A year ago I spent the winter training for my first 70.3 triathlon. An important step in that training was to run my first half-marathon. Training for that race meant more running in cooler weather, for which I purchased my first-ever pair of running tights.
The tights were the 2016 Nike PRO Hyperwarm model, and after getting over being self-conscious wearing them (and shaving my legs to keep gray hairs from poking through), they immediately proved their worth. They kept me warm without overheating by using a fabric that was both insulating and wicking.
They were also my first tights providing full-leg compression. I've long enjoyed my De Soto Forza trisuits with their compression fabric over the hips and thighs, but the Nike tights added calf compression, which was new for me.
Best of all, these Nike thermal compression tights were significantly less expensive than the other major brands. They provided top quality at an affordable price. They also let me run in cooler weather with fewer upper layers. My only remaining cool-weather obstacle was the cool dry air triggering my asthma, which was resolved by adding a walk-jog warm-up.
I highly recommend these tights! I don't know why I didn't review them earlier, but the recent cooler weather reminded me.
These tights made me want to also get compression in my running shorts.
For well over 30 years, my running shorts have been fairly minimalist, a liner with some sort of outer fabric. For nearly all of that time my favorite shorts were by Scott Tinley, and featured a liner with little more than a breechclout, a flap of brightly colored and patterned fabric at the front and rear, with the outside of the legs exposed up to the waistband.
I've missed the compression from my De Soto trisuit, and started to run in regular a pair of trishorts. But the trishorts lacked the small key pocket generally present in running shorts, adding a frustrating complication in addition to not providing much compression. I did look at compression shorts by De Soto and all the other major brands, and was discouraged by the prices.
A brief note about my use of compression garments: The research clearly shows the main physiological benefits of compression garments come as part of recovery, with little or no physiological benefit measured during activity. However, I am both bow-legged and flat-footed, and my running gait places a fair amount of torque on my hips, in particular placing extra load on the piriformis. Given my history with severe sciatica, piriformis issues can quickly lead to both hip and sciatic pain.
Most often, if I'm paying strict attention to my form and am doing my foam rolling, I don't consciously feel any hip or sciatic pain during the run itself. But it is there at a sub-conscious level, and it adds to my fatigue. The pain always shows up the moment I finish a long or hard run, and during the first day or so of my recovery.
For me, piriformis compression markedly improves my ability to run both farther and faster with greater comfort and quicker recovery. My performance gains over weeks and months are both more consistent and more rapid.
For years I went to TCSD meetings hoping to win a pair of compression shorts in the raffle of products from club sponsors. While I managed to win almost every other piece of gear I desired, I never did win any compression garments.
For my birthday my nephew gave me a gift card to RoadRunner Sports. My initial intention was to get more of the low-crew WrightSocks I love so much, only to find that they were no longer carried! I wandered through the store when I came across the compression running shorts. The Big Name Brands were all $80 to $140, which I thought was a bit much. Fortunately, the RoadRunner house brand was under $40.
I've owned other RoadRunner branded products, and my general impression has generally been "good enough". Not super high-end in design or materials, but always with solid workmanship, a very fair price, and a great warranty.
However, compression garments are a very different from T-shirts, hats and jackets. Comfort is everything, and function is critical. How would the house brand compare to the big brands?
I won't mention the name brands I tried, only to say they all were great. Solid compression around the hips and thighs without crushing the crotch. The RoadRunner shorts were different, with comparatively less hip compression for the same leg compression. This wasn't due so much to the different fabric being used, but more to the number and shape of panels used and how they were sewn. The RoadRunner shorts had simpler construction.
This simplicity also extends to not having a liner over the crotch, which I hope won't cause any issues.
A very positive design feature of the RoadRunner compression shorts is the presence of two large side pockets just behind each hip, next to the glute. One of the pockets has a zipper! These pockets are easily big enough for a phone or a flat water bottle, reducing the need for a FuelBelt or arm band.
My De Soto trisuits also have generous pockets, but they are on the outside of the leg: When stuffed with gels or a flat water bottle, my arm swing can hit them. I do not expect to have this problem with the pockets on the RoadRunner shorts.
For 1/2 to 1/3 the price, I expect the RoadRunner shorts will certainly meet my needs. We'll see how they survive in use, but I see no reason to worry.
You may have noticed I haven't mentioned what it's like to run in these shorts! I have an annoying lung infection at the moment that has zeroed my endurance cardio workouts, but I'll update this review soon after it clears up.
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Jock sock stock: Knock or rock?
I've previously talked at length about the process of how to find the running shoe that's best for you, and how the result of that process can be affected by age and gait changes.
But I've said relatively little about socks, mainly because I had nothing useful to share. I've tried over a dozen brands of specialty running socks, some of which were quite expensive, and while there were many that were total failures for me, none of the rest ever seemed in any way special.
