Monday, April 15, 2013
Ed's Response to the Boston Marathon Bombing
“It is very sad that our favorite sport has been brutally attacked! Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected by this tragedy. Running Boston, in my opinion, has always been the pinnacle goal of many American runners, including yours truly. Just like with other tragic events in this country, this incident will strengthen our resolve as runners and Americans, to defeat the evil whose attempts are to instill fear in everyone. We will not be beaten!”
Friday, March 15, 2013
Notes From The Foot Whisperer - The Wrath of Injuries
Hi all! It’s starting to sound like a broken record. But it seems yours truly is fighting through an injury…..again! I made one of those mistakes that seem to haunt us all. I decided to ramp up my mileage and tempo runs faster than my body could handle. With a pulled sacroiliac as the result. It has been a tough recovery watching all of my friends increasing their mileage, while I am basically hiking and stretching. But injuries happen.
And Spring is almost here! At least that is what the calendar says. The robins are back, albeit a little cold and upset that they can’t find worms in frozen soil. The track teams are sweeping the snow off their tracks in preparation of a new season. And I can start to see some red buds on the maples. So for all of you marathoners and half-marathoners, the runs will get easier.
Just a little note to all of the track and field people out there: These next couple of weeks are very critical to your overall efforts for a successful season. About two weeks after the season starts, we start seeing more and more athletes coming in with shin splints. Called tibial stress syndrome, shin splints are often a harbinger of things to come, if not treated immediately. They may be caused by irritated and swollen muscles from overuse, small hairline breaks in the lower leg bones, or over-stretched muscles from overpronation. And if they develop into a stress fracture, your season will end early. Be aware of the signs, a dull aching pain in the front of the lower leg. If you feel you may be developing shin splints, there are a few items and exercises that may help. Icing the leg for 20-30 minutes will help keep the swelling down. Additionally, range of motion exercises are important. And you may want to try compression socks or sleeves. We have also found that rolling a foam roller or Stick on the painful areas will help to break up any damaged tissue that builds up in the shins. And obviously, look at the shoes. If you don’t have an arch support and/or an orthotic, it may be wise to stop at your local specialty store to see if that may help.
Here’s hoping that Spring brings success in your running, and warmer brighter days!
Happy running.
~Ed
And Spring is almost here! At least that is what the calendar says. The robins are back, albeit a little cold and upset that they can’t find worms in frozen soil. The track teams are sweeping the snow off their tracks in preparation of a new season. And I can start to see some red buds on the maples. So for all of you marathoners and half-marathoners, the runs will get easier.
Just a little note to all of the track and field people out there: These next couple of weeks are very critical to your overall efforts for a successful season. About two weeks after the season starts, we start seeing more and more athletes coming in with shin splints. Called tibial stress syndrome, shin splints are often a harbinger of things to come, if not treated immediately. They may be caused by irritated and swollen muscles from overuse, small hairline breaks in the lower leg bones, or over-stretched muscles from overpronation. And if they develop into a stress fracture, your season will end early. Be aware of the signs, a dull aching pain in the front of the lower leg. If you feel you may be developing shin splints, there are a few items and exercises that may help. Icing the leg for 20-30 minutes will help keep the swelling down. Additionally, range of motion exercises are important. And you may want to try compression socks or sleeves. We have also found that rolling a foam roller or Stick on the painful areas will help to break up any damaged tissue that builds up in the shins. And obviously, look at the shoes. If you don’t have an arch support and/or an orthotic, it may be wise to stop at your local specialty store to see if that may help.
Here’s hoping that Spring brings success in your running, and warmer brighter days!
Happy running.
~Ed
Friday, February 8, 2013
Note From The Foot Whisperer - A Runner's Best Friend
I’ve written in the past about running with Lazlo, our store mascot, Vice President of Customer Relations, and the most loveable Black Lab you’d ever meet! And he is a joy to run with, especially on the trails. I started looking into which dogs are the most suited for the long run. And I found out some interesting facts:
- For a S.U.D. (Sport Utility Dog), you can’t beat a German Short Hair! Originally bread to assist hunters, these dogs are energetic, enthusiastic, and have the stamina to run for long stretches. - For interval training, the Whippet is the champ! They are sprinters, and so you can’t take them for very long runs. But they are fantastic for speed workouts! Not as fast as a Greyhound, they still possess tons of energy! - Siberian Husky – We’ve all seen or read about the Iditarod in the Yukon. The Husky is the champion marathoner. Not only can it run for hours on end. But it can adapt to any climate. The coat insulates both in winter as well as summer. - Smooth Fox Terrier – Another dog, first bred as a hunter, has energy, speed and endurance. - Border Collie – A quick thinker, they are one of the more intelligent canines of the work dogs. Great companions, they’ll run circles around you!
It seems every time I run with Lazlo, I always have a story to tell afterwards. It wasn’t too long ago, we were running in the mountains of south central PA along the old Forbes road on a cold sub-freezing Sunday. And being a Lab, Lazlo loves to snoop around. Well, he found a nice frozen pond, where the ice was maybe 1/8 of an inch thick. Again, being a Lab, it wasn’t too long before he was playfully swimming around in bone-chilling water like it was the first day of Summer! Needless to say, he was full of ice cycles on the run back! Gotta love those dogs!
