Hoping for Fall redemption

We all want to know what marathon. The suspense is killing me.

Kenny B. wrote:We all want to know what marathon. The suspense is killing me.

You couldn't give a crap what marathon I choose. Your post was just an excuse to use that nutty emoticon.

Seth Harrison wrote:

Kenny B. wrote:We all want to know what marathon. The suspense is killing me.

You couldn't give a crap what marathon I choose. Your post was just an excuse to use that nutty emoticon.

Ohh I do care hoping philly. Lol

Don't be too surprised at the soreness Seth. I had a little fatigue this week just going from 40 to 50, so being a little beat up after not running for a month + isn't terribly surprising. Stick with the plan and you'll be fine. Good to see a bit of a longer run in there with no issues to speak of though.

Kenny may not care which race, but I do! I haven't picked mine for the fall yet, either, though I have lots of ideas...

This one does come courtesy of Kenny, who, when I told him that I need to start looking for fall marathons, sent me a couple of ideas (I guess he does really care ).

Nov 20 – Bucks County Marathon, Yardley PA - http://www.runbucks.com/index.html


I looked at their site. This is an inaugural marathon, which could be interesting. It's a pancake flat out and back course, possibly on a combination of trails and roads. I have to take a closer look. The good thing about it is that it's late in the season, giving me several more weeks of base building. It also looks like it would be a very fast course, so if I'm serious about getting another BQ, this would offer a good course to do it on.

For now though, I really do have to continue to focus on rebuilding my base and even more importantly, make sure my leg can stand the rigors of a tough training cycle. At least this race gives me a date to use as a target for training purposes.

Seth, you are getting better with each passing day. I think it's great to have a race out there as a marker to shoot for. Your leg will be able to handle the training, just be careful and trust your instincts. I really see a great running year ahead of you! I can't wait to see you nail some serious goals....these setbacks will not keep you down. You're strong and wonderful! Keep up your great work, buddy!

I agree seth focus is repairing rebuilding and maintaing so you can have a healthy comfortable training cycle.

Then it maybe The Bucks County Brawl(er). Seth "the rabbit" Harrison vs. Kenny "The Hoverer" Baldo.

That Bucks County race looks interesting. Only 500 runners max, and you have to duck every so often!

Just do what you said - focus on the base, and keep it going...

Mrs. Schuey wrote:Seth, you are getting better with each passing day. I think it's great to have a race out there as a marker to shoot for. Your leg will be able to handle the training, just be careful and trust your instincts. I really see a great running year ahead of you! I can't wait to see you nail some serious goals....these setbacks will not keep you down. You're strong and wonderful! Keep up your great work, buddy!

Lisa, thanks so much for your support and encouragement!

Kenny B. wrote:I agree seth focus is repairing rebuilding and maintaing so you can have a healthy comfortable training cycle.

Then it maybe The Bucks County Brawl(er). Seth "the rabbit" Harrison vs. Kenny "The Hoverer" Baldo.

Kenny, it would be a blast to do this one together, but based on both our
recent histories, yours being a heck of lot more successful than mine, I
don't think this one will live up to the hype!

Michael Enright wrote:That Bucks County race looks interesting. Only 500 runners max, and you have to duck every so often!

Just do what you said - focus on the base, and keep it going...

Michael, at 5'7'', I'll just barely have to duck!


After a tough P90x upper body workout last night, and not enough sleep, I really had to drag myself out the door this morning.
I ran another easy 5 miler, at 8:30/mile, a slightly faster GA pace. Other than the left glut area still being tight, which I'm starting to think may be the sciatic nerve acting up, this was as close to a pain free run as I've had. I hardly felt the knee at all, and the foot hasn't really been an issue at all for a couple of weeks.
As long as everything continues to feel like this, I'll continue to up the weekly mileage. I'm still keeping the paces easy, but I am noticing that my easy/GA paces are starting to naturally pick up just a little.

We don't have to live up to the hype. That is why it's called hype. I do hear you of course. Our goals are much different right now! Let's just see you train cleanly and get to toe the line!

Just a quick update on what I thought earlier in the day may have been a
sciatic nerve issue. After seeing the PT, he told me that it's just a
mild Piriformis flare-up that should respond easily to a combination of
heat, ice, and stretching. Of all the issues I've been dealing, it looks like this one will be nothing more than a niggle.

Seth, I think you need a spa vacation. Or a Dead Sea soak. When's the last time you went to Israel?

