RUNNING FOR A REASON

Here we are at the end of January battling a major snow storm in the Northeast. Many of you are trying to train through these formidable conditions in preparation for a big spring race. It ain't easy, is it? Yesterday I made it through my longest run of the year, a twelve miler from my hometown of Martins Ferry, Ohio, across Wheeling's Suspension Bridge, and down the Ohio River trail to Warwood, WV and back. Along the way I splattered through slush, cut through biting wind, and soaked up the half-rain-half-snow that fell interminably.

Up until now my training for Boston has been conservative because of a hamstring injury. It's feeling better, not 100% but better. I make sure I cross train on a stationary bike three times a week, which allows time for healing and recovery between runs. Because of a change in my after-work schedule, I'll be doing most of these training runs on my own. Anything over thirteen miles seems to take forever, especially without a training buddy to share the misery.

Suffering. Don't ya love it? I decided a few weeks back that if I'm going to suffer through winter marathon training, I need to do it for more than just my personal goals. Suffering for someone else adds purpose and motivation to a training regimen, especially if the ones you are suffering for are in great need. I decided to run Boston for the people of the Domasi Presbytery in Malawi, Central Africa. The Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery has a partnership with the Domasi Presbytery, focusing on helping to meet physical (food, housing, medicine, water, etc) needs as well as spiritual (books, bibles, facility improvements, etc) needs.

If you would like to be a team support member in this mission project -- Running Boston for Malawi -- write out a check for $26.20 and make it out to UOVP (Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery) and in the memo line write "Malawi Partnership", and send it to me at Joe Ellis, 71299 Skyview Drive, Martins Ferry, Ohio, 43935. All team support members will receive a ceramic "Running Boston for Malawi" medal (I make these myself). If anyone gives $100 they will receive a "Running Boston for Malawi" racing shirt with the above logo. I'll cover the costs and shipping so that 100% of your donation will go to the Malawi people.

Keep up the winter suffering . . . I mean training,

Joe C. Ellis



LUNCH BUCKET MONTHS

January and February are blue-collar months for runners preparing for big races in the spring. It's cold. The wind is blowing. There's snow on the ground. Nevertheless, you put on your work clothes, pack your lunch pale, and head off to the factory. At least, that's how running through these winter months feels to me. I might not like it, but the big race will be here before I know it, so I have to do it.

If you dress properly, it's not so bad once you get out on the road. To me, anything's better than running on a treadmill. The only thing worse than running on a treadmill is doing nothing. Doing nothing drives me crazy. People don't like being around me when I haven't had my workout fix.

Today when I run the temperature will be about 15 degrees with 18 mph winds. Yuk! Layers of clothing. Heavy sweats. Ski mask. Thick gloves. I'll be lucky if someone doesn't mistake me for a terrorist. But I'll do it. I'll suffer through it. And when I finish, I'll actually feel pretty good about it. There's something about suffering that brings an odd satisfaction into a runner's soul. When I eat supper tonight, I will feel somehow worthy of the calories because I suffered through a cold, long run.

Here's my marathon training for the last week or so:
Monday -- 8 mile easy run
Tuesday -- 60 minutes on a stationary bike, stretches, back, abs, arms, and hamstring strengthening exercises.
Wednesday -- 8 mile easy run
Thursday -- 60 minutes on a stationary bike, stretches, back, abs, arms, and hamstring strengthening exercises.
Friday -- 10 mile easy run
Saturday -- 8 mile easy run (hamstring felt tight at the end of this one with a little jolt of pain)
Sunday --  60 minutes on a stationary bike, stretches, back, abs, arms, and hamstring strengthening exercises.
Monday -- 6 mile easy run
Tuesday -- 60 minutes on a stationary bike, stretches, back, abs, arms, and hamstring strengthening exercises.
Today -- I'll try to do 8 miles easy but will also be sensitive to how the hamstring feels.

Happy Running!

Joe C. Ellis

OFFICIAL BOSTON TRAINING BEGINS TODAY!

For the last two months I have been dealing with doubts about competing in my first Boston Marathon this coming April. At the Columbus Half Marathon last October I injured my hamstring. I didn't think the injury was severe, but in the weeks following the Columbus Half, it worsened. It got so bad I could no longer run on it.

I decided to see a physical therapist, Justin Kiger of Mountain River Physical Therapy in St. Clairsville, Ohio. Over a six week period, Justin took me through a series of exercises, stretches, ASTYM therapy, and dry needling therapy. I've been pain-free now for about ten days and have worked my way back up to eight miles.

There is hope for the Boston in April! Although, I hold on to that hope gingerly. Yesterday I broke out a new pair of shoes to celebrate the end of 2014. New shoes = new life.

