Author Archives: besaroboy

Eight miles, mostly smiles

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I have been having a weird lack of enthusiasm for running this spring. Partly I have just not really had the time, but then on days when I do have the time I find myself making excuses for not doing it. Weird. I have had lapses in my desire to run in the past, but they have always passed. Perhaps this one is out the door as well! I ran eight miles today and felt pretty good, it was a slow run but my energy levels kept up and I felt really good. Yesterday I did six and felt great then too. Perhaps it is just a matter of getting through the slump and back into a space where I want to run.

It is odd, one of the things that always bugs me when I stop running for a period of time whether it is a week or longer. I start to feel fat and sluggish. I think this time this has been a stronger feeling because I think I have been eating more. So while I might have gained a pound, it feels like a lot more. Then today after a couple of good runs I feel thinner. I am a lot less likely to over-eat too. And, my main food bug-a-boo – eating at night – isn’t nearly as appealing. The phycological effects of running are really quite remarkable. I wonder how much of that is to blame on the loose fitting shorts I am wearing today!

One bad thing these last couple of days running has been my feet which have been extra achey. I am considering moving onto a different type of shoes, perhaps one that is more comfort oriented. There are soem nike models that are supposed to be really good. I have been opposed to running in nikes partially in reaction to the bad press the company has gotten about its labor practices (but if I am really concerned about that I better take off more than my nike shoes!) but more for their reputation with their running shoes of not holding up. Still, the comfort might be worth it.

Still running, I swear

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Yeah I am still running, despite having little time for blogging. The last couple weeks have been full with music performances and I have dedicated my energies to that. Today I just have a rehearsal tonight, but I decided I would stop using music as an excuse to not run. So for at least a day I am not gonna be lazy! This time of year is almost perfect for running. The dyas are coolish with a bit of warmth thrown in and enough sun to really make me want to run. Today’s run was actually really humid, I sweated a lot. Its almost time for a water bottle requirement. I should be bringing one anyway just to get in the habit plus it is so good to stay hydrated.

Today I started out with plans to just run for three miles to get me out and running. That quickly turned into 5 miles and then I thought what the heck, I’ll do my base 10k. And considering a friend of mine who is training for his first marathon this fall just did his first 10k run, I figured I had better join him. I actually couldn’t do my full 10k, well I suppose I could have gone further, but reed college is doing its annual neighborhood exclusion they call renn festival. I see it as more of a class war against the perceived riff-raff of Portland or the neighbors of Woodstock and East Moreland. Every year they force all the neighbors to stay off the campus while the children run around and get wasted. I am sure they consider it more than that, but I certainly don’t. I just feel excluded. Anyway, enough anti-reed words for now.

I have been feeling really worn out after running lately. Makes me think this is what they are talking about with ms fatigue. Either that or I have let my base lag and I am not in as good a shape as I used to be. Either way I am positive I will be able to beat it back. I’ll either get in better shape or learn to live with the fatigue or better yet, both. The plan this week is to get more running in and since I won’t have as much music performance going on I’ll have less excuse to be lazy. Now I’ll have to blame work. Nah, I’ll just do it.

Short run on the waterfront

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And by one of my favorite sections of the waterfront, from Steel Bridge to Alber’s Mill. I kept us running slow so it was a pretty easy run, though I always push my pace a bit when I run with my running partner. It was pretty chilly this morning but I managed without tights. I have been slowing us down lately on our runs together. My running partner has been really working hard on her cross training and swimming and so far she has been running at a fast pace during her build-up after her leg injury. It was a good run and we added on a good walk after our 3 miles.

I felt a bit bad today not doing Portland’s ms walk. I din’t wear orange either, which I guess is now our color? Glad I like it. There were a lot of people out for it today. Kind of funny that for most of the day they were just in my way. But I am really glad all you ms walkers came out today. I have to say it wasn’t advertised very well, at least they didn’t reach me about the event until a couple weeks ago in passing in an article. I actually forgot it was today until a bunch of girls got on my bus with faces painted with ms suxz.

The frequency of my runs has been really high. Today marked three running days in a row, seven of the last eight. Most of them have been shorter runs of 3-5 miles. I probably won’t run tomorrow (but I might) since I have a long rehearsal tomorrow night.

Four runs, four days

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Today I did a recovery run that marked the fourth day in a row I have run. This has always been my benchmark for getting back into running. Over the last couple months I have gotten close a couple of times (three days in a row twice) but never got to the fourth for one reason or another. So today, I finally made it over the hump. I am ready to embrace running again! Not that I ever really didn’t, but my enthusiasm has been diminished this spring.

