I’m behind

Well, to catch everyone (ok no one really reads this) up, I ran the Louisville Triple Crown of Running and the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon this winter. This is my first go at all of these events. Very pleased overall. I’ll complete and appropriate review of each race and begin blogging more. I have a fun announcement regarding a race that I’ll wait to put in its own article.

Don’t forget to join @therunchat on Sundays.

LTCOR – Rodes City 10K

The 2014 Rodes City 10K is the second leg of the Louisville Triple Crown of Running. Aimed at preparing the runner for the 10 miler and eventually the Kentucky Derby Festival’s mini or full marathon, the 10K is the perfect step between 5ks and longer distances. This year, the 10K was perfect weather, even amid a winter of sheer cold and snow, the run went off with a cool 40-50 degree day that made it more than a great day for a run. This run went around Cave Hill Cemetery, Cherokee Park, and near the Seminaries to return to the start/finish line on Broadway in Downtown Louisville. My 1:02:48 was over the 2 hour mark that I was shooting for, but again, for not running the majority of the winter, I was happy. I finished, and I finished STRONG!

rodes

It was just as fun to run with my dad and cousin for the second time (forgot to include that in my Anthem 5K post). The younger cousin @jball_13 is no competition, he will out run me EVERY time. Again, I pushed and finished, including enough left at the end to sprint the finish line.

This race was definitely more organized over the Anthem 5K. The wider roads and a definite path of experience made it much easier to proceed through the course.

My #bibrave review of the race can be found here.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!!
Another Christmas has come and gone. Man they fly by faster each year. I first must apologize for the lack of tweets and blogs, the crazy holiday schedule mixed with the flu and bronchitis, and knee pain has been killer on my free time.

I came out smelling great from Christmas. Under Armour shirts and running jackets, Swags (Louisville running store) gift card, and cash to out towards a Garmin 910XT. I can’t wait to try everything out.

Hope all of you had a great Christmas.

Pain free

Well, I don’t want to jinx it but I’m two days pain free in my knee. I bought a patella tendon brace and wore it for 3 days. The difference it made is remarkable. It cost $19.99 at Dick’s Sporting Goods and was well worth the $20 invested.

It has been 17 days since my knee was pain free. There were days that any weight on my right leg was unbearable and felt like my leg was going to go out at anytime. Now the question is , how do I entering training into the mix so not to aggravate it all over again?

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Why train properly

I’ve been “running” for years. I had to run in the police academy and semi-annually for PT tests at work. Why do I say I’m new to running then? I hated, loathed, despised running. It was only as a requirement until this year. I made a conscious decision to get in better shape. I weighed in at over 210 on Feb 1, 2013 and was down to 195 by March 15. Come May my weight was down to 185 and since I have fluctuated between 183-188 on a weekly basis.

Over the summer I ran but not with any formal training plan or goal, I ran just to run and slowly started to love it. In August I took a physical test for a potential new job and began thinking about doing an Ironman. At that point I had a goal and quickly fell in love with it.
Sadly, I ran a lot, just in small amounts. Then I got the bright idea to run in a Half marathon at the end of October. On Oct 15, I ran my first 10k distance run in my life and on Oct 26 completed my first half marathon, in a time I was ok with, 2:12:16. Now as stupid as that was, I got even more stupid by running just 15 days later in another half marathon while complaining of knee pain from the first one.
It has been more than two weeks since the HM and I’ve been on “light duty ” by my Doc. It’s driving me crazy and quite honestly getting worse. So what does all this add up to? Follow the guidance of a training plan, ramp up distance and pace slowly, eat right, and ask questions to those who actually know. At least research some before doing what you think is ok. The body is an amazing thing that will do more than you think, however, the joints, ligaments, and tendons cannot produce and repair with the same tenacity of muscle. Do it right. Trust me.

How long????

Well, it’s been nearly two weeks since my sports medicine physician put me on “light duty” workouts aka cross training only. My knee is still bothering me and I feel like I’m losing all of this progress. I’ve been focusing on building my core strength and elliptical/bike trainer. Taking it easy but trying to maintain fitness and muscle tone.

This is killing me, mix in the 26 degree weather and it makes anything normal seem out of touch. I can’t even go on a bike ride outside and enjoy it. Yes, yes call me a fair weather runner/biker, I need a little more fitness level to “love” doing it in these temps, not that I haven’t before.
Anyways, looking at a 5k in mid December through Downtown Louisville and then the a Shelbyville Tri Series in Jan/Feb. The Louisville Triple Crown of Running starts Feb 22 with a 5k, 10k, then 10 miler followed by a KY Derby Festival Marathon/”mini”marathon. I’m shooting for the Half this year.
I’d really like to do the Ironman 70.3 in Muncie, IN in July to get focused on the longer endurance tris. In 2015, my goal is to do the full Ironman Louisville, all 140.6 miles. I’m also eyeing the Rev3 series as a cheaper alternative, but it just doesn’t have the name of Ironman…yet.
Anyways, any advice, comments, or suggestions are welcome.
Josh

Running with pain

On Tuesday I attempted to run , but after just. 0.75 miles I listened to my body and stopped. I am doing a lot lf research into running and running injury free. My best advice:

1. Build a solid base first
2. Learn to listen to your body
3. Actually listen to your body
My hard head could cost me a lot of hard work, time off from work, and my 2014 Ironman goal.

Is it injured?

Sunday was painful as I finished running a half. The rest of Sunday was long and only seemed to get worse. Finally a large portion of the pain subsided on Monday with pain occassionally. Now here I am sitting at my sports medicine physician waiting to see what the x-Ray looks like.

Stressful….
Well after seeing the talented sports medicine physician, Dr. Mark Puckett, I have been diagnosed with,…..
Chondromalacia Patella aka Excessive Lateral Patellar Compression Syndrome. Basically, some slight inflammation and a little amount if fluid. Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation should do the trick.
What have I learned?
Train properly, grow gradually, and listen to your body.