The Barnya Half-Marathon Challenge (on again)
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Wednesday 26/7: Pain. Searing, crippling pain.<br />
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I turned around halfway into my run yesterday because my groin was feeling tight. It was freezing cold and I didn't want to risk anything going snap so I called it a day.<br />
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Today I had to stop after 20mins on the treadmill (albeit at high intensity) because the dull ache in my shins had gradually grown into wave after wave of unbearable pain up to my knees. Even 40mins later as I type this the pain is ongoing. I hope this isn't what I think it is...<br />
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It's obvious I'm going to have to try something low-impact for a while. How long would I have to go on a bike or a cross trainer to achieve the same conditioning as a 50-min run? Days I suppose. <br />
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I've improved my dietary habits this week. After the binge eating on the weekend I can't even look at unhealthy food and I want this to continue. My biggest challenge now is going to be getting rid of the bottle, and getting back on the open road knowing that it's going to hurt like fuck. -
Just looked up shin splints on Wikipedia and they came up with this explanation. I'm always a bit weary of their credibility so does this sound right? <br />
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[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_splints"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_splints[/url]<br />
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[quote] The purpose of the muscles of the anterior shin is to dorsiflex the foot (raise the toe). It may not be obvious why a muscle which raises the toe can be stressed or injured by running, given that it is not responsible for propulsion. The reason is that unskilled runners overstride, and land heavily on the heel with each footstrike. When this happens, the forefoot rapidly slaps down to the ground. Effectively, the foot, which is dorsiflexed prior to making contact with the ground, is forcefully extended. This forceful extension of the toe causes a corresponding rapid stretch in the attached muscles. A reflex in the muscles responds, causing a powerful contraction. It is this eccentric contraction which leads to muscle soreness and possible injury to the muscle, tendon or connective tissue.<br />
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In a similar way, pronation of the foot during the footstrike can also cause pain in the muscles which oppose pronation, on the inside of the shin. Pronation is a flattening of the arch, which happens rapidly during a running footstrike. The degree of pronation varies with the individual. It is determined by factors such as the height of the arch (a higher arch has more clearance for pronation than a low arch) and the flexibility of the arch.<br />
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It is also commonly believed that a contributing cause of shin muscle pain in some cases is the relative weakness of the muscles on the anterior of the lower leg compared to those in the calf. In this case exercises that preferentially strengthen the anterior muscles may help alleviate or avoid shin splints. The shin pain is attributed to a forced extension of the muscle, in this case by the opposing calf muscles which "overpower" the shin. [/quote]<br />
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This probably explains the troubles I'm having because I am unskilled and a number of people have told me I have a "flat-footed" running style. The fact that I'm carrying 15kg extra since my regular running days must also be putting immense pressure on my ankles and feet. -
If it's shin splints, I guess being experienced you know about the effect shoes have.<br />
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When I had my shin splints, it was after a fairly long period of basically no running. Turned out the main reason was my running style had either changed, or was always bad and badly effected my body after putting on 15kgs...<br />
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But anyway, turned out I was basically only using my calves for running, or mainly my calves. Had to change my running style to incorporate the glutes, hip flexors and thighs a lot more (also doing a lot of core work).<br />
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Might want to go see a podiatrist/bio-mechanist? -
Yeah I was considering that, it's probably a combo of awkward running style and excess weight.<br />
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I doubt it's the shoes because I've always used the same brand and they haven't given me grief before; my father also wore them throughout his running days and ran 20+ marathons without any problems. They're Asics by the way.<br />
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I'm just gonna have a couple of days of low-impact exercise then try again and hope the pain is gone. -
[quote name='Barnya']<br />
I turned around halfway into my run yesterday because my groin was feeling tight. [/quote]<br />
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For fuck's sake, that is the most pathetic excuse I've heard for a while. You probably just had a little stiffie. Stop whinging. When MvJ said get hard he did not mean this. <br />
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On a similar note you probably have sore legs because you tried to go for a run, in circumstances where you've eaten like a fucking pig all weekend and you're extremely fat. I'm not surprised your legs are sore. They fucking should be! So if you can't run, get off Wiki and go and do some pressups or something. <br />
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Jesus, you're making Aunty Emma cross. -
[quote name='Miller V Jackson']<br />
[quote name='Barnya']<br />
I turned around halfway into my run yesterday because my groin was feeling tight. [/quote]<br />
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For fuck's sake, that is the most pathetic excuse I've heard for a while. You probably just had a little stiffie. Stop whinging. When MvJ said get hard he did not mean this. [/quote]<br />
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Don't be stupid, it's better to be safe than pick up an injury that rules me out of the HM.<br />
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[quote name='Miller V Jackson']<br />
On a similar note you probably have sore legs because you tried to go for a run, in circumstances where you've eaten like a fucking pig all weekend and you're extremely fat. I'm not surprised your legs are sore. They fucking should be! So if you can't run, get off Wiki and go and do some pressups or something. [/quote]<br />
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Sir, yes sir. -
Good boy.
