recovery road
Posted by Jarod
It appears I'm on the down side of my recovery. I was given to OK to spend a (very) limited time in shoes. I can begin to slowly transition out of my boot, and off my crutches.
It has been killing me to see all these people running, and here I am hobbling around on my crutches. One sad note however, is when I asked if I would be able to run Portland, my Dr. said 'NO'. He didn't say, 'we'll see how you feel', or ' if you take it easy'. He just said NO. So it looks like 10.10.10 is out of the question.
I think that is all I have to report now. I can't wait to get back out running. I also found out I'll need to do limited PT. Depending on who I get and the experience they have, I may ask if we can work on my form in addition to what ever they have for me. We'll see, I have never been to PT before, so if anyone has any suggestions, please comment. Thanks all, I'll keep you posted on any updates have.
-Jarod
INJURY / Fractured Calcaneus
Posted by Jarod
I know my last post was in June, But I have been dealing with this, and it has not been fun...
I noticed pain in mid July, and literally, it was overnight. I went to bed pain free, and woke with pain. I had an 8 mile run scheduled in my training plan, and I got up to run. I noticed something wasn't right upon waking, but thought I could just run through it. I got ready, and within the first 4 or 5 steps, the pain was maybe a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10. I continued through 6 miles, and the pain grew until it was a 10. I just kept thinking 'keep running, it will go away', only it never did. It hurt so bad, I had to sit down on the curb for a few minutes, then I got up and hobbled home. That was the last run I was on.
I went to the my doctor (foot specialist), and he thought it was possibly some torn ligaments. To make sure, we scheduled an MRI. And the above picture is the result. I have gone through so many different emotions with this. Mainly slight depression.
For me running was more than just a way to stay fit. for me, it was MY time to reflect on the world, and how I view things. It was my release. It was my shoulder to cry on. It was my time to process. It was my time with my Creator and Savior, Jesus! It was my time to talk to God, and also my time to hear God.
Needless to say, it has been an interesting recovery... With that said, I'm afraid it may get worse. I was on the home stretch as far as recovery. I only have a few more weeks in the boot, and then some PT before I can start to train again. I fear my other foot may be fractured as well. It is now feeling jut like the fractured foot did before I went in.
The doctor said it may have happened some time ago, and just held on enough that I didn't feel the pain. About a year ago my family and I were visiting my hometown, and went to a waterpark. I came down off a slide quite fast, and jammed my heels into the bottom of the pool, very hard! I limped around for a day or so then, but didn't think much of it. My wife watched it happen, and said then that she thought for sure I had broken something.
I'm not sure what else to say except, I don't think I'll be doing the Portland marathon on 10.10.10.
Any thoughts or similar experiences (with outcome) would be extremely helpful at this point. Have you had a stress fracture? How log did it take to heal? What was the recovery like? Etc... Please leave your comments!
-Jarod
3.2 mile barefoot run on Barefoot Tuesdays…
Posted by Jarod
It felt good. I came across some pretty rough pavement, and had to slow down, but my pace stayed under 7:30 for the whole run. I have to admit, that even after icing, my feet hurt now. Not to the point that I need to stay off them, but they feel like they have a bunch of blisters all over them, but at the same time, that says nothing about what they feel like.
I got some weird looks as well, but I totally understand why. I just smiled and waved, and said 'good afternoon'. Maybe it will spur them on to trying it. If it is done the right way (START SLOW), people would realize the joy that it brings. The feedback you get not only from your body, but your surroundings as well is unreal. If you are a runner, and you have not tried barefoot, I ask you to give it a try and comment back on your findings.
-Jarod
I’ve been busy…
Posted by Jarod
Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote. Things have been crazy. Business has picked up a little, Kids are almost out of school, training, business trip to Vegas, ETC... Many things have changed since my last post.
One thing being... I went to a foot specialist, and found out I have a bone spur on my heel. Dr. said he usually tries to work with the patient to get a heel cup that rides above or below the spur, but mine happens to be in just the wrong spot, that it may be impossible to find a shoe that will meet that criteria. The only other option... Operate... It doesn't have to happen right now. I am able to tape it up, and it doesn't bother me too much. but I think I'll schedule it just after the Portland marathon. 4 weeks off my feet, 2 weeks in a boot...
Training is going well. you can view my plan to the left. Today I did cross-training. The stair climber was a pretty good workout. It hurt at the peak, but I recovered just fine, and finished the whole 30 minutes. Tomorrow I have a 3 mile run scheduled, and am considering doing it barefoot. We'll see how I feel. I have done 3 miles barefoot before, so it is no big deal. Maybe I'll make my Tuesday workouts, 'Barefoot Tuesdays' or something.
