Completing my 8th straight LA Marathon was a huge thing for me. I could not imagine ten years ago that I would even run one marathon. Running was never my strong suit in junior high or high school. My running really consisted of running up and down the basketball court. Being embarrassed and completely demoralized after finishing the first LA marathon may have something to do with why I am still going.
You could not write a story like mines or maybe you can, after all this is Los Angeles. I crossed that finish line in 2004 and felt like someone hammered both my feet with a sledgehammer. My feet ached and my legs were so sore from cramping up at around mile 7 and all I could do was sit after crossing the finish line. Though I was exhausted, I was so honored as the medal hung from my neck. I really wanted to get over to see my dad and show him the medal. I told him I would run the marathon in his honor because he had battled colon cancer for at least three years and I figured if he could battle cancer, I could battle too for a few hours but at that moment, I just wanted to go home and sleep. When I tried getting up the next day, it was like I had been run over by a truck several times. My phone repeatedly rang but I ignore it. I finally answered my phone thinking it was just people calling to congratulate me on the marathon but it was my mom telling me my dad had passed away during the night.
Short lived was my accomplishment. The only memory I had from the marathon was my purple toenails and my bruised calves and hamstrings. I took my first medal and I hung it around my dad’s neck because he earned it for his battle. It was at that moment that I knew I would be back the next year running the race again. The race really became an anniversary for me, and the passing of my dad. I looked at as a day to pay homage and to go out there and give everything I had because no matter how much pain my dad was in, he just kept going and when he wanted to give up I wouldn’t let him.
Sometimes people do not understand the passion that runner’s have for running. I have lined up the past eight years of the LA Marathon, one time with the flu, one time with a fractured big toe, and this year after a 3 month break from running because of 3 cysts in my left knee and at no point before the marathon did I believe I would not run the race but it is funny that every person who is folded into their sofas criticize those who have a goal bigger than the sofa. When people cannot see themselves doing something that someone else attempting to do, it is called crazy or stupid. That couldn’t be more the case this past Sunday when legacy runner James Smith refused to stop after falling and hitting his head around mile 24 of the race. With a horrible gash on his head and bleeding like crazy, Smith was determined to finish the race at all cost. After he somehow summoned the resolve to continue on to the finish his twenty-sixth straight LA Marathon, he was taken to the hospital to treat what was a subdural hematoma.
Stupid and crazy is what most replied about his decision to carry on in the race. These comments obviously came from people who have no concept of what it means to commit to something and no matter what obstacle they face they get it done. Being a legacy runner is not just and everyday thing. Running every single LA Marathon since its inaugural race is priceless and for him to come so far to think he would just quit is beyond comprehension. His passion, his drive and his desire to keep his streak going is motivation for me but it also validates the reasons why I continue to line up each year no matter what. People set a precedent for all types of things and you follow their lead or make your own way but to criticize them means you have yet to understand what life is all about.
Competitors compete while the critics just watch.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
LA MARAPOUR
We train, we diet, we deal with injuries all year long but somehow someway we find a way to make it to the starting line of every race we sign up for. Training prepares you for the race but one thing you cannot train for is mother nature. Feeling 2 months short of being physically ready to run the marathon on Sunday, I laced up my shoes and my grabbed my gear and got ready regardless of what type of shape I was in. I had worried all week about rain but Wednesday’s sunny upper 70’s weather made me think that it would be another year where every runner worried about rain and we would all overdress and then the sun would play its normal trick on us by popping out when we least expected it to, causing many to dehydrate before even reaching mile five but with dark clouds looming all around dodger stadium, we could have only hoped for the sun to bless of for a few miles.
As the race began, Elizabeth and I hung back or I should say I had to run to the bathroom again. I think I hydrated too well because I made at least 4 trips to the bathroom before the race began. I figured there was no rush considering we have timing chips. By the time we jumped into the pack, fifteen minutes had gone by. This landed me amongst the slower runners and walkers, which was just what I needed. My plan was to walk and run the race because with only a month of training, there would be no way in hell I would be able to successfully be able to just haul ass from the start to finish without completely falling apart by mile 8. I also planned to take pictures along the route because I had always admired the view of the crowd from within the crowd. I figured I would make an adventure of the race by carrying my camera. I also realized that I may have had too much stuff. I had a carrying pouch for my ipod, camera, gum, and other stuff, then I had a hydration belt with only two of the four bottles with fluids.
From the start, I knew there was trouble. The timer on my brand new watch wouldn’t even start. I had no way of even keeping an accurate time on my walk breaks but I just went with the flow. The drizzling had already began but I figured this is what we would have to deal with the whole way. I had a plastic poncho over a broncos sweatshirt, over a dri-fit short sleeve shirt. I felt like I was warming up so I ditched the broncos sweatshirt and no soon as I did, the drizzle picked up to rain. I have run in rain before so it was no big deal but by the time I hit mile 4, the rain turned into showers. Showers turned into more showers and before long, I knew we all were in for a test of our endurance and will to deal with the extreme conditions.
My legs felt heavy, and my energy level just seemed non existent but I stuck to my plan. I walked when I needed to and when I felt like running, I ran but I still felt sluggish and heavy. I knew it had to be my hydrations belt. I had no choice to take it off and ditch it. It made me feel lighter and by the time I hit mile 8, I knew I was on a roll. I picked up the pace and really got into a good rhythm. The streets progressively began to look like flowing rivers and it became impossible not to slush through floods of water which were basically at ankle level. My feet were never dry after mile 8. The one rule in running a marathon is to do your best to keep from getting your shoes wet. That completely went out the window. I didn’t worry so much about it because I’d covered my feet with Vaseline so my feet and toes felt good.
