Random Running Questions

Ososlo · 20-09-2015 10:00PM

A very random one here

I took a 2 week complete break from running recently (I normally run at least once a day).
One morning about 8/9 days into the break I woke up and looked at my feet and thought they belonged to somebody else. They weren't veiny and looked quite nice and puffy for a change. They're normally veiny and don't look great. Could this veiny-ness be to do with running? Weird or wha!
I'm back running now and after a week of running they've started looking veiny again

Just as well the sandal season is coming to an end!
Any thoughts?

Pacing Mule · 21-09-2015 05:23PM

Random questions

I see a few races advertising left handed course or all left turns etc. Why is this considered a good thing ? What advantage does this have ?

On long runs 2-3 hours plus my lower lip goes numb. Does this happen anyone else ?

Is there any truth in the perception that a step up in excercise level can lead to temporary weight gain ? (Not due to eating more but more specifically due to lactic acid build up)

Anyone else think the statue they unveiled as a tribute to Sonia O' Sullivan is a big pile of ****e ? Pic here for ref

ger664 · 21-09-2015 08:19PM

Rules of the road. Single/Small groups of Pedestrians on the right hand side. Anything over a group of 8 walks/runs on the left hand side. Also makes it easier for traffic management at junctions.

Blood goes out of mt extremities as well no answer. Had Doc look at it once could offer no explanation either considering all my blood work came back fine.

The perception that one is not eating more tends to be the problem with any weight gain.

Tend to agree it does her no favors whatsoever.

walshb · 21-09-2015 09:57PM

Ososlo wrote: »

A very random one here

I took a 2 week complete break from running recently (I normally run at least once a day).
One morning about 8/9 days into the break I woke up and looked at my feet and thought they belonged to somebody else. They weren't veiny and looked quite nice and puffy for a change. They're normally veiny and don't look great. Could this veiny-ness be to do with running? Weird or wha!
I'm back running now and after a week of running they've started looking veiny again Just as well the sandal season is coming to an end!
Any thoughts?

Sounds like that two week break did you the world of good:)

Dubgal72 · 21-09-2015 10:23PM

Ososlo wrote: »

A very random one here

I took a 2 week complete break from running recently (I normally run at least once a day).
One morning about 8/9 days into the break I woke up and looked at my feet and thought they belonged to somebody else. They weren't veiny and looked quite nice and puffy for a change. They're normally veiny and don't look great. Could this veiny-ness be to do with running? Weird or wha!
I'm back running now and after a week of running they've started looking veiny again Just as well the sandal season is coming to an end!
Any thoughts?

Nope, sorry

I possibly have the ugliest feet in the world and the last time they saw sandal season was back in 1941....

davedanon · 21-09-2015 10:58PM

You're so vein...

kit3 · 21-09-2015 11:08PM

davedanon wrote: »

You're so vein...

There's a song in that .......

_Tombstone_ · 21-09-2015 11:13PM

kit3 wrote: »

There's a song in that .......

Is it about me?

robinph · 22-09-2015 06:23AM

Pacing Mule wrote: »

Random questions

I see a few races advertising left handed course or all left turns etc. Why is this considered a good thing ? What advantage does this have ?
]

Less marshals required, runners don't have to cross the traffic at any point, probably not paid for the roads to be closed. Disadvantage being that the runners will probably find themselves on the pavement negotiating wheely bins and cars pulling out of driveways instead.

Hannibal Smith · 22-09-2015 06:33AM

Pacing Mule wrote: »

Random questions

I see a few races advertising left handed course or all left turns etc. Why is this considered a good thing ? What advantage does this have ?

On long runs 2-3 hours plus my lower lip goes numb. Does this happen anyone else ?

Is there any truth in the perception that a step up in excercise level can lead to temporary weight gain ? (Not due to eating more but more specifically due to lactic acid build up)

Anyone else think the statue they unveiled as a tribute to Sonia O' Sullivan is a big pile of ****e ? Pic here for ref

1. People who don't know their left from their right don't suffer a disadvantage?

2. It's cold?

3. Your gels?

4. It ain't pretty!

HelenAnne · 22-09-2015 03:13PM

Over on the SSE race series thread, after the tragic death of the 23-year-old man, people have been saying they had their hearts checked before marathons etc.
I had an ECG last year (the one free perk of my healthcare!) and told them I was a runner etc. It came back normal. Is that enough, or should we all be having stress tests / blood tests for long QT etc too? (I obsess about this a bit because my dad got the all clear on an ECG five months before having a massive heart attack. So it can miss things! On the other hand, he was a heavy smoker (he has since given up!)).

