Oct 24, 06 - Running update!

Looking for answers to runner’s common pains I run into an interesting article that may not only be helpful to runners but cyclists as well. “Pain on the outside of the knee” I normally get this pain when I ride for long distances at steady pace , at least 80 miles or more (mostly on the river bed). Now has appeared when I run more than 5 miles or if I run too slow!
You should always consult a doctor first! But here is one article that at least on my case closes resemble my symptoms! “Iliotibial Band Syndrome”. This article gives enough information to implement some degree of “try at your own risk”.
Be aware that the there are articles on line that associate cyclist pain on the out side of the knee with incorrect cleat position. Do your own research and talk to your doctor!

Here is a bunch more information about Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Oct 23, 06 - Bike accident? Be prepare!

This past Sunday during our club ride we received the bad news that one of the riders of Saturday group was involved on an accident. The event is reported in detail on Stan’s blog. I decided to post it on my blog to take the opportunity to give you an update of my past encounter with a car. My accident involved a person pulling out of their driveway right in front of me. He was in a hurry in simply did not see me coming. It was so sudden and in short proximity that I did even have time to apply the brakes. Well the latest is, that the insurance company of the person that pull in front of me is trying to put part of the blame on me by saying that I had time to stop. In other words I decided to just simple crash with the car. It is not only an insult to my intelligence but also stupid. I could stop but it was better to crash with the car with my helmet as my only protection! Grrrrrrr!

I decided not to retain an attorney, an action that I now regret! They have absolutely have no proof that I could stop. So now they are putting some of the blame on me! It is just a bully tactic! The lesson out all of this? Unfortunately you may need professional representation. Unless you have the time and the know how to deal with them. I do not recommend it!

Here are some tips that may help! Preparing before the accident happens!

Oct 8, 06 - Pain from running!

As expected, new pains from running have appeared! So should I quit and go back to my bicycle? It is not realistic to expect that there won’t be any injuries from running, or from any other sport. More likely I am at fault for just hitting the road without any technique or education in the subject. One thing is for sure, I can not afford a coach so I am left to the zillions articles and books written on this matter.

What better place to start than where it hurts! Two places for now, the shin and the outside point of the hip. So what causes pain in this area? Do I have a very bad running form? While running at the local community college track, I watched people running. The mechanics looks all the same to me. To my untrained eye there is no difference to how I run. Hmm… So everybody is on pain?

Years ago I read an article about the “Pose” running method. Truly I found it very hard to learn. The article concluded by recommending hiring a coach and being patience! Up to two years patience! I won’t even try to ask my wife for budget approval for a coach so I am on my own here!

Back to the pain areas! I found that the “shin” pain is the result of forces from the rolling motion as the foot propels or take off. (Sorry I am not good describing these things) and the outside hip pain or what I think it could be “Hip Bursitis” (Here is where the Docs start laughing).

Few days ago as I was describing my newly interest of running to a friend, who is a runner! He mentioned that he came across an article that describes running injuries. This article was about a method called the “Chi running technique”. While Chi running is also hard to learn I found it quite more simple than the Pose technique. Something really cached my attention, it describes the mechanics of running as follow: the Shin pain as a result of propelling with very small muscles and a variety of other pains by landing with the heel, or basically “applying the brakes” with every running step.

So here is a very simple test: take a few steps and try to stop walking by landing your last step with your mid foot. Or even more interesting start running and try again! Does not work ha? You need to land with your heal to stop! So why run and apply the brakes at the same time? The “Chi running technique” sounds simple but is not. To begin with, you look very weird trying to mimic the technique, plus is very hard to even complete one cycle. Now here is another question: What negative effects Chi running could have? What happens when you land with your mid foot? Well, since I am not in a rush to get anywhere with my running I will play a bit with this. Here are couple articles on this matter.

Questions on Running
Chi Runners Poised for Softer Landings


Have a safe ride or run!

Oct 7, 06 - Can I go further or faster?

Numbers or no numbers? What is more fun than jump on your bicycle and go for a ride? What about a 60 miles ride? Or 80 miles? Do you care what it took to get there and what is left for the next day? Well one of my problems is that I can’t stay doing the same old thing day after day. So, it is time to organize myself and see if I can go further or faster. Right now I am stuck in a “can't go any further, faster status in regards to my cycling.

I decided to start looking the numbers and follow a self guided regiment for training.
I have couple gadgets to help in this matter (Bike, runner Polar computer). I tried an intervals workout during my “come from work” trip on the river bed. I can report that it helped to maintain my mind occupied in the workout and not stuck to the concrete path! There nothing more boring than riding on the river bed!

Aside from getting my best time for the same distance, I was exhausted. Maybe a good indication that the workout pushes me a bit further. Here is the graph for the interval session. By the way, all those out of range spikes in the reading were cause by the power lines. Make you wonder what happens to the people that live near by!

So what did I learned? Well, I had a hard time keeping consistence. Meaning keeping a pace, my alarms in the Polar computer were always blinking indicating that I was out of range. Most of the time, too fast!

Since I started runing I noticed that runners training articles and books emphasized the importance of keeping a good pace as a mean of using energy more efficient. I have read quite a few articles and half a dozen cycling books and this is very briefly mentioned. Maybe because you ride a bike to go fast and not far! I do not know where this is going to lead me but I had to do something to kill the cycle of getting on a bike to just log some miles!

Until next, have a safe ride!