Category: StewsCatRuns

Runservations

My made up word for observations made during a run.

  1. I’m really not a fan of sunscreen.  A few years ago I started to slather it on when I went for long runs and more recently have been fairly religious about using it anytime I go for a run.  There are a few occasions where I still will go without, when its raining or super overcast.  I know that I should still wear it when it is overcast because the UV rays penetrate through the clouds.  I’ll continue to use it regularly because I know it protects my skin and reduces my risk of skin disease.
  2. What I eat and how I work have a major impact on my runs.  Last Thursday I did 7 miles and it felt really good/easy.  Wednesday’s workday was the standard 12 hours and not too active.  Today I made it out for 7 again but my legs felt incredibly heavy and tired.  Yesterday’s workday was about 13 hours and very full up standing and other activities.  Also I have not been eating well this week, we had some yummy snacks at work including various chips (my kryptonite), dip, and donuts.
  3. I’m not looking forward to summer.  We’ve had some unseasonably warm weather here for the time of year.  Today was actually supposed to a be a little cooler but it was already still fairly warm by 9:30 am when I set out on my run.  The summer is only going to get worse.  This makes it harder for me to do long runs because I like to start my runs in mid-late morning and in the summer it will already be up into the 70s-80s at that time.  My ideal running temperatures are probably in the low 50s.  I even like doing the high 40s runs too.
  4. Lookin’ forward to some fun this weekend at my cousin’s wedding in the Sonoma area.

-StewsCat

Current shoe rotation – Altra & Asics

Since my injury last Feburary-March, I decided to try a completely different approach to the shoes I run in.  After recovery, I looked to explore some new types of shoes.  Previously I’d been running in stability shoes, typically from a few different brands (Asics, New Balance, Saucony).

Through either facebook or all the various running sites I visit, I learned about a company called Altra.  I actually had been looking at the brand for over a year before I pulled the trigger and invested in some of their shoes.  There are a few unique features of their shoes including the foot-shaped toe box as well as zero drop.  A shoe’s “drop” is the height difference from the heel to the toe.  Most running shoes have a “drop” of anywhere between 6 and 12 mm.  A zero drop shoe is flat all the way across (hence a 0 mm drop).  The store where I purchased my first Altra Running shoes only had one style in the size that I wear.  I went with the Altra Provision 1.5, which is one of their stability shoes.  These shoes tend to a run a little on the small size and the original US9.5 that I ordered was too small.  Typically I have been US9.5 in all my running shoes.  I returned the shoes and purchased some US10 shoes and these fit much better.

Putting these shoes on, I noticed that the shoe kind of hugs your foot.  With the widened toe box, your feet/toes aren’t squished like most running shoes to their narrowness.  One of the neat things that the company does with their shoes is they provide a little instruction booklet in the shoe box.  This explains that these shoes aren’t like your average running shoe and your body (feet, legs) aren’t adapted to running in these shoes long distances right away.  They suggest a long, slow break in period so your body adjusts to the shoes.  Some of the reported differences is that there is more strain on your achilles due to the zero drop.  My first run with the shoes was a very short 1.6 miler.  I definitely felt different muscles working in my legs with these shoes.

At the same time as the Altra Provision 1.5, I also decided to try an even more stable shoe than traditional stability shoes: Asics GEL-Foundation 8.  This shoe is classified as a motion control shoe.  Motion control shoes are the most “stable” shoe to help with pronation.  I threw on these Asics right after a short run with the Altras and boy did I notice a huge difference.  It felt like my feet were in a large boat with the Asics.  The Asics are also a bit heavier than the Provision but they felt more stable.

For awhile I would rotate between these two shoes and then I decided maybe I needed a 3rd alternative for a shoe because I was still experiencing some aches and pains.  I know shoes aren’t the key to solving all injuries, but I had also implemented some other tools to help with my injuries.  I bought a foam roller and started rolling.  Also I looked up some good stretches to help with previous plantar fasciitis and knee pain.

A good deal came up for the Altra Repetition.  This was a departure from the “minimalist” Provision 1.5 and actually is deemed a “maximalist” shoe.  These shoes have a thick foam cushioning running along the entire underside of your foot.  These types of shoes have been used for many years by a lot of ultrarunners who do 50+ mile trail races in the mountains.  Slowly the maximalist movement has trickled into the road running scene a little.  I figured that having a shoe with some extra padding may actually help offset the lightly padded Provision and be different than the motion control Asics.  After trying the Altra Repetition, I really liked these shoes.  They provided some great cushioning and also had the zero drop that I preferred for trying to run with a mid-foot strike gait.