I'll do my best to keep you better updated on how the training is going. If you have any specific questions, please comment below. As I said before, The more you comment, the more motivated I am to write.
Thanks again,
-Jarod
Runners form
Posted by Jarod
I was recently at a track meet for elementary aged kids. My daughter was competing in the Shuttle relay, the 400 and the 800. She did really well, and I am very proud of her. I look forward to racing with her someday.
I was watching these kids run, and some of them looked, up close, like they should have been flying around the track. Looking at the big picture, however, they were slow, their legs were moving, but they were barely gaining ground. Then you look at others, and they seemed to have a slower stride, but they were actually flying. In both cases, they seemed to have good form. They looked good running, but why the total opposites in how fast they were actually going around the track.
I thought it would be interesting to look at some video of people running. I went to youtube and just did a general search for things like running form, and runners, and even barefoot running because they talk a lot about form. The most interesting videos I found that seemed to explain it the best were from Newton Footwear. I tried several of the forms they talked about in their video, and there was some truth to it. they talk about the heel strikers, and the mid foot strikers and the toe strikers.
I played some with the heel strike, and mid foot strike. There is something to be said about their logic with the mid foot strike. You actually do have so much more return energy using a mid foot strike as opposed to a heel strike. It was amazing. If you have not experimented with this, and you are a runner, check out some of their videos, understand the logic, and try it out your self. You will be amazed I think.
This thinking also plays into barefoot running. Without the cushioning, you can not slam your heels into the ground, or you will be sitting on the bench for a long time.
So much to think about! If you have experimented with this, please comment and tell me how it went. If you have any advice, either on form or barefoot running, please comment!
Until next time,
-Jarod
God Speaks!
Posted by Jarod
I know this has very little or nothing to do with running, but this blog is about 'My Journey', and this certainly applies.
I have been reading through the Old Testament, and many things are surprising me. I will not get into all of that right now, but reading about different people, and how God spoke to them, is interesting. Sometimes, the bible will say, 'and the Lord told X', and then X goes and tells the people. Sometimes, X will just go do something, and then I wonder, 'did God tell them to do it'? Sometimes God did say, and sometimes he didn't. Anyway, I always wonder how 'The Lord' spoke to them... Was it Audible? Was it through a dream? Was it just a thought that popped into their head, and they just assumed it was from God?
I was asked a very simple question... The question was simply... Are you living your life in the same way you would if Jesus was with you every second? In reality, that is what we should be doing. Everyday, we meet our Lord and King, and offer Worship up to him. However, what about those time when you don't think God is looking... Like when you have a co-worker who may be very difficult to get along with, much less having to spend hours everyday with. How do you treat that co-worker. Do you treat him 'in worship to your creator'? Or do you leave Jesus at home... How about when you are driving, and somebody cuts you off... Do you act with the conviction that your God is sitting in the seat next to you? Or is he taking a nap, and you are just running errands by yourself?
I was simply asked if I lived every second of my life as if Jesus was with me all the time.
If not, what does that look like? It was enough to really startle me, but like the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, How long before I forget this Wake-up call, and go back to serving the foreign Gods...
My Prayer is that I would continue to see the goodness of God, and be alert to his voice, because it is there. He is constantly speaking to us, we just need to listen. Sometimes it is in the big things, like in Exodus 20 where God speaks to the Whole Nation of Israel, but they get freaked out, and tell Moses that they would prefer God speak through Moses to the people, not directly to them... Sometimes, it is in very small things, like in 1Kings 19:11 where God sends a great wind, then an earthquake, and a fire. But God was not in these things. God was in the gentle whisper. I picture a gentle breeze...
How many times have we missed God in the lightning and thunder and clouds (the big things), But also, how many times have we missed God in the gentle breeze (the soft whisper)... Also, how many times have we heard the voice of God, but shortly after forgot, and started to serve the other gods, whether it be money, or technology, or (fill in the blank)...
God, Help me to hear for your voice whether in the big things, or the gentle whisper. Help me to live my life with you standing with me all the time, not just when it is convenient for me. Help me to approach every situation I run into, no matter how big or how small, in worship to you.
I was simply asked if I lived every second of my life as if Jesus was with me all the time!
