Hunting Season Workout

[Guy Miner]

A good podiatrist looked at my feet & shoes and gave me a few more years of running by guiding me to different shoes, and some good stretching exercises. In the end though, it appears my days of distance running are over. Too much pain in the ankles, tendons & knees for me.

So I ride & hike & ski. Those don't hurt. Usually.

 

[tddeangelo]

I really think shoes will do it. My feet supinate, and, not knowing any better, before I started all this, I got new sneakers because I just needed them (old ones were pretty ratty). As I had a fair bit of soreness in my arches (much decreased as my weight as gone down, go figure!), I got running shoes with a "stability bar" in them, which gave a really hard arch that felt good on my feet when I was walking around in normal activity.

I started running and my knees flared. I did some research, and started seeing references that runners with supinated feet should have as much shock absorption as they can get in a running shoe, but should under no circumstances have stability bars or anything else to "stabilize" the shoe. Apparently, it puts more load on the ankles/knees laterally, just as supination does already, and compounds the issue. Since my knees seemed to acclimate on the treadmill, I gave them time, but I believe I'm at the point where I'll need a new pair of shoes and then this issue will likely be resolved quickly.

Now I just need to convince my better half that another pair of shoes is needed. Since I got these shoes fairly cheap (there's a Reebok outlet nearby with very low prices), it hopefully will not be a big deal. I can still use them for daily activities that are not exercise-oriented, too. They look about brand new, although the soles are showing wear from now running on asphalt instead of a treadmill belt.

 

[SJB358]

I really think shoes will do it. My feet supinate, and, not knowing any better, before I started all this, I got new sneakers because I just needed them (old ones were pretty ratty). As I had a fair bit of soreness in my arches (much decreased as my weight as gone down, go figure!), I got running shoes with a "stability bar" in them, which gave a really hard arch that felt good on my feet when I was walking around in normal activity.

I started running and my knees flared. I did some research, and started seeing references that runners with supinated feet should have as much shock absorption as they can get in a running shoe, but should under no circumstances have stability bars or anything else to "stabilize" the shoe. Apparently, it puts more load on the ankles/knees laterally, just as supination does already, and compounds the issue. Since my knees seemed to acclimate on the treadmill, I gave them time, but I believe I'm at the point where I'll need a new pair of shoes and then this issue will likely be resolved quickly.

Now I just need to convince my better half that another pair of shoes is needed. Since I got these shoes fairly cheap (there's a Reebok outlet nearby with very low prices), it hopefully will not be a big deal. I can still use them for daily activities that are not exercise-oriented, too. They look about brand new, although the soles are showing wear from now running on asphalt instead of a treadmill belt.

Tom, maybe you can borrow Mike's running sneakers? :shock:

 

[tddeangelo]

Oh man, that was a rough one.... funny, but rough.

 

[Elkman]

Tom and others.

When I was a runner, 12+ years ago, I found that when using the treadmill, that my workload output (calories) increased with elevating the tread mill. I found that running a mile, on a flat ground at 12/13 miles an hours, burned x amount of calories. BUT if I increased the grade on the treadmill (mine is set at 12%) I could walk and get the same amount of calories burned. So I switched to fast walking at a grade. My knees of course are slowly breaking down, but I believe that really helped my last longer by reducing the impact on my knees and hips. Going down is harder on my knees that going up. Of course going up is harder on my lungs. No pain, no gain !!!!!

 

[Oldtrader3]

I am with Bill, rollerblading is off the list for me now. Plus the nearest I have come to being killed while hunting was on horseback and either get a horse that had not been ridden in a year and tried several different methods of unseating and ridding itself of me or by having a not in condition horse slip in the snow on a small rocky trail at 10,000 feet and nearly crush me. If I do not personally know a horse, I don't want to ride it up a mountain!

 

[tddeangelo]

Charlie, those sound like some interesting stories to tell, even if not fun to live through!

Looks like my running is on hold. Did 2.5 miles tonight, and my right ankle got real gimpy...swollen a bit, too. Ice and Ibuprofen helped, but it's probably time to concede to Mother Nature and give the thing a break from running. I need new shoes, so in the mean time, I will take my Asolo boots I got recently and give them some chance to bite into some dirt, do a few hikes on access trails on the place I hunt and the neighboring public land. I'll probably toss the 30lb. kettlebell in my pack and remind myself of what it felt like not too long ago WITHOUT the pack!

 

[Oldtrader3]

Tom, I was building off Bill's post. I can't run anymore so I bought an airbike. The wet weather here is not conducive to running outside anyway.

 

[tddeangelo]

I know, but I bet the "horse stories" are interesting, none the less!

