Cyclists with a "Running" Problem

[Ed-Zulu]

Running shoe question: -

 

I currently run in Brookes Ghost 10. They have a heel drop of 12mm. These shoes have about 350km on them.

 

Recently I have suffered with extremely tight and sore calf muscles (before 1km even sometimes), incredible sore right hip and now the latest is  piriformis muscle syndrome. This is getting so bad now that I can hardly run.

 

Do you think it could be the running shoes? Previously I ran in New Balance and had tight calves but no other issues.

 

Very frustrating

I've been suffering with piriformus for the past year. Nothing I did would clear it up. I ran in NB shoes too, but that was not the problem. It persisted after changing to Adidas with same 8mm heel drop.

 

Numerous visits to the chiro, physio and self-help stuff till I went to GP. Sent for x-rays and my back is a bit of a mess due to poor form caused by weak gut muscles and prolonged periods of sitting. 

 

I suggest by starting with a back x-ray, the doc will know where to focus on once you have that box checked work from there. Piriformus is a major SOB to get cleared up.

 

Edit; I still run, but my distances are shorter (between 15 and 21k's) and can't push the pace too much otherwise piriformus flares up. It is getting better though.

Edited June 11, 2018 by Ed-Zulu

[ycowley]

HOLY SMOKE...shes mad!   my goodness, how does one even train to run distances like that Stretchy!

Incredible. What a achievement

[Escapee..]

Well done to everyone!

 

Inspirational stuff 

[Khronis]

My first comrades and if I had to describe it in one word it would be..... BRUTAL.

 

Got thrown a curve ball the Saturday night when I realised I bought the wrong charger with and couldn't charge my Garmin which was completely flat. Ended up using a chuck norris GPS(analogue watch) just so I could know what time of day it was and make it before 17h30.

 

Started off hoping for a sub 11 but when a sub 11h30 bus came steaming past me early on I was doubting it. Heard a lot of people saying it was going way to fast and it was more like sub 11 so still had some hope then, but as the day went on I realised it wasn't going to happen and settled for a finish. Came in with a 11h39.

 

I knew it was going to be tough but don't think I realised just how tough it really was. It was a real eye opener and a humbling experience. Those last 25km I just had to grit my teeth and run(and a lot of walking) through the pain.

 

It being my first I can't compare the finish venues but I enjoyed running through the tunnel into the stadium and bright lights with quite a big crowd in the stands. Even managed to get on tv crossing the finish line. They could have made it easier to get to our allocated seats in the stands instead of making us walk another few km's (that's what it felt like).

 

Overall I enjoyed the whole experience, the crowd support was unbelievable and definitely helped.

 

Im not a comrades novice anymore!

 

Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

[Stretch]

My first comrades and if I had to describe it in one word it would be..... BRUTAL.

 

Got thrown a curve ball the Saturday night when I realised I bought the wrong charger with and couldn't charge my Garmin which was completely flat. Ended up using a chuck norris GPS(analogue watch) just so I could know what time of day it was and make it before 17h30.

 

Started off hoping for a sub 11 but when a sub 11h30 bus came steaming past me early on I was doubting it. Heard a lot of people saying it was going way to fast and it was more like sub 11 so still had some hope then, but as the day went on I realised it wasn't going to happen and settled for a finish. Came in with a 11h39.

 

I knew it was going to be tough but don't think I realised just how tough it really was. It was a real eye opener and a humbling experience. Those last 25km I just had to grit my teeth and run(and a lot of walking) through the pain.

 

It being my first I can't compare the finish venues but I enjoyed running through the tunnel into the stadium and bright lights with quite a big crowd in the stands. Even managed to get on tv crossing the finish line. They could have made it easier to get to our allocated seats in the stands instead of making us walk another few km's (that's what it felt like).

 

Overall I enjoyed the whole experience, the crowd support was unbelievable and definitely helped.

 

Im not a comrades novice anymore!

 

Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

It's not in Strava... It didn't happen!

 

Congrats dude! Welcome to the club

[Hacc]

 

 

6h47 is now a Club record!

 

Incredible run by stu too

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[dave303e]

There are some epic stories around...

 

Like Iain that ran a 6h56min for his first comrades, after klapping a 4h39min Durban Half Ironman last weekend...

[Edgar]

Well Done Stu. Jeez what a run

 

Thanks Lexx, you too. It is a knife edge between a good and bad day.

 

Stretch, Meeks had a cracker of a race. He is a beast. 

[Khronis]

It's not in Strava... It didn't happen!

 

Congrats dude! Welcome to the club

I don't know what was more upsetting, the fact that it wouldn't record it on strava or to be able to check my pace.