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Ok, have done 50 crunches and 50 push ups this evening (5 sets of 10 each), someone will have to explain to me how this is of benefit? Turning flab straight into ab?<br />
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Breakfast: bowl of muesli<br />
Lunch: chicken and vege foccacia<br />
Dinner: chicken curry (with low-fat coconut milk) and rice<br />
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Snacking: one muesli bar, one toffee pop, one apple. That was the last toffee pop so I can kiss those bad boys goodbye.<br />
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In another development, I bought a bulk bag of nuts and raisins. A mate of mine said they're a good thing to graze on and high in energy. Here's the label, someone appraise this for me:<br />
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Nutritional info per 100g:<br />
Energy 1700kj<br />
Protein 13.2g<br />
Total fat 27.2g<br />
Saturated fat 3.7g<br />
Carbohydrate 49.4g (sugars 42.1g)<br />
Sodium 22.2mg<br />
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Which means 4/5 of sweet FA to me. -
I dunno anything out those numbers things, and whenever someone tries to explain it to me my eyes glaze over. I just look at the saturated fat number, and figure a small number is better than a big number. <br />
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My diet book said, on the one hand eat 15 different kinds of fruits, veges and nuts a day and, on the other, stay off the dried fruit <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' /> MvJ has compromised; I eat a packet of sultanas a day (yes, it's like playlunch at school) and a handful of unsalted peanuts occasionally. That's worked for me. -
[quote name='Barnya']<br />
Ok, have done 50 crunches and 50 push ups this evening (5 sets of 10 each), someone will have to explain to me how this is of benefit? Turning flab straight into ab?<br />
<br />
Breakfast: bowl of muesli<br />
Lunch: chicken and vege foccacia<br />
Dinner: chicken curry (with low-fat coconut milk) and rice<br />
<br />
Snacking: one muesli bar, one toffee pop, one apple. That was the last toffee pop so I can kiss those bad boys goodbye.<br />
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In another development, I bought a bulk bag of nuts and raisins. A mate of mine said they're a good thing to graze on and high in energy. Here's the label, someone appraise this for me:<br />
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Nutritional info per 100g:<br />
Energy 1700kj<br />
Protein 13.2g<br />
Total fat 27.2g<br />
Saturated fat 3.7g<br />
Carbohydrate 49.4g (sugars 42.1g)<br />
Sodium 22.2mg<br />
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Which means 4/5 of sweet FA to me.<br />
[/quote]<br />
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nuts are full of fat, which isn't terribly conducive to fat burning -
Yeah, nuts are like about 50% fat. So are chips. MvJ would rather have chips.
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I thought I read something about nuts having good fat in them, as opposed to saturated fat?
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I'm sure that's right; see my comments about MvJ's eyes glazing over above.