As the rain hammered down, it became increasingly difficult to take pictures because my hands were dripping wet. I could barely control my ipod. My cheap poncho caused me so much grief because the hood kept coming off, so I had to tie a space blanket around my neck to keep my hood from falling off. I was starting to look like a bag person but in conditions like this, no one cared about looking good except for the few idiots running without shirts as if it was 90 degrees outside. Apparently thousands of other runner’s didn’t get the message that running for more than hours at a time with little to no clothing in conditions such as these can be dangerous. Everywhere I looked there was someone looking like a popsicle. This would explain the countless amounts of people being treated for hypothermia after the race.
When I got to the 18 mile area, I really fell into a groove. In my mind, I knew 8 miles separated me from the finish line and my eighth straight completion of the Los Angeles Marathon.
There were not a lot of thrills to this race. With visibility at a minimum, the only real goal was finishing the race. When I crossed the finish line, I was proud and relieved. I finally stuck to plan. I knew that I could have run a bit faster and I could have finished with a better time but knowing that I was able to successfully execute a plan feels so much better. I felt so good after the race I ran another mile and a half to the car and I didn’t even feel tired.
I admire all those who stuck with it on Sunday from the runners to the volunteers. Runner’s run regardless of the conditions. It’s what makes us better runners. I’m hoping Sundays race can get me jump started for the upcoming running season and I have plenty of ammunition for next year’s marathon.
Pictures coming soon..
Stay dry
As the race began, Elizabeth and I hung back or I should say I had to run to the bathroom again. I think I hydrated too well because I made at least 4 trips to the bathroom before the race began. I figured there was no rush considering we have timing chips. By the time we jumped into the pack, fifteen minutes had gone by. This landed me amongst the slower runners and walkers, which was just what I needed. My plan was to walk and run the race because with only a month of training, there would be no way in hell I would be able to successfully be able to just haul ass from the start to finish without completely falling apart by mile 8. I also planned to take pictures along the route because I had always admired the view of the crowd from within the crowd. I figured I would make an adventure of the race by carrying my camera. I also realized that I may have had too much stuff. I had a carrying pouch for my ipod, camera, gum, and other stuff, then I had a hydration belt with only two of the four bottles with fluids.
From the start, I knew there was trouble. The timer on my brand new watch wouldn’t even start. I had no way of even keeping an accurate time on my walk breaks but I just went with the flow. The drizzling had already began but I figured this is what we would have to deal with the whole way. I had a plastic poncho over a broncos sweatshirt, over a dri-fit short sleeve shirt. I felt like I was warming up so I ditched the broncos sweatshirt and no soon as I did, the drizzle picked up to rain. I have run in rain before so it was no big deal but by the time I hit mile 4, the rain turned into showers. Showers turned into more showers and before long, I knew we all were in for a test of our endurance and will to deal with the extreme conditions.
My legs felt heavy, and my energy level just seemed non existent but I stuck to my plan. I walked when I needed to and when I felt like running, I ran but I still felt sluggish and heavy. I knew it had to be my hydrations belt. I had no choice to take it off and ditch it. It made me feel lighter and by the time I hit mile 8, I knew I was on a roll. I picked up the pace and really got into a good rhythm. The streets progressively began to look like flowing rivers and it became impossible not to slush through floods of water which were basically at ankle level. My feet were never dry after mile 8. The one rule in running a marathon is to do your best to keep from getting your shoes wet. That completely went out the window. I didn’t worry so much about it because I’d covered my feet with Vaseline so my feet and toes felt good.
As the rain hammered down, it became increasingly difficult to take pictures because my hands were dripping wet. I could barely control my ipod. My cheap poncho caused me so much grief because the hood kept coming off, so I had to tie a space blanket around my neck to keep my hood from falling off. I was starting to look like a bag person but in conditions like this, no one cared about looking good except for the few idiots running without shirts as if it was 90 degrees outside. Apparently thousands of other runner’s didn’t get the message that running for more than hours at a time with little to no clothing in conditions such as these can be dangerous. Everywhere I looked there was someone looking like a popsicle. This would explain the countless amounts of people being treated for hypothermia after the race.
When I got to the 18 mile area, I really fell into a groove. In my mind, I knew 8 miles separated me from the finish line and my eighth straight completion of the Los Angeles Marathon.
There were not a lot of thrills to this race. With visibility at a minimum, the only real goal was finishing the race. When I crossed the finish line, I was proud and relieved. I finally stuck to plan. I knew that I could have run a bit faster and I could have finished with a better time but knowing that I was able to successfully execute a plan feels so much better. I felt so good after the race I ran another mile and a half to the car and I didn’t even feel tired.
I admire all those who stuck with it on Sunday from the runners to the volunteers. Runner’s run regardless of the conditions. It’s what makes us better runners. I’m hoping Sundays race can get me jump started for the upcoming running season and I have plenty of ammunition for next year’s marathon.
Pictures coming soon..
Stay dry
Sunday, March 6, 2011
I Can Do A Marathon before Wilson
If you want to know what the definition of hard is, throw out the dictionary and head to Mount Wilson. After really being off my feet from running for about three months, I’ve tried to jump start my running with an accelerated training plan to get ready for the LA Marathon coming up in 2 weeks. I began running home from work 2 nights a week. I’ve hit just about every trail in Los Angeles to get the proper hill training and to increase my endurance but it has been nothing short of hell. With at least and extra ten pounds to deal with, my runs have been hard and slow. 3 mile runs seem like 6 and my 5 and a half mile runs from work have me running straight to the couch to just catch my breath. Coming off of a layoff of any kind can be very difficult but I have no choice to keep pushing through these difficult times so what can be more difficult than trying to get some training done at Mount Wilson? I am not sure but right now, I am inclined to say nothing.
