Running Disney

[nkw102]

Goindowntofla - I've been told twice in the last 10 years by doctors to give up running - the injury is not related to my knees, it's actually my hip/upper leg area thing related to a slipped disc. Anyway sometimes you just have to find a doctor who understands runners better and is willing to work with you to find a manageable solution that won't damage your body.
Also changing the surface you are running on might help. I really hurt my knees running on tank trails (which is super reinforced concrete) a long time ago so I switched to sand for awhile which didn't give me any knee problems. I see you are in NC, so if you live close to the coast sand feels great on the knees, but you'll find yourself running really slow. The treadmill might also help as it absorbs more of the impact.
Hope you find a solution!

[goindowntofla]

Thanks everyone, so much! I am not near the beach, but I run on an old railroad bed turned trail, it is a sandy dirt. So, I think my surface is great - I think.

I have been increasing mileage over time - safely, it seems, acc. to various programs I see. Had a bit of aching here and there. Nothing that seemed too much - icing and stretching always helped. (Tho I could stretch more faithfully) And I considered it all routine. If it aches a bit as I run, I shake it out and try to loosen up bc I kinda tighten as I run, so I have to remind myself to loosen it - and that works.

Interesting about 6 miles bc most of the HM training programs I see give you a break after ramping up to 6 miles, before going to 7. So, it seems to be a key mileage for potential injury. ? I got to 6 and ended up doing 3 a couple days later and couldn't then run for a week (just scheduling issues). Kinda wondering if STOPPING is my problem. Does anyone have aches when they lay off the running?

Anywya, I wrench my knee at home (unrelated to running) real bad. 1 week after that 3 miler - couldn't sleep 2 nights, round the clock icing and advil - not good. So, I go to the doc - x-rays, etc. and he says not a bone issue and maybe I'm just not cut out for running.

He knows the "wrenching" wasn't running, but that I'm on this running program. He said if I love it he won't take it away, but 2/3 miles max. And I'm thinking, "but, isn't this kinda normal for runners?" Just not sure how to take it all. Thanks so much for you input!! Amy

[nono]

Thanks everyone, so much! I am not near the beach, but I run on an old railroad bed turned trail, it is a sandy dirt. So, I think my surface is great - I think.

I have been increasing mileage over time - safely, it seems, acc. to various programs I see. Had a bit of aching here and there. Nothing that seemed too much - icing and stretching always helped. (Tho I could stretch more faithfully) And I considered it all routine. If it aches a bit as I run, I shake it out and try to loosen up bc I kinda tighten as I run, so I have to remind myself to loosen it - and that works.

Interesting about 6 miles bc most of the HM training programs I see give you a break after ramping up to 6 miles, before going to 7. So, it seems to be a key mileage for potential injury. ? I got to 6 and ended up doing 3 a couple days later and couldn't then run for a week (just scheduling issues). Kinda wondering if STOPPING is my problem. Does anyone have aches when they lay off the running?

Anywya, I wrench my knee at home (unrelated to running) real bad. 1 week after that 3 miler - couldn't sleep 2 nights, round the clock icing and advil - not good. So, I go to the doc - x-rays, etc. and he says not a bone issue and maybe I'm just not cut out for running.

He knows the "wrenching" wasn't running, but that I'm on this running program. He said if I love it he won't take it away, but 2/3 miles max. And I'm thinking, "but, isn't this kinda normal for runners?" Just not sure how to take it all. Thanks so much for you input!! Amy

My 2 cents:

Yes, my knees have been killing me on my 4 month layoff.

You have an injury unrelated to running. As much as it might drive you nuts, I'd consider giving yourself time to heal and then get back on the trail.

[nono]

I am pleased to announce that I am finished one of the aforementioned 17 owned and partially read books on my summer reading list.


In case anyone is wondering how on Earth I had 17 going at 1x, 2 are audiobooks, and 15 are digital or traditional books. I have a bad habit when making a purchase to read the Preface and Introduction of the book, even if I have other books going. Sometimes I go so far as the end of Ch. 1. Hence it slows down those already in progress as I only have so much time to devote to reading, and then the new ones are now "partially" read.

I'm going to be hell in the Nursing Home....

[cloudnut220]

CN, are you off yet after your great weekend performance????!!!!! Oh, and I buried a question to you upthread about coconut flour. Any experience in baking with it?

THX

crashed back to the ground with the start of another (busy) week.

I've never baked with coconut flour...but it sounds interesting!

[cloudnut220]

Thanks everyone, so much! I am not near the beach, but I run on an old railroad bed turned trail, it is a sandy dirt. So, I think my surface is great - I think.

I have been increasing mileage over time - safely, it seems, acc. to various programs I see. Had a bit of aching here and there. Nothing that seemed too much - icing and stretching always helped. (Tho I could stretch more faithfully) And I considered it all routine. If it aches a bit as I run, I shake it out and try to loosen up bc I kinda tighten as I run, so I have to remind myself to loosen it - and that works.

