IronBrandon Show: Episode 184

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IronBrandon Show: Episode 181

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IronBrandon Show: Episode 180

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IronBrandon Show: Episode 145

PLEASE click HERE to donate to Athletes for a Cure and the Prostate Cancer Foundation as I train for Ironman Canada 2011!

R.I.P. Sammy Wanjiru

Lanacane

Mission Skincare

Bodyglide

More anti-chafing stuff!

Email info@ironbrandon.com to find out about sponsorship for the 24 hour podcast on June 10 & 11!

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IronBrandon Show: Episode 144

PLEASE click HERE to donate to Athletes for a Cure and the Prostate Cancer Foundation as I train for Ironman Canada 2011!

Pearl Izumi ISO Transition

Teva Zilch

Keen A86

RaRa Running

Wouter Weylandt dies in the Giro d\’Italia

Join me on June 10-11 for a 24-hour marathon podcast to raise money for Athletes for a Cure!

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Kim Smith speaks after pulling out of the Boston Marathon

Kim Smith, native New Zealander who calls Providenc Rhode Island, ran an amazing race for the first 17 miles or so of the 2011 Boston Marathon this past Monday. Then tragedy struck. The video below is an interview with her soon after having to pull out of the race, unable to run.

@RunProvidence tweeted this on her behalf:

IronBrandon Show: Episode 138

PLEASE click HERE to donate to Athletes for a Cure and the Prostate Cancer Foundation as I train for Ironman Canada 2011!!

Leave a comment HERE to be enterer to win a free pair of Stuffitts!

Natural running clinic in Milwaukee THIS WEEKEND!

Structural Elements

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IronBrandon Show: Episode 136

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Leave a comment HERE to win a FREE bottle of Vidazorb!

Sally Meyerhoff killed in cycling accident

Remembering Sally Meyerhoff

Road ID

Black Diamond Sprinter headlamp

Kara Goucher declares, \”I\’m back\”

2011 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon Women\’s Odds

2011 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon Men\’s Odds

2011 Boston Marathon adds a third wave to the start

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IronBrandon Show: Episode 135

PLEASE click HERE to donate to Athletes for a Cure and the Prostate Cancer Foundation as I train for Ironman Canada 2011!!

Reflective Runner Podcast

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IronBrandon Show: Episode 134

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Newton 24 Hours of Triathlon

Boa Technology

Racers Against Childhood Cancer (RACC)

Ironman Wisconsin

Ironman Lonestar (70.3)

ISM Saddles

PLEASE click HERE to donate to Athletes for a Cure and the Prostate Cancer Foundation as I train for Ironman Canada 2011!!

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IronBrandon Show: Episode 132

PLEASE click HERE to donate to Athletes for a Cure and the Prostate Cancer Foundation as I train for Ironman Canada 2011!!

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My thoughts on swim training

Swimovate Poolmate Pro

Swimsense by Finis

Light & Motion bike lights

Tridudes

ICAN Triathlon

Challenge Triathlon Series

Tristar Triathlon Series

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An interesting start to an interesting time…

Happy Monday and happy Valentine\’s day! Today is the beginning of a very interesting period in my life and I thought I\’d take a minute to share some thoughts on where it began this morning and where it may be headed. It does have something to do with running, triathlon and the like so, read on!

Achilles

A few weeks back I mentioned that while out on a run on a day with a lot of ice on the ground I over-extended my trailing leg and \”tweaked\” my achilles. Since then I\’ve had to kind of knock back the intensity of some of my runs and, to be completely honest, I\’ve not run 100% pain free since. I\’m not sure that I\’d call this a true injury per se, but rather a small stumbling block.

I had a run last Friday where I was feeling my oats a little bit and so I took it out quicker than I have been. I wasn\’t in pain while running, but I was aware of the tweak. After my run (about 8.5 miles at about 7:00/mile), as soon as I stopped at the front door of my building and began walking in the hallway, my achilles lit up. P-A-I-N. It seemed that the pain came not really when I put pressure on it but rather when I took it off.

I stretched immediately but couldn\’t take too much time since I still had to get to work (yes, I managed to make it out for a pre-dawn run). Throughout the day I forced myself to alter my walking gait so as to avoid any pain. I guess I looked like I was limping a bit but it was a self imposed limp rather than my body NEEDING to limp, so that has to be something.