With very little rest thanks to a hell of a week at work, I knew it would be a challenge waking up to do anything on Saturday but I managed to get up at 6:40 a.m. We arrived at Mt. Wilson about 8:20 and hit started about 8:40 and by that time, the sun was already letting me know I was in for trouble. I hiked Mt. Wilson once and that was last year on one of the hottest days of the year and I suffered the entire way up. I forgot to mention that it is a 7-mile trek to the top and of course that means 7 miles back. 14-miles really feel like18 when you are done. Last year, I was in pain the whole way up. I walked at a snails pace but somehow made it but forgot about the 7 miles back and tried running. I managed to go strong until a portion of the trail my legs cramped so bad that I’d wished I were dead. I was in so much pain after doing the trail and my legs were essentially crushed for a week.
So what did yesterday hold? Not much because I started out feeling sluggish and slow and knew my legs were not in the mood. After 20 minutes, I began to feel like I did last year. The sun was unforgiving and the first mile or so provides no shade. I tried upping the ante by running a bit which makes you look psychotic because everyone else is walking and struggling. I was only able to run about five minutes here and there as my legs began to really drag down. I just began to walk, take breaks, and hoped I could find some energy somewhere. I carried a bottle of water and had Gatorade in my side water bottle and before I knew it, I drank all my water. With over 4 miles to go to the top, I knew I had to conserve my Gatorade. Mt. Wilson challenges you, then it challenges again, then again. There were points where I just wanted to turn around and go back but this is when I remembered what it feels like to be in the late miles of every marathon. You start to doubt yourself. The Miles don’t come as fast as they did in the beginning and your body just wants to go back to bed but you can continue to go and hope your body goes with you or you can give up.
With views that were just stunning, I continued to push on. I’d pick up and run a little bit, then I would hit a portion of the trail where I had to walk. A lot of trails challenge you with inclines that do not stop but this trail breaks the barrier. At some point you are 3 and a ½ miles in and it seems like the trail gets steeper and steeper. At some point I felt like I was being pulled backwards. One of the key factors to this trail is that there are rocks everywhere in trail that adds to the danger factor. There are trees that have fallen and lay in the middle of the trail so you have to conserve your energy and strength to climb over and under as they block the path. Most of the trail, I found myself mumbling. I think most of it was just trying to tell my mind to keep going. It seemed like there was a stretch on the trail where I felt like I was barely moving but I’d come upon another hiker just in front of me and even though I didn’t ask them to move over, they did which always put pressure on me to not only go in front of them but to keep up a faster pace. I just kept summoning the energy but when I finally made it to the 5 and a ½ mile spot where you rest and check your mental status before continuing to the top, I just could not go any further. I was mentally and physically drained so I elected to turn around and go back. I know my lovely companion that day was disappointed but I just couldn’t keep up with her. Sometimes you have to concede and know when you have been licked.
In my only attempt to regain some respect, I took the challenge to run back down the entire 5 and a ½ miles. If you know anything about running trails, then you know running downhill is not only dangerous but one sure fire way to beat the hell out of your legs but it is a thrill. The real challenge is trying not to kill yourself when running down the sharp turns and the sliding rocks. There is a portion of the trail where you get to hide deep within the trees, shielding you from the sun but the bad part is the last mile to the end is all in the sun. It takes all you have to push and push and it seems like there’s never an end in sight. 3 hours and 20 minutes total time it took to do 11 miles. How insane is that? Another hour and I might as well have done a marathon but this was exactly what I needed. A true test that let’s me know I have a lot of work to do.
If you need something to inspire you, then go read a book. If you are looking to see how mentally and physically strong you are, then go up to Mt. Wilson!
Check out the photos on my facebook page!
With very little rest thanks to a hell of a week at work, I knew it would be a challenge waking up to do anything on Saturday but I managed to get up at 6:40 a.m. We arrived at Mt. Wilson about 8:20 and hit started about 8:40 and by that time, the sun was already letting me know I was in for trouble. I hiked Mt. Wilson once and that was last year on one of the hottest days of the year and I suffered the entire way up. I forgot to mention that it is a 7-mile trek to the top and of course that means 7 miles back. 14-miles really feel like18 when you are done. Last year, I was in pain the whole way up. I walked at a snails pace but somehow made it but forgot about the 7 miles back and tried running. I managed to go strong until a portion of the trail my legs cramped so bad that I’d wished I were dead. I was in so much pain after doing the trail and my legs were essentially crushed for a week.
So what did yesterday hold? Not much because I started out feeling sluggish and slow and knew my legs were not in the mood. After 20 minutes, I began to feel like I did last year. The sun was unforgiving and the first mile or so provides no shade. I tried upping the ante by running a bit which makes you look psychotic because everyone else is walking and struggling. I was only able to run about five minutes here and there as my legs began to really drag down. I just began to walk, take breaks, and hoped I could find some energy somewhere. I carried a bottle of water and had Gatorade in my side water bottle and before I knew it, I drank all my water. With over 4 miles to go to the top, I knew I had to conserve my Gatorade. Mt. Wilson challenges you, then it challenges again, then again. There were points where I just wanted to turn around and go back but this is when I remembered what it feels like to be in the late miles of every marathon. You start to doubt yourself. The Miles don’t come as fast as they did in the beginning and your body just wants to go back to bed but you can continue to go and hope your body goes with you or you can give up.
