Last Chance for Boston Marathon

Location:
Dublin, Ohio Clarion Hotel

Start Time:
8:00 AM.

See the link for information about the race

Ran a 5K distance this morning and what a great feeling it was. There was definitely some soreness as I started but as I got into it, how great it felt. It was slow but I don’t care about that. I’ll run as slow as I have to so that I can avoid surgery.

Flying pig here I come!

I ran this week. I was petrified about running. Not so much of running but of the potential pain that would accompany it. I started slowly on a treadmill. Almost too slow. It seemed the slower I went the more I bounced, which caused shots of pain down my shoulder and arm. As I picked up speed though the pain subsided. I finally made it to a comfortable 11 minute pace for 15 minutes and then slowed down again.

Later on after the run I was talking to a running coach about it and he pointed out something that runners have a tendency to overlook. If it hurts your body is trying to tell you something and if you don’t listen you’ll regret it later. How true that is. We’ve all heard it and all think we adhere to it, but do we? Do we still suffer injuries because we don’t listen to the promptings our body tries to communicate? I do.

This week I’ll go a normal running schedule - 4 miles, 3 miles, 4 miles and then 8 on Saturday. See how I do physically. Granted it will be slow, but it’s better that way anyways.

Recently one of my co-workers and I were talking about an article that I read in Running Times. I thoroughly enjoy reading about some of the great experiences people enjoy around the world running whereever they may be.

My co-worker, a former cross country runner for The Ohio State University cross country team. declared “I think that you read about running more than you actually run.”

My thought, well yeah. I just damaged a disc in my lower neck/upper back. But that comment has caused me a lot of thought. How much do I read about running? As I look about my pile of magazines I realized I read ALOT about running. I get Running Times, Triathlete Magazine, Trail Runner, and of course Runners World.

I categorize them like this Running Times is about the human side of running. They do a great job of providing CONTENT. Great stories. Good information for every level of runner.

Triathlete Magazine is probably the most technical magazine out there. I love this magazine. The greatest thing this magazine provides is great advice on technique. I’m not a triathlete (yet) but in a triathlon it’s all about endurance and efficiency. That’s not something that you read in any other magazine. How to maxamize your bodies effort. I look at the other articles, but I only care about the running ones and they are great.

The newest and most different magazine I picked up is Trail Runner. I like this magazine for it’s stories and that it shows a challenging alternative to the running that most people think about. It shows the clear advantage of running off the paved path and just how could it could be. It’s well written, enjoyable to read and good info.

The standby of course is Runners World. It’s a good magazine that has decent articles with a wide range of info. But it’s probably my least favorite magazine. I think because it’s geared for people to scan and not to read. The information always seems good, but never really complete. I still read it, but not cover to cover like the above three.

So why do I read so much? Because it inspires me. I helps me to see that anyone can do what so many people do. It helps me to get through the rough spots. It reminds me of my own personal goals and my drive to run and eventually complete a triathlon. So I’m going to read on and run on.

Around 3 weeks ago, I was laid up wondering when I would have surgery to repair a bulged disc in my lower neck. I thought my chances for running the rest of the year were completely gone. I was going to turn into a fat jelly like individual that could only look at all the happy runners outside.

NOT SO! With the help of great physical therapy I am once again in the hunt for finishing The Flying Pig. The physical therapy has been the key to getting back onto my feet. Literally. Exercises, a little traction, and education about general posture for different scenarios. The hard part is really the posture, but the more you do it, the easier it gets.

I would say that anyone that is suffering from any repetitive or frequent type of pain should see an orthopedic doctor. If nothing else to just get a prescription for even a little physical therapy. If I hadn’t gone to an orthopedic as soon as I did I could have seriously damaged my spine causing long term effects. It turns out that not only was the disc bulging the two vertebrae had developed bone spurs that were actually holding the disc out maintaining the pressure. Did I know this? No. It was diagnosed originally as a problem with the arm/shoulder. How fortunate I think.

So don’t be stubborn. It doesn’t hurt to be safe.