Natalie Wolf wrote:Seth, I think you need a spa vacation. Or a Dead Sea soak. When's the last time you went to Israel?

+1

Glad to hear good news from the PT!

I hope you enjoy the PA Marathon and make your goal. It sounds like you keep getting stronger and faster every week! Great running!

Natalie Wolf wrote:Seth, I think you need a spa vacation. Or a Dead Sea soak. When's the last time you went to Israel?

Natalie, the last time I was in Israel was in 2006, and that was to cover a war...not the kind of vacation you were thinking off, huh?

A real vacation is way overdue. My wife and I were just talking about it at dinner tonight. We were hoping for at least a few days up in the Adirondacks this summer, but it looks like we'll be spending our vacation dollars on another (and I'm not complaining) trip down to Memphis to see our daughter, son-in-law and grandson. I LOVE going down there to see them, but it's not a "spa" type of vacation.

BTW-I'm not complaining about that trip to Israel either. I wouldn't have traded those few harrowing days of dodging Hezbollah missiles for anything.

Seth Harrison wrote:Just a quick update on what I thought earlier in the day may have been a
sciatic nerve issue. After seeing the PT, he told me that it's just a
mild Piriformis flare-up that should respond easily to a combination of
heat, ice, and stretching. Of all the issues I've been dealing, it looks like this one will be nothing more than a niggle.

I hope so, because mine turned from being a mild piriformis flare-up to knocking me on my butt! I found that the heat and stretching really help. Also I would get on the foam roller and put pressure on the trigger point on my piriformis and it really help it clear up. I wish I would have paid closer attention to it early on maybe then I won't have been out for 2 1/2 weeks. Take care of it Seth. What's going on you seem to be following my path of injuries and niggles of late. Stop it!!

Schuey wrote:

Seth Harrison wrote:Just a quick update on what I thought earlier in the day may have been a
sciatic nerve issue. After seeing the PT, he told me that it's just a
mild Piriformis flare-up that should respond easily to a combination of
heat, ice, and stretching. Of all the issues I've been dealing, it looks like this one will be nothing more than a niggle.

I hope so, because mine turned from being a mild piriformis flare-up to knocking me on my butt! I found that the heat and stretching really help. Also I would get on the foam roller and put pressure on the trigger point on my piriformis and it really help it clear up. I wish I would have paid closer attention to it early on maybe then I won't have been out for 2 1/2 weeks. Take care of it Seth. What's going on you seem to be following my path of injuries and niggles of late. Stop it!!

Now you've got me worried Schuey. I'm going upstairs right now, digging the foam roller out from under my bed, and getting started with it.

Six hilly easy/GA miles at the preserve (8:31 pace) I felt the periformis, but it didn't seem to affect the run. Took an ice bath afterward, then stretched it and foam rolled. For the first time in a while, the knee and foot weren't issues at all. Except for the periformis issue, which I don't think is going to get in the way, things may be coming together.

Seth Harrison wrote:Six hilly easy/GA miles at the preserve (8:31 pace) I felt the periformis, but it didn't seem to affect the run. Took an ice bath afterward, then stretched it and foam rolled. For the first time in a while, the knee and foot weren't issues at all. Except for the periformis issue, which I don't think is going to get in the way, things may be coming together.

Very nice. I'd suggest Ice bath then warm shower then foam roll then stretch. I was the warm after Ice bring blood back starting the healing process. Ice just takes away inflammation! Like you don't have enough to do already!

Kenny B. wrote:

Seth Harrison wrote:Six hilly easy/GA miles at the preserve (8:31 pace) I felt the periformis, but it didn't seem to affect the run. Took an ice bath afterward, then stretched it and foam rolled. For the first time in a while, the knee and foot weren't issues at all. Except for the periformis issue, which I don't think is going to get in the way, things may be coming together.

Very nice. I'd suggest Ice bath then warm shower then foam roll then stretch. I was the warm after Ice bring blood back starting the healing process. Ice just takes away inflammation! Like you don't have enough to do already!

That's exactly what I do. I drain the cold water out of the tub, and than take my warm shower. It does seem to be a good combination.

Seth Harrison wrote:Six hilly easy/GA miles at the preserve (8:31 pace) I felt the periformis, but it didn't seem to affect the run. Took an ice bath afterward, then stretched it and foam rolled. For the first time in a while, the knee and foot weren't issues at all. Except for the periformis issue, which I don't think is going to get in the way, things may be coming together.