Interesting about 6 miles bc most of the HM training programs I see give you a break after ramping up to 6 miles, before going to 7. So, it seems to be a key mileage for potential injury. ? I got to 6 and ended up doing 3 a couple days later and couldn't then run for a week (just scheduling issues). Kinda wondering if STOPPING is my problem. Does anyone have aches when they lay off the running?

Anywya, I wrench my knee at home (unrelated to running) real bad. 1 week after that 3 miler - couldn't sleep 2 nights, round the clock icing and advil - not good. So, I go to the doc - x-rays, etc. and he says not a bone issue and maybe I'm just not cut out for running.

He knows the "wrenching" wasn't running, but that I'm on this running program. He said if I love it he won't take it away, but 2/3 miles max. And I'm thinking, "but, isn't this kinda normal for runners?" Just not sure how to take it all. Thanks so much for you input!! Amy

I have all sorts of weird pain when I take a layoff. I think its because my muscles actually stay loose when I excercise and tighten up when I take time off!

As for the break after 6 miles, most training plans have a series of "build" weeks where your mileage increases before giving you a "recovery" week where your mileage cuts back to give your body a rest. Even world class athletes take recovery weeks where they run lower mileage to give themselves a break.

I think you need to find a doctor that understands how important this is to you. As nono says, if you do have a non-running related injury, you may have to take some time off to heal. But after that, there should be a way to manage your knee pain with either PT to strenghthen, stretching, rolling, etc. For me foam rolling was the magic pill to keep me from too much pain. But different people have different luck with different things.

[cyl-e]

I'm going to be hell in the Nursing Home....

I'm guessing that will be true for more reasons than just the books... Just kidding!
I have this guilt thing with books - I feel obligated to finish them before I move on. 80 pages left in the Inca book.

Maturod1 - so excited for Sunday and to meet you. I will be in my maroon-ish peacock shirt (I think you saw the picture of me and DH after Expedition Everest - it's that same shirt). I saw a picture of you from Mar's post about Lou's gathering. I think we will get there relatively early (my in-laws are in town and coming to watch and they are slow walkers and don't walk very far distances - so we want to park close and have plenty of time). What time do you want to try and meet?

goindowntofla - it's hard to know exactly how your knee is injured. I agree with what nono said about resting. If you were getting knee discomfort while running - there are several different things that could help (depending on what it is) - foam rollers are helpful, especially for IT band issues (that often cause knee pain), strengthening your hamstrings/butt can be helpful (as they are often weaker than your quads which causes knee tracking issues), compression tights (CWX) or KT tape can also help provide support to stabilize the knee, new shoes (if you have too many miles on your current ones, it could just be a need for new shoes or maybe you need the right shoes), running form (more mid or fore-foot landing rather than heel). So there's lots of things to try - it helps to get some better idea of what's causing the trouble (where the pain is - inside/outside, underneath knee, what it feels like, etc.). Start with the easier things and see if they help.

But if it is a non-running injury - (and not a use injury) then you should heal it first as nono says

[goindowntofla]

Wow - what great advice. This is really helping me a lot - and encouraging me to try again once I am sufficiently rested.

Just curious - kind of a poll - how often do you guys have knee pain? Is it daily, weekly, monthly? I know there can be seasons of injury, but how "normal" do you consider these aches and pains as runner? I don't want to overreact when I go back to running, what is normal? What does it take to say to yourself that something has to be "done"/altered/changed? And you take action?

[goindowntofla]

My 2 cents:

Yes, my knees have been killing me on my 4 month layoff.

You have an injury unrelated to running. As much as it might drive you nuts, I'd consider giving yourself time to heal and then get back on the trail.

Were your knees a problem before the layoff? How are you dealing with this pain now and what is it like - if you don't mind my asking...

[cloudnut220]

Wow - what great advice. This is really helping me a lot - and encouraging me to try again once I am sufficiently rested.

Just curious - kind of a poll - how often do you guys have knee pain? Is it daily, weekly, monthly? I know there can be seasons of injury, but how "normal" do you consider these aches and pains as runner? I don't want to overreact when I go back to running, what is normal? What does it take to say to yourself that something has to be "done"/altered/changed? And you take action?

I don't often have knee pain, it's only a sometimes thing. Someone on here told me, when I first started, that normally with running, you'll always have something that hurts a bit. I've found that to be true--so I pay the most attention to sharp sudden pains, or things that seem to be getting worse over time. You said you tweaked your knee, so for me that would fall in the sharp sudden category.

Trying to figure out a running strategy for this weekend. It's the triple crown--three races, three towns, three days--but I'm not sure that's a good idea. I am thinking maybe I'll do two of them, and take them slow and add miles. I definitely have to do the race on Sunday, since I need it for the Championship series. Next weekend is Jungle Jims!