Sunday, September 21, 2014

What I Picked This Weekend Besides My Nose

Three favorite scenes from the weekend:

1. My dad with Heidi (I swear my dad is the dog whisperer. Dogs love him. I think it’s the steak tartar cologne he wears. Or, his white socks):

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2. Emma and I went apple picking (honey crisp apples. $1/pound):

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3. This stray dog we found. We kept her for the night (I was hoping we could keep her much longer), then we were able to locate her owner (if you can guess the dog’s name and/or her breed I will give you a prize):

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My KNEE Update:

This knee condition is the weirdest running related thing I’ve ever had. I’ve never had a pain that went from NO PAIN to I-can’t-run-another-step pain, with nothing in between. There is no warning and no telling when it will happen. This kind of freaks out someone like me (like most of us) who is an anal control freak and likes to know exactly what is going to happen.

However, the good news is that I am almost 100% sure (I guess that would be 99%?) that the pain was linked to my shoes. Let me tell you why:

For the past few weeks I had been running almost always in the Hokas. I loved them. They felt great. Then, I had the knee issue start and thought it might be those shoes.

Monday: Rest. Worry about my knee and blog about it because that is what I do. Read your comments. Learn a thing or two about knees.

Tuesday: Run 6 miles. Non-Hoka shoes. Pain starts at 4 miles. Shit.

Wednesday: Bike 27 miles

Thursday: Bike 17 miles

Friday: Run 6 miles. Mile .5 – knee hurts. Come home, defeated, cussing. In an impulsive moment, I look around my dirty and disheveled mudroom and see a brand new pair of shoes staring me in the face. These:

A2224_Blue[1]

The Altra 3-Sums (get it? threesome? Hahaha!! Very clever because they are a triathlon shoe). Anyway, as part of the Runner’s World Festival, Altra sent me these babies. I decided I had nothing to lose and put them on. I headed out for 5.5 pain free miles.

Saturday: Bike 31 miles

Sunday: Run 10 miles – pain free in the Altras

Week totals: Bike 75 miles, run 22 miles

I have no eff’ing clue what is going on. I’m not even going to try to figure it out. I just know nothing hurts, so I am going with it. Maybe the Altras, being zero drop, change my form enough that my knee doesn’t hurt. Maybe it was a fluke. Maybe someone gave me a knee replacement the other night after I drank a bottle of wine and I did not know it.

I am just glad to be back running pain free.  For the moment, anyway.

In other news…You know how much I love this hydration pack, right?

hydraquiver

I do every single run over 6 miles with it. No more fuel belts or handhelds for me.

Then something tragic happened. I went to Virginia and left it in the rental car never to be heard from again. I KNOW some rep from Avis is running around the airport with it.on I emailed Josh over at Orange Mud and asked if he would send me another hydration pack. Not only did he do that, but he sent me their new handheld.

I am not a lover of the handhelds, but this one is pretty cool. It has a side pocket where you can actually fit a phone, condom, tampon. Also, an elastic thing to hold your gels. Plus,  it has this form fitting design where you can get a really good grip on the bottle. If you like a handheld, you will love this:

HandHeld_grip_1024x1024[1]

I am not lying when I say that almost every time I go on a run with this pack someone stops to ask me where I got it. It is my favorite piece of running gear. Trust me when I say it is worth the investment.

 

What’s the dog’s name or breed?

What kind of hydration thing do you run with – handheld, Camelback, fuel belt? I used to run with a Nathan fuel belt (2-10 oz bottles), until I got this pack.

What is your favorite piece of running gear? This pack. And, my Ironman visor. I would only wear these two things on a run if it was legal.

SUAR

PS: If you have any inkling that you want to do one of the races (5K, 10K, half marathon, or the Hat Trick – all three) at the Runners World Festival on October 18-19, here are some coupon codes for you for 10% off your entry fee:

· 5k: blogshutuprun5K
· 10k: blogshutuprun10K
· Half: blogshutuprunHalf
· 5 & Dime: blogshutuprun5&10
· Hat Trick: blogshutuprunHat

60 comments:

  1. Border Collie/German Shepherd mix? She sure is cute!!

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  2. Does the hydration pack chafe your arms if you're wearing a tank top or singlet? That's my one big concern with the vest/backpack type of hydration packs. I hate the dumb belt but I'm terrified of arm chafe!

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    1. I've had no chafing even with a tank. Mostly because the pack doesn't move

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    2. I have a Nathan vest and it's so soft I don't think it would chafe with a tank top. I have used it with a shirt because I don't want any more sunburned shoulders. I've seen pictures of the pro runners wearing tank tops and running vests. I'm assuming they don't have problems with chaffing so you would probably be okay.