I've worn loud shoes before but never fluorescent orange. These things are so bright they hurt your eyes. I've trained in Saucony Triumphs for the last eight years. Because I go through so many pairs, I buy last year's model for half price online. Sometimes these "odd" colors are the only ones left in my size. So I'm not trying to make a fashion statement, I'm just cheap.

 

For the next several months I will be posting regularly about my preparation and workouts for the Boston Marathon. I don't plan on announcing my posts on Facebook running club pages after today. If you want to follow, sign up for the email alerts or become a follower of the page. I know some of you are also preparing for Boston. Here's hoping that the next several months are good to us--May we be injury free, may we have half-decent weather and good running buddies to help us train through the long miles.

 

God bless and happy running in 2015

 

Joe C. Ellis

ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY -- THE NEEDLE AND THE DAMAGE UNDONE

I am now nearing the end of my sixth week with hamstring pain. This has been one of my worst injuries in the last ten years of running. It started as a bad cramp at the end of a half marathon in Columbus and progressively got worse as the weeks went by. We've tried rest and ASTYM therapy, but neither offered a quick remedy to my problem. December and the kick off of Boston Marathon training is coming quickly. Unfortunately, my hamstring is not ready to get the party started.

My symptoms: I can run about two miles pain free, and then discomfort begins. If I push through the discomfort, the hamstring will strain and will hurt for about week. If I stop and walk before it strains, the hamstring feels sore for about a day, and then I'm pain free again. I usually don't run for a week, even though I may be pain free, but the cycle repeats.

Yesterday, my physical therapist, Justin Kiger at Mountain River Physical Therapy, tried an alternative treatment--acupuncture therapy. Basically, Justin turned me into a pin cushion or perhaps a voodoo doll. He inserted a series of needles from my lower back, into my buttocks, hamstring and calf. I must confess, this was not a painless procedure. However, I endured it and didn't cry like a baby. It was more like a steady whimper. He hopes to accelerate healing and determine whether the source of the problem is more neurological or muscular. I've had sciatica problems in the past.

I limped around the rest of the day, but Justin warned me I'd have some muscle pain from the invasive needles. Today I feel fine. My hamstring is still a little tight from yesterday's two-mile easy run, but not bad. He wants me try another easy run on Saturday to see if there is any improvement. I'll probably go through another round of acupuncture therapy on Tuesday. I'll update the blog then to let you know what happens.

Here's an article proclaiming the effectiveness of acupuncture on hamstring injuries:
http://momentummedia.uberflip.com/i/397072/15?referer=45683aa20c295ce9ecaccf337983d9c6

Hopefully, this needling will do the trick. If not, I might have to make an appointment with a psychoanalyst or maybe a whole team of psychologists.

Happy running,

Joe C. Ellis



CURSED HAMSTRING

While running the Columbus Half Marathon on October 19, I encountered some hamstring pain. The discomfort began at about the ten-mile mark, but I kept pushing it to the end. The next day I definitely felt that I had strained something back there. I continued to train for the next week and a half, but the hamstring pain worsened. I wasn't going to let this stop me. No way. But it hurt too much to run.

I decided to take a week off and let it rest. Then I tried an easy six miler. Not a good idea. I only made it through two miles before the pain began again. At two and a half I had to stop and walk home. I took two weeks off and made an appointment with a physical therapist, Justin Kiger at Mountain River Physical Therapy in St. Clarisville, Ohio.. After two sessions of ASTYM treatments, stretching and strengthening exercises, and massage with a Styrofoam roller, I convinced Justin to let me jog a few miles. With some reservation he approved.

The next day I attempted an easy six miler. The first three were pain free. At about three and a half, tightness and discomfort returned so I walked the rest of the way back. Today the hamstring is sore again. Running the Turkey Trot next week in Wheeling, WV is out of the question. Isn't it?  Now I'm seriously wondering how much this injury may impact my Boston training scheduled to begin in December. CURSED HAMSTRING!

The moral of the story: Some running injuries, especially certain hamstring strains and tears, require a long period of non-running. The pain may go completely away, but if you start back too soon, chances are you will reinjure yourself. Don't be foolish (like me). Take the time off and let it heal completely.

I've missed the last two local races, but I keep telling myself: I have bigger fish to fry. Boston training starts soon. If I'm not careful, I could screw up the month of December. I keep telling myself, "You won't go crazy if you take some time off. No. No crazy. No way. Hahahahaa. No way. I'm not crazy! Is that a purple monkey sitting next to me?"

 

 

RUNNING THE COLUMBUS HALF MARATHON--COLUMBUS, OH

One of my favorite races of the year is the Nationwide Children's Hospital Marathon and Half Marathon in Columbus, Ohio. The cause is great--supporting the Nationwide Children's Hospital and all the kids and families they serve. The course is flat, fast, and well managed. The pre-race atmosphere with fireworks, music, and 18,000 runners raring to go is unparalleled. The weather is typically good--low to mid forties and usually sunny. I was especially looking forward to this year's edition because I had placed in the top three in my age group for the last three years and wanted to keep the string going.

