Running

[Clueless Morgan]

How many miles would you guess you have on your current pair of shoes?

About 350 miles, I am thinking of replacing them pretty soon.

I would, especially since your having knee problems and can afford to replace them - running shoes are stupidly expensive. The right pair of shoes (the right size, the right fit, the right "correction" if you have one, new soles, new inserts) can really help.

You might try looking up your local running stores and seeing if any in your area offer gait analysis or anything like that. It seems super unscientific as far as what they do (at the place I went, they filmed me running for like 60 seconds and then look to see if your Achilles tendon aligns correctly (?)) but it can at least confirm whether you have a neutral footfall or if you pronate which has a lot to do with the kinds of shoes you should be wearing and whether you need anything "corrected."

My dad (an overpronator) swears by the running shoes they put him in; I have a neutral gait so it didn't feel like there was anything especially spectacular about the shoes they put me in aside from that they were new and felt better to run in (probably because they were new, but might have had to do with them being designed for neutral runners, who knows?), take it with a grain of salt. If anything, going to a running specialty store to buy your shoes means your buying them from someone who probably knows about running and running shoes as opposed to the 18 year old who works at Sports Authority as his after-school job.

A specialty running store is also a great place to go when you have weird running questions (things to do with blisters, nails falling off, training problems or tips, hydration/refueling, etc.) because they're probably all runners of some sort. Make friends with them.

I just got an iphone 3gs, best running app?

I have the Nike+ app, for which you require the shoe sensor, and which I'm still trying to sort out with my podcasts, and Map My Runs which is kind of cool because it makes a little map of where you ran and tracks the super squiggly line you run in. MMR has a lot of features to it including a nutrition tracker and it seems to keep a more detailed log of your past workouts than Nike+but I haven't spent a lot of time comparing them.

Besides those two unimaginative standard apps, I got nothing. (I've only had my iphone since July so I'm pretty new to it, too)

[Statler Waldorf]

[Clueless Morgan]

Your type of injury is common with runners who either do not have a neutral gate or run on the same side of the road all of the time. If you’re running out on the East shoulder of a road, you should return on the East side so you’re body does not always have to run on the same angle of taper. Obviously this only applies to roads and paths that have a crown.

Huh, I never thought of that before

So if you're running on a crowned road, is there a correlation between which knee begins to hurt and which side of the road you run on? Say you run on the right side of the road so your right foot is always slightly "downhill" from your left, which knee would be the one to hurt you?

I've heard that the pavement surface (concrete versus asphalt) can make a big difference in how your joints feel after a run since concrete is harder than asphalt.

[downbeatplumb]

Run on treadmills as much as you can they are cushioned and less harsh than road running.
I do both.

[Statler Waldorf]

Huh, I never thought of that before

So if you're running on a crowned road, is there a correlation between which knee begins to hurt and which side of the road you run on? Say you run on the right side of the road so your right foot is always slightly "downhill" from your left, which knee would be the one to hurt you?

I've heard that the pavement surface (concrete versus asphalt) can make a big difference in how your joints feel after a run since concrete is harder than asphalt.

There certainly is a correlation, but I think it depends on the runner; some runners have their uphill knees bother them, some have their downhill knees bother them. I just know that it does make a big difference if you vary the angle. You’re absolutely right about concrete, asphalt is preferable. I do a lot of my running on gravel roads and dirt trails just to have a softer surface. Have you done much racing?

[Kitan Etos]

Elliptical machines are better for the legs than treadmills.

[Clueless Morgan]

Run on treadmills as much as you can they are cushioned and less harsh than road running.
I do both.

Treadmills are a last resort for me, I only run on them when it's pouring rain. And gyms are always stiflingly hot to me (I prefer running when it's like 50 degrees outside) and I get really bored running in one spot.

I'm really excited because the City is putting in a new path along my home running route that goes up into a forested park area - and it looks like it's really hilly so it'll be great as part of my hill training!

There certainly is a correlation, but I think it depends on the runner

I'll have to pay attention to which side of the road I run on and which joints ache afterwards; thanks for the tip!

Have you done much racing?

I did my second half marathon in May and I'm signed up for my third next May. I use races as an incentive to workout/train.

[*Deidre*]

I ran 4 miles today, I love running. It's my pseudo-therapy.

I've done a half marathon, and would like to train for a marathon for next year, but damn, training for the 1/2 was not easy. I followed a good program that gradually got me to where I needed to be, but training for a marathon. I'm not so sure. I'll have to think about it some.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I typically run 5 miles, three times a week. I'm off it at the moment due to a back injury. I'm having surgery later this month to correct it, and the doc doesn't want me putting any more strain on it that is absolutely necessary.

Oddly enough, I never really liked running, but when I gave up rugby, I needed something to do to keep fun. I haven't run in almost two weeks, and I miss it horribly. Go fig.

Boru

[Zen Badger]