On Saturday morning I headed out the door for a 2.5 hour brick workout. I had spoken to Coach Jeff the night before and he told me to just do the ride and to forget about the run. So my ride, which was scheduled to be 1.5 hours got upped to 2.5 hours. It\’s been a while since I\’ve gotten to ride outside so this was a welcome change from the monotony of the indoor trainer. Upon getting on the bike my achilles, which had been largely immobilized and set in ice for most of the previous day, was feeling quite tight and sore. I made and effort to gently stretch it out when I could and after about 30 minutes of riding it loosened up and even let me ride some large-ish hills harder than I thought I\’d be able to.

When not chasing my daughter and packing/cleaning, the rest of the day was spent, leg elevated and on ice. Sunday\’s run was also canceled and we\’re now in some odd stasis waiting to see how I feel this week. I don\’t have a run scheduled until Wednesday and then I hope my patience and wisdom don\’t lose out to ego and pigheadedness. There\’s no point in sacrificing an entire season for a few missed runs.

As an aside, and not to go down the technical road; when I was home and able to, I spent the ENTIRE weekend in just socks. I even walked my dogs in just socks on Saturday night. When I was barefoot, I hardly felt anything at all. Today I decided to wear a pair of Newton Gravitas\’ to work since they\’re effectively flat and thus far, I\’m doing well.

The Subway

I got on the subway this morning (the ever so pleasant downtown 1 train) at my usual stop. The train was not very crowded and I easily got a seat at the end of a row. I tend to go for those seats since that means that I\’ll only have one person squeezing in beside me rather than two. The train went from my stop (215th St.) to about 110th St. without incident, or even that much of a crowd. At 110th St. a bunch of people got on the train including one of those people who like to stand IN the doorway and block the door for those trying to get on and off the train even though there is plenty of room to stand elsewhere.

It was this door-standing, super classy individual that started my day off on the wrong foot. This guys elbow was just about level with my ear. Since he was holding onto the rail attached to the seat I was sitting in, this is not out of the ordinary and no big deal. However, as the doors would open, he would lean basically into my seat (yes, I\’m aware of the sometimes overstated \”American bubble\” that we prefer and are spoiled with. That said, I\’ve been on a subway in Japan at rush hour and I know what \”close\” really is). Each time he did this he was coming about 9 inches across where he needed to be and he would push, not very hard but just inconsiderately so, his arm into my head. He did not say, \”I\’m sorry\” or even acknowledge this annoying and obvious invasion of my space.

Now, had this been simply an invasion of my \”space\” and not an actual instance of me being touched repeatedly in the head by some stranger, I would not really have a problem with it. At about 72nd St. there was a rather aggressive push of my head with this guy\’s elbow. So, I put my hand on my head, in between my head and his arm and gently moved his arm away and said, \”Excuse me, your arm keeps hitting my head.\” I didn\’t say this loudly of in any kind of a rude tone. The rest of the conversation went like this:

Douchey McA-hole: Don\’t touch me again.

Me: I\’m sorry?

Douchey McA-hole: I said, don\’t touch me again.

Me: I\’m sorry but you\’ve been hitting me in the head with your arm for the last forty blocks.

Douchey McA-hole: I\’m just trying to let people on and off the train.

Me: Well, you could go stand somewhere where you won\’t have to do that and hit me in the head.

Douchey McA-hole: Don\’t touch me again.

Me: If you don\’t touch me again then we won\’t have a problem.

Douchey McA-hole: Don\’t touch me again.

Me: Or what?

Douchey McA-hole: *silence*

He got off the train at 59th St. (Columbus Circle) without further incident. I don\’t like confrontation, but when I\’m put in that situation, with someone literally standing over me (since he was standing and I was sitting) my hackles rise very quickly. However, I did maintain a calm demeanor which was bolstered by the very nice woman next to me who was encouraging me to ignore him since he was clearly \”that kind of person\”. I just don\’t get it. Why do people have to be like that? I was tempted to stand up and just stare at the guy since I had about 20 pounds  and 3 inches on him, but I figured that would only serve to exacerbate an already tense situation.

So, Douchey McA-hole, have a happy Monday and I\’m not hoping at all that you get dropped like a sack of potatoes by someone with less patience than I have.

