M.O.R.E.: What a Pain!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

What a Pain!

Lately I've been experiencing pain in my calves, particularly in my right calf for a few months. According to an article in Runner's World, it probably has to do with the hills we've been running. I also noticed the correlation with the amount of hill running we do and the amount of pain I'm in afterwards. The solution: stretch 10 times a day and wear running shoes with chunkier heels. Well, I'll stretch more, but I'm not giving up my Newtons. While I was researching what could be causing my calf pain, I came upon this article about toe nails and why they sometimes turn black and fall off. I heard of this happening to marathoners quite frequently, but I've never had that problem myself. However, my two regular running partners seem to suffer from this condition quite often. We've talked about why they seem to have this problem and I never do even though we pretty much run the same amount of miles. As it turns out, it's not so much mileage, but their shoes. I've been telling them that their shoes are too tight all along. Perhaps this article will convince them before they buy their next pair of shoes!

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-285--13054-0,00.html

5 comments:

Patty said...: I have read this article before and I do know that some of my toenail problems are caused by my shoes. I have lost two toenails since we ran the half marathon and I am convinced those were caused by the shoes I have now. I have one "black" toenail that the podiatrist told me will not heal unless I stop running because it is on the toe near the big toe and it is a bit longer so it takes the force when I run. I try to keep them shorter and get regular pedicures but that is the best I can do. I am ready for new shoes for sure! I am sure your hike was not good for your calves either. I hope they start to feel better, what about ice?; April 14, 2009 at 4:49 PM
marathon mom said...: Yeah, I read that I should ice them, but I also read that I should try wrapping them in an ace. Yeah right. Can you see me running around with an ace bandage on my leg? As for your toenails, I didn't realize you lost THAT many since the half. It never made sense to me why you and "C" had that problem and I didn't. As for the one toe next to the big one being longer, mine are too and I still don't have that problem. Try buying a half size bigger, especially asics because they tend to run a little smaller anyways.; April 14, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Patty said...: I will not buy Asics again! Hopefully that doesn't affect our advertising revenue. Do you think you might consider doing the SCR's Towsley Cyn. run if your calves are feeling better? Get some of that bright pink wrap from Dr. B and you will be quite coordinated on your runs. I had a problem walking out of the office with my feet wrapped so I do hear you on that one, as soon as I hit the car I ripped it off!; April 14, 2009 at 5:45 PM
marathon mom said...: We are probably now blacklisted by Asics for your previous remarks, so I can publicly say I've never liked Asics. I have never found a pair to fit me right. As for Towsley, I did it one year and it was fun, but really tough especially with the dog. Unfortunately, my #1 son has a game that morning and so now I am torn between watching him play or going running. At least it's not a race that we have to pre-register. We can just show up that morning.; April 14, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Claire said...: I just bought a pair of Adidas that are so comfy!! Love them! And I guess this is the benefit to my weird, short toes-no toenail problems.

I do the same thing and buy bigger shoes. That way my toes are farther back in the shoe, away from the pointy front. But I just generally have weird feet to begin with, and love running shoes since they hide my feet away from the unsuspecting public.; April 15, 2009 at 7:25 PM

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Favorite Trails

South Fork 3.1: Start from dirt parking lot on Magic Mtn Pkway and run to the loop at Wiley Bridge and return the same way.

Tesoro 3.25: Start in Albertson parking lot and take sidewalk/trail until it ends and then enter the water tower road to the top two towers where the ends. Return the same way.

Chesebrough 3.25/4.60: From Chesebrough Park, N. to Copperhill, So. on Bike Trail, turn around at Decoro, back up trail to power lines to bridge at park. Turn around at Heritage will give you 4.6 miles.

Chesebrough 3.5: Chesebrough Park down to McBean, south to Northpark Dr., the paseo trailhead. Take the paseo to Helmers and back. Very hilly.

Bridgeport 4.0: Fairly flat, run toward Lowes and under Bouquet bridge to RiverPark community until you reach the closed gates and return. For a hilly run, go north into Helmers and run up the paseo switchbacks into Northpark where the paseo ends and return the same way.

Chesebrough 4.0: N. to Copperhill to west side of river trail, run S. on Bike Trail past Decoro bridge, across Decoro to the east side of river trail, up back to power lines trail, back to park.

Chesebrough 4.0: From park down power line trail to Heritage Park and back same way.

Bridgeport 4.0: From School, cross McBean via bridge or street and head into industrial center on Ave. Scott Bridge and enter bike trail going south toward the train bridge. Turn around at train bridge and return same way or cross the bridge and head toward Peet's after crossing train bridge and back onto the Lowes Trail.

Heritage 4.0: From park, run up bike trail to Decoro, over McBean Bridge into Helmers, and into Bridgeport through lake trail back to park. Can be done in reverse. Moderately hilly.

Chesebrough 4.25: Chesebrough north to Copperhill, left to Albertson side of bike trail. Run south on trail to Decoro and cross over bridge and head north all the way to Copperhill on east side of river trail and back to the park the same way as started.

Cheese/Decoro/Helmers 4.25: From the park, down dirt trail to bike path, south to Decoro. Leave bike path at Decoro and cross paseo bridge at McBean. Stay on paseo up hill towards Helmers. Run up water tower trail once then continue on to switchbacks and paseos back to park.

Heritage/Bridgeport 3.3: Heritage Park south to McBean Bridge @ Panera. Cross and head toward Lowes bike trail and head east toward Bridgeport Park. Halfway mark is at park bathroom, head back by entering trail along the lake and back onto the bridge.

Lowes 4.25: Lowe's parking lot to McBean, cross the bridge and to South Fork. At Valencia Bridge, enter trail behind Hart Baseball diamonds. Continue on trail to Bouquet and across the bridge on the east side and back under the bridge again towards Lowes.

Peet's & Decoro 5.2: Peet's Coffee to train bridge path; to Decoro and across bridge; back down McBean side of bike trail back to Peete's.

Peet's & Wiley 6.0: Start at Peet's Coffee and head east toward South Fork trail and past the Wiley Bridge. Keep running another 200 yards to where the trail forks left and right. Turn back same way.

Peet's & Copperhill 6.0: From Peet's to bike trail heading north to Copperhill and back.

Albertson 7.0: From the Albertson parking lot on Copperhill, enter the westside bike trail and head south until the train bridge. Return the same way.

Peet's 8.5: Run to Copperhill on east side of river trail and return via train bridge on other side.

Lowes 10: Start in the Lowes parking lot. Enter the bike trail heading west. At McBean, cross the bridge and head east toward SouthFork trail. Continue on trail until you come to the Wiley bridge and head back the same way.

McBean 14: This route can be done from anywhere along the trail route. Starting from McDonald's across the post office, run to the end of the South Fork trail and return the same way, cross the McBean bridge and run on the Lowes trail until you hit Bridgeport Elementary and then cross Newhall Ranch via the bridge or street and run back towards McBean. Continue north on McBean until you hit Copperhill. At Copperhill, cross McBean and enter San Francisquito bike trail and run south on the trail until you are back at McDonalds.