Workout question
 

so i could go to workout.com and ask there, but i'd rather see what the masses have to say here

i'm doing this in a couple months, toughmudder.com. i did some smaller ones similar to that this summer, the last one being a 10k one. that one kicked my ass but i was totally unprepared for it. so i've started running more so i can be able to handle the 12 miles. i was talking to someone today cause my knee suddenly hurt out of nowhere last night 1.5 miles in, but i don't think its anything serious. they were telling me i'm stretching improperly. so any long distance running stretches i should be doing? i'm not finding anything that stands out to me anywhere really that i'm not doing

which part of the knee? often people mistake a stiff IT band for a knee injury, or even a lower hamstring pull... which can be fixed with some massage work and some isolated stretching... (after you are warmed up! never before!)

best way to correct knee issues is to make sure you are landing on your midfoot, the heel and toes still make contact but the midfoot should land first. Also it helps if you avoid kicking out your legs when you run. Kicking out is what sprinters do and that is fine for that but for distance running you need to switch that up. Easiest way to explain it is to lean forward like a ski jumper.. your legs will naturally fall forward in reflex.. that is your stride.. if you want to speed up lean down further, if you want to slow down lean back.

Hope that helps anyway.

Sounds like a recipe for life long aches and pains.

whats an it band? haha i had a slight tear in my mcl a few years ago, and this didn't compare to that. more like soreness right away and when pressure applied a bit of pain. obviously wasn't super serious to go to hospital.

any link to these stretches?

it band is a short form for iliotibial band, it goes from the top of your leg all the way down the side of your knee. some stretches here.. http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=6099 It's useful even if it doesn't fix this current problem at least. Mine was solid as a rock after my first marathon (which i did little reading before) I was positive it was a knee injury at the time but a little breaking up of the scar tissue did the trick.. Landing midfoot absorbs shock and forces your legs to act more like a spring so between that and good shoes it helps with any pavement pounding that may be bothering your knee.

I took a quick look at that race you are training for.. damn.. that doesn't sound easy.. definitely want to pick up your legs a bit in that soft shit anyway hehe

I'm dying to try this one at least once anyway http://www.theyeti.ca/ not sure how i would fair in snowshoes though.. hehe

haha i'm allergic to snow ;)

yeah me and a couple guys here are doing it, should be a good test. course we're running is this:
http://toughmudder.com/events/florid...11-course-map/

depending on how this one goes, i'm thinking about doing another one in texas in march.

I have no solid advice besides stretching.

But, are you doing the Tampa one? We are hitting the Sunday one there. Doing some training now to get prepared.

Edit, I didn't see the last post.

we're doing saturday. i think its sold out though?

Shoes are a huge factor in long distance running. Sucks you can't find out how they work until you wear them in. But if you can test some out, Adidas make an awesome marathon shoe.

usually good reviews for shoes on runnersworld.com even for trail and off road running

http://www.runnersworld.com/topic/0,...00-0-0,00.html

My favourites tend to be mizuno, asics, saucony and zoot.. but as long as they are light and give you the right support for the right kind of surface you should be fine.

yeah i picked up some asics that were ranked decent, i think maybe i'm rushing into it trying to do too much. so take a couple days off, and looking at that stretch page you sent

I would agree with Glen about the IT band. I think you need a foam roller too, I would not be able to run without using one to stretch. Also make sure you are not overdoing it, you should start off slow and not try to increase your mileage by more than 5% a week. Stretching are starting slow are the keys!

No running expert here, but I just picked up a pair of Asics and they REALLY helped out on my left knee which I dislocated about 6 years ago and tends to get sore easily. Also have helped out with shin splints that I would get while running, but go down fairly quick.

My girl tried to get me to do the tough mudder (shes a running machine!), but definitely not ready for that one yet :1orglaugh

I did the Warrior Dash and Dirty 6 Mud Run here in Arizona, absolute blast. By next year I should be ready for Tough Mudder!