 

A manual entry had to do on strava [emoji85]

 

Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

[Andrew Steer]

Yes well done Mr Steer....

I for one am never going to believe him again when he complains about how little training he did

 

????

Hahaha... my biggest fear heading forward is I train properly for this thing and then have a bad day.

You guys really underestimate this 'rest' stuff - it's the business I tell you!

 

My stats for the year including Sundays little 92km trot - I clearly do avoid those cambers!

 

[SwissVan]

My first comrades and if I had to describe it in one word it would be..... BRUTAL.

 

Got thrown a curve ball the Saturday night when I realised I bought the wrong charger with and couldn't charge my Garmin which was completely flat. Ended up using a chuck norris GPS(analogue watch) just so I could know what time of day it was and make it before 17h30.

 

Started off hoping for a sub 11 but when a sub 11h30 bus came steaming past me early on I was doubting it. Heard a lot of people saying it was going way to fast and it was more like sub 11 so still had some hope then, but as the day went on I realised it wasn't going to happen and settled for a finish. Came in with a 11h39.

 

I knew it was going to be tough but don't think I realised just how tough it really was. It was a real eye opener and a humbling experience. Those last 25km I just had to grit my teeth and run(and a lot of walking) through the pain.

 

It being my first I can't compare the finish venues but I enjoyed running through the tunnel into the stadium and bright lights with quite a big crowd in the stands. Even managed to get on tv crossing the finish line. They could have made it easier to get to our allocated seats in the stands instead of making us walk another few km's (that's what it felt like).

 

Overall I enjoyed the whole experience, the crowd support was unbelievable and definitely helped.

 

Im not a comrades novice anymore!

 

Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

Mooi man ????

Made me think about it for a nano second.

 

Is it just me, but there seemed to be a lot of Benoni northerns runners (2 in your pic) this year....

[ScottCM]

Hahaha... my biggest fear heading forward is I train properly for this thing and then have a bad day.

You guys really underestimate this 'rest' stuff - it's the business I tell you!

 

My stats for the year including Sundays little 92km trot - I clearly do avoid those cambers!

 

Strava Screenshot.png

 

This could be interesting, let's see what everyone did mileage wise (Jan - Race Day) and time achieved on the day?

[EmJayZA]

This could be interesting, let's see what everyone did mileage wise (Jan - Race Day) and time achieved on the day?

 

I would include how many marathons / Comrades have been completed in the last 3 years as well. This data on its own does not really paint a true picture. A bigger base is generally a better indication. 

 

We really have a great pool of runners here. Well done again guys. How do the legs feel the next day? Can you walk? 

[Khronis]

There was, something like 200 + runners from Benoni Northerns

Mooi man [emoji106]

Made me think about it for a nano second.

 

Is it just me, but there seemed to be a lot of Benoni northerns runners (2 in your pic) this year....

Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

[SwissVan]

This could be interesting, let's see what everyone did mileage wise (Jan - Race Day) and time achieved on the day?

Jaaa ESPECIALLY Mr Steer

 

????????

[Andrew Steer]

My Comrades in a nutshell (a rather long winded nutshell in hindsight)

 

Build-up problems never really ceased - struggled to get healthy in time, flight down was a disaster as my sinuses were clogged up still from this infection and my ears felt like they were actually going to explode towards the end of the flight as I could just not equalize as we got closer to sea level. They almost felt like they were bubbling when I blew my nose - very lekker two days before Comrades.

 

I went to the expo, found all the hoodie's were sold out, so headed to the other merchandise stand for slops (thanks Stretch) and also picked up a beer mug for the bar. My wife couldn't help but get some Comrades Wine too. Had a few traditional Notties ales with the missus, waiting for our lift to arrive, before heading to our base in Salt Rock. 

Managed to get some ear drops at a chemist on route which helped pretty quickly, dosed up on my meds again and hit a nap to try aid getting better. So much for my Friday tester run - this wasn't looking good. Friday evening after my nap I felt a little bit better, got in a good dinner and a decent nights rest - just tried to stay positive.

 

Sat morning I woke up all clogged up again, pretty sure that was it - I couldn't run like this. Told Kim it was done (probably for about the 5th time at this stage). After chatting with my mates though, I decided to just do my little test run in any case, it wasn't in my chest so what's a bit of discomfort? I did a little trot, not even 2km's and felt terrible. My heart rate was fine, but my head was throbbing, nose running... I was really done. Got back, few tears in the eyes and told everyone I was done. Even with my poor prep I was gutted to miss out, I may not have the discipline or commitment of many of you guys on here, but that doesn't diminish my love for this event... it was a tough pill to swallow. 

