Close Encounters of the Runner Kind

Adventure of the day:So I am running this morning and am trying to make good time, although feeling easily winded, and speaking of wind there is a head wind which is just enough to make me feel like I am fighting a bit.  Rounding a corner, a car which was not on the road, seemed to be pulling over about 20 feet from where I was running and heading straight for me makes my heart stop!  I throw my hands out to motion HEY THERE! STOP!  Almost got clocked.

I keep running and and as I round my 14th km mark of 15, I hear a starling screech and see a black starling swooping over the paved hike and bike trail.  I vaguely think of my friend Rita, who is deathly afraid of birds and think would that not be wierd to have a bird attack you!  Never had that happen before.

Next moment I realize this bird is a little too close for comfort, it is swooping closer and close making not one, not two, but THREE close dive bombs at me,( like within 5 feet of me) and screaching loudly.  It actually made me cry out twice in suprise! AHHH!

Was not sure why it was doing so, considering it is a popular trail and so its nest should not be logically anywhere near this trail.  My heart did jump though.  By the third time, I was getting annoyed.  How long was this going to go on????!

Well, I survived to tell the tale.

Had any adventures lately you care to share about?  Drop me a line!

2010 Summer Skaha Lake dream run - 29 km (18 mi)

So far, I am right on trackin my training to try a new run, the  Skaha Lake Loop.

This route is 29 km and is a beautiful waterfront view most of the time.  On a perfect day, the wind will be non-existant and the water glassy.  I picture dropping my family off at the popular south end Skaha beach for a couple of hours while I run and then arriving so that I meet up with them and then jump in the water to get a refreshing recovery ice bath,as the water is fairly c-c-c-c-c-cold!

Whether the family part of it works out or not (not sure my wife would appreciate being left on a beach for 2 hours so her husband can get 'away' from it all would fly, but its my daydream.  Perhaps they would just go shopping and meet up!

Anyone game??? :D  What kind of local dream routes have you planned fo the summer?  Id love to see it MAPPED!  Try it at http://www.mapmyrun.com/

Massage and stretches for Hips, Bands, Butts, and Knees

Pulling backa bit today.  Did 5 k nice and easy.  Just felt like I needed to take it easier from the longer run on Saturday.  I bumped into my chiropractor friend, whom I know is a faithful reader of this blog ( you know who you are, GRANT)  :) .  He checked my hip and confirmed that it is still my piriformis/gluteus minimus that is the culporate, which is an overtraining issue.  My foam roller being found the other day in a box from my move, I am now working on preventing an actual injury while training.  I have been stretching as much as I possibly can, which has warded off any further injuries.  If I had not started this, I would most likely be not running right now because of the terrible piriformis syndrome.

Let me stop here and just say that I am not a massage therapist and am no expert other than what I know for my own research and experience!  Check things out for yourself and get seen by professionals when the time is right!

My Two Main Office Stretches

I am including some pictures of the stretches I use in my office and at home for the limbering up of my glutes hips and knees.  One is called the figure four.  The sketch at the top of this posting  is a "laying down" version of the same stretch. 

The ITB leaning stretch, shown here:

gets at the Illiotibital Band, but I have found helps with my hip soreness from this piriformis muscle tightness and inflammation.  Also a good one to use at the office, although it looks  a little strange when you are stretching and tlaking to someone, like a lady who has to pee. HA.

This stretch, which can be difficult to nail the appropriate glute area, has been taught by a few different professionals to me, so it is a common one for piriformis issues.  I dont do this one in the office... it looks a little strange.

Myofascial Release and Massaging Tight Muscles

FOAM ROLLER Stretches...

I have blogged about this with video

but here are a few pictures of how this might look for those with the foam rollers.

For IT band

Another great idea is the use of a tennis ball for getting to trigger points, which is more specific to the spots that get pretty trigger-ish.  Be warned, foam rollers and tennis balls are not for the faint of heart int he pain department!  Trigger points and myofascial release are quite touchy and can be acute in the pain department.  This is partially how we know it is working, but is also why many people think its just torture!

For more, check out this site, it is very helpful with great photos of these and many other stretches and strength excercises.  Thank you to Patrick Ward, MS CSCS LMT for the great post he made on the subject and where all these great instructional photos I swiped come from!

Figure 4 Stretch

Day 20 Video: Figure 4 Stretch

Big Shout Out!

If you aregiving this site a first glance or coming back for more and more, I would love to hear from you!! I know you are out there as I have a little map on this site that tlels me youve dropped by!!!  Dont tease!!
Please feel free to drop a note on my blog and let me know where you are surfing from , what kind of runner you are, etc.  Im very excited to see the variety of places people are from and how diverse they you are in backgrounds.

Also, I am on http://www.dailymile.com/  and look me up!  I would love a few more dailymile friends!

So, along with where are you from;

1.  How long have you been running?

2.  What goals do you have this year in running?

Cheers!