NOT Running...the best thing for my health?

Running Shoes for Reggae Marathon
December 1

Walking Cast!

Yikes!

@#!!@#%%@ And a whole lot of other unprintable words come to mind when I think back on the 'incident' this past September.  It's sidelined me from running.  It may have been a lifesaver.

Progress report.  I've had the walking cast on since September 26.  Optimistically the lovely Doctor said "6 weeks then you can take it off...take it slow with running a couple of weeks after that though".

Oops...not so fast.  I'm now 8 weeks into living (walking) with the foot cast and still don't feel comfortable enough yet to take it off for long stretches.  I've been told that broken bones heal even stronger.  Still waiting for them to heal first.

Not running has been a blessing in disguise though.  Truth be told, I'd become a little obsessed with my daily running.  Not resting was definitely a contributing cause to the bone fractures.  And becoming so obsessed with faster times that led to the extreme speed workouts finished me off.  I'll be back running but I'm scared as hell of that first run.  And that is very likely not going to be until well after the Reggae Marathon.

I not really complain.  This is the first 'major' health issue I have ever faced.  I know, I know...I still have my Appendix, Tonsils and all other internal organs. Blood pressure under control.  No heart problems.  I have never had an overnight stay in the hospital!

Day surgery once but that was elective.  Ever heard of the 'Big V'?

So I guess all that running over the past 30 years has paid off.  But am I ever looking forward to that first run.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

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Follow me on Facebook at Run for Heart.  Race for 2012: Reggae Marathon, December 1.

My Reggae Marathon Running Shoes?

I do love my Pumas and with the healing going much more slowly than anticipated, 'running' the 10K at Reggae Marathon in a couple of weeks on December 1 in Negril with a Puma Boot on my left foot and foot cast on my right is looking like a real possibility.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.  I had a time goal in mind for this year's Reggae Marathon 10K:  50 minutes.  I wanted to improve over last year's time and had my training planned throughout the summer.

And it was going well up until the nasty bone fractures back in September.  Dam that concrete!

How did I get these Puma boots?  It began as all good things do...with Sally.  She wanted a pair of Pumas so we headed out to the Puma Outlet Store at the Cookstown Mall north of Toronto.  Of course, this was a near heaven experience for me:  Puma shoes...on sale!

Sally found her shoes and I found these Puma boots.  Perfect for the sloppy daily winter commute ahead in Toronto. Likely not so good for Reggae Marathon.  I'll make for a heck of a sight when we line up for Reggae Marathon in a couple of weeks:  Running tights, Puma winter boot, foot cast!  Great photo op though.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

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Follow me on Facebook at Run for Heart.  Race for 2012: Reggae Marathon, December 1.

Full price for my Reggae Marathon bathing suit!

I left it too late and paid full price.  But it's a nice bathing suit don't you think?

Since spring of this year Sally has been 'gently reminding me' to buy a new bathing suit.  The last pair I picked up at an end-of-season sale a couple of years ago and it was dead.  Sally demanded they be 'donated to garbage' and they were!  I procrastinated.  That's waaaay better than admitting that I ignored her.

She went out of her way to shop on my behalf telling me repeatedly throughout the summer of the stores that had large selections of bathing suits on sale.  Still put it off.  I was convinced I would still be able to have my choice and get a deal.

Then last week she came home with the great news that Wal Mart still had bathing suits...for $9!  Ah, ha...that's my price!  Off we went.  Oh yes, I dragged her (asked her nicely) along to come shopping with me for what was surely to be a quick in-and-out to pick up a couple of pairs and still have change from a $20.

Alas it was not to be.  They had limited selection first of all...what's with XXXL sizes?  Oh I forgot who their target customer is!  Then there was the fit.  Or lack thereof.  I tried on the first pair and even though I am not a fashionista, even I couldn't believe how badly they fit. So foot cast back on and off to Mark's Wear House.

Why I thought Mark's Wearhouse would have bathing suits is beyond me.  Sally was thankfully noticeably quiet and indulged my fantasy.  It was indeed a quick in-and-out once I noted all the winter inventory.

In exasperation we headed to the Sport Mart.  Surely they would have bathing suits.

And they did.  A grand total of 10 men's bathing suits hiding on a single end rack at the back of the store.  Brand names though and my size.

Once more into the fitting room, removed my foot cast and tried a couple of pairs on all the while desperately looking for the sale sticker.  It was not to be.

So with a nod to Sally for putting up with my silliness, I hastily paid for the new Reggae Marathon bathing suit and exited the store.  "$56...will that be cash, credit or debit" asked the perky clerk.  "Full price" I muttered to myself.  But hey, I'll look great on the beach in Negril at Reggae Marathon!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

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Follow me on Facebook at Run for Heart.  Race for 2012: Reggae Marathon, December 1.

Running topless again

Courtesy of Runner's World

I ran topless at Reggae Marathon in 2011.  Nervous at first but in the pitch black of the pre-dawn after the 5:15 am start it seemed safe enough.  And it was cool.  I mean refreshing.

Since my foot injury in September I've been swimming and running in the local pool. Topless of course.  This time no staring or shout-outs...unless the admiring glances from the 'older ladies' means anything.  Not that I notice of course...it's 6 am, I'm barely awake and it's all business.

Running in the pool seems easier than running on land at first blush.  For sure it is certainly easier on the knees and feet than pounding the pavement.  But after the last few weeks I can tell you that running in the pool is hard work!  And you don't know you're sweating!

My general workout goes like this:

• 100 metres of swimming to warm up
• 30 - 40 minutes of 'running' in the deep end
• 100 metres swimming to cool down

For the running I've used a boogie board to give me some buoyancy.  I tried a flotation belt last week and was able to simulate the full running-on-land motion.  I think I'll continue with the flotation belt...it's better for simulating the full running form.  The biggest challenge though is boredom. It's tough not to watch the clock ... time seems to go oh so slowly when I'm basically treading water for 40 minutes.  

If like me you're a die-hard runner recovering from injury (or if you just want a total body workout), I'd recommend pool running.  Here are a couple of good sites to check out:

• Good article from Runner's World on how to run in the pool properly:  Six Ways to Make Pool Running Fun
• And here is Reggae Marathoner and Olympian Carrie Tollefson's video on Pool Running:  Carrie's Pool Workout

I can't promise I'll run topless at Reggae Marathon again this December.  But to paraphrase a phrase from my Reggae Marathon friend, Bob Moore, "Once you go, you know".  And you just never know what will happen the morning of December 1 in Negril.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

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Follow me on Facebook at Run for Heart.  Race for 2012: Reggae Marathon, December 1.