With views that were just stunning, I continued to push on. I’d pick up and run a little bit, then I would hit a portion of the trail where I had to walk. A lot of trails challenge you with inclines that do not stop but this trail breaks the barrier. At some point you are 3 and a ½ miles in and it seems like the trail gets steeper and steeper. At some point I felt like I was being pulled backwards. One of the key factors to this trail is that there are rocks everywhere in trail that adds to the danger factor. There are trees that have fallen and lay in the middle of the trail so you have to conserve your energy and strength to climb over and under as they block the path. Most of the trail, I found myself mumbling. I think most of it was just trying to tell my mind to keep going. It seemed like there was a stretch on the trail where I felt like I was barely moving but I’d come upon another hiker just in front of me and even though I didn’t ask them to move over, they did which always put pressure on me to not only go in front of them but to keep up a faster pace. I just kept summoning the energy but when I finally made it to the 5 and a ½ mile spot where you rest and check your mental status before continuing to the top, I just could not go any further. I was mentally and physically drained so I elected to turn around and go back. I know my lovely companion that day was disappointed but I just couldn’t keep up with her. Sometimes you have to concede and know when you have been licked.
In my only attempt to regain some respect, I took the challenge to run back down the entire 5 and a ½ miles. If you know anything about running trails, then you know running downhill is not only dangerous but one sure fire way to beat the hell out of your legs but it is a thrill. The real challenge is trying not to kill yourself when running down the sharp turns and the sliding rocks. There is a portion of the trail where you get to hide deep within the trees, shielding you from the sun but the bad part is the last mile to the end is all in the sun. It takes all you have to push and push and it seems like there’s never an end in sight. 3 hours and 20 minutes total time it took to do 11 miles. How insane is that? Another hour and I might as well have done a marathon but this was exactly what I needed. A true test that let’s me know I have a lot of work to do.
If you need something to inspire you, then go read a book. If you are looking to see how mentally and physically strong you are, then go up to Mt. Wilson!
Check out the photos on my facebook page!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Get Off Your Couch and Set a Goal!
Where do you draw the line between doing thing that are crazy, or irrational, and just plain stupid? Well, I would be the wrong person to ask because I have done a lot of things that most people would consider dumb or just plain nuts but I really don’t see it that way.
There really wasn’t much to brag about after completing the LA marathon in 2004. I completed a marathon but in return my toenails were all purple, my legs felt like they had been ran over by a car several times, and my ego was severely bruised. So, I set out with mission to run the LA marathon the year after in 2005. I improved my time a little but I was not satisfied with the overall performance so I ran again the race again in 2006 and I was lucky enough to be a part of 26 runner’s who were sponsored by Saucony. I met one of the other Saucony runner’s who just happened to be a legacy runner. As a novice runner, I had no idea what that really was. She explained that the legacy runners were a group of 200 or so runners who had ran and completed every LA Marathon since its inauguration. Regardless of how slow or how fast they ran the race, this is an impressive feat. Unless I went back in time, being a legacy runner is something I do not qualify for but I decided to start my own legacy or tradition. I vowed to run the LA marathon every year until my body says it just cannot go anymore. To some, this may sound like no big deal but when you have a goal, you have to see that goal to the end, otherwise why set goals, why make promises, and why dream.
I’m less than 37 days away from trying to complete my 8th consecutive LA marathon and it may prove to be my toughest one so far. In October after completing the Point Mugu trail race I essentially had to shelf my running because of some knee pain. I experienced the same pain here and there throughout the years but it normally just goes away but this time, it just lingered on and on. I knew the marathon was getting closer and closer so I set out to try to run a few miles here and there but I really couldn’t manage much. I was having some serious pains the day after my runs so it caused me to really delay my training. I started physical therapy to help strengthen my legs and to learn some new stretching techniques and even though I began to feel like I was ready to get back out the door and pick up my running mileage, the resounding knee pain caused me to be hesitant and I began to worry that something was seriously wrong but in the back of my mind, I knew some way, somehow, I would be in the marathon, even if I had to rent a wheelchair.
I returned to the sports medicine doctor at the end of January and updated him on my status and though there were no true signs of ligament damage from the strength test he gave me, the pain in my knee persisted but the puzzling part was that it was not my knee that has been really bothering me. It was on the outside of my knee, right on the bone. We initially chalked up the injury to an ITB band injury which is common for runner but I pretty much did all the stretching and exercise in physical therapy to help deal with that. The sports med doc had no choice but to send me to get an MRI. I was still was not that concerned because I’ve had several MRI’s but they never really reveal anything and it really didn’t matter what the doc said, I was prepared to delay any major type treatment or procedures that would endanger my chances to be at the start line of the race in March.
When I went back to the doc Tuesday, he let me know there were no tears at all in my knee and my knee looked pretty healthy except for a little wear and tear which is normal but then he paused to tell me there was one possibility as to where the pain in my knee was coming from. I have three tiny ganglion cysts that were present right in the area I’ve been complaining about. What pissed me off was that the cysts were present back in 2001 when I had an MRI before having a knee surgery from a basketball injury. Nonetheless, the cysts are too tiny to drain which is something you can do but if you’ve ever had a cyst before, they fill back up with fluid and you have to do back in to drain them again. Though the cysts are small, they are likely the source of the pain I have been experiencing on and off for the last five years.
The next step for me is to see another sports med doc for a second opinion and to get his opinion on the course of action. My first desire is to have the cysts removed because I had a cyst on my wrist when I was in the 7th grade and it was quite painful. Whenever it was drained, it seemed to come right back in a week so it had to be surgically removed and I’ve had no problems since then.
You can call me crazy but the show must still go on. Come March 20th, I will be lined up at the LA Marathon, looking to run my 8th consecutive race and continuing my goal towards completing the race every year. What will you be doing?