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    3. I have the orange mud hydraquiver and I consistently get chafing that forms scabs on my collar bones if I use it with a tank top - no matter how tight I make it. It's fine with a t-shirt though.

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    4. Good to know...that hasn't happened to me.

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  3. so happy your knee is better!! had the exact same 0 to 100 pain scale experience with my left foot after a run last week and it still hasn't gotten better :( Hoping i have the same miracle-cure you had!!!

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  4. Dog: name is Heidi; breed is Australian Shepherd. Glad your knee is better and hope it stays that way.

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  5. And shoes, I'm assuming. Stupid laws.

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  6. Is the dog's name, Lucky? I just purchased the HydraQuiver from OrangeMud! I can't wait to try it out. Thanks for the product tip you posted months ago on this. I am so tired of wearing the hydration bottles around my waist. My favorite running gear is my Injinji socks. I get a blister on one of my left toes on runs over 8 miles if I don't have the Injinjis on. I hope your knee is cured!!

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  7. I bought a pair of Altra's (not that model.. the completely ugly-assed bright yellow and purple ones). I hate how they look.. I call them my clown shoes. But damn if the exra wide toe box isn't the best thing ever invented...

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  8. I had a weird injury come up too! It was pain down my leg and it finally settled in my knee. I ran 2 half marathons with the pain (natch....stupid runners) I finally went to the doctor and he said it was mechanical. My PT could not figure it out. So we worked on a "runners knee" scenario and it's starting to feel better. But last week I went to run and it was NOPE. Waiting until Thursday this week to even try.
    PS. I love my HOKAS! But I have 3 new shoes and I'm not sure if it was a shoe or not. It started in my Brooks. Wore my HOKAS for one of my halfs and they felt awesome!

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  9. Is that an Australian cattle dog? If im right, i want that hydration pack as my prize! ;)

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  10. I run with a Nathan belt. I wonder if I could handle a pack instead...hmmmm.....

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  11. I recently had similar stop-you-in-your-tracks knee pain that was related to shoes. I've gotten used to running in zero-drop Merrells and Altras, and recently tried running in a new pair of shoes with a 6 mm drop. Halfway through my 3rd run in these shoes, I had sudden pain in my left knee with every step. Fortunately I was close to home so I walked back and switched to my usual shoes, and was able to run another 5 miles without a problem. Crazy how much of a difference shoes can make, even if they feel good at first and you can't tell that your running form has changed. Anyway, I hope you are able to continue running pain free!

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  12. Australian shepard / collie mix. Lilly?

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  13. Is the dog named Beth? She looks like an Australian Shepherd to me...

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  14. I used to use a fuel belt when I'd run long runs but after I saw your review of the Orange Mud pack, I ordered it and now I always run with it. Love it. Its so, so much better than having anything around my waist. It is my favourite running gear and definitely worth the investment. I gasped when I read that you had left yours in a rental car. I would be so sad. I also love my Nike featherlight running cap. Always wear that unless its cold and I need my ears covered.

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  15. Thought: the wobbly, wide, soft base of the Hokas does not offer enough stability at the foot, so your knee must stabilize your stride instead, creating stress, strain, and pain.

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  16. Australian Shepherd and the name is Ray. And for running All i need is shoes! But I have no good ones at the moment so I have to sort this out...

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  17. I am guessing the dog's name is Trouble and it looks Australian Shepherd to me.

    I was thinking about trying the Has because it's time for a new pair of shoes. I'm training for my first half in Oct and haven't considered carrying water yet. Had my first chaffing experience today. Yay fun.

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  18. I just bought the orange mud hydration pack for my husband who is training for a 50 mile trail race. I was worried that it would not fit well as he has a broad back, but very adjustable, he loves it. No chafing and the pocket in the back is spacious enough for lots of stuff, especially his phone he never used to carry...men! Thank you for your review of it, great purchase!

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  19. I use a hydration pack with a bladder that I wear on my back. I even wear it during road marathons- I don't care what people think of me, I don't like stopping for water!

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  20. Aussie sheppard/black lab mix. With ears like that I would call her Radar.

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  21. I run with a Nathan Handheld - <3 it. I got a hydration pack awhile back and never really ran with it. Hmm....maybe that should change? The pup looks like an aussie shepherd catahoula mix maybe? And I'm going with Ralph, because there should be more dogs named Ralph.

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  22. I bought the Orange Mud pack as well. I LOVE IT!!! I am hoping to get the double barrel one for Christmas. I have a question, have you ever washed the pack itself? The straps smell because, well, they are in your armpits. And of course the back gets all sweaty!!!

    I am having hip pain and PF. I wonder if my beloved Brooks Pure Cadence are causing this?? Hmmmmm...........

