Have been thinking lately of the story of the man, Paul Salopek, who is currently spending 10 years walking 25,000 miles around the world.
I have never undertaken any long-term adventures such as our worldwide seeker (FYI there are others including one who clocked 67,000 miles trasping the whole world) but I have run many many miles over the years. Have not been the best record keeper but there are several running logs that kept and a conservative estimate is that have covered at a minimum 25,000 miles since started recreational running in 1977. If throw in the number of miles walked than no doubt could claim to have traveled the same or more miles than our itinerant walker. Big difference of course though is that he will do in 10 years what has taken me almost 68, plus Lots of other differences too but you catch the drift,
This post is about whether or not the training that undertook from July 2015 through the calendar year 2016 was worth it. Rather than rehash my running life from little kid time till present have settled on the dates mentioned as representative enough to attempt a thorough analysis of the effort made and gains achieved. There will no doubt be references to experiences prior to and perhaps since that time frame but for the most part, those 18 months is the focus.
First off please if you will think of what your favorite activity is. If it is something that you only do once in a great while imagine for the time being that it is something you are able to do on a regular ongoing basis. Then picture being told that you need to stop whatever it is that you love and have been doing for a long time for probably the rest of your life. Of course, alternative activities may be recommended to soften the blow. Suppose archery is your fav and the Doc said to take up shooting skeet instead - would doing so provide solace?
That situation is where found myself mid-January when an MRI showed that have lost a lot of cartilage around the ankle bone and was given a diagnosis of subtalar osteoarthritis. Running logs show that foot had been a bother off and on for at least 4 months. Had thought was experiencing a strain which would not go away or perhaps tendonitis. Was not expecting a prognosis unlikely if ever recovery and advice to stick to pool running the rest of my life.
Since then have been researching treatment options including surgery and Platelet Rich Plasma injections, homeopathic cures such as apple cider vinegar. tommie copper, and doing lots of physical therapists prescribed exercises. An upcoming visit to a podiatrist is scheduled to find out if orthotics can help. Have also been trying to figure out how and when this condition occurred. More than likely have had degenerative joint disease issues for a long time. Can recall that more than 10 years ago, and according to daughter Rebecca at least 14 years, neighbor Mark Kauwe, a practicing Japan trained shiatsu master, offered to help my feet feel better when complained to him that they were bothering me. Upon examination, he determined that had bone spurs and proceeded to smash them with his thumb via 4 free sessions. I would lay face down on the carpet of his home floor while he gave me a towel to bite on and went about his work. The sessions were successful and I got back to running regularly and hiking/backpacking with no problems. In 2012 while on a short backpack trip with son Josh in the Sierra, my left knee became quite painful and prevented getting decent sleep. Back home an MRI showed that knee to have meniscus tears and consequently was given a diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Those occurrences should have given enough of a clue that the issue could be serious, but as you probably know runners are often loathed to think what ails can be fixed quickly and easily.
After NYC 11/01/2015 had a couple of easy weeks and then stepped back up into quality training sessions. From the end of November 2015 through December 2016, did two to three quality sessions a week plus easy runs. Journal shows that the last five months of 2016 averaged 36 miles a week. During that time did 22 runs over 2 hours including 11 runs over 2 and a half with the longest clocking in at 3:26. Had a week off due to travel in Japan and a week missed due to a cold, plus another week while backpacking in the Sierra www.sierrawindwarddave.blogspot.com and that was it as far as time away from prescribed routine.
Jack Daniels running formula calls for utilizing different paces while increasing volume and intensity. Based on mile test of 7: 40 minutes goals for training sessions per mile paces and descriptions for such were:
E- for easy mile pace of 10:31-11:06
M- Marathon pace 9:23
T- Tempo or Threshold pace could sustain for one hour 8:45
I- Interval pace or what could sustain for a 5k 8:05 a mile pace with corresponding time effort for 400-meter repeats at 2:01 and 200-meter repeats at 1:00
R - Repetition pace of 7:40 what can run a mile in with 400-meter repeats at 1:53 and 200's at .57
This is a typical week of what was doing in the summer and fall of 2016:
166 minute long run including 2 Tempo miles and 2 Interval miles, 95 minutes with 18 minutes Interval pace + one mile Tempo, 110 minutes run with with 10 minutes R pace, and an easy run.
The largest volume week of training done this period consisted of the following:
206 minutes long run easy, 125 minutes with 7 minutes of I pace + 20 minutes T pace + 80 seconds R pace, another 125' session with the same ladder work out as above, easy 30-minute session and over one hour on the elliptical.
During these months was highly motivated to be as fit as possible for the Phoenix Marathon scheduled February 2017. Also wanted to be in good shape to be a guide for a friend doing the 12/11/2016 Honolulu Marathon. Can read how that turned out by going to the blog www.thefriendsofhoopono.blogspot.com The hard workouts were addicting and made me feel great about being able to complete such. Spring and Summer 2016 weeks were pretty much the same but with a little less volume. So, the bottom line was in the best shape of my adult life up to the time the foot started bothering me a lot in mid-December. Since then have run some but mainly sticking to the elliptical. Feel as if have lost half of the conditioning but the reality is probably within 10% oxygen capacity of the peak mileage week.
As noted earlier platelet-rich plasma treatment is a possibility. In the meantime looking at custom orthotics, continuing on with physical therapy exercises, and getting chiropractic adjustments. Am trying to beat the funk that have been in since got the MRI dx. Is difficult. I get moody, edgy, and not nice to be around at times when cannot run-for confirmation just ask the neighbors. Working to stay positive that will be able to run regularly once again and hope that if such does not happen can at least still get buzzed via alternate forms of exercise.
02/19/2018 - UPDATE
From March to late July 2017 stuck to mostly the elliptical and walking. Then on July 30 jogged a mile so as not to be late for shiatsu appointment. Foot seemed okay so resumed regular running in early August and by September started adding quality sessions as described earlier. Am glad to report that as of the date above have run for over 1000 miles since August 1st which includes 32 long runs of 2 hours or more, and 57 ninety minute efforts plus several hour-long sessions. Feet still seem no worse for wear then they were before and have stayed injury free. Custom orthotics have worked really well. At this time am going to scale back the running starting early March to around 10 to 20 miles and cut out speed sessions until August. Have a backpacking trip plan to take in July and will be walking/hiking a lot to get ready which means running will take the backseat for the next few months.
Original question - worth it? All the 25,000 +miles run the past 40 years? The countless times rolled out of bed to hit the road before 5 am? The many early morning sessions while traveling, along with the nights out cut off early so could get up to do those runs? All those lunch breaks taken up by running during the work years? More muscle strains, and sprains than can count? This list could go on and on but you get the picture. Funny thing when look at it got to say that in truth did enjoy getting out of the house early, running through lunch, busting a gut while blasting through a 12x400 session, running in different locales, states, and countries. There is none of it that regret. If indeed there are regrets they center around that would have been great if could have done more.
So worth it? That answer is easy. Like the man who walks the world, no need to even ask. He discovers something new every day, and although will never come close to covering the whole world, I too discover something new each mile of the way as well. May there be 25,000 miles yet to explore.
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