Athletes compete, we don’t watch…
There really wasn’t much to brag about after completing the LA marathon in 2004. I completed a marathon but in return my toenails were all purple, my legs felt like they had been ran over by a car several times, and my ego was severely bruised. So, I set out with mission to run the LA marathon the year after in 2005. I improved my time a little but I was not satisfied with the overall performance so I ran again the race again in 2006 and I was lucky enough to be a part of 26 runner’s who were sponsored by Saucony. I met one of the other Saucony runner’s who just happened to be a legacy runner. As a novice runner, I had no idea what that really was. She explained that the legacy runners were a group of 200 or so runners who had ran and completed every LA Marathon since its inauguration. Regardless of how slow or how fast they ran the race, this is an impressive feat. Unless I went back in time, being a legacy runner is something I do not qualify for but I decided to start my own legacy or tradition. I vowed to run the LA marathon every year until my body says it just cannot go anymore. To some, this may sound like no big deal but when you have a goal, you have to see that goal to the end, otherwise why set goals, why make promises, and why dream.
I’m less than 37 days away from trying to complete my 8th consecutive LA marathon and it may prove to be my toughest one so far. In October after completing the Point Mugu trail race I essentially had to shelf my running because of some knee pain. I experienced the same pain here and there throughout the years but it normally just goes away but this time, it just lingered on and on. I knew the marathon was getting closer and closer so I set out to try to run a few miles here and there but I really couldn’t manage much. I was having some serious pains the day after my runs so it caused me to really delay my training. I started physical therapy to help strengthen my legs and to learn some new stretching techniques and even though I began to feel like I was ready to get back out the door and pick up my running mileage, the resounding knee pain caused me to be hesitant and I began to worry that something was seriously wrong but in the back of my mind, I knew some way, somehow, I would be in the marathon, even if I had to rent a wheelchair.
I returned to the sports medicine doctor at the end of January and updated him on my status and though there were no true signs of ligament damage from the strength test he gave me, the pain in my knee persisted but the puzzling part was that it was not my knee that has been really bothering me. It was on the outside of my knee, right on the bone. We initially chalked up the injury to an ITB band injury which is common for runner but I pretty much did all the stretching and exercise in physical therapy to help deal with that. The sports med doc had no choice but to send me to get an MRI. I was still was not that concerned because I’ve had several MRI’s but they never really reveal anything and it really didn’t matter what the doc said, I was prepared to delay any major type treatment or procedures that would endanger my chances to be at the start line of the race in March.
When I went back to the doc Tuesday, he let me know there were no tears at all in my knee and my knee looked pretty healthy except for a little wear and tear which is normal but then he paused to tell me there was one possibility as to where the pain in my knee was coming from. I have three tiny ganglion cysts that were present right in the area I’ve been complaining about. What pissed me off was that the cysts were present back in 2001 when I had an MRI before having a knee surgery from a basketball injury. Nonetheless, the cysts are too tiny to drain which is something you can do but if you’ve ever had a cyst before, they fill back up with fluid and you have to do back in to drain them again. Though the cysts are small, they are likely the source of the pain I have been experiencing on and off for the last five years.
The next step for me is to see another sports med doc for a second opinion and to get his opinion on the course of action. My first desire is to have the cysts removed because I had a cyst on my wrist when I was in the 7th grade and it was quite painful. Whenever it was drained, it seemed to come right back in a week so it had to be surgically removed and I’ve had no problems since then.
You can call me crazy but the show must still go on. Come March 20th, I will be lined up at the LA Marathon, looking to run my 8th consecutive race and continuing my goal towards completing the race every year. What will you be doing?
Athletes compete, we don’t watch…
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Runner's Hiatus
The last time I was blogging, I was limping around my living room. I was giving out advice on how to deal with an injury, especially the mental aspects. When I wrote that blog, I think I was really writing notes to myself.
I’ve been jumping through the managed care hoops that I was hoping to avoid. I visited the orthopedic surgeons office in fear I tore something but after some strength test and some other analysis it was determined that I could have just the common IT band injury or runner’s knee. An IT injury can be painful enough to sideline any runner and it doesn’t go away in a couple of days.
Sitting and doing nothing for 3 months is a hard thing to do but that’s essentially what I did. Injuries can be depressing but I guess if you’ve run as much as I have, injuries can be a chance to rejuvenate your body and your mind. One of the biggest fears anyone would have is gaining weight. I feel like I’ve put on at least 5 or 10 pounds but I know that I’m lucky because it could be a lot worse. I will admit that I have decided to test out my knee regardless of the injury with a couple of short 4 and 6 mile runs and I quickly remembered what it is like to be a new runner. Your legs ache, you’re winded, and you are just flat out of shape or maybe I am just talking about me. Now I know what people are talking about when they say they can barely run a block or two before they have to stop. In some ways I welcome this period because it brings back the memories of when I first started running and it reminds me of why I continue to run and how much respect I have for the sport.
Returning from an injury or running with an injury is a tricky thing because the last thing you want to do is make the injury worse. Less is always better. If you can get ten minutes then that is all you can get. When you are healthy, you can push through those sluggish days and push yourself to go longer and further but that actually is one of the reasons why I am in this position now. Injuries are a chance to just learn from your previous mistakes and that is what I am doing. Two weeks ago, I started physical therapy which is a huge step for me because I always believed I could rehab on my own but what I called rehab was just a short break until I could get back up and run. My physical therapist has me doing a series of strengthening exercises and other fundamental activities that I have neglected over the years. I’m hoping PT can help me get back on my feet and back on the road sometime soon. As my status updates, so will my blogs.
Stay tuned..
I’ve been jumping through the managed care hoops that I was hoping to avoid. I visited the orthopedic surgeons office in fear I tore something but after some strength test and some other analysis it was determined that I could have just the common IT band injury or runner’s knee. An IT injury can be painful enough to sideline any runner and it doesn’t go away in a couple of days.
