I knew that I had a great run--when I took off my shoes outside of my car to change into my boots, I saw steam rising from my shoes. Incredible, and so interesting at the same time.
The battle with the shin splints...
Recently my right shin has been bothering me, it has kept me from running the last couple of days. However, I rested, swam, biked inside, and was back on the road today. Incredible day, I thought it would of been a lot colder, but it turned out to be pretty warm for 14-16 degrees and sunny!
I use to run in dexter, the country roads, and beautiful no traffic atmosphere. However, from running from my house (in dexter) I would have to immediately start with going down a hill. :-/ As cool as that is, it ruins my shins from the start. I used to be able to do a 8.5 mile run in Dexter, but due to recent shin problems from christmas, I try to avoid an accident waiting to happen.
Ace Deuce-
So now Ann Arbor is the spot. I run through down town, I run on the busy roads (Almost getting hit by a car count:5). I just love it. I see people and they clearly don't see me---for instance today a man from where I work, (an 80 yr old still weight lifting and going strong!!) always says hi to me at work, honked at me today when I was running! It was the motivation I needed as well as it put a smile on my face.
The Seasons and Michigan's Terrible weather...
Now to me, summer running is nice, I sweat unbelievably more than others (its healthy), I just get too hot too quick. But I love the sun. Fall Running on the other hand was spectacular! The cool temperatures and the beautiful colors of the leaves. The rain---wasn't so great. But just visibly seeing the leaves change throughout this season---allowing me to get a lot of miles in ;).
Something inspirational is stated below...
Finally, winter. The season of well I found this quote online "Winter is nature's way of saying, "Up yours." ~Robert Byrne
I agree with that, only on one occasion, driving. Driving is terrible when the snow comes down. However running, that is a complete different story. I had a fellow runner state an interesting observation or opinion about winter--how its a balance and finding the right amounts of layers, with chap-stick, and blah blah...can't remember exactly everything he said (sorry Remi, clearly I cant quote), but I agree with him. It is totally a balance thing, when you have the right amounts of layers, and hats, gloves, and leggings, you can peel off layers, or take your gloves off to feel the cold on your hands. Something inspirational like that.
But today I ran 7.8 miles. The cold was nothing! But, the amount of layers was perfect. I was hot from working hard, but I didn't need anything bulky or heavy. My hat and back were soaked by the end, but great day.
The gear...
Finally the new inserts. When first started to run (mentioned in previous post 3-4 miles here and there) I had neutral shoes, just normal Asics, however as I began to run more---I began to have arch pain. SO, I started to tape my arch. It helped tremendously! Then I got use to that, and shin splints came into the picture!! So I just kept taping my foot. It became a BATTLE with the tape. If I didn't tape it right, I would have pain. Some good days and some bad days of taping. Oo, the those where the days of fall. THEN, I talked to some fellow workers, and they said come get fitted at a running store. SO I did, and Now I have these shoes. Saucony Stabil. See picture. O my, how these shoes have a) increased my milage, b) made my feet feel better.
Continuing after the new shoes, I was taping with the Stabil shoes. O it did wonders. Then the pain/shin splints made another appearance. So I went back to the store. "Powersteps" inserts were my next experiment. Iw ore them around the house, at work in my Stabil shoes. FANTASTIC support, for cheap $$ (compared to professional orthotics which can be so much money) and light weight. Thus this leads this story to now. I ran today with the new inserts. HOLY MOLY, great. No tape either. That use to be my security blanket, if I must say so.
I look goofy...the gear helps, it makes me look like I know what I'm doing...which it true sometimes.
So now the journey of "surviving winter" continues.
Happy Running everyone.
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