First I didn't mean to worry you! Mine turned into a bigger issue because I didn't do anything to fix it in the earlier stages. The other is that I learned that what caused mine was a fatigued butt, from all the downhill running I was doing.

Also like you it really didn't bother me when I was running only before and afterwards. I don't think you have to worry about it Seth because you are on top of it taking care of it early and not being stupid like me were I didn't do anything about it early on. I was more worry about other niggles and working on them.

Yes I agree I think things are coming together for you very nicely! That is a good sign and I hope things keep on rolling along just fine for you. Great news about the knee and foot. I wonder if the knee issues caused the foot issues and when the foot started hurting it keep causing knee pain. It seems like once you have let this foot heal up everything is starting to click for you.

Schuey wrote:

Seth Harrison wrote:Six hilly easy/GA miles at the preserve (8:31 pace) I felt the periformis, but it didn't seem to affect the run. Took an ice bath afterward, then stretched it and foam rolled. For the first time in a while, the knee and foot weren't issues at all. Except for the periformis issue, which I don't think is going to get in the way, things may be coming together.

First I didn't mean to worry you! Mine turned into a bigger issue because I didn't do anything to fix it in the earlier stages. The other is that I learned that what caused mine was a fatigued butt, from all the downhill running I was doing.

Also like you it really didn't bother me when I was running only before and afterwards. I don't think you have to worry about it Seth because you are on top of it taking care of it early and not being stupid like me were I didn't do anything about it early on. I was more worry about other niggles and working on them.

Yes I agree I think things are coming together for you very nicely! That is a good sign and I hope things keep on rolling along just fine for you. Great news about the knee and foot. I wonder if the knee issues caused the foot issues and when the foot started hurting it keep causing knee pain. It seems like once you have let this foot heal up everything is starting to click for you.

Schuey, you're 100% right about the foot issue being caused by the knee. After my knee surgery last July and missing three months post-surgery, I started training for Boston with very little time to ease back into training. As a result, the foot stress fracture came about from too much training way too fast. It's definitely all connected.
What I'm doing now will amount to about two months of base building, with no concern for speed, before I have to start training for a late fall marathon. The hope, and so far is seems to be working out, is that this base building phase will allow for everything to settle down so that by the time I have to start marathon training, everything will be in good working order.

Good point that kenny made, one thing I do is foam roll before I stretch. Also I know the debate has been an on going thing but I think that ice is good when you have very early injury and it is causing swelling. the ice is good I feel at the point because it will stop the swelling from becoming any worse. For example most people don't realize if you sprain your ankle the best thing to do is leave your shoe on and put it and the foot into a bucket of ice water. Why? Because as soon as you take that shoe off more swelling will happen by leaving the shoe on it helps restrict the swelling and when you put it in the ice it then slows the blood flow and allows for the swelling to stop.

Ok back to what I was going to say but once you get past the early swelling phase, I a big fan of warm epsom salt baths and heat pads. Heat helps allow for more blood flow and it is blood that helps allow injuries to heal. Now I know I'm not an expert but every since I have turned my focus on increasing blood flow for niggles and injuries I have healed much quicker. Whether it is taking warm baths, ultrasound, electric stim, using the stick or foam rolling all these things help aid in increasing blood flow to the muscles and other parts of the body.

Schuey wrote:Good point that kenny made, one thing I do is foam roll before I stretch. Also I know the debate has been an on going thing but I think that ice is good when you have very early injury and it is causing swelling. the ice is good I feel at the point because it will stop the swelling from becoming any worse. For example most people don't realize if you sprain your ankle the best thing to do is leave your shoe on and put it and the foot into a bucket of ice water. Why? Because as soon as you take that shoe off more swelling will happen by leaving the shoe on it helps restrict the swelling and when you put it in the ice it then slows the blood flow and allows for the swelling to stop.

Ok back to what I was going to say but once you get past the early swelling phase, I a big fan of warm epsom salt baths and heat pads. Heat helps allow for more blood flow and it is blood that helps allow injuries to heal. Now I know I'm not an expert but every since I have turned my focus on increasing blood flow for niggles and injuries I have healed much quicker. Whether it is taking warm baths, ultrasound, electric stim, using the stick or foam rolling all these things help aid in increasing blood flow to the muscles and other parts of the body.

We're all on the same page Schuey. What I left out is that before my run, I used a heating pad for about 20 minutes to warm it up. I do that most mornings. I think I'm doing just about everything I'm supposed to be doing to manage this. Judging by how it feels right now (about an hour after the run) I'm probably doing all the right things.