Sitting and doing nothing for 3 months is a hard thing to do but that’s essentially what I did. Injuries can be depressing but I guess if you’ve run as much as I have, injuries can be a chance to rejuvenate your body and your mind. One of the biggest fears anyone would have is gaining weight. I feel like I’ve put on at least 5 or 10 pounds but I know that I’m lucky because it could be a lot worse. I will admit that I have decided to test out my knee regardless of the injury with a couple of short 4 and 6 mile runs and I quickly remembered what it is like to be a new runner. Your legs ache, you’re winded, and you are just flat out of shape or maybe I am just talking about me. Now I know what people are talking about when they say they can barely run a block or two before they have to stop. In some ways I welcome this period because it brings back the memories of when I first started running and it reminds me of why I continue to run and how much respect I have for the sport.
Returning from an injury or running with an injury is a tricky thing because the last thing you want to do is make the injury worse. Less is always better. If you can get ten minutes then that is all you can get. When you are healthy, you can push through those sluggish days and push yourself to go longer and further but that actually is one of the reasons why I am in this position now. Injuries are a chance to just learn from your previous mistakes and that is what I am doing. Two weeks ago, I started physical therapy which is a huge step for me because I always believed I could rehab on my own but what I called rehab was just a short break until I could get back up and run. My physical therapist has me doing a series of strengthening exercises and other fundamental activities that I have neglected over the years. I’m hoping PT can help me get back on my feet and back on the road sometime soon. As my status updates, so will my blogs.
Stay tuned..
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Broke but not Broken
Success can breed confidence and with confidence you feel like you can go out and do anything. In running, doing more is not necessarily a good thing. Thousands of articles read in runner’s world magazine have told me that after a race you need to give your body rest but I’m by nature a very hardheaded individual. From August 7th through October 3rd I ran 6 different events. In September I had a stretch where I ran a race two weekends in a row. One race, I biked to the race, ran the race, then biked home, then ran over to the stairs to get in some extra training. Completing a running event and running well in that event, gives you such a boost of confidence and momentum is the name of the game but the downside is that you really do not give your body much time to rest and recover. You end up running a when your muscles are fatigued and your mind can be a little weary as well.
The end result of overtraining is where I am now. Sitting in front of my laptop and typing this blog. After completing a gritty 6.5 mile trail race October 3rd, I got up the following weekend on Saturday wanting to get in a short, easy run but what did I do? I ran in the direction of the stairs over at the Baldwin hills overlook knowing that I couldn’t just run there and run back home without at least going up the stairs just one time. I had already felt a small twinge in my left knee but that didn’t stop me from going up and down the stairs at a ferocious pace. Later that evening I felt my knee stiffen and I was beginning to limp around in pain. It only got worse the next day when I rolled out of bed. I could only hope that I didn’t cause serous damage but the days after were not good. I limped around most of the week and I was pretty convinced that I would be seeing a surgeon and the next thing, I’d be on crutches but my doctor told me it looks like I have a simple strain and I need to rest and ice. What a relief but at the same time I still have some work to do before I can celebrate.
Each year, I’ve been sidelined for a period of time with an injury that comes at my expense. The hardest thing to do is to sit back and do nothing for an extended period but I have no choice but to. The key to getting over any injury is rest but more importantly you have to keep your mind on the positive things. It’s has been well documented that athletes from all levels can suffer from depression when dealing with injuries that keep them from participating in the things they love most. If you’ve been an active person your whole life, you’ll be able to relate. I know for me, it has always been really tough skip certain events that I’ve run year after year but I realize the big picture which is to return healthier and stronger. Running while hurt is no good for your body and you cannot perform at your best. Picking out a race you want to do a month or two month away is good motivation. This gives you a target to focus on but you have to remember not to try and get back to training before you’re 100% or you’ll just prolong your recovery.
Being injured doesn’t have to be a death sentence. This gives you some time to work on things that you may have neglected before. For me that’s going back to the basics like stretching, working on your core, and strength training. When I began running 7 years ago, I fell in love with the fact that you get in a whole new type of shape. I gave up on lifting weights and trying to be on the cover of muscle magazine but one of the things I have realized in the last few years is that I have become weaker overall. That was apparent in July when I thought I could just hop in the pool and swim 20 laps in preparation for a 1000-meter swim and run. The theory for years was just to go out and run and run more but new studies have shown that you still need to workout your legs, core muscles, shoulder’s, and most importantly eat right.
Athletes have to remain determined and know that you will be able to get through any injury or setback but one thing I have learned is to stay away from those who will try to pull you into their dark world of misery. The worst thing for an injured athlete is another injured athlete who moans and groans about what they cannot do. People like this just want someone to join in their misery but what they do not realize is all that negative energy does nothing for their confidence or anyone else. They just become what will call energy vampires. Stay focused, and stay motivated and most importantly don’t ever give up hope.
The end result of overtraining is where I am now. Sitting in front of my laptop and typing this blog. After completing a gritty 6.5 mile trail race October 3rd, I got up the following weekend on Saturday wanting to get in a short, easy run but what did I do? I ran in the direction of the stairs over at the Baldwin hills overlook knowing that I couldn’t just run there and run back home without at least going up the stairs just one time. I had already felt a small twinge in my left knee but that didn’t stop me from going up and down the stairs at a ferocious pace. Later that evening I felt my knee stiffen and I was beginning to limp around in pain. It only got worse the next day when I rolled out of bed. I could only hope that I didn’t cause serous damage but the days after were not good. I limped around most of the week and I was pretty convinced that I would be seeing a surgeon and the next thing, I’d be on crutches but my doctor told me it looks like I have a simple strain and I need to rest and ice. What a relief but at the same time I still have some work to do before I can celebrate.