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[quote name='Miller V Jackson']<br />
Yeah, nuts are like about 50% fat. So are chips. MvJ would rather have chips. <br />
[/quote]I'd go with 27.2%. Just a guess mind...<br />
[quote]Nutritional info per 100g:<br />
Energy 1700kj<br />
Protein 13.2g<br />
Total fat [b]27.2g[/b]<br />
Saturated fat 3.7g<br />
Carbohydrate 49.4g (sugars 42.1g)<br />
Sodium 22.2mg<br />
[/quote]High in fat, high in carbs....but are supposed to be good? I can look at the numbers but really I think I'm MvJ's eyes. -
[quote name='Barnya']<br />
Ok, have done 50 crunches and 50 push ups this evening (5 sets of 10 each), someone will have to explain to me how this is of benefit? Turning flab straight into ab?<br />
<br />
Breakfast: bowl of muesli<br />
Lunch: chicken and vege foccacia<br />
Dinner: chicken curry (with low-fat coconut milk) and rice<br />
<br />
Snacking: one muesli bar, one toffee pop, one apple. That was the last toffee pop so I can kiss those bad boys goodbye.<br />
<br />
In another development, I bought a bulk bag of nuts and raisins. A mate of mine said they're a good thing to graze on and high in energy. Here's the label, someone appraise this for me:<br />
<br />
Nutritional info per 100g:<br />
Energy 1700kj<br />
Protein 13.2g<br />
Total fat 27.2g<br />
Saturated fat 3.7g<br />
Carbohydrate 49.4g (sugars 42.1g)<br />
Sodium 22.2mg<br />
<br />
Which means 4/5 of sweet FA to me.<br />
[/quote]<br />
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fark me that's got some crazy amount of sugar in there for nuts! are they sugar coated nuts!?<br />
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nuts shouldn't really have any sugar in them that number is crazy high! -
Yeah that's weird isn't it Willy? They're raw, untreated nuts, with some raisins and sultanas into the mix. I think the label is bollocks but I've started grazing on them anyways, will let you know if I get a sugar high.
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what are you trying to do, lose weight or put in an amazing time on this run ?<br />
you will lose weight if you run but your diet should be geared towards allowing you to get optimal performance, not losing weight (if your finishing time is your objective).<br />
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you should experiment with some different foods and the timings in which you eat them... for me, i find a granola bar gives me tonnes of energy - if i eat one of these 90 minutes before i run, i feel i can run for as long as i like. if i only have fruit, i fizz out after 40 mins or so...<br />
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also post nutrition is v important, i used to have some fruit for quick carbs but have recently started making shakes and have found my recovery speed has improved dramatically... i find i no longer ache after long runs, i no longer get that exhausted feeling the next day... it could also be something to do with my improvement in fitness but it literally starting happening the day i started using these shakes.<br />
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re shin splints, i've found this website good for other runners advice on all things to do with running <br />
[url="http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=933&v=1&sp="]http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/arti ... 33&v=1&sp=[/url] -
[quote name='BartMan']<br />
barnya - yo8u had a shit weekend again didn't you.<br />
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Sort it out man, get running!!<br />
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Well my eating was fine but I did drink far far too much both nights...<br />
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Got a snog though <br />
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Also played a full game of poofball on Sat morning and found my fitness had improved massively. Despite still being drunk from the night before, I was all over the park and feeling fine, got in a couple of brutal slide tackles and set up the winner with a deft 1-2 to put a teammate through on goal.<br />
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Went for a 7km run yesterday and felt really good, it was warm, sun was out, smell of freshly mown grass in the air, and shin splints but a painful memory. Until I'd stopped running that is, so the lesson there...don't stop running!<br />
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Tried my belt on today and to my surprise can tighten it to the 3rd notch....first time in ages!<br />
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Cheers for those tips Phonetia, in answer to you're question I'm going to try and put in an amazing time, but I feel that is largely contingent upon losing weight. -
Ahh... the Bartman belt test. Now you're talking Barnya.