Any advice on the best test to get?

ETA I know you gave me some info last year, Ferris B, and thank you - just wondering now if an ECG is enough or if I should go down your route?

walshb · 22-09-2015 03:16PM

Sage advice, Helen.

I'd always recommend anyone who plans on taking up running to get checked out medically first. More so if they're running 9 minute miles....:)

pistol_75 · 22-09-2015 03:29PM

HelenAnne wrote: »

Over on the SSE race series thread, after the tragic death of the 23-year-old man, people have been saying they had their hearts checked before marathons etc.
I had an ECG last year (the one free perk of my healthcare!) and told them I was a runner etc. It came back normal. Is that enough, or should we all be having stress tests / blood tests for long QT etc too? (I obsess about this a bit because my dad got the all clear on an ECG five months before having a massive heart attack. So it can miss things! On the other hand, he was a heavy smoker (he has since given up!)).

Any advice on the best test?

I had an ECG in July 2014 (work screening) which was referred to my GP, who referred me to a specialist I had seen back in 2003 relation to getting a mortgage (I was born with a heart murmur so had to get it checked out for life assurance). Went to him in January and he wasn't happy with what the ECG was showing and wanted to explore it further (had had an ECG & Echo that day).

Over the next month or 2 I had a CT scan (showed nothing), he then said I needed an MRI along with a stress test. Again the stress test showed nothing but the MRI showed a thickening of a muscle entering the heart.

Bear in mind this was a routine screening in work, I had nothing wrong or any symptoms during all of this process. The day before getting the results I ran 20 miles (6 weeks before London Marathon).

When I got the results I was told more or less to knock running on the head, apart from a bit of light jogging. The condition is found a lot in the post postmortems of people who suffer SADS. I shudder every time I hear of a tragedy like Saturday's.

To answer your question though the MRI is the most comprehensive test along with the most expensive. Because I was referred by a Cardioligist though it was covered by the VHI.

aquinn · 22-09-2015 04:41PM

pistol_75 wrote:

When I got the results I was told more or less to knock running on the head, apart from a bit of light jogging. The condition is found a lot in the post postmortems of people who suffer SADS. I shudder every time I hear of a tragedy like Saturday's.

Do you still run or, shudder, only jog these days? I was born with a heart murmur and was checked out by a cardiologist as a teenager and I haven't thought much about it since as he advised even if asked it's not worth reporting.

Firedance · 22-09-2015 04:48PM

aquinn wrote: »

Do you still run or, shudder, only jog these days? I was born with a heart murmur and was checked out by a cardiologist as a teenager and I haven't thought much about it since as he advised even if asked it's not worth reporting.

+1, me too. Had an ECG recently & told I had the heart of someone half my age. Thought that was great but not sure now if ECGs can miss stuff.

Neady83 · 22-09-2015 05:35PM

HelenAnne wrote: »

Any advice on the best test to get?

ETA I know you gave me some info last year, Ferris B, and thank you - just wondering now if an ECG is enough or if I should go down your route?

walshb wrote: »

Sage advice, Helen.

I'd always recommend anyone who plans on taking up running to get checked out medically first. More so if they're running 9 minute miles....:)

Firedance wrote: »

+1, me too. Had an ECG recently & told I had the heart of someone half my age. Thought that was great but not sure now if ECGs can miss stuff.

Like you HelenAnne, this weekends tragedy has spurred me into getting a screening done and I was wondering what tests to get done too.

I go to the doctor regularly to keep my asthma under control and he's given me the all clear for all things running related so I checked with my health insurance if there was any screening available.

If anyone is with Laya Healthcare, HeartBeat Cardiac screening is free. It's a 20 minute test and includes an ECG. The website says that it helps to identify possible SADS triggers so it might be worthwhile (I've checked myself in to get it done).

