Sunday, January 14, 2007

Flexible Ankles? Prevent Shin Splints?

Is it really that simple?

It seems every time I read from Arthur Lydiard's book, Running to the top, I pick something up that I either missed or didn't pay enough attention to the first time. My most read section, of course, is a really small section about shin splints. The best prevention is flexible ankles.

Tight ankle and calf muscles prevent flexible ankles. Massage therapy may loosen the muscles up, but once every 3 weeks is not enough and I can't afford to do that every day. So what can I do to keep those muscles relaxed and loose?
Stretching only after a run isn't enough. Calcium magnesium supplement doesn't seem to be enough. I finally dropped drinking coffee or anything with caffeine last week. That has helped too. I am going to do something else that Arthur mentions in his book every day; calf raises. I am also going to try and do some ankle exercises from my physio last summer. Some consistency in my running might also help.







As you can see I have been all over the map in mileage (in kilometers) for the last couple of months. This may also explain some of my weight gain.

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Gotta get the train back on track

I have been really busy lately and a not very motivated. I think that the biggest reason has to do with me trying to sell my house. I rarely travel for work any more so my current arrangement (me staying in Toronto and then going home to Exeter on the weekends) no longer makes sense. I have a house in Whitby that is conditional upon the sale of my house in Exeter. It is a little stressful.
My legs have not improved to "perfection". I expected to have no pain or inflammation (or very little) in my shins after running. I am coming to the point of "not giving a shit" anymore and will train regardless. This doesn't mean I should be stupid about it. I will do a number of different things to reduce it:
- MSM supplement,
- Ice baths every once in a while, (not every run)
- Hot/Cold on the legs after some runs, (which I stopped because someone told me not to, but it works for me)
- Ice cubs on the shins,
- cross train
- slow doubles

I think I have enough of a routine down, now I just have to get consistent again.
That I think requires some goal setting.

I plan to run in the runner's choice runs next year even though I am planning on moving to Whitby, my family and wife's family live in the Exeter area.

The first race is April 6, 2006 which is a 5k.

I have put on some pounds (165) by not watching what I eat. I want to get that down to 155 by the spring. 4 months, 2.5lbs each month.