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    Replies
    1. I have had the same smelly pit issue. I have taken soap and a wet cloth and just washed it by hand. Kind of helped,

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    2. I have thrown mine in the washer once, cold cycle. It didn't hurt it at all. But, I hate to do that on a regular basis, so I just live with the smell. My husband won't let me keep it in our bedroom anymore though, go figure. :) Now it stays in the laundry room so its only me that has to smell it when I run. I'm ok with that.

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  23. Where did you pick honeycrisp apples - Ya Ya Farm???
    Love the pack- I don't care for hand held ones either.. like to hands free.

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    Replies
    1. Doesn't have a name...take 287 north past Walmart. Turn right on Vermillion. Take first right after train tracks onto dirt road. There is a small apple orchard on the left. Pick all you want then take them to the garage to be weighed. There are no signs, so just trust me on this!! They are delicious. Made an apple crisp last night.

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  24. I think the dog is an Australian Shepherd!!
    I run with a hydration belt only if absolutely necessary, I don't really like them at all, would rather set out water stops than have to carry anything.
    My favorite piece of running gear is my head lamp, Petzl Tikka RXP, I run often in the morning requiring a head lamp. This one is USB rechargeable, so no battery, very light weight, stays in place, and it automatically adjusts the ambient light!! My name is Kelly for some reason my comments never show so I am trying posting Anonymously.

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  25. Guessing Australian Cattle Dog named Lucy.
    I was running in Hokas and had a similar weird knee issue. Now I only run in them 1x a week, usually my long run, and run in New Balance otherwise. No knee issues. Phew.

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  26. I just got some Hoka's and now I am nervous about running in them. I have done one hike and they seemed find. I guess I'll see how it goes and try not to think about your knee issues since that could just mentally make my knees hurt too!

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  27. Border collie/catahoula mix named Fartima.

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  28. My fav piece of running gear is the Gregory Pace 3 Hydration Pack. No bounce, no sloshing sound. Truly awesome. And a pair of Altra Lone Peaks saved my bacon at my first ultra-distance run this weekend, after I got blisters from the New Balance LT100s that I started the event in. Glad I brought a back-up pair of shoes!

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  29. My favorite piece of running gear is my Garmin watch!

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  30. I'm guessing Oreo the Border Collie.
    Love, love, love the Orange Mud Single Barrel , which led me to buy the Double Barrel!
    They are both awesome and! The double barrel is perfect for the long water & Gatorade training runs.
    (also perfect for hands free party beverage holders!)

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  31. Is she a German shepherd/lab mix named Emma?
    I don't need hydration gear yet but I'm hoping to FINALLY run 4 whole miles this week.
    My fave running things are my C9 tights and my nike hat.
    Anyone got suggestions for running sunglasses that won't slide down my sweaty nose?

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  32. Glad to hear that he knee is better. My hip seems to be healing as well. (Still no running yet - another physical therapy session tonight). I'll guess it's a border collie/terrier mix named Batman.
    We went apple picking on Saturday as well. We picked macouns. $1.65 a pound (up 15 cemts from last year). We hopped on the horse-pulled trailer that takes you out to the field, and the driver said "3 dollars each." So we jumped right off and walked to the trees (they weren't very far away).

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  33. My favorite hydration solution is the simple hydration water bottle tucked into the back of my sports bra. It is a bit small for longer runs though.

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  34. She's definitely a cattle dog named Chloe. I have a handheld Nathan bottle (I think it holds not quite 20oz) that I use for anything less than 8 miles, and a 4-bottle Nathan belt for runs longer than that. My favorite piece of gear is my Nathan running belt (umm I swear they don't sponsor me, though I'd welcome it!) but I think I'm gonna have to replace it once I upgrade to the iPhone 6. I bought it when I had the 4 and my 5 is a bit tight in there.

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  35. Australian shepherd/blue heeler mix. Named Runner.

    Question about the hydration pack- where does it clip in the front? Does it irritate the girls?? As a busty runner, I can't stand to have anything strapped under or over the girls.... I own several of these kind of packs, but run with none of them..... Grrrrrr!

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    1. I doesn't clip in the front! It's just a backpack type thing. You sling it through both arms. The design is such that it doesn't move at all. That's why I love it. You can see better in a picture on this post

      http://www.shutupandrun.net/2014/04/day-in-life.html

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  36. Yay, Altras! I can't really handle any other kind of running shoe now!

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  37. I had to return my pair of Hoka's when I tried them. They were causing some weird pain in my hip that I had never experienced before or since. I wish I could explain it because I really liked those shoes.

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  38. Hope the knees keep behaving. I hate mystery injuries. Just be injured or not so I know if I need to see the doc!

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  39. I had something similar, a trainer did some trigger point thing on my foot and, voila, pain gone! There is a nerve on the bottom of the foot that refers pain to the knee...weirdest thing for me, too, but I have been pain free for months now!

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