slight shin pains after I put about 360 miles on them, since January. I decided to get new shoes, and actually get fitted this time. At the fitting, I was told that I'm an overpronator and given Asics (Gel Evolution 5) as the best recommendation.
     The 740's just fit. There were no problems, they were incredibly light and made me feel like I was flying. These Asics are not a fit. I'm not sure if I should give them some more adjustment time (after three uncomfortable easy runs this week, I don't want to), or just go back to the store and exchange them. I understand that I should take their advice as advice, and not as the ultimate solution. I also understand that I know my body better than anyone else does. I'm not against slight discomfort while adjusting to new shoes, but I think this is not right, and I want to return them before it's too late.
     I also want to know why the shoes that I picked off the shelf worked so much better than the shoes that I was fitted for; especially since the shoe guy at Shaw Athletics told me that 740's were an absolutely terrible fit for me. I have enough on my mind - worrying about form, and proper breathing, and keeping focus on those things. I don't want to experience foot pain while running.

As I sit here icing my knees, I have to ask some experienced runners a question. I have been running since January, and have recently admitted to myself that I like running for simply recreation. I have been increasing my mileage since January, going from running 1.2 miles  to currently being able to do 6 miles. Even as I've increased my mileage, I've always had stop breaks, where I would just stop and walk. Recently I acquired a running buddy and she used to stop with me, until one day we went out and she realized I didn't necessarily  have to stop I just did. My excuse was, and still is, I get more stamina to continue the run, if I stop and walk for just one minute. It's like getting a second wind; it just feels better.  So recently  we started running w/o stopping on our 6 mile runs. (I think I've mentioned this before). Our time, drastically improved by 20 minutes. I told my bf this, who is an avid runner and has been running for longer than I have, and he said that this was the way to do it: just push through and keep running w/o stopping. My running buddy was the first to get knee pain. Because of it, she would just take a day or two off and rejoin me. I didn't take days off (I run 5-6 days a week) mainly because I never had knee  pain before. I'd had pain, but this was a few months back, and I never explained what happened. Then, last week I felt it. My knees were killing me during our run. When I got home, the ache turned body wide and I pretty much passed out. The next day I had a grueling day at work and my leg pain just got worse and worse. I took the weekend to rest but still the pain persists. My knees and legs are killing me during my runs. Tonight, I stopped and walked and realized how much better it felt to walk for a bit then start again. I wonder, will my body just get used to the not stopping and the pain will go away or will it always hurt. So I guess this is my question-- for you runners, in your opinion-- is it okay to stop and walk? or is this frowned upon?

I think my running music tends to the slightly strange and obscure when it's not retro and predictable. This is one of the best ones I've had come up in a long time, it was so much fun.

it's here at my LJ to avoid too much duplication of posts

What's your favorite playlist for running? (Or artist if it's too much work to come up with a whole playlist.)