With about three weeks to go before the race, everyone around me caught bad colds--my grandsons, my wife, my daughter and her husband. My defenses went up: hugs only for my wife, no kissing grandpa, trying not to breath around anyone who sneezes or has the sniffles, constant hand washing, avoiding public fountains. I don't know about you, but I become a germaphobe when an important race is approaching.

Five days before the race I could tell a cold germ had entered my body. The nose felt odd. The sinuses began to drain and my throat felt tender. Immediately I rushed out to the Dollar Store to pick up a box of Zicam and begin zinc therapy--all to no avail. The day before the race I had trouble talking and a rumbling cough. Cursed cold germs!

On race morning I decided to go for broke, throw caution to the wind, and go out at a pace that would give me a chance of finishing in the top three of my age group--males 55-59. For six miles I hit 6:40s and went through the 10k in 41:35. Then it hit me like a sucker punch from a schoolyard bully. Mile seven was so punishing that I decided to drop back to a seven-minute-per-mile pace. The problem with going out fast and then backing off in a big race is that with every other step another person passes you. Being constantly passed just adds to the mental battle.

By mile ten I didn't care. Go ahead and pass me. I won't put up a fight. That's right. I'm a wimp. At mile eleven my hamstring began to cramp. Great. Now I'm going to have to limp in. At mile twelve I became enveloped by a swarm of runners. What in the world? It felt like I was on an episode of The Walking Dead. Then I looked up and noticed the leader carrying a sign with the numbers 1:30. Oh no! I have just been passed by the One hour and thirty minute pace group. This can't be happening.

At that point I quit feeling sorry for myself, picked up my pace, and passed the swarm. The last half mile felt agonizing, but I finally crossed the finish line in 1:29:24. Later I found out I placed fifth in my age group. Oh well. I came, I ran, I finished. For that I am thankful. Next year I plan on wearing a hazmat suit a month before the race.

Cheers to the finishers.

My son-in-law, Ryan Shirley, and me celebrating his first Half Marathon with a shot of raspberry iced tea.

 

By the way, the amount of give-a-ways after the race is amazing. My wife goes crazy when there are free goodies for the pickins. And my friends and family feasted on Jimmy-John's free sandwiches. All in all it was a great day ... despite the cursed cold germ!

 



Happy running,

Joe C. Ells

RECAP:BARNESVILLE PUMPKIN FESTIVAL 5K and a new running cartoon

Today's Barnesville's Pumpkin Festival was run under ideal conditions with a record 615 participants. A fifty-two degree race-start temperature greeted runners and walkers as they raced through the clear, low-humidity air of western Belmont County--perfect conditions for an old guy like me.

Although not totally flat, the course is reasonable with a 300-yard medium grade hill starting just before the one-mile mark. At the top racers enjoy more than a mile and a half downhill and slightly downhill running to the finish line. I love those kind of courses--stretch out the legs and let gravity take over!

As always, race director Carl Kondrach managed an A-Number-One race--great awards, great food, great weather (Carl must have some influence with theWeather Man in the Sky), and a great community that puts on a wonderful festival, perhaps one of the biggest pumpkin festivals in the country. Many runners stay after the race and enjoy the festivities.

The only mistake I encountered today was when I picked up my packet: the name clipped to the front said JOELLA ELLIS. I asked the lady at the registration table if I was entered in the women's  race but she said no. Aw shucks!. At first I thought Coach Chrissy Lewis was pranking me because she entered the Martins Ferry coaches and runners as a team to get a discount. She laughed the hardest when she saw the name but swore she didn't do it. Then Carl followed suit and denied the deed. Finally, Carl came up with the explanation--cheerleaders. They helped put together the packets. 'Nuff said.

All in all it was a fun race with great competition. The grandmasters division is getting especially tough. Of the top four runners over 40, three were grandmasters--Wayne McCracken, age 55--18:15, Me, age 58--19:23, and Joe Klempa, age 52--19:27. Another notable grandmaster time came from female overall winner, Sherry Martin--age 52. Sherry ran 18:57 which produced an age-graded score of 91.57 percent. That, my friends, is considered world class for a 52-year-old woman. Wayne's age-graded score was 84.2 percent which is considered national class and also very impressive. If you want to check your age-graded score, go to this Runner's World link.

All in all it was a fun race with over two hundred awards and good fellowship as the temperature warmed into the 70s for the awards ceremony. Age group winners received a real pumpkin and a medal, and overall winners received a pumpkin and a trophy with a pumpkin on top. There's nothing like the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival 5K to kick off the fall season of racing!