During my recent ultramarathon, I was running some fairly extreme trail terrain. I can’t count how many times I bashed my toes into rocks, roots, and who knows what else.
I thought I was going to end up with blisters which I have had before from long runs. But I only had a slingle blister on the bottom of my right foot.
But I had something new. The toenails on both of my big toes were black. Also the toenail of the toe next to my right big toe. Actually, the toenail on the big toe of my left foot was part black, and part pink.
Now that five days have gone by, the toe nail on my left foot looks like it may be okay. The toenail on my right big toe is still black, and I think it will come off. I wrapped it with a bandaid to hold it on. The toenail on the toe next to it doesn’t look so hot either, but it looks my better than the big toe.
I have never lost a toenail, but people I have talked to seem to say it is no big deal, and that it will grow back in a few months.
My first ultramarathon is on Saturday. In my research of equipment for the run, I found a recommendation for shoes by David Horton. He said “I wear Nike Air Pegasus for road and trail races. I think it is the best cheapest shoe for any running.” My general method of buying running shoes is going to the local sporting goods store and buying the cheapest trail running shoes that they have on sale, and feel reasonably comfortable.
I was due to buy some new running shoes before too long, so I checked out Dick’s Sporting Goods. Lo and behold, they had the Nike Air Pegasus shoes on sale for $59.99 down from $79.99. The shoes are blue and silver. I didn’t really care for the the shiney silver trim on the shoes. But the price was good. I tried them on and they felt comfortable. I jogged in place a bit, and they felt good. On the bottom of the shoe it says “Full Length Nike Air”. I guess other Nike Air shoes aren’t Full Length Air?
I was scheduled to jog 30 minutes, so I wore the shoes. They felt good to run in. They felt different than my other shoes. I wont run the ultra in them. Maybe if I had bought them sooner. I just read a thing earlier today that recommended buying new shoes three weeks before a big race, then you could break them in and use them in the upcoming race.
I was scheduled to run 4 miles at a 7:35 pace tonight. When I got home from work I needed to go pick up a belt at the local sewing machine repair shop. I jumped on my bike, and rode the hilly nearly 10 mile round trip. So I was already tired. Maybe I should have just driven. Well I got home from the bike ride about 6:30. I decided to rest before I attempted my run.
About 8:30 I started my running. Actually I did a short warmup at a slower jogging speed. I reset the treadmill, then cranked up the speed.
I ran the first mile at a 7:35 pace. But I was already tired. So I walked one minute at a 15:00 pace, then bumped the speed back up, this time to a 7:30 pace. I ran slightly past the 2 mile mark, then walked another minute. Then I bumped the speed back up briefly, but decided I need a short break. I rested for about 5 minutes, maybe 10 minutes. Then I got back on the treadmill and ran to the 3 mile mark at a 7:30 pace. I walked one more minute, then ran at 7:30 pace to the 4 mile mark. I was sweating like a pig. But a 7:35 mile was the fastest I have ever run a mile. My heart rate got up to 184, where my max heart rate is 194, so I got up to 95% of my max HR! Totally anaerobic!
This kind of tells me that I am probably not going to be ready to run a 3:30 marathon in September. But I am going to keep trying to follow this schedule. I think I will be able run a sub 4:00 hour marathon. Maybe I will have the stamina and edurance in May to run a 3:30 marathon. I will continue trying to build my speed!
The knee is feeling ok today. Both of my knees are a little sore. Maybe it is the weather. I have been monitoring my right knee for any signs that I might have a torn meniscus. I have felt a couple minor twinges while the leg is relaxed, and I turn. But that is it.
I ran up some flights of stairs yesterday, and did a very short jog, with no ill effects.
I will do my scheduled 4 mile run tonight (7:35 pace), and see how I feel during and after the run.
I am guessing there is surgery in my future on that knee, the question is when. But I think I may be okay for a while, including my 32.6 mile ultra on Saturday. I sure don’t want to get out to the middle of the Northville Lake Placid Trail miles from anywhere, and have my knee go. That wouldn’t be good. But even when my left knee with the torn meniscus was at it’s worst, I could still walk. Though I probably would have been in pain after a long walk. I am going to bring some ibuprofen tablets with me.
Last night in the middle of the night I woke up. I straigtened my right leg and felt a pop in my knee, with a twinge of discomfort. Kind of like when your elbow pops. I have felt something similar in my left knee in karate class. It was when I tore my meniscus.
I am hoping I didn’t tear the meniscus in my right knee. I will find out before too long. When I tore the meniscus in my left knee (I hadn’t actually had it correctly diagnosed until a year later), I went hiking a day or two later. I could barely walk the next day. Today is a rest day. But tomorrow I am scheduled to run 4 miles tomorrow. Hopefully I will be fine on Thursday.
This would be a sucky time to have torn my meniscus. I have the 32.6 Damn Wakely Dam Ultra in 4 days. And I am on target in my training to run a 3:30 marathon (or close) in September.
Hopefully it was just a knee pop!!!! I am a little nearvous.
There is no outright pain today. I have been having discomfort in both my knees off and on for a couple months. Today my right knee (the one that popped) SEEMS to feel subtley different, but I am not sure if I am just being over-sensitve due to the popping event.
I just took some ibuprofen. I will see how tomorrow night’s 4 miler goes. If that goes okay, and I am still able to walk on Thursday, then I think I am okay.