The link to the info. is here: https://www.layahealthcare.ie/heartbeatscreening/

There's also a really good Morning Ireland clip detailing the procedure and the outcomes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFWfuwEZXW0

Pacing Mule · 22-09-2015 05:58PM

ger664 wrote: »

The perception that one is not eating more tends to be the problem with any weight gain.

That's why I said not due to eating more. Here's what prompted that question ...

I weigh myself religiously if not obsessively at the moment as I am targeting a certain weight loss for DCM. I have seen my weight fluctuate around my daily life and I know the patterns very well. For example I will lose weight during a run (from dehydration / sweating etc) and then put that back on over the course of the next few hours as meals or liquids are consumed. Every night I will lose between 1 and 2.5 lbs during the night but nearly always 2lb. Likewise after coming in from work I know generally fairly accurately what I would weigh based on that mornings weight.

On Sunday I ran 20 miles. First one of the year / marathon cycle. I arrived back home 4lbs lighter than I left but as expected most of that went back on as I drank a couple of pints of liquids (blackcurrant) once home. I had a normal dinner for me on Sunday, had a normal breakfast, didn't have lunch (but to ref HS's point did take in 2 gels and 4 or 5 energy sweets which would kind of replace a lunch calories wise) No bad stuff like sweets or crisps consumed that night. Just a normal night for me. Weighed in before bed on Sunday night. Strange - I was actually up on before I ran that day. Roll on Monday morning and I had only lost 0.4 of a lb overnight leaving me about 2 lbs heavier the morning after a 20 mile run. Scales was consistent for other family members so can rule out a scales analomy. That 2lb up stayed on the scales for the day yesterday but then filtered out and has now disappeared into a loss.

So for some reason for the first time in ages and coinciding with my longest run my body held onto 2 lbs of something for close on 48 hours after that run. I didn't drink enough liquid after the run to wipe out the 4 lbs dehydrated out (was no more or less than I would usually have drank after a long run) Up until then I hadn't bought too much into the excuse of "Ive started excercising so that's why I didn't lose weight this week" (have heard that quite a few times) but I now wonder is there perhaps something to it.

menoscemo · 22-09-2015 06:07PM

Pacing Mule wrote: »

That's why I said not due to eating more. Here's what prompted that question ...

I weigh myself religiously if not obsessively at the moment as I am targeting a certain weight loss for DCM. I have seen my weight fluctuate around my daily life and I know the patterns very well. For example I will lose weight during a run (from dehydration / sweating etc) and then put that back on over the course of the next few hours as meals or liquids are consumed. Every night I will lose between 1 and 2.5 lbs during the night but nearly always 2lb. Likewise after coming in from work I know generally fairly accurately what I would weigh based on that mornings weight.

On Sunday I ran 20 miles. First one of the year / marathon cycle. I arrived back home 4lbs lighter than I left but as expected most of that went back on as I drank a couple of pints of liquids (blackcurrant) once home. I had a normal dinner for me on Sunday, had a normal breakfast, didn't have lunch (but to ref HS's point did take in 2 gels and 4 or 5 energy sweets which would kind of replace a lunch calories wise) No bad stuff like sweets or crisps consumed that night. Just a normal night for me. Weighed in before bed on Sunday night. Strange - I was actually up on before I ran that day. Roll on Monday morning and I had only lost 0.4 of a lb overnight leaving me about 2 lbs heavier the morning after a 20 mile run. Scales was consistent for other family members so can rule out a scales analomy. That 2lb up stayed on the scales for the day yesterday but then filtered out and has now disappeared into a loss.

So for some reason for the first time in ages and coinciding with my longest run my body held onto 2 lbs of something for close on 48 hours after that run. I didn't drink enough liquid after the run to wipe out the 4 lbs dehydrated out (was no more or less than I would usually have drank after a long run) Up until then I hadn't bought too much into the excuse of "Ive started excercising so that's why I didn't lose weight this week" (have heard that quite a few times) but I now wonder is there perhaps something to it.

I think TfBubendorfer wrote about this temporary weight gain after marathons before.
I am pretty sure that your body retains more water than normal after a hard workout due to inflammation of the muscles and joints. Your legs take a pounding over 20 miles. However this would be only a temporary and false weight gain.