 

We headed to the beach shortly after that and it was then that a little magic happened, after a walk down the beach I decided to hit a swim knowing salines a good cleanser for the sinuses. I swam in those waves for nearly two hours, getting a good dose of salt in and honestly by the time I came out, I felt like a new person. There was hope again. Off to Howick we went, got in some good dinner, watched the Boks perform a great comeback and then got to bed dosed up on my Sinus meds again... nervous at what the morning would hold, but somehow feeling confident this time would be different to the many nights before.

 

Raceday, woke up at 3am and I'm golden - pretty much out of nowhere. I guess I'm starting this thing, will just see how it goes, run entirely on my heart rate and enjoy what I can. I hope my legs still work? I couldn't help but feel ill prepared, but I knew kind of, that I must just get to Bothas hill at 55km in the best shape possible and hopefully have legs to run the easier second half. Start was chills, always is, took it all in though with the wife in F batch - the dust at the start gets me every time! I must have a Vangelis allergy of some sort 

 

Started out slow, stayed with my wife the first 7kms before she stopped for a loo break... and I headed off into the unknown. Legs felt okay, no early niggles, no obvious problems and my new shoes not throwing up any early worries, and above all - thrilled to be out there. Let's do this! Kays ticked by nicely, just kept it slow and steady, even walked quite a bit down Pollies, I needed to preserve these legs of mine to the absolute max. Found a few running pals and chatted through the kilometers - this was going allright. Was good getting that distance down a bit - 90kms is an ugly big number... 70's/60's are so much easier to process, enjoyed notching down those extras decimals each time. 

 

Half way in sight I looked at my watch properly for the first time with any real objectivity, I was going quite nicely - looking good for around 5:30 for halfway - that gives me an hour to fade in the second half. Even with the faster gradients, I was expecting a world of pain and plenty walking down the road. Went through the real half way by Arthurs seat (paid my dues of course) in around 5:25, still feeling fine, heart rate nicely under control. Stopped at my seconding point, had some biltong, a little beer and got some encouragement... less than a marathon to go and the last big uphill of Bothas insight. I would have a friend for company the next while, always helps, talk a bit of ***... tick off the miles without too much over thinking of things. I was surprisingly feeling okay and got to the top of Bothas feeling in one piece - which was all I had ever hoped for.

 

The downs were coming now, I would just run them as gently as possible, preservation always the focus, knowing if I blow my quads it would cost me way more time walking later on easy terrain. I walked a fair bit too, especially when the camber was bad... preservation, preservation, preservation. The miles kept ticking away, my legs kept going, this was going dreamily... not even a sign of cramp yet, just blisters starting to come out in force along with the odd screaming toenail, but hey, this is a down run. 

Around 12kms to go, after weirdly deciding to get myself a Creme Soda for something of a change, I see a mate of mine just up ahead, cool, let me try hook up with him... off I go, he's not messing around though, I up my pace, he's holding this 100 metre gap, I up it again, I still can't close this... my heart rates getting a bit high here now, but I'm also wondering what is his big mission? I mean we're hanging out with an 11:30 bus, an 11:10 or 11:20, what's the difference. I switch back to my timing mode on my watch and the penny drops, he's gunning for sub 11. Under 7 minutes a kilometer from here will get it. Hmm... something to ponder, but first I need to get my HR back down. Health first and all that. I kept pushing on, something of a little goal in the back of my mind, wouldn't an unexpected bronze be great, I can't for the life of me remember the finish, so wondering how many hills remain to slow me down. Ah, Tollgate... maybe not realistic. Run walk, keep moving, keep going... sub 11 maybe not so really realistic, whenever I push the pace, my heart rate goes up... I kept ticking on though. Around 6km to go it's off the table officially, my legs are pretty poked (not that I can complain by this point), the motivation low to run in so much pain, so I walked quite a bit towards the end. Going past the old finish comfortably under 11 hours I had a little chuckle, wouldn't that have been nice... finished already with a Bronze in hand. 

 

Onwards to Moses Mabhida though, on approach, what a spectacle it is... I'd muster up a little more running - may as well get a PB while I can I figured. For all it's good looks though, the stadium was not quite as vibey as I remember the old one being - the supporters pushed back way further from you and the club tents again all outside - I don't mind the finish and the extra km if they can make some improvements, but they need to get the balance better I reckon

 

11:11 at the end of the day, 3 minutes quicker than my up from last year, cup of soups never tasted so good - also still in disbelief I've actually made it through this crazy week.

 

What a day out, my battles beforehand almost made the day seem a little easier, things ended as well I could possibly of dreamed, my wife completing a 'perfect day' waltzing in around 11:45... that smile with her back to back is priceless.

 

Somehow I'm already thinking about next year... lots of lessons learnt this year to take forward