Looking forward

Danielle and I are going to Milwaukee this week to sing Mozart\’s Così fan tutte with Skylight Opera. Being there will be a nice break from living in New York for a while, though I must admit that I doubt it will instill in me the affection that some feel for this town.

While there I hope to take Gearist TV on tours of SRAM, Saris and Trek Bikes. Gearist is doing well and is further expanding passions of mine that have been emerging for a while. Upon returning from Milwaukee, we will be looking to the future. Our lease is up in October and we are moving. We don\’t know where just yet but to us, anywhere is better than here.

The spring and summer will be spent training hard and racing. The biggest race of the season of course, is Ironman Canada. I\’m still toying with the idea of doing a 24 hour live podcast to help raise money for Athletes for a Cure (PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE!!). If I do do a live 24 hours show I am certainly going to need people to call in and stop by to keep me awake!

I\’ll be touching more on the reasons and desires of our move in the coming months as well as the direction we\’re moving in. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.

IronBrandon Show: Episode 120

Rudy Project Helmets

Lazer Helmets

Philadelphia Marathon

The Running Event

Ironman Arizona

Born to Run, the Musical

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Jordan Rapp in Bicycle, Car Accident

Professional triathlete, Jordan Rapp, winner of the 2009 Ironman Canada and Ironman Arizona was involved in a car accident on the evening of March 23. He is currently in the intensive care unit at St. Johns Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, California.

For complete coverage of news related to Jordan\’s condition, please visit the following:

Slowtwitch

Triathlete Magazine

Day 43: Blood on the Ice

Date: 2/12/09

Consecutive Days Run: 43

Runner: Brandon Wood

Shoes: Newton AW Trainers

Location: New York, NY

Type of Run: Quickie

Time of Day: 6:28 PM EST

Distance Run: 2.01 miles

Time Run: 00:16:39

Average Pace: 8:17 per mile

Weather Conditions: Cold (34 degrees Fahrenheit), Windy, Sunny

Disposition: Good

Link to Run Detail: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/24538745

About the Run: If you are reading this thinking I have some super secret coverage of the Vancouver Olympics, I am sorry to disappoint. Rather, this is my own tail of clumsiness and the generous outpouring of not-giving-a-crap by the wonderful people from the New York City Sanitation Department.

I headed out this evening, planning on getting in a nice easy run and then coming in to settle down and watch the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics. I expected to see plenty of snow and ice on sidewalks as we live in a neighborhood that is not quite as busy as Times Square and thus, probably falls a bit lower on the list of priorities.

I didn\’t run into anything significant until about the .5 mile mark. As luck would have it, this is also the point in my usual route where I hit the first of a few hills. I shortened my stride and made sure to stay safely on my forefoot, as always, and ran across everything from loose snow to snow that had become compact and turned to sheets of ice…without a problem.

As I came down the hill on Staff St. (see details link above) and went to turn right on Dyckman St. my right foot went out from under me. I fell hard on my right knee and onto my shoulder, rolling into the street. As I pulled myself together and began to stand, I noticed an SUV from the Department of Sanitation parked about thirty yards away from me, with two men inside. I cannot say whether or not they saw me fall or if they even saw me picking myself up, regardless, nothing was said. I then turned to see, only about fifteen yards away from me, a large bulldozer that was being used to move snow, lights on and pointed directly at me, idling, with someone at the wheel. Again, not one word of, \”Are you ok?\”.

I looked down at my leg to see that the right knee of some of my favorite tights, my Sugoi Firewall 220\’s, had been torn wide open. My knee underneath didn\’t look much better. I could already see it becoming slick with blood. I stood for a couple of minutes, realizing that I was FAR more upset about my tights than about my knee, and then I headed home with my tights torn, my ego bruised and a confirmed sense of loathing toward any and all New York City agencies, especially those with powerful and abusive unions.

Guest Blogger Ari: Dealing With Illnesses and Injuries

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional nor do I play one on TV. This post is based solely on my experiences. Always seek the advice of your doctor if you are sick or injured.