I'm not going to mention the socks that failed for me, simply because they may work great for you!
I had gotten to the point that I simply ran on whatever "good enough" socks I could get for free, or at discount, from events and TCSD sponsors.
That all changed in late 2016, when I received a pair of WrightSocks as a gift.
I had foot problems during runs longer than 5K, creating misery when training for my first half-marathon. My feet got hot, and it felt like my forefoot was swelling (it wasn't, but it just felt that way). I had thought it was a shoe ventilation and toe-box size issue, and that was partially correct, but the problems remained.
Until I got my WrightSocks.
The WrightSock design, like many others, uses two layers. My prior experiences with dual-layer socks had not been good: I always felt like I was sliding around in my shoe, with my toes getting jammed into the end of the toe box (I run with a forefoot-strike).
The WrightSock inner layer is a thin, snug-fitting friction-resistant Coolmesh moisture-management layer. It sticks to your foot and stays put.
The WrightSock outer layer is a thicker, durable, ventilation layer that also helps with moisture transport. WrightSock offers a choice of two outer layer materials: Coolmesh 2 and Merino TRL. I have tried only the Coolmesh, which is recommended for all uses.
WrightSock offers several weights and styles. I tried only their lightweight "Coolmesh" model.
On my first 4 mile run in the socks, the difference was immediate, obvious, and, well, wonderful.
However, there was one small problem: The pair I was given was the "low" below-ankle style. My foot is very narrow, so the heel tends to be a loose fit, which causes my shoe to "eat" low-cut socks.
So I had to stop once in a while to pull my socks back over my heels. A very small price to pay for such comfort.
After a couple weeks I knew this wasn't a fluke: The WrightSocks were actually transforming my running, making longer distances far more comfortable, and thus both faster and less fatiguing. I purchased three pairs of the WrightSock "Quarter" sock ($13 for a single pair, $11 each in a 3-pack) in the low crew style, which kept my shoes from eating the socks.
I took one pair to wear all the time, every day, to see how they aged. My toenails tend to slice right through most socks, my sandals tend to chew them up, as does using socks as slippers in the house.
It's been 6 months, and my WrightSocks still look and run like new.
If you're having foot discomfort while running that your shoes aren't handling, then it may be your socks. Before getting yet another new pair of shoes, be sure to try some WrightSocks!
Then wear them when buying your next pair of running shoes.
But I've said relatively little about socks, mainly because I had nothing useful to share. I've tried over a dozen brands of specialty running socks, some of which were quite expensive, and while there were many that were total failures for me, none of the rest ever seemed in any way special.
I'm not going to mention the socks that failed for me, simply because they may work great for you!
I had gotten to the point that I simply ran on whatever "good enough" socks I could get for free, or at discount, from events and TCSD sponsors.
That all changed in late 2016, when I received a pair of WrightSocks as a gift.
I had foot problems during runs longer than 5K, creating misery when training for my first half-marathon. My feet got hot, and it felt like my forefoot was swelling (it wasn't, but it just felt that way). I had thought it was a shoe ventilation and toe-box size issue, and that was partially correct, but the problems remained.
Until I got my WrightSocks.
The WrightSock design, like many others, uses two layers. My prior experiences with dual-layer socks had not been good: I always felt like I was sliding around in my shoe, with my toes getting jammed into the end of the toe box (I run with a forefoot-strike).
The WrightSock inner layer is a thin, snug-fitting friction-resistant Coolmesh moisture-management layer. It sticks to your foot and stays put.
The WrightSock outer layer is a thicker, durable, ventilation layer that also helps with moisture transport. WrightSock offers a choice of two outer layer materials: Coolmesh 2 and Merino TRL. I have tried only the Coolmesh, which is recommended for all uses.
WrightSock offers several weights and styles. I tried only their lightweight "Coolmesh" model.
On my first 4 mile run in the socks, the difference was immediate, obvious, and, well, wonderful.
However, there was one small problem: The pair I was given was the "low" below-ankle style. My foot is very narrow, so the heel tends to be a loose fit, which causes my shoe to "eat" low-cut socks.
So I had to stop once in a while to pull my socks back over my heels. A very small price to pay for such comfort.
After a couple weeks I knew this wasn't a fluke: The WrightSocks were actually transforming my running, making longer distances far more comfortable, and thus both faster and less fatiguing. I purchased three pairs of the WrightSock "Quarter" sock ($13 for a single pair, $11 each in a 3-pack) in the low crew style, which kept my shoes from eating the socks.
I took one pair to wear all the time, every day, to see how they aged. My toenails tend to slice right through most socks, my sandals tend to chew them up, as does using socks as slippers in the house.
It's been 6 months, and my WrightSocks still look and run like new.