~Ed
- For a S.U.D. (Sport Utility Dog), you can’t beat a German Short Hair! Originally bread to assist hunters, these dogs are energetic, enthusiastic, and have the stamina to run for long stretches. - For interval training, the Whippet is the champ! They are sprinters, and so you can’t take them for very long runs. But they are fantastic for speed workouts! Not as fast as a Greyhound, they still possess tons of energy! - Siberian Husky – We’ve all seen or read about the Iditarod in the Yukon. The Husky is the champion marathoner. Not only can it run for hours on end. But it can adapt to any climate. The coat insulates both in winter as well as summer. - Smooth Fox Terrier – Another dog, first bred as a hunter, has energy, speed and endurance. - Border Collie – A quick thinker, they are one of the more intelligent canines of the work dogs. Great companions, they’ll run circles around you!
It seems every time I run with Lazlo, I always have a story to tell afterwards. It wasn’t too long ago, we were running in the mountains of south central PA along the old Forbes road on a cold sub-freezing Sunday. And being a Lab, Lazlo loves to snoop around. Well, he found a nice frozen pond, where the ice was maybe 1/8 of an inch thick. Again, being a Lab, it wasn’t too long before he was playfully swimming around in bone-chilling water like it was the first day of Summer! Needless to say, he was full of ice cycles on the run back! Gotta love those dogs!
~Ed
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Notes From The Foot Whisperer: Angel vs. Devil
Here I am at the computer composing my second edition of 2013. It’s mid-January, and I opened the door to let in some warm air. What??! Yep, that’s right. Springtime in January. What a fantastic day to run! And yours truly didn’t get my long run in yesterday with the run group. So I made a point of getting up extra early, putting on all of my high visibility clothing and lights, and heading out the door for a long run. In 60 degrees!
Now admittedly, I am a “Penguin” (ala John Bingham). I’m all about enjoying the run. If I can push it a bit up hills, or on a ladder training, all the better. But today was all about enjoying the run and my surroundings. At 7:00 am on a Sunday, there isn’t a car in sight. And so I had an extra bonus of being able to listen to the birds chirp, and the snow-melt swollen streams ripple. Time to get a 90 minute run in before heading to the store. An hour into my run, and I felt great! Another 20 minutes later, and I felt even better! Time to let my intuition get the best of me, and add more miles than I planned. After all, everything was fine. And I felt fantastic. That little devil was telling me to throw common sense to the wind, and continue the run. While the more rationale section of my brain said, “Whoa! No more than 10% increase in mileage per week!”
Darn! Common sense won the argument, and I retired to the showers having gotten a grand early morning workout under my belt. One of these days, I’m going to listen to that little devil!
~Ed
Now admittedly, I am a “Penguin” (ala John Bingham). I’m all about enjoying the run. If I can push it a bit up hills, or on a ladder training, all the better. But today was all about enjoying the run and my surroundings. At 7:00 am on a Sunday, there isn’t a car in sight. And so I had an extra bonus of being able to listen to the birds chirp, and the snow-melt swollen streams ripple. Time to get a 90 minute run in before heading to the store. An hour into my run, and I felt great! Another 20 minutes later, and I felt even better! Time to let my intuition get the best of me, and add more miles than I planned. After all, everything was fine. And I felt fantastic. That little devil was telling me to throw common sense to the wind, and continue the run. While the more rationale section of my brain said, “Whoa! No more than 10% increase in mileage per week!”
Darn! Common sense won the argument, and I retired to the showers having gotten a grand early morning workout under my belt. One of these days, I’m going to listen to that little devil!
~Ed
Friday, January 4, 2013
Notes From The Foot Whisperer - Reaching That Runner's High
Well, today I ventured into single digit temperatures to get my morning run in. And aside from the occasional stare from passers-by, I quickly placed myself in that warm, sun-filled world in my head. I don’t know for sure. But I’ve heard often times that the pace of a run can get you into a “runner’s high.” And I’ve experienced it many times while running. Although lately it hasn’t happened nearly as often.
The mind is powerful. And the power of suggestion can take you across the finish line! I know that from first hand experience. Running my first marathon seemed unapproachable. But training helps get the mind used to the miles. And on that day, all seemed well until I hit the 18-mile mark. It was then that this dependable training tool, the mind, started playing tricks on me! I remember telling myself, “18 miles! I still have 8 miles to go!” Panic mode! Somehow, I forced myself across the finish line.
Fast forward six years to marathon number two. I felt the same through every phase and every mile. Until I reached the infamous 18-mile mark. But something quite unexpected occurred. In my mind, instead of still having 8 miles to go, I only had 8 miles to go. It carried me across the finish line as if I had wings!
Let your mind work for you, not against you!
~Ed
The mind is powerful. And the power of suggestion can take you across the finish line! I know that from first hand experience. Running my first marathon seemed unapproachable. But training helps get the mind used to the miles. And on that day, all seemed well until I hit the 18-mile mark. It was then that this dependable training tool, the mind, started playing tricks on me! I remember telling myself, “18 miles! I still have 8 miles to go!” Panic mode! Somehow, I forced myself across the finish line.