This is the time of year where many people start to get sick and/or injured. The weather in NYC Metro area is starting to get cooler and many of us are coming down with colds, respiratory infections, flu, and other illnesses. Runners training for fall marathons are at the peak of their training. Their mileage is high, most have already done at least one 20 miler and have at 2 or 3 left on their plans. Many are also picking up the intensity of their training, doing speedwork, tempo runs, and hill repeats at least once a week. With this increased mileage and intensity come aches and pains. Some are minor and some are more serious that could change your fall racing plans. I'd like share some thoughts (see disclaimer above) about dealing with illnesses and injuries.

Illnesses:

The rule of thumb we runners go by is if the illness is in your head it's OK to run. If it's in your chest, don't run. This is usually sound advice. That means if you have a cold, it's OK to run. Sometimes a good sweat will make you feel better. Mrs. Ansky, RD also has me take extra vitamin C when I have a cold. Vitamin C does not prevent a cold but it has been known to shorten the length of one.

If you have a fever, chills, or are coughing up stuff from your chest, chances are you have an infection and should not run. Rather you should see your doctor and get the infection treated. Ask your doctor when it OK to run again.

Injuries:

For those of you that read (and if you don't, I suggest you do) my blog (runanskyrun.blogspot.com), you'll know that I recently fractured a rib while out on a group run. A Rib fracture is a unique type injury since the only thing that heals it is time. It cannot be put in a sling or in a cast. My doctor also said not to tape it because the taping will constrict airflow to the lungs. If the lungs do not get enough oxygen, I could develop pneumonia or, even worse, a collapsed lung.  My doctor said that a fractured rib can take anywhere between 4 – 8 weeks to fully heal. As for running, he said to let the pain dictate what I can and cannot do.

But enough about me. I'll write more about my plans on my blog…dealing with injuries is hard. It takes time for

the injury to heal and then, depending on the injury, there might be some physical therapy involved before you're cleared to pound the pavement again.

If you get sick or injured you've probably experienced all sorts of emotions. Anger, despair, etc…. how you deal with this setback will determine if you comeback weaker or stronger. Here are some other things to keep in mind while you recover:

• Set a New Goal – if your illness or injury is bad enough that you need to cancel your goal race, pick out another one. The key here is to be realistic. If you're out for 2 months with an injury don't pick a marathon as your new goal race. Pick a local 5K or 10K.
• Watch your diet – this is very important. It's very to easy to start eating junk because you're upset. You don't want to come back to running 5, 10, 15 pounds heavier than you were before your injury.
• Ask your doctor what you can do – as active people, it's hard for us to sit around and do nothing. If you can get on a bike, elliptical, or just go for a walk, do it.
• It's not the end of the world – when I fractured my rib, I tell people it could have been worse. I could have hit my head, broken a leg, arm, or ankle.
• Find something else to get involved in – Running is a very important part of our lives. But it shouldn't be the only thing. I am very active in my synagogue. If you must be around running, volunteer at a race. You'll still feel the energy of a racing by manning a water station or putting a medal around the neck of someone who just completed a marathon.
• Use your recovery as an extended taper – The Running Laminator and others commented on my site that any other aches and pains that I had will appreciate the time off as well.
• Last, but certainly not least, STAY POSITIVE – like I said above, it's not the end of the world. Does it suck that you can't run? Of course it does. But we all have other things in our lives to be thankful for. Use your time off from running to appreciate those other things and when it's time to return to running, you'll appreciate it even more.

It's great to be back guest blogging for Brandon. Hopefully I can be more consistent. As always, if there are topics you would like me to write about or for Brandon to talk about on his show, please let us know by either leaving a comment or clicking the contact link at the top of the page.

Brandon\’s Marathon Podcast: Episode 55

Newton Sir & Lady Isaac Review

Speedfil

Death in Wisconsin

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Why I wear Newtons, Part III

I\’m not sure of the exact date when I discovered Newtons, but thanks to this site, I can tell you the first time I spoke about them on my show. It is BMP #16 at about 29 minutes in. From that point, much of the research I did on the shoes themselves was done away from Brandon\’s Marathon. I did however, talk some about the technology of the shoe and how it works. I also encouraged people to go to their website rather than hear the information secondhand from me. I STILL encourage everyone to do this.

