Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Solo on the Track
I was very happy with tonight's Gate City Striders track workout. It was a somewhat chilly night and all the the guys who I usually do intervals with are getting ready for the Reach the Beach Relay this weekend (good luck guys!) or otherwise just didn't show up. I HATE running "fast" by myself. I need someone to push me and keep me on pace. In all my years of running, I have never been able to run intervals using my own pacing and do it well. Tonight I think I did. The workout was 1600 meters (I did 5:46), 1200m (4:21), 800m (2:51), 800m (2:53), 400m (81), and then 200m (are you crazy?- nothing good is going to come out of me running a 200m- I skipped that one). Thanks to Justin Soucy for timing my splits. I am thrilled that I kept on a good pace throughout the workout. Now I just have to figure out how to do the same in a race!
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4 comments:
Hi Jim,
Thanks for posting all the helpful information about recovering your stride. I've been battling similar issues of imbalances in my back and hip. Like you, I've come to realize that most of the hard work of "fixing" my stride can only be done by me, but once in a while a good professional (massage therapist, PT, etc.) can help a lot. Do you have any recommendations for good sports therapists in the NH/southern ME or Boston areas (I just moved to ME, work in NH-I'm willing to travel to go to someone good!) Thanks so much(s_aytur@yahoo.com).
Hi,
I wish had a name to give you, maybe someone else from the area can chime in with a good recommendation. I haven't been to a massage therapist im over a year. I know one local therapist where you can get a good basic sports massage, but not if you are looking for someone that goes beyond just stiff muscles. I know another that on the right day knew all the stretches, techniques, and other stuff that could really fix you up well and balance out leg and hip levels. At other times you didn't know where this person was coming from and you ended up listening to personal complaints the whole time.
If I knew someone good it might help me along with all the positive gains I have made with the Feldenkraias.
As a long shot, I once met elite runner Jenn Toomey after a race where she and her husband Mike where giving massages. Mike does ART (active release) and massage. I have never visited them (in Mass), but I thought massage and ART would be a good combination. There site was called Toomey Sports but I can't get their webpage to work so maybe they moved.
If you find someone good, let me know.
And what is the "hard work" you are doing to fix your stride? I am really liking the Feldenkrais I do as it teaches me movement patterns on a basic level (leaving me feeling loose) but I am always curious as to what works for others.
Good luck,
Jim
Thanks so much. Most of what I've done has involved a combination of ART, deep tissue massage (various people and techniques), and acupuncture. I also have back and SI joint issues, so for a while it was hard to find anything that didn't make everything worse. I did a lot of PT (some of which, in hindsight, also may have made things worse) because I didn't have the flexibility to do certain things). Now I'm basically doing some of the PT exercises, combined with things I made up on my own (which feel like the they may be related to "resistance stretching", but I just ordered the DVD so I don't really know...). I probably will always need some kind of bodywork once in a while, though. If I find anyone good, I'll let you know. I haven't tried Feldenkrais-do you that with a trainer, or on your own?
Real quick Feldenkrais is gentle movements to restore and retrain the brain to move muscles and joints correctly. The movements are subtle and slow but the brain catches on (no straining or unnatural movements like Yoga or stretching). I am finding it helpful and mind opening as I relearn movements patterns. I have found that there are two ways to do it: with a practitioner or with ATM guided lessons. I went to a practitioner once. He was great. He is in Portsmouth, but I have not been able to go back and the lessons I am finding online are working for me. I have been planning to do a post (maybe next week) on what I have found that is free. Plus what I am reading. I have posted some here already if you search Feldenkrais on my blog. It may take awhile for all the changes to take root but I can see where it is going and I can do the work at home. I have found that the imbalance come from tightness in the ribs and torso (which affect my hips and legs). Despite that I still have a left glute or SI joint problem (after hard runs) and due to the wonkiness in my foot or hip (or ribs) and I need to find the right tweak for that I a will be well on my way. I think that may me found in movements that have worked from resistance stretching or muscle energy technique like in the Malignment Syndrome book and videos, but I just haven't figured out how to do the right one at the right time and with the right intensity. Feldenkrais makes me feel loose and flexible without strain, but it may not be for everyone. I am getting away from beating up my body with foam rollers, hard massage balls, and static stretching.
Jim
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