ITBS

ITBS....Iowa Test of Basic Skills

Just joking.

More like, Ilio-Tibial Band Syndrome. I am a self-diagnosed ITBS victim. It was only 2 weeks ago that on a long run I had some pain around mile 8. I pushed through the next 2 miles okay, but at the end of my 10 mile run, I was having pain just walking. Wow, I'm young, and aren't knee problems for old people? Here's where your IT band is.

And here's how it connects to your knee cap.

Since you can believe everything you read online, the world wide web says if your IT band is too tight, in combination with other muscles being too weak, your knee cap can be pulled to the side. The unbalance can cause pain. A real bummer. 

But, on the good side, I also read that stretching and strength training can cure it. Let's hope! Because I don't want to feel old anymore. 

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This weekend I downloaded some new songs I think will be great workout songs. You know when you hear a song and it makes you want to dance? That to me is a good workout song. Here are the four songs I downloaded:

1. Call Me Maybe -- Carly Rae Jepsen. I love this one. The orchestra in the chorus makes my heart leap...and hopefully will have the same effect on my legs.

2. All I Do is Win -- DJ Khaled. Yes, all I do is win (yeah right!). I like the fight-feeling in this song. I will fight until the end of my workout. Scouts honor. 

3. So Good -- B.o.B. 

4. Starships -- Nicki Minaj. Both So Good and Starships are feel-good-summer-songs. They make me picture a skinny me at a bar-b-que with good friends and a good pair of shorts. 

I'll try them out tomorrow on my run!

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One and Done

I'm not sure whether to think that a 1 mile race is the best or worst kind of race. Boy was it fast, but boy was it hard. I stumbled onto this race randomly last night -- the TC 1 mile.

 

 I had heard a lot of hype about it a few months ago because there's a random draw from the participants to qualify for the most popular 10 mile race of the year in the area. But I had since forgotten about it until I called up a girlfriend (who happens to be my favorite running buddy) last night. I was planning to take a longer run last night until she said she was running the 1 mile and her cousin couldn't make it anymore. Needless to say, I ran under an alias....which means I also don't have to claim the time of my not-so-fast run. 

In all my races I've done so far, my only goal has been to finish. When I realized this race was for time, my stomach started to knot a little bit. It's funny how races can ruffle your feathers when the only person you're trying to please is yourself. 

The experience itself was pretty neat. Imagine -- thousands of people running as fast as they can down a 1 mile strip between the skyscrapers. It was pretty awesome.

When the horn went off, there were so many people running in front of us that we started out at a slow jog. Once we busted onto the sidewalks away from the mob, we picked up the pace and started passing people. What is it that feels so good about passing people? The first quarter mile went so fast, I couldn't believe it. It wasn't until we hit 1/2 mile that I noticed how bad my lungs were burning. The only nice thing about pain in a 1 mile race is that you know it'll be over soon. Thankfully the course was slightly down hill toward the end, and shortly after we saw the finish line, I yelled (way too loudly, I'm afraid) "SPRINT, EMILIE! COME ON!"....thankfully she isn't embarrassed by me...We cruised past a few more people and triumphantly crossed the finish line chip-foot forward. I love the end of races when you hear the crowd cheer.  

I'm glad I did it for the experience. And now I have a baseline of just how fast I can plow through 1 mile. Plus, out of the whole deal I got a sweet Brooks performance running t-shirt.

And I didn't pay a dime....

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Out of all the sports brands, my favorite has always been Nike. Let's face it -- Nike is just plain cool. I love their bright colors and cool patterns. And for some reason, Nike just always fits the best. There's nothing worse than putting on a running top that's shaped like a box. Never attractive.

For the past 3 years I've run in minimalist Nike's. Six months ago I purchased a pair of Nike Free's  like this.

                                 

I love how flashy they are. You know you have cool shoes when a stranger off the street comments "nice shoes" with a head nod as you run by.....and then mile eight came around....and my left knee right to the outside of the kneecap started to hurt. I told myself it must have been a fluke and surely it couldn't be age related.

I still hold to that statement.

But, after talking to some better runners then me, I decided one hundred dollars for a new pair of shoes with better support would be a lot cheaper in the long run than a few doctor's visits at 200 bucks a pop. I broke down and went into a running store this afternoon where they help you pick out your shoes. They watch you walk and tell you if you have a natural "gait" or not. I guess I need moderate cushion. Who knew the cool factor wasn't the only thing to base your running shoes off of. 

So I got a pair of these.

                                               

Not as cool....I know. When will running brands ever get the hint? But, from here on out, it's going to be function over fashion for this girl. I guess having not so cool shoes is a good excuse to go get some extra cool running tops. :) 

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