Each year, I’ve been sidelined for a period of time with an injury that comes at my expense. The hardest thing to do is to sit back and do nothing for an extended period but I have no choice but to. The key to getting over any injury is rest but more importantly you have to keep your mind on the positive things. It’s has been well documented that athletes from all levels can suffer from depression when dealing with injuries that keep them from participating in the things they love most. If you’ve been an active person your whole life, you’ll be able to relate. I know for me, it has always been really tough skip certain events that I’ve run year after year but I realize the big picture which is to return healthier and stronger. Running while hurt is no good for your body and you cannot perform at your best. Picking out a race you want to do a month or two month away is good motivation. This gives you a target to focus on but you have to remember not to try and get back to training before you’re 100% or you’ll just prolong your recovery.
Being injured doesn’t have to be a death sentence. This gives you some time to work on things that you may have neglected before. For me that’s going back to the basics like stretching, working on your core, and strength training. When I began running 7 years ago, I fell in love with the fact that you get in a whole new type of shape. I gave up on lifting weights and trying to be on the cover of muscle magazine but one of the things I have realized in the last few years is that I have become weaker overall. That was apparent in July when I thought I could just hop in the pool and swim 20 laps in preparation for a 1000-meter swim and run. The theory for years was just to go out and run and run more but new studies have shown that you still need to workout your legs, core muscles, shoulder’s, and most importantly eat right.
Athletes have to remain determined and know that you will be able to get through any injury or setback but one thing I have learned is to stay away from those who will try to pull you into their dark world of misery. The worst thing for an injured athlete is another injured athlete who moans and groans about what they cannot do. People like this just want someone to join in their misery but what they do not realize is all that negative energy does nothing for their confidence or anyone else. They just become what will call energy vampires. Stay focused, and stay motivated and most importantly don’t ever give up hope.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Trust Your Quads not your ipods!
Running can be hard. Trail running be just down right nasty. Trail running mixes in challenging incline and quad busting decline, uneven terrain, and a hint of danger around each turn.
Yesterday I ran my ninth trail race, the Point Mugu 11k. This was the first time I’ve run the point Mugu trail so there was a bit of uncertainly and in trail running it can be a huge bonus to know the trail especially on the downhill. I’ve been on a steady diet of 5k’s for the last four months so I knew it wouldn’t be easy transitioning to the up and down terrain. I also have been dealing with a little soreness in my right knee so my goal was to really try and feel my way through the first 2 miles. My biggest concern was whether or not I’d have the endurance for the incline. I knew from looking at the elevation map of the course that we’d be running uphill for at least 2 and a half miles. That’s a hard way to start any run.
The weather was perfect. The skies were filled with heavy fog and light mist. As long as the sun stayed hidden I was happy. The race director blurted out the crowd before the race that the trail would quickly forge into a single trail. For those who know little about trails let me explain. When you’re walking, running, or hiking trails, they’re usually on narrow trail paths or wide paths called fire roads. One of the major problems with narrow trails during any trail race is that it is difficult and dangerous to pass people so you can potentially get stuck behind a slow runner.
Instead of opening up and running out in front yesterday, I decided to run a mellow pace and I should have known better.
The director was right. We were quickly on a narrow trail path and everyone was running in single file. My friend Dave moved up ahead which is what I should have done but I slowed and the next thing I know, I’m in a pack of people all waiting for this woman to get out of the way. The trail was tough in the beginning with rocks and certain areas that you had no choice but to walk but when the trail flattened out, you expect whoever is in front to pick up the pace but this woman obviously did not know trail running etiquette. If you are a slow running, move to the side. Similar to when a car is barreling down on you, why deal with someone tailgating you, when you can move over and let them pass. I think I lost about five minutes in time before I finally made a bold move and ran around her. I had plenty of room to open up and run but for some reason my legs felt like led. I just could not get any rhythm or flow. I hit mile one and felt terrible. I did my best to try and pump myself up at that point, I knew that this race would be a grind until the end but I was up for that.
I hit mile 2 and I was finally getting into a bit of a groove and the trail turned off to a wide open fire road with plenty of incline to go with it. All around, you saw runners grunting and heavy breathing. When you looked at every runner, they were drenched, so I knew it wasn’t just me. I kept plugging, finally hitting mile 3. The higher the altitude the thicker the fog became. It was actually cool because you couldn’t see whether or not you were running uphill or down. You just kept running hoping for that downhill to come. At around the 3 and a half mile mark we started on a downhill run that felt like you were on an out of control rollercoaster. At times I was going so fast that I felt like a rag down. The turns were deadly coming down. Some were sharp cuts, which required you to precisely slow up and go the other way going full speed. At one point I was running at least a 6 minute mile downhill. There were a group of us flying and everyone seemed to be headhunting for someone else going down the trail. You could look to your left and see a runner ahead of you and you knew you had the momentum to catch them. About seven of us were in a line gunning for this girl who was running a great pace but we swallowed her up. After the race she acknowledged that she saw us coming and she thought she was running fast but knew we were blazing.
For all the time I lost on the uphill, I made up for it on the downhill. I was a little disappointed because I knew I should have done better but I ended up finishing 4th in my age division, which is a victory in my book. The competition was fierce and the best I’ve down in my age division at any trail race may have been 9th. It was a good race and good battle amongst a band of speed demons.
If you are looking to get into trail running there are a few keys to getting started. First go out to a trail around town. There are plenty of trails in the Santa Monica mountains that you can find on the web.
Shoes are very important. If you are a newcomer to trail running it’s best to get a basic pair of trail shoes mainly because of safety. I love doing trails in running shoes because trail shoes can be stiff and cause blisters but if you are unfamiliar with trails, you can be prone to bad ankle sprains and you should have shoe that will grip the surface a little better especially running downhill.
