Wanted: Stretching help

So I have to admit that back in my foolish youth, having previously run a couple marathons, numerous road races and having done probably close to 100 triathlons; all without a combined 5 total minutes of stretching.

That being said I am now knocking on the door to turning 49, cominh back from numerous life and health issues and started running again.

Problem is I am so damn tight I think that stretching would DEFINITELY help but I dont really know any good ones. Any one have any links or tips they can share with me?

Many thanks,

Be well

Sank

Resolution?

No not a New Year's Resolution, cause God knows that by February 23rd that would have been long broken for most of us.  But hopefully a resolution about my neck.

Went to the NeuroSurgeon today (Dr Simcha Weller) and it looks like we (we - yeah like someone else is going with me) under the knife in a few weeks.  Woke up early this morning to get into Boston for a 7:30am MRI at New England Medical Center.  Then across the street to Dr Weller's office for him to look at it and to discuss the options.  It's been well over 8 years of the varying levels of discomfort and 4 years of seeing Dr. Weller. 

Today's MRI showed the same two disc issues (C5-C6 & C6-C7) coupled with bone spurs around them.

~ Option 1 - eat Ibuporfin like Skittles (click for one of my favorite commercial's EVER)!

~ Option 2 - the fusion surgery.(not posting the surgery link again)

Now I am in no way excited about going under the knife for any reason, but I can't deal with this crap anymore.  The migraines, the vertigo, the numbness in the left arm, left ring and pinky fingers, the lack of movement in my neck and shoulder..... should I continue?

I am supposed to hear from the doctor's office anytime between now and Thursday with some dates, but it is looking like 2 or 3 weeks out.  He then said post-surgery that I can resume "normal" activities in 6 or 7 weeks.  That means I could potentially be on the trails sometime around May 10th.  That would be sweet!

As usual: Be Well - and please DONT take things for granted.

Sank

Pain in the neck....literally

Well not a lot has happened on the roads or trails lately that's for sure.  Yeah the weather has hindered it a bit, daylight savings, blah blah blah, excuse, excuse, excuse.  But the one thing that isn't going away is the pain and hinderance being caused by my neck.  The two herniations (C5-C6 and C6-C7) are really hindering most things.  The arms go numb or tingle or fall asleep, the migraines, the lack of movement, the pain sitting, the pain in driving, etc...  I have been dealing with this for about 7 years or so.  And for the most part it comes and goes in severity but never completely.
I was living with it for the most part, but I fell (click for blog entry) back on December 7th, and it has been killing me ever since.
Tried a bunch of stuff and just last week, Dr Higgins threw me on my second steriod treatment (I guess I wont be going into the Baseball Hall of Fame along with Mark McGuire anytime soon).  But with the exception of a slight amount of extended movement for a day or so, they really dont do anything.
So back to the NeuroSurgeon I go on February 23rd to discuss the fusion surgury. 
I watched a video, an actual video of the surgery, on YouTube.   Now with all the stuff I have had done, including the 3 heart procedures and having to give myself blood thinner shots in my stomach, I just cant watch medical stuff.  God bless Nancy, who works in the dental field, she tries to tell me what she does some days and I am such a wimp and cant deal with it.  Anyway, I tried to watch this surgery video - not the best idea.  Click here if YOU want to watch it cause I aint  :)  LOL
But I have to do something.
Be well - dont take what you have for granted.
Sank

YakTrax Pro Giveway Winners!

YakTrax Pro Giveway Winners!
Sweet! I found out today that I actually won this from the IRunFar blogsite.
A big thanks to Bryon for doing this and congrats to the other 4 winners!
If you haven't gone there you should really check it out.  Bryon as well as alot of great other blog links are listed on the left hand column.

On a injury note, the Dr confirmed my fears in that I reinjured my neck.  On a steriod pack treatment for 6 days (seems to have helped the inflammation but still sore).  Going to play this out and see what happens by this time next week. 

Is it time?

Woke up this morning to the right hamstring not happy (see notes from yesterday's post).  I have to say that I am extremely discouraged at the continual new aches and pains that I have been experiencing this time around.  I mean come on, I know I am not getting any younger but the aches are constant, seem to move around from issue to issue, and I am starting to think that they are affecting my gait which is causing new ones.  Is it time to quit? 
I am going to go to Marathon Sports in Boston on Friday and have them do a Fit Right test on me.  They have you run on a treadmill and look at your how you run, if you pronate or not, your arches, etc... and then suggest the proper shoe for you.  After that I will give it a few weeks with the new shoes and see what happens from there. 
Perhaps massage or yoga or something else.  Anyone have any suggestions?
It's just really getting frustrating at this point.  I know, I know; it could always be worse, but enough is enough already.
Funny how this damn sport can take you from the high of reaching your goal (100 mile month goal for October), to the lows of 4 days later, ready to throw in the towel.
Well thanks for listening to me whine, Be well - Sank