Yesterday after I blogged the last post, I went out on one of my base 10k runs. I started out pretty fast and decided heck I may as well keep my pace going. I ended up running sub nine min miles for the first three miles. Then, pooped, I stopped the tempo portion and just coasted out the final 3+. The fast portions went really well, but I was exhausted for sure. It did feel prety good to get some speedwork in. This was another run after an injections where I felt extra energy. I wish I knew if that is really a side effect to the rebif or if it is a mental increase to my energy levels.

Today I just did a 5 mile recovery run. I tried really hard to keep my pace under 144 (my 70% recovery ceiling HR) and I more or less failed miserably. I was able to bring my HR down to that level several times but my avg was 150 and I really felt that is where I hovered for most of the run. Running four days in a row could have a little bit to do with that, but I think I have just lost a significant amount of my base fitness. The good thing is that it gives me something to improve upon that I can see immediate results for. I still plan on doing more quality runs and staggering them with recovery. Maybe I’ll read my HR training book again to get some inspiration.

Back to it

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Seems like I have done a number of these “getting back into it” posts this year. I think most runners go through times when they stop running for a period of time whether it is due to injury, weather, life, etc. The problem I was having with my back plagued me for a good week or so but after some rest the pain and stiffness have abated. If I remember correctly when this has happened in te past I have been out for longer. It is possible that this particular strain was just less of an issue. It could also have been less of a strain since it didn’t really happen associated to a particular lifting event. Either way I am glad to have it in the rear view mirror! Just in time to enjoy soem warmer weather too.

Yesterday was the second day in a row I have run. The first day back I ran with my running partner and she worked me pretty hard. Our runs together have been really fast (for me). Prior to her injury to her leg we used to do more distance focused runs. Now with her slowly adding miles to build back endurance with her leg we have been running shorter runs once a week. To offset this we seem to really be pushing the speed. This is a good thing for me since I am really trying to increase my speed. Not sure how good an idea it is for her and her poor leg! I think we will be slowing down on the runs soon. I’m gonna have to work up my own speed workouts soon.

Saturday I bussed down to the waterfront to meet up and then I ran home. I think this works better with the speed portions than running down to the waterfront (5 miles) then doing a shorter fast portion (2-3 miles). I at least don’t poop out in fron of my partner! I had to stop and walk a number of times on the way back. I hate doing that but it is really important to listen to your body and not let the running ego get in the way.

Yesterday I went out with the intention of doing a shorter run, but I felt pretty good so I upped it to 10k. I went pretty slow on the run but it felt pretty good though I was pretty exhausted for the rest of the day (the gin fizzes I had didn’t help that aspect!) Today I am going to go out and enjoy the nice weather we are finally having. I need to get moving on that so I don’t wimp out!

Back pain, arggggh

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I have had this weird issue with my back on and off for the last 15-20 years or so. I imagine it like a pinched nerve and the doc says that is indeed what it could be but that because it isn’t associated with any incident in particular there is no real way of knowing without exploring deeper. I am reluctant to explore deeper. So I just put up with it while it lasts which has been for a week or two. Incidents have occurred at odd times. At one point I was convinced it happened while waking up to pee and sitting on the toilet. Then once it happened getting off the bus. Yesterday it happened while running. I had just started when all of a sudden I felt a cramp in my back on the left side, pretty high up near the lungs. It felt like something I could run through, like maybe a stich or something. But as I continued I started to experience significant pain with each breath. As much as I het to I stopped and turned around, heading home on the injury walk of shame. Actually, there is nothing shameful about accepting an injury as a run stopper. It is more of an honorable thing IMHO. It takes a bit of getting past your ego to admit defeat, but it is for the best.

It feels like some sort of muscular strain, really more of a cramping. Then the residual effect is a stiffness in the back and a continuation of the cramping pain. I don’t know if it is ms related or not. I suppose I should talk to the nuero about it, maybe get some muscle relaxers. I still have some old ones from when I got hit by a car years ago, so maybe I’ll take one of those today and see what happens. Also I have some vicoden laying around as well that helped last night. I have rehearsal tonight that I really need to go to so I don’t want to take anything more than advil which seems to work pretty well. Not gonna be fun lugging around that big bari sax!

So I am taking a week or so off (yes another week) to try to recover from this. I am sure I’ll be fine and hopefully back on the roads sooner rather than later.

A week off

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I really seem to be having some trouble with keeping up with my running lately. I blame the weather and an increasing work schedule but in all honesty there is a bit of laziness at fault as well. Still, I have been putting in the hours for work and have had a number of performances to squeeze in as well. But the good news is that yesterday I broke the week long string of no runs. I even managed to get in in between rain storms. I didn’t start until I was home for about 5 minutes. Whooo hoo!