Barefoot Running
Posted by Jarod
I have read so much about barefoot running lately. I purchased these shoes months ago to run in, but must confess I have only done 4 or 5 runs in them. I wear them all the time, and love them. I am one of those people who hate shoes. I would go barefoot everywhere if I could, however, that just is not socially accepted, or legal in most places. You can find so much information and studies showing whatever it is the researcher wants to show. Some will tell you, 'We were designed to be barefoot, and through out time, we have cushioned our feet more and more, and it has actually hurt our bodies from our knees to our backs and all the way up.' Some will agree with that, but also state that the world originally was not made of concrete and asphalt. Therefore, we need to cushion our feet, because our bodies can not handle it...
So the debate continues. I read an article last night on how running barefoot has actually mentally helped one runner because he was more aware of his surrounding due to the constant feedback he was receiving through his feet. this caused him to pay more attention and not zone (as many runners do, and some prefer) on his long runs. Many people are concerned about glass or nail, etc... But according to several articles, this is far less common than one might think.
I am due for a new pair of shoes, but I think I may try this first. My old shoes are causing foot pain, and slight knee pain. I had someone ask me if they should run through their knee pain, or maybe consider taking a day off. My advice was take a day off, because if you get injured, you may be taking a month off or more. This person is very new to running, and having to take a month off due to injury, may turn into a lifetime off.
I'll let you know how it goes. I know one person (personally) who has run at least a half marathon, possibly a full marathon in the vibrams.
Any thoughts on the subject??? Please comment!
-Jarod
Recover yet?
Posted by Jarod
I've had 2 short runs since the Marathon. The first was 4 days after, and was 2.5 miles. The second was 7 days after. Both felt pretty good. I tried to keep a slower pace, but it was difficult for me. I kept wanting to push harder and harder. I plan on another short run tomorrow. The soreness is gone, but after a mile or 2, I can feel it in my Quads. I'll let you know how it goes form here on out. Some recommend one day recovery for each mile of the marathon, but I can't imagine taking an entire month off... It was difficult for me to wait the 4 days that I did.
I had a friend recommend a foam roller for rolling out my calves, and IT band. I got one, but she failed to tell me how painful it was. It helped tremendously, but was very painful. At the Expo for the Eugene marathon, they were selling a product called 'the stick'. I sat down and tried it, and was amazed at how I was able to more directly target the places I needed to work. I would highly recommend this over the foam roller, and the price is not that much different.
Anyway, to answer the question, I feel I am almost fully recovered. I need to get some new shoes, and hit the pavement once again. I am hoping to go to one of those running stores where they capture video of my running and analyze it and recommend shoe on my running style. If anyone has any experience in this, please let me know. I'll post on how it goes as well. I hope to do this in the next 2 weeks or so, as I am pushing 600+ miles on my current pair!
-Jarod
I’m Hooked!
Posted by Jarod
I just finished the Eugene Marathon only 2 days ago, and I want to do another. I am still sore. It really hurts to go down stairs. I still re-live the 'BAD' moments during the race in my mind, playing them over and over... BUT, I want more. I am registered for the Portland Marathon, and have been looking at several others. I need to hold back, for sake of my finances, and time. Also, with all the training, and race day, your body really takes a beating!
A friend of mine ran the 1/2 in Eugene, and she is also looking for a full. Apparently, Portland raised their rates 35% from last year, and many people are just not willing to pay the increased rate. Not only is the fee a turn off from the Portland marathon, but the coarse goes out and back several miles through an industrial area. The out and back is bad enough without adding the industrial sites... I am only reporting on some research I have done, and these are the biggest complaints of the Portland Marathon. Again, I have not run it yet, and may love it.
Eugene was an incredible experience. Finishing on the track at Hayward Field was incredible! The volunteers were top notch, and the organization of the entire event was fabulous! I learned so much. I felt very confident that I could beat my goal of 3:30. Evidently I may have been over confident. I think my first mistake was starting off too fast. I lined up at the 4:00 mark, only because the corral filled up too fast. Within the first mile or 2, I passed the 3:10 pace group, and had a pretty good lead on them. I kept a good lead until mile 18 or so when they passed me. My episode at mile 17 is the moment I continue to replay in my mind. I'm not sure if it just wasn't my day, or I didn't have enough fluids in me, or just the fact that I started way too fast... Whatever the reason, I missed my goal, and it continues to haunt me!
All that to say, I'm hooked... What are your thoughts? how many marathons is too many in one year? Who else is hooked? Who thinks I'm crazy? Please comment!
-Jarod
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