Wednesday, January 16, 2008

End of an era?

I can't tell if this fits any of the standard categories for a post, but here we go anyways... I'm starting to think my running career may be coming to an end (in terms of racing at least). I had been toying with the idea of passing the next couple months by training for the New Bedford 1/2 with a goal of racing it well (somewhere in the 1:20 to 1:25 range). I know I could go out today and cover the distance so the challenge would be to get enough running legs back to race it. Unfortunately, as with every time I've increased my running volume in the last year or two, my right shin is getting tender again. In college I had a stress fracture from over training and it seems now that every time I try to ramp it up again, I have problems in the same area. I recently got some insole things (sort of poor man's orthotics) from the podiatrist and they've helped some, but the problems are still creeping back in. Now I'm sure this is something I could work out with a few doctors visits and a careful training plan, but I'm probably unlikely to be doing enough running/racing to set up the 3 month plan to get to the point where I can just train regularly. So maybe I'm fully converted... who knows. Running is so ingrained in me at this point that it will never go away, but the glory days of racing may be fading...

Not much else to report. Bikes are in various states of repair as I pick at winter maintenance. Basement project still isn't 100% done thanks to a delivery delay by Home Depot and a lack of time for us to move all the toys down there and figure out what to do with the extra couch. Classes start up again next week so I better get my butt in gear or it will be summer and not much more will be done.

10 comments:

gewilli said...

different shoes maybe...

ya got old - body changed - maybe it is time to look at a different shoe that helps?

although... with your freak size feet you might not have the options someone with tiny size 13s would.

trackrich said...

I wear 13's. I messed around with different shoes for a long time and keep settling back on the same ones. I've never been good at training logs or anything so I can't map back to what I was wearing when I did the 50-miler which is really the last time I felt good running for a long stretch. Maybe there's a connection there to the breakdown in my body...

Moveitfred said...

Running is so 07.

For 08: Bouldering.

NE rocks, so to speak. Dude, with your freakish proportions there's no need for ropes.

gewilli said...

Bouldering was so late 1980s

at least that's when i got that sh!t out of my system

solobreak said...

It could be a #2...

It sounds like you are afflicted with a common problem known in some circles as aging athlete syndrome. This is a vast and complex subject, but the executive summary is that if you expect to continue to perform athletically as you age, then you need to take better care of your body than you ever did before. Smart, high-efficiency training requires smart, high-efficiency muscle and skeleton care to go with it. Big time. Training methods have come a long way in the past few decades, even if some of the old rules still apply. Body care has come even further. There is plenty of conflicting/confusing/just-plain-bad information available on this subject too, but my three cents is an effective therapy program is worth a dozen crappy coaches (show me a college coach who has not managed to injure a bunch of their athletes).

Moveitfred said...

Are you disrespecting the late 80's?

trackrich said...

I think the running thing is going to come down to priorities for me. I can run 2 days a week, stay in above average running shape, and likely not have any ailments. Since I have thousands of dollars in bike stuff in my house, this is probably the plan.

My alternate would be to work out the shit with my aging body and set aside 4 months a year where I focus on running under a new set of rules (comparable to when I was 20). IMHO, 4 months is about enough time to focus on one race and I just don't know if that's worth it. Unfortunately it's sort of a been there done that thing for me... I need to set big goals for running in order get the same sense of accomplishment and those aren't goals you can pull off in 4 months. I can acheive the smaller goals on 2 days a week and know that it's a get-what-you-pay-for type of thing...

GCDavid said...

Aging body? are you f'ing kidding me? You're speaking like you're old or something.

I would take Gewilli's and Solo's advice. Go to a running store, talk to people who know, get some massage therapy.

One thing to watch out for is running with the same camber of road. That can be a killer. If one leg is always down-slope, that can cause problems. Also, if possible, switch up services. This is where a treadmill can be handy.

trackrich said...

OK ok... so maybe I was being a little overly dramatic... but the fact remains that New Bedford is almost definitely out. I haven't even started long runs yet and it would probably be a couple weeks or more at this point that I could get into that with the shin thing back, so no dice.

I'm definitely guilty of thinking I know everything because I've been doing it for so long so I don't go for advice. Maybe this is why I don't have a coach... then again it could be that I have to pay for my kids to go to school instead...

solobreak said...

I hate road camber. In races you'll almost always find me running on the double yellow line. In training, on dirt roads.

GCD is correct Rich. I thought I was getting old ten years ago too. I've learned the causes of the aches and pains are not always what they seem, and stretching/kneading/strengthening are much more effective than rest and Vitamin I. You'll be amazed how much more effectively (not just more) you can train if you start to really take care of your body. Take the time to do it right. I'm sure your wife won't mind picking up the slack.