The first time I tried Newtons was in October in Richmond, Virginia when I was picking up my race packet for a sprint triathlon I was doing. The store where the pickup was located was also a Newton dealer. I asked and they happily allowed me to take a pair of trainers for a spin around the block. They were exactly what I was looking for and felt amazing. Before anyone suggests that they felt \”amazing\” because I wanted them to feel \”amazing\”, I made a promise to myself when I began this website that I would be as transparent with my audience as possible, sharing every feeling that I had (though not necessarily every event). I have kept that promise, and not in the way our government is \”transparent\”, rather, for real.

Due to the fact that Newtons do cost a bit more than many running, a fact which does not escape me or my wallet, I could not immediately get my hands on a pair. Also, I wanted to wait because at the time, Newton had announced a new, all-weather shoe, that would be more appropriate for running in New York City in the winter, which would not be shipped until the end of the year or early the following year. For my birthday (December 2) my father and stepmother gave me my first pair of Newtons (which wouldn\’t be in my hands for a couple of weeks, but what can you do?)!

My Newtons arrived on December 15, 2008. I know it seems excessive that I know when they arrived, but again, thanks to this site I have a record. Before then, I had been slowly transitioning to forefoot for a while and my legs were more than ready. As luck would have it, I had a race about five days after getting my Newtons, however, Mother Nature intervened  and dumped a ton of snow on the city and Central Park was a cold, slushy, snowy, icy mess, so I opted for my Vomero\’s. With the exception of some extremely snowy or disgusting weather runs, that was the last time I would go Newton-less.

But, WHY did I switch? The answer to that question has a few layers. First, as I said earlier, I was blissfully unaware of what running actually was. For me it was something where I just went out and did it to lose weight or to look better, but now I was doing it because it was fun! Yes some of the long, boring mile remained long and boring, but they were not so laborious as before. Keep in mind that I did not all of a sudden get my Newtons and begin forefoot/midfoot striking, I had been doing it for a while in my existing shoes. Newtons, due to their minimal heel-toe drop (about 1/6 of an inch), allowed me to use a much more \”piston-like\” (up and down) action with my legs rather than having to force my toes down to overcome the giant wedge of my Nike\’s.

Second; I wanted to go farther and longer. This part is less about Newtons, \”the shoe\” and more about the technique which they use and promote. Over time, I had come to discover, through trial, that forefoot running, with a shorter, more efficient stride, allowed me to go longer with minimal fatigue. It also allowed me to get up hills, where before I had to walk, I could now run up no problem. I know that this, again, may sound like a bit of, \”hey mom! look how I can run faster and jump higher in my new shoes!!\” syndrome, but again, this is NOT about the shoe, but about the technique that they promote. As I said before, I am not a small, lanky runner type of guy. I am tall and big and can bench-press about 275 lbs. (or could before I began trying to lean out for my Ironman). I have not had a single injury, save for ITBS which was existing, since running in Newtons. Not shinsplints, not plantar fasciitis, not knee pain, nothing.

Third; when you go to Newton\’s website, you will notice that, while they are a shoe company, they are less about the shoes themselves and more about running healthy. On their YouTube channel, there are seven videos talking about the shoes themselves but EIGHTEEN videos that are about running technique and testimonials.  In my experience this embodies what Newton is all about. They are taking a stake in the general health of the world around them and promoting running healthy, shoes or no shoes. When the guys from Newton came to New York this past June and did a running clinic, about half the people there were wearing Newtons and the other half not. While they definitely told us about their shoes a bit and why they were different, not ONCE did they say, \”Now go buy our shoes!\”.

I wear Newtons because they work for me. I wear Newtons because they promote a technique that I believe in. I wear Newtons because when I wear them, I\’m not \”getting through\” a run, I\’m just running! If you have never tried a pair, try them! What do you have to lose? If your shoes work for you and you have zero problems, don\’t try them. But don\’t knock it until you try it.

I don\’t work for Newton, and everything I\’ve said in the parts of this article are how I feel. When I run in my Newtons, or barefoot with the same technique, I feel alive. I feel like I want to run, not like I have to.