So over the last year or so now, I’ve had a 2, then 3 shoe rotation that seems to work.  I haven’t had any major injuries (*knock on wood*) in the last year or so.  Still a few areas of aches and pains but nothing long lasting like some of my previous injuries (which I’ll talk about later).

IMAG2733
(From left to right): Altra Provision 1.5, Asics GEL-Foundation 8, Altra Repetition

Up next in the rotation will be the Altra Provision 2.0 (to replace the 1.5), Saucony Guide 8 (to replace the Asics), and keeping the Altra Repetition (as the mileage is much lower than the other two at this time).

-StewsCat

 

 

Saucony shoes

Saucony shoes

I’ve been a big fan of the Saucony pretty  much since I started seriously running in 2010.  When I first started running outside (I had been running on a treadmill for a few years mostly just for fitness and exercise), I didn’t know anything about running shoes.  Luckily for me the woman I was dating at the time was already a marathoner.  I had a bit of a guide into the outdoor road running scene as well as road races.

Growing up I knew that I had very flat feet.  This meant that unlike most people who have normal to high arches in their feet, mine are almost completely flat (foot arch picture).  When I tried running in high school and college, I’d get really bad shin splints after about 10-20 minutes of jogging.  I therefore thought I’d never really be able to do long distances and races (5K, 10K, etc).  I’m always one to look for a good deal and so I never really invested a ton of money into the shoes that I purchased.  Usually I’d try something on and if it was comfortable and a good price, then I’d get it.  With my background playing tennis and basketball, those were the types of shoes I’d typically gravitate towards.

There was a running shoe store in East Lansing called Playmakers that I was introduced to and they suggested a shoe.  To this day I can’t remember what it was.  It wasn’t until I lived in San Diego and had a running gait analysis performed at Road Runner Sports did they recommend that I go with a Stability shoe and also use SuperFeet Blue insoles.

I had read somewhere that you need to let running shoes rest for at least 24 hours to allow to cushioning to come back so most people recommended a shoe  rotation.  I started out with I believe the Saucony Guide 3 and also a New Balance stability shoe (harder to remember NB shoes because their names are often a mixture of numbers and letters.

With the Guide, I liked the simplistic yet elegant design and look of the shoe.  For me, however, the biggest positive of course was the support the shoes provided.  While not the lightest of shoes, the Guide is a solid everyday trainer that I could use to log many many miles.

I’ve gone from the Guide 3 to the 5 and then the 6.  In the interim I also tried the Saucony Omni 8 and the Paramount 3.  I settled on using the Guide 6 for my last full marathon.  However, I made the mistake of using two of the same shoes as my shoe rotation.

IMAG2735
Both Guide 6s

I think by using exact same type of shoe to rotate between, my body was using the same muscles on every run.  I know that when you change your shoe and shoe type, it alters the muscles that are used in running (although subtly) so you’re not overusing the same muscles over and over (especially with high mileage training).

I took a small break from Saucony and the Guide and started a 3 shoe rotation after I recovered from my injury for NVM 2015.

Once I retire my Asics from the current rotation, I will be jumping back into some Saucony’s (see below).

IMAG2736
Guide 8!

-StewsCat

 

 

 

Hail!

We were forecasted to have scattered thunderstorms yesterday for much of the day.  I had a noon meeting so wanted to get my run done sometime in the morning.  As I geared up and set out on my run, the sky was overcast but no rain or lightning in sight.  I suspected that I might encounter some light rain but  never suspected what was to follow.  The first mile was windy but no rain in sight.  As I started into mile 2 I could hear thunder somewhere (didn’t see any lightning) and then a few drops started coming down.  I continued on my run as I figured since I was already wet I might as well try to finish up around 4 miles.  I picked up the speed and kept on trucking and found myself in a harder downpour.  I specifically wear a hat on my runs to help keep the sun out of my eyes but also when it rains.  As I was coming up on 3.5 miles, I noticed these grape sized white opaque things hitting the ground.  I realized it was hail!  Luckily only a few ended up catching me on the skin and causing a slight stinging.  As I finished up the last 1/4 mile the rain lightened and then completely stopped.

Surprisingly we are actually getting a weekend full of scattered thunderstorms and rain.  I managed to make it out between the rains this morning for another 4, though much slower than yesterday’s run.  I initially was going to do an inside workout such as a HIIT but lacked the motivation so threw on the running gear and headed out.

I need to start working on some more race recaps as well as some shoe reviews.  A big part of why I started this blog was to help me remember what I have done (races), used (shoes, clothes, gear) so I can look back and make tweaks to my training and such.

