So apparently everybody's got shin splints and anterior tib raises are being hailed as the MTSS lord and savior? At least this is what I've been told. Now before you jump ship: I'm NOT saying anterior tib raises are "bad" or "don't work". But I'm not going to tell you that ONE exercise will fix your shin splints in 5 business days and you'll run your marathon in 10 weeks, pain free. Dude. If I could promise that... So this week, I've done a deep dive back into Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome,...
14 days ago • 2 min read
I think I told you all about this 4-ish weeks back? That I finally ran 10 miles after thinking I'd never be able to run that far again (because chronic illness body doing chronic illness things...) Because secretly under it all, I was hoping, "maybe I can finally train for a half again! maybe it's actually possible this time..." So no, unfortunately that's not officially on the books, especially because one long, hot run... I had 1.5 miles left. I was at a stop. Waiting for traffic to clear....
21 days ago • 3 min read
I don't know about you, but these summer long runs are kicking my butt. This past weekend, I should have listened to the little voice in my head that suggested a treadmill run at the gym. Did I listen? Absolutely not. And I paid the price. Because this past weekend's run involved 1 body-cramping stop, 2 cry sessions, lots of walk breaks, at least 3 giant and out-loud "UGHS!", shortened mileage...but no heat exhaustion or dry heaving! (I'm tell you, little wins, man.) The point of telling you...
28 days ago • 2 min read
Hang with me here: Tis the season for IT Band symptoms look-a-likes. Especially as mileage increases and we have some speed or tempo work thrown into the mix... Hips can get niggly. In a lot of different ways. Our brains immediately jump to "outside hip pain must be IT band or TFL tightness". It could be...However the "oops" lies in "I'll rest or cut my next run short and be sure to foam roll..." Now, I'm not goin to yuck in anyone's yum. Our bodies are NOT Excel spreadsheets. So if this...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
If you haven't noticed recently, it's pretty toasty outside. At least for half of the world. And the one thing that shows up every summer that I conveniently forget: ouchy, sore feet and arches during and after long runs. Especially if you're marathon training. I've been reminded of all this, rather abruptly, since I've been penguin-waddling around the house after my weekend runs with my husband laughing quietly at me. But here's the thing... I know it can be VERY tempting to google "why do...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
You cool if we nerd out for a second? Because I've been seeing runners talking about stiff, cranky lower calf muscles... And it's been getting my attention because runners have told me they've stretched, foam rolled, done their calf raises, even 100% committed to plyometrics! But they still end up with this lower calf tightness that becomes more and more uncomfortable as their long runs goes on. Sometimes it's most noticable when they push off of one foot, moving from one step into their next...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
I keep telling myself not to do it. But it's like signing up for another race 3 days after finishing the last one. But to be fair: the reason I plug in "core workouts for runners" into the Instagram search bar is because I want to see what YOU'RE seeing. (or at least what's trending, what the internet thinks is 'good'). And sometimes, I'm blown away at the talent I find in other physical therapists, athletic trainers,...personal trainers! And then other times...I'm left shaking my head....
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
So here's the thing...My left inner ankle, my posterior tibialis, muscle has been a'talking. Not surprising after I've been gradually increasing my long runs. But it doesn't mean I'm broken. Or injured. And I wouldn't even classify it as a niggle. It's more like a "check engine light" (but nicer because that usually means something is already busted). But all of this has reminded me of conversations I've been having in the clinic and with you guys on instagram... Not every twinge is an...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Did I tell you all about this major running mile stone I finally hit a few weeks back? Quick backstory: your girl has a laundry list of chronic illnesses. Most are better controlled now than they were 3 years ago. (yeah!) some are still a pain the butt (boo.) All this to say: adding mileage and running longer has been a patient process. A years-long process. So a few weeks back when I finally ran 10 miles for the first time in a billion years...I was absolutely floored. I sat down on the curb...
2 months ago • 2 min read