TFBubendorfer · 22-09-2015 06:23PM

Pacing Mule wrote: »

So for some reason for the first time in ages and coinciding with my longest run my body held onto 2 lbs of something for close on 48 hours after that run. I didn't drink enough liquid after the run to wipe out the 4 lbs dehydrated out (was no more or less than I would usually have drank after a long run) Up until then I hadn't bought too much into the excuse of "Ive started excercising so that's why I didn't lose weight this week" (have heard that quite a few times) but I now wonder is there perhaps something to it.

I do get that sometimes after an ultra. From what I've read, if you're running for longer than you are accustomed to, you muscle fibres in your legs get damaged and fluid can seep out (or maybe it's just basic inflammation). This will eventually clear out after 2-3 days but until then will add a couple of pounds to your weight.

Generally I find that my weight fluctuates quite a bit. I do weigh myself every morning at the same time of day and find that a pound or two up or down can easily happen without any real explanation. To track your weight properly you have to ignore those fluctuations and just focus on the longer term.

Update: only just saw meno's post - it says pretty much the same

HelenAnne · 22-09-2015 08:49PM

Firedance wrote: »

+1, me too. Had an ECG recently & told I had the heart of someone half my age. Thought that was great but not sure now if ECGs can miss stuff.

I think, in my dad's case, the ECG didn't really miss anything, it's more that he would have needed another test. He didn't have cholesterol problems, or arrhythmia, and his heart muscle was strong. He heart attack was caused by blockages, almost definitely from smoking. So hopefully for non smokers (like you?), if the ECG was ok, then that's good news.

I had the free LAYA healthcare one and everything looked ok, so fingers crossed. Hope I didn't worry you! Listen to your doctor, not me on the Internet!

Firedance · 22-09-2015 08:54PM

HelenAnne wrote: »

I think, in my dad's case, the ECG didn't really miss anything, it's more that he would have needed another test. He didn't have cholesterol problems, or arrhythmia, and his heart muscle was strong. He heart attack was caused by blockages, almost definitely from smoking. So hopefully for non smokers (like you?), if the ECG was ok, then that's good news.

I had the free LAYA healthcare one and everything looked ok, so fingers crossed. Hope I didn't worry you! Listen to your doctor, not me on the Internet!

Thanks Helen! am an ex smoker but off them long enough at this stage - yes you're right of course, gotta trust the doc

FeenaM · 22-09-2015 08:58PM

How have I only discovered this thread now?

So many random questions to ask...

First though, has anybody else noticed that after they have a shower, after a run, their lips are a bit tinged purple?

Secondly, if anybody here lost a toenail - did it grow back ok?

wrstan · 22-09-2015 09:15PM

FeenaM wrote: »

Secondly, if anybody here lost a toenail - did it grow back ok?

Yes, I did! Have you found it?
:pac::pac::pac:

Seriously though, I permanently have at least 1 toe nail regrowing at any point in time.

FeenaM · 22-09-2015 09:29PM

wrstan wrote: »

Yes, I did! Have you found it?
:pac::pac::pac:

Seriously though, I permanently have at least 1 toe nail regrowing at any point in time.

It's still in situ but it's on the way out. Have already bought the glue on nail to replace it for yoga classes

Good to hear it will grow back :eek:

Firedance · 22-09-2015 09:57PM

FeenaM wrote: »

It's still in situ but it's on the way out. Have already bought the glue on nail to replace it for yoga classes

Good to hear it will grow back :eek:

I wouldn't if I were you!! you'll be putting glue on an exposed nail bed.... ouch! I found that when mine came off the other one was already growing underneath so not too bad 'visibly' and TBH no one notices these things except ourselves

Battery Kinzie · 23-09-2015 07:53AM

How long should I give my shin splints to heal before I see someone about them? They came on bad last Thursday and they're still not gone. I've been icing and resting them but they don't seem to be getting better. I'm a little anxious since I'm doing a HM in 8 weeks and I'm missing training days.

conavitzky · 23-09-2015 08:40AM

A quick question regarding a first time marathon.
What strategy / approach did you take? Were you gunning for a particular time or did you do it as a learning experience as you were going into the unknown somewhat?
If you got the opportunity again would you err on the conservative side or would you have been slightly more aggressive or was your approach just right?
I'm planning on doing Dublin and am a bit unsure as to how to approach it. I am thinking stay quite conservative until 30k and try to empty the tank then. Or is even pacing better. I have found on my Long runs that I find the pace easier towards the end and that it naturally picks up (kind of get into a zone/ rhythm - I don't know if Im explaining myself properly here!).
My internal voice is saying do it to enjoy it (if that's the right word) and race your next one (if that happens). Then there is the nagging voice going your training hard just give it a lash.
All opinions welcome.

