Lake Michigan at Sunrise

Lake Michigan at Sunrise

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Do you even stretch bro?

Yesterday I went to my physical therapy (PT) evaluation and got reminded of how much they can make you hurt so good.  After lots of stretching, mobility checks, stability checks, and jamming their fingers into my leg, the therapist found the strain from my rear to the bottom of my calf.  Some Active Release Technique (ART) was administered and cause me to squirm like a fish out of water or laugh in discomfort, but it was so good.

I was given some instructions on stretching after about 15 minutes of my warm up in my run and a few stretches to do through out the day. I'm honestly happy to be doing therapy this time around as this means I am getting ART during the highest mileage weeks of the training cycle and can voice any ache concerns  to the physical therapist. I'll be going 2x a week for a few weeks.

This morning was a schedule fun run at an easy pace. Bare minimum is like 7 or so miles. Woke up at 3:40am and was out the door at 4:15. I wasn't super sure of how my stomach would be, but waiting around wouldn't help.  I jogged to Foster and stretched for a few minutes at the benches.  I saw one guy taking a walk and had on a cool glove with a mini built in flashlight. We said hello and went on our ways.

I then met up with Erin and got to meet Corey, and we did a few miles together back down to Corey's end point.  Erin and I then continued to run around the path, making sure to stop for water frequently with the warmer weather, until we parted ways closer to my end of the path.

I have to say, I always feel very humbled running with such experience athletes. They have so much more experience and training than me, and I'm happy when they share little nuggets of wisdom with me.

I didn't use my GPS today, and guessed I did about 12 miles, checked on Gmap Pedometer, and I did 11.8.  I got home a little bit later than planned, so I jumped straight into a cold shower, did a few PT stretches, and ran out to catch my bus, the Stick came with me today to work.

I tried to take a photo during a water break, but my camera phone does not do well with the street lights.


I am also making an effort to bring a bigger lunch as I am always hungry throughout the afternoon, so I brought an extra sandwich with me today.

Tomorrow is my scheduled rest day.

Take care and happy pre Friday Eve!

16 comments:

  1. Ya it's a bit of a score to see a PT twice weekly at this point in training...good way to look at it!

    Enjoy your rest day...although I worry about you trying to sneak in a quick run to burn off the extra sandwich ;)

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  2. Stretching...what's that?!?! I never do any stretching when I run...bad Michelle...

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  3. Hells to the no I don't stretch. I strained my hip flexor bad by stretching last year.

    Now, I'll only do dynamic stretches post run and maybe some very minimal stretching/ yoga poses post hard effort.

    Ooh the ART sounds terrifyingly good. Hope you're pain free ASAP!

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  4. You stretch during your run? Interesting. But geez is your strain long (#twss)! No wonder you've been having issues.

    I eat so much throughout the day when I'm at work, make sure you pack lots of snacks!

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  5. I don't stretch during my run but I do a 10 minute dynamic warm up before heading out in the morning (PT prescribed!). I find it really helps me!


    So jealous you're getting ART during peak marathon training. I always felt so amazing after!

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  6. Pete B lakefronttrail.blogspotAugust 21, 2013 at 10:56 AM

    Congrats on the 11.8. I only stretch twice a week at yoga. But that's about 2 hours of stretching a week, so I think I'm good. :)

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  7. PT is a good idea...I should try it!

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  8. Time wise, i just do a long warm up portion to my run and do the static stretching when I get home. This will be new territory for me!

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  9. I asked about it, i know about dynamic stretching. I asked PT- i thought you dont do static stretches before your run. She said - you don't stretch cold muscles, warm up, then do a few easy stretches on your problem leg to make sure you don't reinjure it

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  10. Hopefully it helps! Like I mentioned to Anne, I asked about static stretching before a run, and was told- right, you don't, so warm up with your jog first, then do them on your weak leg to keep it from getting worse.


    I'm pretty jealous of massages too!

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  11. 11.8 is the official WRCE measurement.. of our race..gotta be modest

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  12. I'm sure they can at least tell you that you need stronger hips and will sign you up for a few weeks of PT.

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  13. I am glad that you went to the PT. I was under the care of a PT twice in the last two years, and both times it made a huge difference. I am all about medical remedies that don't require medication or surgery!

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  14. PT sounds like a dream. Glad you are doing it 2X a week for a few weeks. So cool.

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  15. Wow- you really get up & out so early.
    Nice to be running with others in the dark. It freaks me out a bit.
    PT is a wonderful thing, glad you're getting relief from going! I"ve never used the stick, but I know people swear by it! Do you?

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  16. Sounds like the first PT appt was really good! Yay! How often do you go, now?

    Isn't running with more experienced runners so fab? I love learning from my friends!

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