TOPIC: Training for the LA Marathon

You should try roller blading instead!  Back in 2002 I took up running and was training for the Chicago Marathon but had to stop training because of shin splints.  When they did not get better I went in for a bone scan and they told me I had stress fractures in both legs.  4 doctors and 3 physical therapists all told me the same thing, "Never run again."  I ignored them and tried it again a year later but after less than two weeks the pain started up again.  So, I opted to move roller blading from a casual hobby to a fitness hobby.  And I have to say that I love it more than running!And two years ago I did the Northshore Inline Marathon (in Duluth) in 1 hour 46 minutes!  There is no way that I could ever hope to achieve that time on foot!  Also, I have added endurance skating to my regimen and have in the past done 46 miles non-stop on the blades, again something I could never dream of doing while running.  I still miss running, though.  The mental state is much different and I found that I could get more into the zone running than I can rollerblading, where I have to have more of my mind out of the zone and being aware of potential hazards that will break more of my bones!<br /><br />Anyway, congratulations on your achievement!  Finishing a marathon of any type is a great feat!

Thanks, Mock!  I like rollerblading as well, and plan to do more as part of my cross training.

<br />You should try roller blading instead!  Back in 2002 I took up running and was training for the Chicago Marathon but had to stop training because of shin splints.  When they did not get better I went in for a bone scan and they told me I had stress fractures in both legs.  4 doctors and 3 physical therapists all told me the same thing, "Never run again."  I ignored them and tried it again a year later but after less than two weeks the pain started up again.  So, I opted to move roller blading from a casual hobby to a fitness hobby.  And I have to say that I love it more than running!And two years ago I did the Northshore Inline Marathon (in Duluth) in 1 hour 46 minutes!  There is no way that I could ever hope to achieve that time on foot!  Also, I have added endurance skating to my regimen and have in the past done 46 miles non-stop on the blades, again something I could never dream of doing while running.   I still miss running, though.  The mental state is much different and I found that I could get more into the zone running than I can rollerblading, where I have to have more of my mind out of the zone and being aware of potential hazards that will break more of my bones!<br /><br />Anyway, congratulations on your achievement!  Finishing a marathon of any type is a great feat! <br />

<br /><br /> when you started did you have any issues with your arches?  I tried Roller balding when it started, and I couldn't go around the block without feeling like i'd been caned.  I ski as well, so it was really disappointing to not be able to blade and keep the skills up during the summer.

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<br />You should try roller blading instead!  Back in 2002 I took up running and was training for the Chicago Marathon but had to stop training because of shin splints.  When they did not get better I went in for a bone scan and they told me I had stress fractures in both legs.  4 doctors and 3 physical therapists all told me the same thing, "Never run again."  I ignored them and tried it again a year later but after less than two weeks the pain started up again.  So, I opted to move roller blading from a casual hobby to a fitness hobby.  And I have to say that I love it more than running!And two years ago I did the Northshore Inline Marathon (in Duluth) in 1 hour 46 minutes!  There is no way that I could ever hope to achieve that time on foot!  Also, I have added endurance skating to my regimen and have in the past done 46 miles non-stop on the blades, again something I could never dream of doing while running.   I still miss running, though.  The mental state is much different and I found that I could get more into the zone running than I can rollerblading, where I have to have more of my mind out of the zone and being aware of potential hazards that will break more of my bones!<br /><br />Anyway, congratulations on your achievement!  Finishing a marathon of any type is a great feat! <br />

<br /><br /> when you started did you have any issues with your arches?  I tried Roller balding when it started, and I couldn't go around the block without feeling like i'd been caned.  I ski as well, so it was really disappointing to not be able to blade and keep the skills up during the summer.<br />

<br /><br />I actually have problems with my arches every year when I begin skating for the year.  But for me I have found that it fades after a short while (about 3 weeks, which when I start out the year is about 20 miles).  I have found that keeping the laces a tiny bit on the loose side while tightening down a bit more on the arch strap and the calf buckle helps immensely.  Of course, I am never fully free of arch pain when I skate as my feet are flatter than the great salt flats!  But with time the pain becomes no more than a dull ache.<br /><br />Also, if I might ask, what type of roller blades did you buy, what was the price, and what type of skating were you doing?  All of these together have an impact on your comfort level.  When I first started it was on $40 K2 recreation skates with tiny wheels (60-70mm) and going long distance on them required more effort, which meant more pushing off with my feet.  When I bumped up to 80mm wheels it meant less pressure on my feet when pushing off as I was pushing off less often.  I was also using skates that were designed for fitness and offered more support to my feet.  And it just got better when I jumped to 90mm wheels.<br /><br />Also, bear in mind that the skates have improved by leaps and bound since they became popular.  Those old RollerBlade brand skates were pieces of crap compared to the skates that they have now.  Not only that but the soft boot revolutionized skates.  The old skates were more like a ski boot with a plastic shell covering almost the entire foot and ankle.  Soft boots have more of an exoskeleton that supports the heel and ankle.  The rest of the boot is like a thick gym shoe.  They are more flexible and less constrictive than the old skates.  Also, you need boots with laces.  Buckles across the top of your feet is OK for skiing, but when skating your foot moves in a completely different manner, especially the ankle.  And if you could not get a good fit because of the buckle then you are out of luck.  With laces you can conform the boot to your foot.<br /><br />If you still have an interest in trying I would suggest that you give it a try.  And if so shoot me a message and I can offer some suggestions on which skates to buy.

Ran about 4 miles, including a run up the CA incline as a hill workout.  Long hill, but a long wait to cross the Pacific Coast Highway.  Felt pretty good.

Last Sat. I ran 4 miles at Will Rogers State Park.  There are some hiking trails there, so I got to do some trail running on some rolling hills, enjoying some great scenery.<br /><br />Sunday I ran 6 miles - the farthest I've gone since the marathon.  Felt pretty good during and after.<br /><br />I am supposed to run again today, but I am feeling under the weather.  Maybe running would help me feel better, maybe it would just drain me.  I don't know - I actually haven't been sick since I started running again last July.<br />

So today I ran an easy 4, but the big news for the week was that last Sunday I ran in the Merrell Down and Dirty 10K Mud Run.  It was held at a state park here in SoCal, along trails, up and down hills...the interesting part was that there were numerous obstacles like Marine hurdles, hay bales and walls to climb over, and mud pits to crawl through.  I did it in 56:18, which I was pretty happy with, considering all the obstacles.  I passed a ton of people when going uphill, but got passed by a ton of people on the downhills.  Check out the race's website: www.downanddirtymudrun.com/la.cfm <br /><br />I was 4th in my age group (Men 40-44) and 95th out of 779 runners.  Next year I am determined to place in the top three in my division!<br /><br />Let's see if I am able to post a picture.

All right - I am a muffin head.  How can I insert an jpeg image?

<br />All right - I am a muffin head.  How can I insert an jpeg image?<br />

<br /><br /> <br /><br />If you have a photobucket account (or another online image hosting account) you need to use the IMG tag.  The below code is the code for the above picture:<br /> <br /><br />PS  My apologies to Her Majesty!

You can see the image on my Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3945650&id=508554426#!/photo.php?pid=43989830&id=7715465 <br /><br />there's the link...without uploading it back to photobucket... I can't seem to get the image itself out of FB to here.... FB's like that.

<br /><br />Right click on the image, click on Properties, then copy the Location line.  Once you have done that click on the Insert Image Icon here (bottom row, second from the left), and paste the copied URL in the middle.