Why I wear Newtons, Part II

If I recall correctly, the first time I heard anything about forefoot/midfoot running was in an article in Men\’s Health in 2006 in an article entitled, \”The Men Who Live Forever\”, by Christopher McDougall. Thus, it was quite something, when three years later Christopher McDougall became the first interview on my podcast for his book, Born to Run. The paragraphs in the article that caught my eye were:

One of Hartmann\’s star clients, marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe, has been training in the Nike Free, a new, minimalist slipper designed to mimic the range of motion of a naked foot. Alan Webb, America\’s best miler, also works out in the Free. Webb had been hobbled by foot injuries early in his career, but after he started barefoot exercises, his injuries disappeared, and his shoe size shrank, from a 12 to a 9. \”My foot muscles became so strong, they pulled my arches up,\” says Webb. \”Wearing too much shoe prevents you from tapping into the natural gait you have when landing on the ground.\”

Perhaps this was what I had witnessed while trying to keep up with Alejandro. Watching him run, I was surprised to find that instead of the long, galloping stride I\’d expected, he never stretched out his legs at all. He kept his knees bent and his forefeet padding down directly under his body, as if he were riding an invisible unicycle.

\”Exactly!\” says Ken Mierke, an exercise physiologist and the creator of the barefoot-modeled Evolution Running technique. \”That\’s why they don\’t get hurt.\” Mierke believes there is a perfect, Tarahumara-like footstrike that can guarantee you will run longer and faster, and drastically reduce your chances of injury. The key is to stay off your heel and to use your leg as a pistonlike shock absorber.

\”You wouldn\’t jump off a ladder and land on your heels, right?\” Mierke asks. \”Same with running. If you land on your heel, your leg is straight, and the impact is smashing into one joint after the other. If you land on your forefoot, however, with the leg bent, it absorbs shock using elastic tissues instead of bone.\”

A while later, I stumbled across an article in the New York Times from 2005 entitled, \”Kick Off Your Shoes and Run Awhile\”, funnily enough, also by Christopher McDougall. By that time, I was a few month into Brandon\’s Marathon (both the site and podcast) and was sharing my trials and tribulations with an online audience. With both of McDougall\’s articles fueling my curiosity, I took to the treadmill.

At first, I was landing much too far forward, literally on my toes. I was also attempting this new form of running in shoes that had all but taken away my ability to strike the ground with my forefoot due to the heel-toe drop (again, the difference in height between the heel and the toe). Even my first ungainly attempts at forefoot running, with my toes taking a beating and my feet WAY too far out in front of me, I could already feel what I was looking for, or rather didn\’t feel. This was in September of 2008. You can hear me talk about all these discoveries in Brandon\’s Marathon Podcast, Episode 16.

I was hooked.

I discovered, the hard way, that to change to a forefoot/midfoot technique takes time. Newton says this very clearly on their website. I had very sore calves and even a touch of achilles tendinitis. So, I slowed down and began to take my time, doing a little bit of forefoot running mixed in with my runs…which kept getting longer.

As soon as I heard about forefoot running for the second time, I began to Google it (as is the custom it seems). and THAT is when I found Newton Running.

Why I wear Newtons, Part I

A skeptic recently asked me, \”Why did you switch to Newtons?\”. If you\’ve heard earlier episodes of Brandon\’s Marathon Podcast, or if you\’ve followed this site by reading many of my articles, then you have probably heard or read about my running evolution which brought me to Newton Running. Now, however, I am going to lay it out.

I was not a runner. This is a very important point, I feel because it gives perspective to how innocent and blissfully ignorant I was of running and all the trappings that come along with it. Yes, in high school I ran the mile like everyone else had to for the Presidential Physical Fitness program. Due to the fact that I was in insanely good shape from swimming (my sport of choice in which I was nationally ranked), I was able to get on the track for the mile and crank out a respectable 4:40. But, I was not a runner.

When I was in college, I stopped swimming on a team due to the fact that my school, VCU, did not have a team. I also discovered beer and loved it! This made for a not-so-great physique, which I did basically nothing to work on. I would lift fairly consistently, but this did little for my cardio health or weight loss.

After college (2002), I went to work as an apprentice artist with Virginia Opera (I am a singer, you see). Part of my job was touring around the state and giving concerts and recitals. This meant a great deal of time in hotels and a lot of eating out. Around Christmas of that year, I overheard someone at the opera house say that I was beginning to \”look like a real tenor\”. This was not a compliment. Tenors, well, most singers for that matter, have the well deserved reputation of being a little less than in shape. When I heard this statement, I knew something had to change. I weighed 240 lbs.