-StewsCat

2015 San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon Race Recap

Race Summary:  Well-established race with a long history.  Needed more porta potties a the starting line.  Point-to-point with a challenging somewhat hilly race.  Great spectators and good on-course support.  Standard swag – tech t-shirt and medal.  Fairly spacious and large race expo.

This race holds some sentimentality for me.  I ran my first full distance marathon in 2011 at this race.  After moving away from the San Diego region in 2011, I try to get back to the city regularly as it is one of my favorite places.  Originally my good friend convinced me to sign up and then he ended up not traveling to or running the race.  I wasn’t too upset because, as I just said, it is one of my favorite cities to visit.

San Diego Marina
San Diego Marina
Downtown SD

As this was my first race since the NVM 2015 disaster and injury, I was definitely not going for a time goal.  I really just wanted to run the entire race without having to walk.  The Expo was unchanged from when I attended 5 years prior.  The SD convention center has been the host of the expo, which is nice because it provides a large open room to hold the many many vendors.  As a Rock’n’Roll race, it is very organized and packet/bib pickup went very smoothly with only a short wait.

For my pre-race dinner, we headed to Buona Forchetta in the South Park neighborhood.  Pretty much every pre-race meal has consisted of a combination of pizza and beer.  For my half marathons, this has resulted in good results overall.  I don’t know how I feel about that combination as a pre-full-marathon race.

Compared to the first time I ran this race and lived in the area, we stayed at a downtown hotel this time.  This allowed me to walk to the starting line on the northwest side of Balboa Park (this is the same starting line as 5 years before).  My major gripe with this race was the lack of enough porta potties.  I arrived well before the half marathon race start so I could use the facilities and be ready.  The porta potties were spread throughout the park in groups of 5-15 in a line.  Since I wasn’t in a terribly huge rush, I jumped in a line that had maybe 20-30 people in front of me.  As I stood there waiting and waiting, I could hear people around me talking about how long they’d been waiting.  A lady came up behind me and asked if she could go in front of me because she was running the full marathon (that started 30 minutes before the half).  I let her go ahead of me and watched her make her way up towards the front.  By the time I was just 5 back the full race had started and I saw many people (in my line and other lines) forgo the porta potty as they needed to get to the starting line.

Rock’n’Roll race starts are all well-organized with lots of corrals.  I found my corral, squeezed in like a sardine and waited for our start.  The half this year runs through various neighborhoods east/northeast of downtown.  I used to hang out in this area with friends and enjoyed running through it to give me a different perspective.  There are tons of good restaurants and bars in this area.  While running through the residential parts, I actually ran directly in front of my friends’s house.   Since I hadn’t been training as well as I should have since the 2015 NVM, I felt very sluggish the first 3-6 miles.  I actually felt nauseous and almost started walking within the first 3 miles.  This is not something I’ve experienced with any other race.  I told myself it was way too early in the race to start walking so I just kept pushing on slowly.

The course has long areas of flatness with a few areas of both decent inclines and declines. The air felt muggy and while I know San Diego isn’t the most humid place, it definitely is a lot more than where I lie and train.  I settled into a routine after about 5 miles and trudged along fairly well.  Around the 9 mile mark when we started back into Balboa Park, I could feel myself slowing down some.   I’ve always prided myself on not walking during (most) races, but I ended up doing some run-walking.  I’ve always liked Rock’n’Roll races because of their regular entertainment throughout the course.  There was a DJ in the last 2 miles of the race that helped push me to finish.

Finish time: 2:16:09

I skipped the post-race celebration (Petco Park) and walked a few miles back to the hotel so we could grab some brunch.  Later that day we met up with a local friend at Bali Hai.  Bali Hai is a San Diego institution and famed tiki bar/Polynesian restaurant.  We enjoyed some tasty cocktails and food there.  It’s a bit out-of-the-way so you really need to know about it to actually visit/find it.  I’m glad that we were able to check it out and the cocktails were tasty.  There’s also a great view from the restaurant.

The next day before driving back up to OC, we checked out the San Diego Zoo.  Prior to this, we figured since it was a Monday morning that maybe we’d get a seat at Hash House.  I’ve been trying to take the wife there for 2 years and we were seated right away.  The food is definitely yummy!  After Hash House, we went to the SD zoo.  This was our 2nd time going and as always it is a wonderful visit.  To round out the SD adventure, on the way back up north, we stopped at the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens for some lunch and brews.  If you haven’t heard of it, Stone built this large compound that has the brewery, a restaurant, and a garden area that you can walk with your beers.  It’s truly a lovely place.  The food was also tasty as well.

Hash House breakfast!
SD Zoo!!
Stone Brewing

 

Overall a great trip to one of my favorite cities!

-StewsCat