Ready for a Marathon

[tommy]

My 20 mile run today was a smashing success! I'm scheduling myself for a 26.2 run the Saturday of Memorial weekend - in 3 weeks. I found a little-known marathon a few hours away. If I can work out the logistics, I'll do it. Otherwise, I'll chart a course through the neighborhoods.

My plan is to take some time off during the hot summer, and then gear up for the Dallas White Rock marathon in December. But I want to cash in on the accumulated hard work (and fun) with a marathon of some sort or another now. I know I'll get a faster time and it would be more gratifying (a medal too) to run a real one, but I'll take whatever I can get.

My knees are perfect. The new running shoes, and a slight modifcation to my stride did the trick. My ankles are better. I believed (and hoped) that the joint pain was limiting me - that if I soothed the joints, my muscles could be better tested and deliver faster times. This was my longest test and critical for a marathon try. Boy howdy, it worked! My 20 mile time was 3:30:31 (10:31 pace), under my goal for the day (11:00 pace) and well under my previous best (11:55 pace) just 7 weeks ago. I'm a very "happy camper".

For the next three weeks, I'll taper off the miles and play some golf. I played a charity golf tournament for our church's mission programs yesterday, so in order to "squeeze" in the 20 miler, and be to church on time, I had to start running before 4AM. Also, my foursome shot 4 under par with no bogeys. Life is good. Praise the Lord!

My unending thanks to my VR.com family. Those that encourage. Those that set an example of what can be done. Those that provide sound counsel. You have all been a part of my running, and will continue to be.

Oh yeah, and I got into New Mexico today as I reached 500 miles! Yippee!

 

[Raverlaw]

Tom,

You are my idol!

I may have missed the story about your new shoes. When did you get them, and how did you get them fitted? I can already tell that the new cross-training shoes I've been wearing since a few weeks after the surgery won't do for any kind of serious running. I'd like to work up to a 5K that's held annually here at the end of the summer. Mark's link to training plans was great, and the site has lots of other resources as well. But I need to know how to go about getting shoes that fit me as well as the way that I run.

 

[Les]

Bill,
Go to roadrunnersports .com and click on Men's running shoes. Click on the "Shoe Dog" and you can enter all information about your arches, pronation, etc. and it will give you a selection of types that would best suit you and your current running style. Best of luck with your program! "Keep running, there's still road left."

 

[tommy]

Bill,

Good quality running shoes and socks are a "must". Roadrunner is an excellent place for selecting shoes.

My knees and ankles were getting real sore at about 16-18 miles. I needed some personal advice, so I went to a running store to consult with an experienced runner (Eric) that sells shoes. I brought my old shoes with me. He examined the shoes and watched me jog across the room. We chatted about what I was experiencing before he brought out several choices. From his selections, I went with the best fit.

My first pair of shoes had broken down and were not supporting me. The writings tell you that shoes last 400-500 miles. Eric pointed out that for people our size (200 lbs), they last more like 300-350 miles. Bingo, I was close to 400. It also became clear from the wear pattern on the soles, that my ankles were twisting as I came down. So, while I thought that I needed more cushion, what I really needed was more support to keep my ankles from twisting. I'm also working on my stride to keep feet, ankles and knees in line to avoid the twist.

I think that I paid about $15 premium over the internet price, but it was well worth it.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mary]

Bill and Tom

Bill and Tom

Bill,
Roadrunners catalog will tell you to take the test to see what type of food stride you have--take it! It's no more than getting your foot wet, putting it on a dry pavement to see the shape, and then following the guidelines.
I've learned walking away from the pool each morning, that every individual does have greatly different prints; as evidenced by the shapes left on the deck.
When our son started running 10 years ago, the coach said get good shoes and keep changing them out. With five kids, it wasn't easy to keep not only him but his brothers who also ran, in good running shoes, but it paid off. Very few injuries over the years, and his running paid for almost all his college education at a private school.
We still order from Road Runners 4/5 times a year, and my husband even buys his shoes through them.

Tom, I think you're doing the right thing trying to not run during the hottest portion of the summer. Guess you'll be in the pool like me, huh?