I began working out by getting on an elliptical machine because I believed, \”my knees can\’t take running\”. I coupled the elliptical with some swimming (stick with what you know, right?) and lifting as well as watching my diet…sort of. I began to lose weight, coming down to a svelte 215 lbs. I think it is important to note that I am a heavily muscled person, and I\’m 6\’1\” so weight is relative. To give you an idea, in THIS picture, I weigh 201 lbs.

Eventually, I began to run a bit. In the summer of 2005, I was working at Santa Fe Opera and was living very close to the gym. So, I began to run on the treadmill about for about twenty minutes at a time. This was the first time I really \”ran\”. I think I was wearing some Reebok or Adidas shoe that I probably bought because it looked cool. My running kind of came and went for about the next year. In December of 2006, my wife (who is also a singer) and I were working in Osaka, Japan. We both got really excited about the then new Nike+ system and we each got a pair of Air Zoom Moire+. This is a very flexible, lightweight, slipper-like shoe. I began running in them quite a bit and they really felt great. However, my runs were always about two miles and rarely more than three. That\’s about the point where my legs would begin to break down.

I kept up running pretty consistently, never pushing my body or trying to find out how to do more. Then in February of 2008, I was inspired and decided I was going to enter the lottery for the NYC Marathon (I won\’t go into the details of all the races and things, please read older posts for that). At the same time, I had been running in the same shoes for what I was told was far too long. So, I went to Nike\’s online store and chose a new pair of shoes. Because they were so narrow, these hurt my feet a lot (again, read older posts), so I exchanged them for a pair of Nike Air Vomero II\’s. My reason for going with Nike was because it was what I knew, and it seemed to be working well enough.

The Vomero\’s were literally like running on marshmallows. There was a HUGE heel-toe drop (height difference between the back and front of the shoe)  which emphasized my heel strike which felt ok for a while because of the insane amount of heel cushioning. I also began increasing my distance, mostly on a treadmill, and then my knees showed up to the party and everything went to hell. I had it in my head that my knees were not built for running and that I would have to get through my marathon on muscle and will (which partly came true, but only due to injury).

To be continued…

BMP: Episode 49

Brain Surgery Frees Runner, but Raises Barriers

NYC Triathlon

Inwood Hill Park

Synergy Drinks

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Guest Blogger Ari: Shoes

No, this isn\’t going to be an entry about me recommending shoes. What I do want write about is this….I\’ve had a few people ask me \”what type of shoes due you recommend?\” I usually answer with \”that depends.\” I know that seems vague but it really is the truth. Let me tell you a story…..When I first took up running, I went to my local Modell\’s, a big box sporting goods store in the NYC area, and picked out a pair of shoes simply based on brand recognition and what felt comfortable. As I got more into running I started speaking to other runners about shoes. I bought my next pair of shoes from a local New Balance store. I told a person working there that I was training for my first marathon. He went to the back and gave me a pair of shoes to try on. They felt comfortable and lightweight so I took them. As my training progressed, I started to get shin splints, my toes started to bleed, and I developed some blisters. At this point I became friendly with some serious runners who told me to check out a specialty running store in a town next to mine.  I go to the store and the next thing I know someone is analyzing my feet and I\’m on a treadmill with someone video taping me running. After that ordeal, the person emerges from the back with 3 or 4 pairs to choose from.  I found the one that like, and I\’ve been buying that shoe ever since.

At this point you\’re probably asking yourselves, what\’s the point? My point in sharing my story is this: if you are serious about running, it\’s important to wear the right shoes for you. Just because I wear a neutral cushoined shoes doesn\’t mean you can.  One reason many running-related injuries occur is because people are wearing the wrong shoes. Get yourself a gait analysis at a specialty running shop and get fitted for the right shoes. It will make a world of difference.

Guest Blogger Ari: I\’m still here

I apologize for not guest blogging in a while. I\’ve been very busy at work and just came back from Florida. I celebrating Passover with my family in Boca Raton.  I\’ve blogged about the challenges Passover posed in terms of running.

As I was catching up on some back episodes of BMP, I realized I haven\’t posted here in a while. If you\’ve been following my training, you\’ll remember that I was having some calf problems before I left for Florida. At Brandon\’s suggestion, I got myself a foam roller. I cannot thank you enough for that advice. It really loosened up my calf and I haven\’t had any pain or discomfort since then. If you don\’t have a foam roller, do your body a favor and get one.