Next, learn to run uphill. Most trails have some sort of incline so you can bet the trail running events will have them. Sure you can walk but remember it’s a race so if you have a desire to complete the event before nightfall you have to get use to running uphill.
The most important aspect is learning to run downhill. This is tricky, dangerous, and not something you can learn overnight. Most of trail running is instinctive. You have to be able to scan ahead, spot rocks, dodge branches and all at a high speed. When running downhill, it only takes one second to trip over a rock and the next thing you know, you are eating gravel for a week or worse you can launch over the side of the mountain. You have to be somewhat nimble and coordinated. Tripping and falling can happen to the best runners. The guy who came in 2nd overall yesterday tripped and his knee was bloodied and his hand was all cut up. He said he’d never run trails before. He still managed to finish second which is pretty damn good. Know that trail running is not for everyone. It’s not the family 5k. It takes some determination and a lot of heart.
When you are ready for a real challenge and you are ready to get dirty, there’s a trail with your name on it.
Mountains Punch Back!
Yesterday I ran my ninth trail race, the Point Mugu 11k. This was the first time I’ve run the point Mugu trail so there was a bit of uncertainly and in trail running it can be a huge bonus to know the trail especially on the downhill. I’ve been on a steady diet of 5k’s for the last four months so I knew it wouldn’t be easy transitioning to the up and down terrain. I also have been dealing with a little soreness in my right knee so my goal was to really try and feel my way through the first 2 miles. My biggest concern was whether or not I’d have the endurance for the incline. I knew from looking at the elevation map of the course that we’d be running uphill for at least 2 and a half miles. That’s a hard way to start any run.
The weather was perfect. The skies were filled with heavy fog and light mist. As long as the sun stayed hidden I was happy. The race director blurted out the crowd before the race that the trail would quickly forge into a single trail. For those who know little about trails let me explain. When you’re walking, running, or hiking trails, they’re usually on narrow trail paths or wide paths called fire roads. One of the major problems with narrow trails during any trail race is that it is difficult and dangerous to pass people so you can potentially get stuck behind a slow runner.
Instead of opening up and running out in front yesterday, I decided to run a mellow pace and I should have known better.
The director was right. We were quickly on a narrow trail path and everyone was running in single file. My friend Dave moved up ahead which is what I should have done but I slowed and the next thing I know, I’m in a pack of people all waiting for this woman to get out of the way. The trail was tough in the beginning with rocks and certain areas that you had no choice but to walk but when the trail flattened out, you expect whoever is in front to pick up the pace but this woman obviously did not know trail running etiquette. If you are a slow running, move to the side. Similar to when a car is barreling down on you, why deal with someone tailgating you, when you can move over and let them pass. I think I lost about five minutes in time before I finally made a bold move and ran around her. I had plenty of room to open up and run but for some reason my legs felt like led. I just could not get any rhythm or flow. I hit mile one and felt terrible. I did my best to try and pump myself up at that point, I knew that this race would be a grind until the end but I was up for that.
I hit mile 2 and I was finally getting into a bit of a groove and the trail turned off to a wide open fire road with plenty of incline to go with it. All around, you saw runners grunting and heavy breathing. When you looked at every runner, they were drenched, so I knew it wasn’t just me. I kept plugging, finally hitting mile 3. The higher the altitude the thicker the fog became. It was actually cool because you couldn’t see whether or not you were running uphill or down. You just kept running hoping for that downhill to come. At around the 3 and a half mile mark we started on a downhill run that felt like you were on an out of control rollercoaster. At times I was going so fast that I felt like a rag down. The turns were deadly coming down. Some were sharp cuts, which required you to precisely slow up and go the other way going full speed. At one point I was running at least a 6 minute mile downhill. There were a group of us flying and everyone seemed to be headhunting for someone else going down the trail. You could look to your left and see a runner ahead of you and you knew you had the momentum to catch them. About seven of us were in a line gunning for this girl who was running a great pace but we swallowed her up. After the race she acknowledged that she saw us coming and she thought she was running fast but knew we were blazing.
For all the time I lost on the uphill, I made up for it on the downhill. I was a little disappointed because I knew I should have done better but I ended up finishing 4th in my age division, which is a victory in my book. The competition was fierce and the best I’ve down in my age division at any trail race may have been 9th. It was a good race and good battle amongst a band of speed demons.
If you are looking to get into trail running there are a few keys to getting started. First go out to a trail around town. There are plenty of trails in the Santa Monica mountains that you can find on the web.
Shoes are very important. If you are a newcomer to trail running it’s best to get a basic pair of trail shoes mainly because of safety. I love doing trails in running shoes because trail shoes can be stiff and cause blisters but if you are unfamiliar with trails, you can be prone to bad ankle sprains and you should have shoe that will grip the surface a little better especially running downhill.
Next, learn to run uphill. Most trails have some sort of incline so you can bet the trail running events will have them. Sure you can walk but remember it’s a race so if you have a desire to complete the event before nightfall you have to get use to running uphill.
The most important aspect is learning to run downhill. This is tricky, dangerous, and not something you can learn overnight. Most of trail running is instinctive. You have to be able to scan ahead, spot rocks, dodge branches and all at a high speed. When running downhill, it only takes one second to trip over a rock and the next thing you know, you are eating gravel for a week or worse you can launch over the side of the mountain. You have to be somewhat nimble and coordinated. Tripping and falling can happen to the best runners. The guy who came in 2nd overall yesterday tripped and his knee was bloodied and his hand was all cut up. He said he’d never run trails before. He still managed to finish second which is pretty damn good. Know that trail running is not for everyone. It’s not the family 5k. It takes some determination and a lot of heart.
When you are ready for a real challenge and you are ready to get dirty, there’s a trail with your name on it.
Mountains Punch Back!
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