Back

Seems like forever (well actually just a week) since I posted.  Tons of refereeing this weekend and the herniated discs sparked back up the migraines.   That coupled with the fact that eating whatever and as much as I felt like and a way to many beers, so kind of a lost couple of days and feeling pretty crappy.
Oh well poor me - I really need to get going on the roads.  I still have an outside shot at hitting my first 100 mile month (in about 15 years), which I am really going to try to do, but I just wish I could get out there consistently and feel good.  Not just mentally but a good stride, pace, breathing; without having to think about what I am doing.
My goal a little while ago was to:
1. get the little nagging legs issues under control (which thankfully I seem to have), and
2. stay on the roads only to try to get some consistency
But I just cant seem to get that flow going while running.  Oh well, just need to keep sticking to it, and stop whining about it I guess. 
My replacement Garmin 405 shows up today, so at least I will have a new toy to go out with me while I figure it out.  :)

Thanks all - if any New Englanders are out there that know of any good running clubs that do a fair amount of Trail Running - PLEASE comment me their information.

Take care, be well - Sank

On the Road again and I added a Beer of the Week section

Wow what an absolutely crazy 4 days.  Friday involved picking the rosters for 4 youth basketball teams, one being my daughter Hannah's.  Saturday and Sunday was refereeing and more refereeing.  I looked on line to see what the average distance coverered when refereeing a high school game and it said between 3 and 5.  Well I couldnt really see that so I put it in at 2 miles per game and 2.5 for this one beast of a game.  I say beast only in that these were two of the best 17 year old teams in the New England and my partner and I ran our asses off.  Fun game to do though, lots of action above the rim.  Now generally before I started up running a month or so ago, the next day I would be doing my best Walter Brennan imitation limping around the house but I have to say that both Sunday and today I felt pretty damn good.
So tonite I get home a bit late and after doing all the games I decide that I will do a short 2.3 miles.  I was little concerned as I had tightened up a bit as the day progressed sitting in the office chair for a large part of the day, coupled with almost a 90 minute extended ride home but I went out regardless.  As I started the back of my legs were keeping me in check, but as I finished the later part come over a small hill I was pretty happy with my run.  8.25 pace and I thought after last week's run that it was going to be closer to 8.  I guess I have to think that the 7.49 pace was an error somewhere either distance or the watch.  Oh well it gives me something to shoot for, breaking 8 again.
Ok now to the libation part of the blog.  I finally added a Beer of the Week section to the left, along with a past winners section.  Just a place to show what I am drinking at the moment, a different beer related type of post or just a beer that I tried and liked enough to take the time to add it.  If you have one that you particularly like, please send it on over and I will happily try it out.
Be well all - Sank

VO2 and anchovies

I was entering my training run on Running ahead and I noticed when I enter the time as well that it comes up with my VO2 Max for that particular run. Well it has been a very long time since I was a true running junkie (geek story to follow) and I had forgotten all about VO2 and latic acid, blah blah blah. So I hit google and it comes up with many a thousand hits, and off I go. Seems that for my age and training level that it is actually not to bad for right now.


I am actually pretty happy with this week. Started out poorly (well if taking a few days off to take care of a screaming IT problem is consider being poor) but with resting for a few days and tonite's crazy schedule is going to make getting out fairly difficult. But now with two runs both right in the low 8:20's pace, my feeling is that this is a very strong indicator for me that my footwork is improving. Am planning on getting in some LSD's this weekend, and maybe a Fartlek here and there. Have to watch that knee, but hopefully I am on the mend.  But back to the VO2 part, that my numbers seem to be going up as my times are going down.  Just another thing to play around with. 

Now for my geek running junkie addict quick story: Many a moon ago when "Boston" Bill Rodgers was dominating the marathon scene, I was grabbing every publication and newspaper that I could get my hands on about Bill, the Boston Marathon, Nutrition, what have you. Well I read one day that Bill's favorite pizza was anchovies and green peppers. I can tell you that the local House of Pizza wasn't quite ready for the near-daily orders of A&GP pizzas. Didn't help my running much, but they were pretty damn tasty.

Happy training all and as always, Be well - Sank

Happy Fall Everyone! (plus training update)

Well Summer is over, and the sound of the birds chirping as you run down the trails will be replaced by the crunching and rustling of the colorful autumnal leaves on the ground. 

Well I have officially given up on my 100 mile month goal for September but rather to build up my knee so that I can survive the winter and my goal of Boston in 2010. 

On another goal setting front, Nanc has announced her goal of running the Timberman Sprint Triathlon in 2010, so who knows maybe I will jump back into doing a few Tri's again.  She has always wanted to do one, am I am very proud of her for picking one.  Which as you know, picking the race is the first and biggest step.  Well heading out to run in the sleet and cold of a New England winter maybe the biggest step, but you know what I mean.

Well can't wait to lace them up this aft/evening.  Be well - Sank

                                                                                                                                                               
Amended 7:08pm EST - Just got back from running one of my beginning routes.  I decided to do this loop (albeit less than 3 miles) as I have had some luck with the knee the last few days with the PT exercises and my right ankle was fairly happy from the 2 days rest.  Besides that, I had gotten home late and had to take my son, Kevin, to swim practice and only had a few extra minutes or I was either going to have to skip it or run in the dark (not fun since we live on a fairly busy road).  Wow talk about making a short story long. 