I\’ll be back later this week with another entry. Until then, you can continue to follow my training at runanskyrun.blogspot.com. If anyone is running the New Jersey Marathon or Half Marathon on May 3, please let me know. I will be great to meet you. I\’ll be running the full.

AG

BMP: Episode 36

Brandon\’s Marathon on Twitter!!

Running with the Pack

Run Ansky Run!

Run Lesley Run!

Erin Lee Triathlon

Outer Banks Marathon

Homecoming Scotland Run

World Wide Festival of Races

Kinesio Tape

Buckeye Outdoors Podcasters Contest— JOIN MY GROUP!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

BMP: Episode 35

Run Ansky Run

Running with the Pack

Outer Banks Marathon

Road Bike Sizing Chart 1

Road Bike Sizing Chart 2

Road Bike Sizing Chart 3

Road Bike Sizing Chart 4

NYRR Homecoming Scotland Run

Active.com

Newton Running

Buy my bike!!

Brandon\’s Marathon Gear Page!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

BMP: Episode 34

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Recovery 4

In the midst of all my IT band problems, I have been itching to test out my leg while at the same time, nervous about taking my first running strides. All that said, I just got in from going for a four mile test run, and guess what…….

IT FELT GREAT!!!

There was a bit of soreness in my ITB, but I just kept a close eye on my stride, being sure to not make any extraneous movements. I also did this run wearing an IT Band Compression Wrap (sometimes know as a cho-pat)

As soon as I returned from the run, I did a nice 15 minute stretch session, which included a foam roller. And the biggest shock…it STILL feels good. Ususally, my ITB acts up the most AFTER my runs, but as I sit here writing to you, it feels absolutely fine!

Anyway, all that is extremely encouraging, and I plan to do another 4 miler this Thursday, just to give the leg another stretch.

BMP: Episode 33

Thomas Simpson Massage

Sport Legs

ITBS Help

My Felt Z90

My Trek Equinox TTX 9.0

Road Bike Size Chart

Shamrock Marathon

Homecoming Scotland Run

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

BMP: Episode 32

Running with the Pack

Run Ansky Run!

Shamrock Marathon

Homecoming Scotland Run

Ironman Wisconsin

The Stick

Foam Roller

A Runner\’s Guide to ITBS

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

BMP: Episode 31

Running with the Pack

You Bars! (use discount code: Bmarathon)

My Motionbased Runs

Run Ansky Run!

Shamrock Marathon

Ironman Wisconsin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

BMP: Episode 29

You Bar (enter the code: Bmarathon at checkout)

Runners Market

Run Ansky Run

Athlinks

NYC Triathlon

Keith and The Girl

Running with the Pack

Shamrock Marathon

Active.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

BMP: Episode 19

Newton Running

Chris Giordanelli

Richmond Marathon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Open your eyes.

Every year, thousands of runners and cyclists get injured and killed by motorists who either aren't paying attention or simply don't care. Last week, here in New York City, two joggers were hit and one of them killed by a driver under the influence of narcotics [Story].

Then yesterday, in an event that hit VERY close to home, a cyclist was struck o

n the very road, Route 9W near Piermont, NY, where my friends in the Saturday Morning Clown ride do our long rides. The cyclist remains in critical condition [Story].

Whether you are the motorist or the athlete, OPEN YOUR EYES!!! Please keep your eyes open and encourage your friends to watch out as well. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those injured.

Just a twinge…

Last night, I was forced to run on the treadmill at my gym due to weather here in New York. Now, I could have gone and run in the rain, but I would rather not have a cold for my first marathon! So, I was at the 50 minute mark, feeling really good! This is a little surprising because since I have been running outside mostly lately and I have come to HATE treadmills!

Back to the story, I hit 50 minutes and all of a sudden I felt a little, painful twinge in my high left achilles. I IMMEDIATELY hit the stop button and began stretching.

Today I feel pretty good. There isn\’t exactly pain in my achilles, but it is a bit tight. So I have been stretching throughout the day and will continue tonight. I plan on going for a nice long easy run tomorrow down the West Side Greenway. I\’ll keep you posted!

BMP: Episode 18

Running with the Pack

Richmond Marathon

Richmond Sprint Tiathlon (Link to stats is on the page)

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