Mary

 

[Raverlaw]

Les,

How do I know how much (if any) pronation I have?

Mary,

What do I look for in the footprint test?

I know that my dress shoes wear out on the insides of the heels first, which makes me think that my walking stride, at least, isn't perfectly level.

Thanks for the links, I will check out the information. I may just go to one of the better sporting goods stores and see if there's someone there that knows how to test my stride. I don't have a pair of worn out running shoes to look at yet....

 

[Les]

You can see if you over or under pronate by looking at the soles and heels of your street shoes. For example, over pronation is when your foot rolls inward when making contact, which puts strain on the knees and hips. You will tend to wear the inside of the sole out as well as the outside back of the heel, if you're a heel striker, which most people are. I tear the heck out of heels and wear "anti-roll" shoes. I also toss the liners that come with the shoes and put in a good cusioned, support insole. Hope this helps...

 

[Raverlaw]

Les,
Thanks. The Shoe Dog answered most of my questions. Now to try on some shoes!

 

[Mary]

Bill, your footprint

Bill, your footprint

Hey Bill!
When you look at the wet footprint, you can tell immediately. I'll look at my catalog at home and see what page shows it. It might even be on their website. Try Roadrunners.com and look there. (I'll look too, in case you don't!)
Mary

 

[Mary]

Bill,
It's not on the website, so let me look at my catalog at home. I'll email you a personal message when I get it.
Mary

 

[tommy]

Arch Type

Arch Type

Mary,

Is this what you are talking about? Look on the right side about half way down.

http://www.lukeslocker.com/products/evaluator/default.asp

 

[Mary]

You're right on it, Tom!

You're right on it, Tom!

Yep,
That's it Tom. I don't know if you've ever really looked at footprints, but it is amazing how different each one is due to the arch variation. I emailed Bill and told him to figure out his body build too, because they sell the running
shoes according to that also.
By the way, my cousin doesn't work for a heart valve manufacturer. He works for a hip replacement outfit in Austin. Oh well, you know heart and hip begin with the same letter, so I was confused!
Mary

 

[Raverlaw]

Tom, Mary and Les-

Thanks! I love this forum!

 

[Mara]

Hey, you all, be careful

Hey, you all, be careful

Three participants in the Indy 500 Mini-marathon suffered cardiac arrest this past Saturday. One man died. He was 33, a marathon veteran with a diagnosed, but ignored, aortic valve problem. They say his valve went out and his heart just decompressed. He was not revived despite collapsing in front of the advanced life support van. He was on mile 9.

Please be careful. stay hydrated and stop is you must. It's better to be a live than get a finish time!
-Mara

 

[tommy]

Mara,

Thanks for the warning here and in "small talk". I responded in "small talk". Here's more:

You're right, we need to be careful. I've seen hydration goal is to lose less than 2% body wieght during a run. Sunday morning I drank a gallon of water and weighed the same at the beginning and end (20 miles). That's a lot of water. Too much water isn't good either. Waiting until you are thirsty is too late.

Thanks again.

 

[Mara]

Tom, I replied under small talk.

Hydration is so key to all sports.

I play soccer in two leagues and always bring extra water and gatorade to the games because I know someone will not bring enough to drink.

Good luck with your race.

p.s. how come joggers are never smiling when I see them running?

 

[tommy]

Mara,

One of my excuses for being a couch potato was that I "never saw smiling jogger". We smile on the inside , and sometimes on the outside.

 

[Mark Wagner]

Hi Tom,
Congratulations on your awesome time and just your progress in general! Your an inspiration to all others, and I am sure not just here, but in your church and community as well. Let us know if you decide to run that marathon in a few weeks. You 'ROCK' buddy! In a few weeks and or White Rock, we will all be pulling for you.

Mark

 

[Mark Wagner]

One more thing Tom ...

One more thing Tom ...

The map will run you back the way you came once you reach NYC. I have just left New York at 2,382 miles, and have now re-entered New Jersey. I guess I will meet you some where on the way back. Just have a cold drink handy! Maybe Granbonny's Southern 'belle' cheerleaders can cheer us on. !!!