So I lace up and off I go on the Tremont Street loop.  And surprisingly I felt great so I decided to just go with it.  It was just one of those nights when things came together and I actually average 8:22/mile WITH stopping twice to tie my shoes.  I am very psyched!

Good night all & 'til then, be well - Sank

Back in the Saddle

Well I took 2 days off and was pretty religious about doing the stretches and strength exercises for my knee, so off I went back on the trails.  Stretched a little in the parking lot (hey a little more cant hurt right?) and off I went, Belle at my side and my IT band firmly over my left knee.

Got about 2 miles out and the knee starting telling me "hey Sank whatcha doing?"  So I stretched a little more, and off I went again.  By around 40 minutes in, it was screaming - "hey Sank - either you can stop or I will stop us".  So I went for 56 minutes and called it a day.

I'm starting to think that until I can get this under control, maybe I should stay on the roads, and when I am trailing it, stay on the fire roads at the State forest.  I really love the challenge of the trails - lots of roots, and hills, and gravel, and rocks, and lions and tigers and bears - oh my..... but the terrain and loose footing may be making it one step forward and two steps back.

Until next post - be well.  Still haven't ruled out breaking that 100 mile month (yeah I know big deal - but it is to me and you gotta start somewhere), but I really want to play this out for the long run.  Hey I can always do 100 in October, right?

Until next post - be well

Sank

IT Knee Pain - oh whoa with me :(

Well even before my exercise hiatus, having done ten years of triathlons, 2 Boston Marathons, many a road race and countless training runs (obviously prior to runningahead.com) I have never had a knee problem.  So I guess it is my own fault for pulling a Rip Van Winkle, waking up to my head write checks my body cant cash.  And suddenly one day I developed IT Pain.  Sucks, no other word I can think of. 
A few posts ago I mentioned that my PT gave me some exercises and stretches to do, of which I did only half-assed.  And what did I get out of it?  Half way thru one of my simple loop runs it got so bad that I had to actually walk, then run, then walk, blah blah blah.  The IT Band does help, and I have found that after the run it actually seems to help out to leave it on until bed time.  And as of last night am going to do the 4 exercises religiously for 2 weeks to see if it helps.  Took tonite off, will try to go back to my short course tomorrow to see if there is any improvement. 
I'm really kind of bummed as I was really hoping to do 100 miles this month, my first full month back running, after only starting again in mid-August.
Well if you have any IT experiences, please leave me COMMENTS and SUGGESTIONS.
Be well - Sank

Yesterday I stopped in my old Physical Therapist and he gave me some great strength and stretches for my IT.  Definately plan on getting on those today (just havent done it yet).

Ok back to the rain again today - arghhhhhh.  Well after last night's birthday bash for Catie (sweet 16 for my daughter), I got up right after Nancy left for work this morning to get in...well actually I figured I would just figure out where and how long as I went.  You gotta love the ability to run your maps thru http://www.runningahead.com/ for your mileage as well as to have it link to the blog.
So I got in 4.2 miles.  Still having soreness in my legs but I need to just run and stop overthinking the strides and all that stuff so that I can get into a nice rhythm and pace, but until then I will just plug along. 

Tomorrow I need to head over to the parents in the AM and then back to the trails.  Have a safe and dry Saturday all.  Hope you like the Batman pic, there will be more to follow. 
Be well - Sank

Double Race Weekend & IT problem

Well after finally deciding that the soreness in the outer part of my left knee wasnt going away.  Followed by a few hours searching on the internet, Dr. Me self-diagnosed myself with an IT problem.  (Office hours are Thursdays from 7pm-10pm - have you insurance and co-pay handy). 

Anyway, I headed off to DB Sports in Plainville, MA (a local runner's den that has been around since my first running go round in the mid-80's - great place, well stocked, good people, highly recommended) and bought an IT band.  I decided to take the night off from running and went for a easy 3 mile walk with Nancy.  Good thing as I want to do 2 5k's this weekend.  Yeah yeah I know "take it easy there Jurek" but after only starting again after YEARS away I am pretty happy with my progress, so keep your comments to yourselves.   LOL

So here's the planned schedule:
Saturday Sept 5th - 1st Annual Jamie Fund 5K Road Race & Walk, in Mansfield, MA - couldn't any more convenient since I only have to drive cross town and it's starts at the High School were I went, and my two oldest kids now go.  Anyway, being the first time racing in forever and with a mix of road and trail I have no idea what to expect time wise - wish me luck!
Sunday Sept 6th - 1st Annual Stella Blues Finish for a Guinness in Warren, RI  This race to is benefit the Christopher Stone Fund.  There are details on the website if you google the race but in a nutshell the proceeds are to go the family of a man that sadly passed away in August of ALS (Lou Gerhig's Disease).  Although I never met him or his family, it goes without saying that all of our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family, I know my do. 

Well Happy Friday all, and I hope you all have a very Happy, Safe and Healthy Labor Day.  Damn where did the summer go.