Fast forward six years to marathon number two. I felt the same through every phase and every mile. Until I reached the infamous 18-mile mark. But something quite unexpected occurred. In my mind, instead of still having 8 miles to go, I only had 8 miles to go. It carried me across the finish line as if I had wings!
Let your mind work for you, not against you!
~Ed
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Notes From The Foot Whisperer - A New Year's Challenge and a Wish!
Since we're all about staying fit, and most runners like new challenges, we thought it would be fun to put out a little New Year's Resolution challenge. We welcome you to join us at Up-N-Running for our group runs and walks. And starting Saturday, January 5, Up-N-Running will challenge you to meet your New Year's Resolution. Since a resolution can encompass many different things, we will keep it in one of three categories: Run-related, fitness-related, or weight loss. We ask you to write down your resolution and put it in a sealed envelope (Please make it challenging - It is an honor system). Drop it off at our group run on Saturday, January 5. And we ask that you perform a reasonable amount of participation with the run group (Honor system!). In return, come December, 2013, we will have a small party where the sealed envelopes will be opened. If you met and exceeded your resolution, we will give you a $50.00 gift certificate to Up-N-Running!
As I indicated, it has to be a bit of a challenge. And more important, hopefully something that continues through the years, maybe even through life. I will let all in on my resolution. And it has to do with both weight loss and run-related. I have run a few marathons. And so my goal isn’t to run another (Although I will be running Pittsburgh again for the Alzheimer’s Association, my favorite charity). As I near my 60th birthday, my goal is to run at least 1000 miles for 2013. And to lose 20 pounds in that time period. So I will record my miles every day. And I will weigh myself in on January 1.
If you plan on running your first marathon or half marathon, you definitely want to join us! Our coach is the greatest. And the group has fun training together. If your goal is something other than the marathon or half, you still can join us as we will have other distances in both running and walking.
Are you up for the challenge?
And my New Years Wish for all! We at Up-N-Running thank you all for your support over 2012. We hope your experience here has been pleasant, educational, and you have been very satisfied with our service and staff. We look forward to continued service to the community in 2013. And hope all of your goals for the New Year are met.
I do want to also thank our staff. It just doesn’t work without these knowledgeable and passionate runners!
Have a Very Happy New Year!
~Ed
As I indicated, it has to be a bit of a challenge. And more important, hopefully something that continues through the years, maybe even through life. I will let all in on my resolution. And it has to do with both weight loss and run-related. I have run a few marathons. And so my goal isn’t to run another (Although I will be running Pittsburgh again for the Alzheimer’s Association, my favorite charity). As I near my 60th birthday, my goal is to run at least 1000 miles for 2013. And to lose 20 pounds in that time period. So I will record my miles every day. And I will weigh myself in on January 1.
If you plan on running your first marathon or half marathon, you definitely want to join us! Our coach is the greatest. And the group has fun training together. If your goal is something other than the marathon or half, you still can join us as we will have other distances in both running and walking.
Are you up for the challenge?
And my New Years Wish for all! We at Up-N-Running thank you all for your support over 2012. We hope your experience here has been pleasant, educational, and you have been very satisfied with our service and staff. We look forward to continued service to the community in 2013. And hope all of your goals for the New Year are met.
I do want to also thank our staff. It just doesn’t work without these knowledgeable and passionate runners!
Have a Very Happy New Year!
~Ed
Friday, December 21, 2012
Notes From The Foot Whisperer - The Solitary Runner
The holidays are now here. The hustle and bustle of people making their way through the stores trying to find that perfect gift. It can be overwhelming! And it is no different for yours truly. There are deadlines to meet and people to visit. And here I was with all of that hovering over me. Plus I had to get my newsletter out. What to do?
What else? Go for a run! With my Breath Thermo and Elmer Fudd running hat on, I ventured into the dark, overcast, snowy/rainy streets in my neighborhood. What a refreshing run! Not only did I get my mandatory 5000 meters in. But I cleared my head of all the clutter to concentrate on what really matters; family, friends, the true meaning of the Holiday, and to reflect on the times we live in. I won’t dwell on the dreadful current events. But only to say that our deep felt thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families of those touched by the Connecticut tragedy. Keep them all in your prayers.
Everyone at Up-N-Running wish you and yours the most blessed and peaceful Christmas!
~Ed
What else? Go for a run! With my Breath Thermo and Elmer Fudd running hat on, I ventured into the dark, overcast, snowy/rainy streets in my neighborhood. What a refreshing run! Not only did I get my mandatory 5000 meters in. But I cleared my head of all the clutter to concentrate on what really matters; family, friends, the true meaning of the Holiday, and to reflect on the times we live in. I won’t dwell on the dreadful current events. But only to say that our deep felt thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families of those touched by the Connecticut tragedy. Keep them all in your prayers.
Everyone at Up-N-Running wish you and yours the most blessed and peaceful Christmas!
~Ed
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