Firedance · 23-09-2015 08:44AM

Battery Kinzie wrote: »

How long should I give my shin splints to heal before I see someone about them? They came on bad last Thursday and they're still not gone. I've been icing and resting them but they don't seem to be getting better. I'm a little anxious since I'm doing a HM in 8 weeks and I'm missing training days.

TBH I think you've answered your own question if you've a race coming up and your missing training days. If it were me I'd go to a physio, the sooner you do that the soon you'll be back on your feet

Clearlier · 23-09-2015 08:53AM

conavitzky wrote: »

A quick question regarding a first time marathon.
What strategy / approach did you take? Were you gunning for a particular time or did you do it as a learning experience as you were going into the unknown somewhat?
If you got the opportunity again would you err on the conservative side or would you have been slightly more aggressive or was your approach just right?
I'm planning on doing Dublin and am a bit unsure as to how to approach it. I am thinking stay quite conservative until 30k and try to empty the tank then. Or is even pacing better. I have found on my Long runs that I find the pace easier towards the end and that it naturally picks up (kind of get into a zone/ rhythm - I don't know if Im explaining myself properly here!).
My internal voice is saying do it to enjoy it (if that's the right word) and race your next one (if that happens). Then there is the nagging voice going your training hard just give it a lash.
All opinions welcome.

I ran my first one to heart rate, kept it to 150 to halfway, 155 to 20 and whatever I could handle from there on in. I had a 5min positive split including a minute lost to cramp at mile 25. I wouldn't change my strategy (might have made sure my shoelaces were tied before the start though!) - I think that I probably ran that race as well as I possibly could have at the time. The only doubt is about the cramping and whether I should have set a HR limit for the last few miles rather than just going for it.

Sacksian · 23-09-2015 09:18AM

conavitzky wrote: »

A quick question regarding a first time marathon.
What strategy / approach did you take? Were you gunning for a particular time or did you do it as a learning experience as you were going into the unknown somewhat?
If you got the opportunity again would you err on the conservative side or would you have been slightly more aggressive or was your approach just right?
I'm planning on doing Dublin and am a bit unsure as to how to approach it. I am thinking stay quite conservative until 30k and try to empty the tank then. Or is even pacing better. I have found on my Long runs that I find the pace easier towards the end and that it naturally picks up (kind of get into a zone/ rhythm - I don't know if Im explaining myself properly here!).
My internal voice is saying do it to enjoy it (if that's the right word) and race your next one (if that happens). Then there is the nagging voice going your training hard just give it a lash.
All opinions welcome.

I ran my first marathon with a specific target in mind and I had trained for four months with that target in mind. That target didn't change. I didn't kill myself but it was definitely a respectable target and the training and half-marathon beforehand suggested my target was appropriate.

I never thought about running it purely for enjoyment because, if I wanted to run 26 miles for enjoyment, I wouldn't have bothered doing all that training!

However, I was going into the unknown and I didn't have that much experience running, so I wasn't prepared to risk the time I had trained for by getting greedy. My goal was to reach 18-20 miles still feeling (vaguely) comfortable and, overall, run as small a negative split as possible.

My experience on long runs in training had been the same as yours, Conavitzky, and, as it happened, I ran the last few miles faster so ended up with a larger negative split than planned (mainly because I just wanted to finish at that stage!). But I don't think I would have had quite as positive an experience if I had attempted a stretch target or ran a more aggressive first 16-20 miles.

If you have a target in mind that you have been training for and that you would be satisfied with, my advice would be to stick with it.

Having said that, I disregarded most advice I read and just went with what I felt best suited my training and temperament.

Random Running Questions

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