And odd thing...iced and rested the ankle, ibuprofen kicked in, and it's not good as new, but it's pretty darn good. We'll see in the morning....that's usually when it rusts up tight again.

 

[Elkman]

I finally kicked the sloth out of the house and got back into the hill climb. For those that don't know I have a hill across the county road from me. Its 1 mile and 1,000 feet to the top. My neighbor and I have a well worn trail to the top. We both went together this AM, we were just under two hours, we went slow and chatted up and back. Its my third time up this week. A great way to start the day.

 

[joelkdouglas]

I ran 8 miles today. Total mileage for the week is around 23, with one day lifting weights also. I try to lift weights 2 days per week. I also try to run 20 miles a week.

Keep in mind, I also have to pass a PFT! Keeps you motivated to know your job depends partially on your fitness!

 

[Guy Miner]

My most frequently used instrument of torture... A 25+ year old Cannondale. We've done a lot of rides this year, more than most. Still in very good condition, particularly considering what all I've put it through over the years. Just rode a brisk 40+ miles this morning. Lovin' it!



Guy

 

[Vince]

Old School!

 

[Guy Miner]

It's funny Vince - I remember buying it, and at the time Cannondale had just announced a newer, lighter frame. This was one of the "older" models, but barely. Pretty much state-of-the-art in the late 1980's when I got it.

Now you're right. Old school for sure. Still works great though. Wish I was still as fit as I was when I got it all those years ago! I don't remember exactly what year I bought it, but I was in my early 30's, like 32 or so. Now I'm 57 and still riding it. It's been a good bike for a long time.

Guy

 

[Vince]

I had an Italian bike at that time but looked hard at the Cannondale.
Should've got the Cannondale.

 

[Thankful Otter]

we don't really have an exercise program, as we are crawling up and down mountains all day. But we do snow shoe a lot and if any of you fellows are close to snow, I think you will find snow shoeing to be a good exercise. Start slow, maybe only a 25 pound pack and walk in packed snow with a modest incline for maybe only 15 to 20 Km a day.
You will soon be able to use them on soft snow, either up a mountain pass or across a frozen lake with no problem. Also running in snow shoes is good exercise, which we do on occasion if there is a white bear behind us LOL

 

[SJB358]

Now that sounds fun. Although, I'm not keen on running from a fight!

Wished we had more snow for snow shoes. Haven't been on a pair for awhile.

 

[Guy Miner]

Snowshoes are great. For many years I've had two pair:

9x30 Sherpas - one of the first aluminum frame "mountaineering" type snowshoes

10x56 no-name wooden snow shoes with rawhide lacing. I've re-laced and re-finished these shoes several times over the years. They're still great for trails, or when carrying a fairly heavy pack. Lots of floatation, and the width isn't too bad.

Both sets though take a distinct back seat to my cross-country skis most winters. I ski a lot, only snowshoeing now and again. If I did more winter hunting, or winter mountaineering (like I enjoyed when I was younger) I'd be on the snowshoes more.

Am amazed at the excellence of newer snowshoes. Really something!

And... Think snowshoeing is tough? Try walking through all that soft, white stuff without them... I taught the SWAT team to snowshoe a few years back. One guy was complaining about how hard he was working. I asked him to take them off and go a couple hundred yards, post-holing thigh-deep at every step. He grudgingly admitted that using the snowshoes was a LOT easier and faster too. Silly Deputy!

Guy

 

[tddeangelo]

Well, Guy, looks like I'm gonna have to be a pedal-pusher, too.

Achilles Tendonopathy was what the doc just told me I have.... so my Achilles needs to rest. Good news is my cardio and weight training I do inside I can keep doing, with some modifications, and I can ride a bike.

My Cannondale mt bike is at the shop, needs about $75 in TLC and will be ready to go, so there I shall start, but....it's seeming more clear to me that I need to mix cycling with my running if I want to keep my injuries at a minimum. I'm 37, and as my brother put it to me, I'm "not as springy" as I once was.

Any suggestions for me? I did some initial looking at the bike shop near my house, but I want to check at least one more shop, and then there's the unholy assortment of used bikes on craigslist and ebay that may or may not be good buys.

I've been running 3x per week, with my longest run so far being 4.5miles. I'm thinking I need to maybe do two runs per week, to rides per week, and see how that works. I don't want to give up running, and I don't have to, but I think I'd be well advised to split my cardio between feet and wheels.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Tom, one thing that you can do that is aerobic and won't further injure your Achilles tendon is swimming. I would stay away form running for awhile until that tendon heals. My ex boss swam for some months when his AT gave out, he was told to not run for several months.