Pain in My....Big Toe

Have you ever experienced a sharp pain across the top of your big toe as you run? As crazy as it sounds, I have. It doesn't happen to me everytime, but when it does the pain is pretty intense.

Is my form off?
I am usually aware of how I am running, but that could be it.

Do I need a new pair of shoes?
It's possible. My current pair has about 475 miles on them.

Are there any pre-run stretches that I can do?
Seriously! I am willing to try anything so that I can avoid the pain.

I have Googled "Big Toe Pain", but most of the results are dealing with "Runner's Toe", which isn't what I have...

I think.

What Fuels You?

Cytomax Sport Energy Drink is what fuels me.

I have been using this sport drink for several years now and I absolutely love it. It mixes well with water and has a great taste. I believe it comes in 11 different flavors. My favorite is tropical fruit. Typically, I will use it before and after each run. They recommend using it during exercise as well, but I have never seen a marathon that hands out cups of Cytomax, so I stick with water and Powerade to be consistent.

Studies have shown that after three hours of intense exercise, athletes drinking Cytomax perform better, lactic acid levels are lower, reducing cramping and post-workout soreness, and promoting re-hydration, strength and improved endurance. For once, there is actually a product out there that works as advertised - at least for me.

Maybe it will work for you.

3-Miler

My training program called for an easy 3 to 4 miles today - I guess to recover from the 5-miler plus 4 x 100 strides that I did yesterday. It is hard for me to do an easy short distance run, so I opted for a moderate 3 mile run.

After a ten minute warm-up I picked up the pace and held it until the end. I ended the run with a time of 22:17. My best mile was the last one, which I ran in 6:52. That was plenty for me tonight. Running six days a week is wearing on me. My body doesn't seem to have enough time to recover. I just keep trudging along though.

Tomorrow night - more fartleks! I'll let you know how it goes.

Mad Props

I believe in giving credit where credit is due and this person certainly deserves it.

So, MAD PROPS go out to my fiance Kelley. About three weeks ago she started going to the track and walking/running while I did my running. Let me tell you, that is a big thing for her. She isn't exactly the "running" type. Getting all sweaty and being outside in the heat a lot just isn't her cup of tea. She is more of a "Buns of Steel" or Pilates kind of girl. But she has stayed focused and has hung in there. Now she is getting more and more comfortable with her running and with the distance that she is putting in. Before you know it, she'll be doing her first half-marathon (or full marathon???).

I am proud of you, babe. You look great! Keep it up! You will be seeing the mental and physical rewards before too long.

Fartlek = Pain

Ok, peep this...

Tonight was the first of many fartleks in my 16 week training program. It was a 1-2-3-2-1 fartlek. To refresh your memory, a fartlek is when you alternate a period of fast running with the same time period of easy jogging.

It's a good thing that I like the pain, because I was hurting something fierce. I had no idea how taxing it would be, but it felt good to open up the lungs, lengthen the stride, and let it all hang out (even if it was only for a few minutes each time). So, how fast should you run? As fast as your like! Or "comfortably hard". Just don't strain anything by running TOO hard.

From the different articles that I have read, it does the body good to get out of the normal "marathoners rut". You know, that constant-pace running that isn't too fast and isn't too slow. Plus, training to run at a faster pace, by way of fartleks, tempo runs, and intervals, pushes your lactate threshold up and improves your race-day performance. It allows you to dig deeper inside and find a little more speed to get you through those miles where you feel like slowing down. Running at a faster pace will take some getting used to, but it will be worth it in the end.

Miles on the Saucony shoes so far this week: 16

{Yes, that was a shameless plug for the world's greatest running shoes}

15 Weeks, 5 Days

Check it. I have "officially" started training for my next marathon, which is the White Rock Marathon in December. It isn't like I am starting over though. With the exception of a about three weeks, which I spent recuperating, I have been running pretty steadily since my last marathon in April. So, I have got a good base to build on.

Rather than using one of Hal Higdon's training programs again, which are very good by the way, I have decided to follow this 16 week program that was printed in the August 2006 edition of Runner's World magazine. The title of this training program is "Marathon Training Plan for Slackers". Let me tell you, there is nothing "slacker" about this program! It has you running 6 days per week. In addition to the short and medium distance runs during the week and the long distance runs on the weekend, it has you doing fartleks, strides, temp runs, and intervals. It also throws in two 20-milers - one at week 11 and one at week 13.

In case you are wondering, much like I did when I fisrt saw the word, a fartlek is when you alternate a period of fast running with the same time period of easy jogging. So, if you do a 1-2-3-2-1 fartlek, you would run fast for 1 minute and then jog for 1 minute. Then you would run fast for 2 minutes and then jog for two minutes. You get the drift.

This training, with its variations in distance and speed across the 16 weeks of the program, is definitely going to push me. I am certainly up for the challenge though. Only 15 weeks and 5 days to go.

Stay with me...