My speed has really been suffering. Yesterday I did my 10k at 10:10. It felt even slower. I know this is something that will pick up to more regular I get about running. My running partner who is just getting back into running after an injury has been doing a lot of cross-training work and it really shows. While she can’t run for long distances yet, she has really picked up her pace. We have been meeting once a week for 2.5 mile runs and she kicks my butt! In my defense I have been running 5 miles before our short fast runs. Still the parts with her have been great workouts. I suppose I would really benefit from some track work, but I don’t think I am ready for it yet. Soon, but not yet.

I was also thinking the other day how long it has been since I have done a good solid hill workout. Not that I feel an overwhelming desire to do one, but it has been a long time (18 months?) Going to have to work them in eventually too.

My diet has gotten a lot better in the past month or so. I have returned to drinking my green drinks which consist of a spinach, banana and yoghurt base with other fruits added in: strawberries, apples, pears, mangos and blueberries. They are actually really tasty and I feel like I have a lot more energy as well. I have been adding soy protein powder to them after runs to give myself a little bit of a recovery bounce. Good stuff!

Four years worth of rebif

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Almost a $100,000 thousand worth I have pumped into my body in defense against my ms. I have to say it seems to have stopped any reoccurrence of major symptoms. But maybe they wouldn’t have happened again anyway. Or maybe diet and exercise was the difference? I wish I had security in my medication, but I really don’t. I have more hope being a vegetarian runner. And pushing myself hard. Taking advantage of opportunities, or at least enjoying them. That’s the better medicine.

The choice to switch to the oral meds – fingolimod – has been an interesting one. I’d love to ditch the shots and the excess shipping (almost 50 giant styrofoam coolers) but I think (and so does the nuero) that if treatment is showing success why change? I suppose someday I’ll be on it so why not get started now? I am pretty sure it would be effective for me, but would the change of medication, the actual transition have any worsening effect? Would the pills only come in non-vegetarian gelatin based capsules? Would some aspect of the pills require some gigantic shipping method that dwarfs the rebif styrofoam?

I have had some skin reactions recently, more than just the bruising. Itchy area, general soreness in the shot places and what looked like a small needle infection on my back right side. I moved the spots I normally inject in the area and skipped a cycle. Seemed to clear up. Today I did it in the back of my left arm, a painful one but quick. The backs of my arms seem to be the most painful of all the recommended spots. I have thought about skipping the arms but I want to make sure the other areas don’t get over used.

I didn’t run again today. I’m having some issues with consistency lately. I’ll get better I know it. I am really tired of running in the cold I am ready for some warmer weather.

Sunny base 10k run

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What a nice day today, almost perfect running weather. I am finding myself craving some warm runs, but that is coming soon. I was clad in just shorts and a short sleeved shirt today. I started with a warmer shirt, but it was soon around my waist. My speed was under 10 min miles, but just by 6 seconds or so.

I have to say my lungs are feeling really good. If you are using marijuana for ms (or fun for that matter) the vaporizer is the way to go. No smoke, just hot vapor to breathe in. Its the way to go. I think the smoking of pot was interfering with my breathing, making me cough and I had trouble coming back from a bad cold this year. I have only used the vaporizer for a month now and feel much better. I cough a lot less and just feel like I am taking deeper breaths. I haven’t really experienced a huge running benefit yet, but I was able to bounce back from taking a week break from running recently.

Today marked the third run in four days and I felt really good. The cold is coming back so that will be my next challenge. But I think I’ll be able to keep up the runs.

I ran into Zach, the guy in charge of keeping the canyon maintained. He was putting up “Canyon Day” signs so I had to commit to going. I haven’t been in a number of years, so I guess it is about time I do it again. I’ll be pulling up ivy and planting ferns in the western end of the canyon, but not until the end of the month. Zach got a good head start on his marketing!

Five miles in the snow

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Well that sounds like a story to tell my grandchildren…Actually it was more like five minutes of the occasional flake, but I think it counted for running in the snow, at least it sounds dramatic. My run started out on a cold sunny day and quickly turned into a cold snowy day, which quickly turned back into a cold sunny day. I have been having some trouble with timing my runs. I am ready to go in the morning but it is too cold and I want to wait till the afternoon, but then I find excuses to blow it off. Or I end up eating and that gets in the way. Today a full belly threatened, but I ran anyway. I felt pretty sluggish the whole time, but I ended up doing better than 10 min miles. This was the second run since taking a week off and it felt pretty good. My breathing was a bit rough, but that is to be expected. Muscle-wise I felt fine but today I face the same scheduling issues. Its is 28 out and the temp threatens to get over 50by this afternoon. If I can just hold out…