[pct-l] Re: [pct-l] transition to running

[Doug at cooper.com (Doug LeMoine)]

It definitely takes time to get your running groove back. I struggled for
three months before I found mine, but there were a few things that sped up
the process:

- Paying close attention to stride length. When I was hiking, I
unconsciously lengthened my stride. This contributed to some serious
soreness and fatigue once I started running again. Once I focused on taking
comfortable (shorter, in my case) strides, I felt a lot better.

- Giving my legs time to recover. Before I hiked, I would run at least 5x a
week, and went on runs of various distance, pace, and terrain. After I
finished, this same regimen kicked my butt. So I started taking more rest
days, riding my bike more, and ... 

- Doing yoga. I'd never done it before the trail, but some yoga-crazed
friends convinced me to try it in place of a couple of running days. I
wasn't totally converted, but it really sorted some stuff out, got my qi
flowing, whatever. It worked, especially the downward-facing dog. Finding a
good teacher is the key, so ask around.

- Running on trails. I noticed a huge reduction in muscle pain when I ran on
trails instead of pavement. I guess it takes a while for your legs to adjust
to having the crap pounded out of them, and you can minimize this by running
on softer surfaces.

Hot stuff coming through,

Doug

 -----Original Message-----
 From: Ron M Smith [mailto:ronyon@lycos.com]
 Sent: Friday, September 12, 2003 12:02 PM
 To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
 Subject: [pct-l] Re: pct-l] transition to running
 
 
 My guess is your post-hike stamina is taking you further than 
 your running muscles are ready to go. Thus the soreness. I 
 suggest lowering your mileage initially, then gradually 
 increasing as your soreness subsides. I also recommend a 
 session with a sports trainer or physical therapist. I've had 
 good success with them in accelerating recovery.
 
 Two years ago I ran in the Hood-to-Coast relay (each runner 
 runs 3 legs of about 5 miles each) a week after returning from 
 a month-long backpack. My speed wasn't great and my legs 
 cramped easily, but otherwise I had great stamina, and 
 completed it in a very respectable time.
 
 Good luck in your marathon.
 Ron
 
 >Message: 10
 >Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 20:08:33 -0400
 >From: "Ripperton Matt" <maripper@mindspring.com>
 >Subject: [pct-l] transition to running
 >To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
 >Message-ID: <000b01c378c2$014ae560$54bc5741@D2PN8111>
 >Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"
 >
 >Does anyone have any tips on marathon training, or running 
 generally, after a long hike?  I just returned from over 3 
 months on the trail, in great shape, and I thought it would be 
 an excellent opportunity to try for a marathon this fall.  I'm 
 targeting around mid-November to mid-December.  
 >
 >I run intermittently for recreation & fitness, and completed 
 one marathon in under 4 hours in 1998, so I'm not a total 
 novice.  My runs since I got back have not been too fast, and 
 I feel great cardio-wise, but my legs get incredibly sore 
 afterwards.  I have been running perhaps every other day since 
 I got home about a week and a half ago, and things have not 
 improved.  I thought it would just take a short time for my 
 muscles to adapt to the slightly different movement, and then 
 I would be all set to build my mileage base quickly.  Now I'm 
 worried I won't be able to make the transition in time.
 >
 >If anyone has any advice or experience with this & can help I 
 would appreciate it very much!
 >
 >Ajax
 
 
 
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