If you're having foot discomfort while running that your shoes aren't handling, then it may be your socks. Before getting yet another new pair of shoes, be sure to try some WrightSocks!
Then wear them when buying your next pair of running shoes.
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Intervals? Who, me?
I've been gradually adding these things called "intervals" to my workouts, particularly for my strength training sessions and my runs. Just what is or is not an "interval" seems to have lots of different interpretations.
At the softer end of the spectrum is what I'd call "surges", such as is done during fartleks, adding push and recovery segments to an otherwise ordinary run. At the softest end is switching back and forth between "race pace" and "cruising" on a longer run.
At the harder end is doing sequential 50 meter all-out sprints separated by brief pauses. The hardest of the hard end is doing them on hills or stairs, or while carrying weights.
I choose to be somewhere in between: Low enough to avoid damage to joints, tendons and muscles. High enough to be well beyond my endurance capabilities, to challenge my body's ability to mobilize energy in the muscles, to just shy of the point of being unable to continue with good form.
In strength training, my current practice is to do a sequence of exercises without breaks, each affecting different muscle groups, resting only briefly (under 2 minutes) when the entire sequence has been completed. Individual sets of muscles get challenged in each exercise, but not for long, typically 30-60 seconds. The cardio-respiratory system is challenged throughout the sequence.
The phrase used most in the literature is "High-Intensity Interval Training" or HIIT. A great term that also has lots of definitions and perspectives. Until recently there has been relatively little "hard" science done to quantify the effects of HIIT on various slices of the general population, with much of the prior work focused on elite athletes.
And as any age-grouper will know, what works for elites can easily fail for the rest of us.
However, it seems HIIT is special: Done right, HIIT seems to benefit just about everyone!
Let's start with some definitions and limits:
I. There are no absolutes in HIIT. What is normal activity for one person can easily be HIIT for another.
This is true even for the weakest of us: There is unambiguous medical evidence that doing limited HIIT immediately after surgery is of clear benefit to both cardiac and hip replacement patients. In the past it was thought that just getting these folks mobile was all that was needed, and in a general sense that's true, since for some even basic post-surgery movement is HIIT. But the bigger picture for these patients now is to get them up, work them hard (yet safely) for a moment, then get them back in bed.
For the rest of us, it is important for us not to all do the same workout. Each of us needs to tailor our HIIT to meet our abilities and goals. So doing HIIT as a group is not a good idea, though it is always OK to do your own HIIT workout while others are doing their own HIIT workouts.
II. HIIT is adaptive: What starts out as nearly impossible can soon become much easier.
How can this be? What's going on?
There are many components that go into "fitness", "strength", "endurance", "power" and related terms. Collectively they describe how hard we can use our bodies and for how long. Intensity versus time. There are many steps in the overall process that involve everything from eating, breathing, carbohydrate (glycogen) transport and utiliztion, fat catabolism, fatty acid transport and utilization, muscle mass, composition and density, ATP metabolism (mitochondria), and so on.
The primary (most obvious) measurable physiological effect of HIIT is increasing the number of mitochondria in muscle cells. We are still largely ignorant of much of what goes on in mitochondra. We can't tell all that much about the mitochrondrial activity going on within a muscle by examining the blood. It takes a muscle biopsy, then putting the cells under a microscope and simply counting the mitochondria.
What we do know is that more mitochondria means better energy production in the muscle, both for the long (endurance) and short (sprint) terms. There are certainly other factors involved, but the change in the mitochondrial count is a dominant factor.
Recent HIIT research has shown a simple result: Muscles utilized during HIIT exhibit an increase in the number of mitochondria present.
I want to make this point very clear: HIIT directly helps endurance performance.
There's a favorite triathlon truism: "Train like you race; race like you train." That is broken where HIIT is concerned. Train with HIIT, but never do an all-out 30 second sprint in a race. Other than to beat your buddy at the finish line, of course.
III. HIIT must be performed well within the body's limits.
Injuries are very common among folks "suddenly" adding HIIT to their workout regimen. It is important to start out gently, to prepare the body for the increased stress.
The most common HIIT injuries are muscle and tendon pulls, with severities going all the way up to detachments and tears. Taking any HIIT interval too far can also lead to joint injuries as form falls apart, and other injuries if falls occur.
In my own case, I had been doing lots of lunges, squats and jump squats, so I thought I was ready to add HIIT run sessions. On my second HIIT run session I got a moderate hip flexor pull: None of my preparation had included increased rearward leg swing. It is best to ramp up gradually, and let the body adapt to the actual exercise being attempted.
Vital point: Always stop at the first sign of pain! The old adage "No pain, no gain" is total bullshit. Fatigue and discomfort, even "the burn", are OK; the pain of damage never is.
IV. HIIT needs far more recovery compared to conventional workouts.
While many of us have no problem doing daily runs, daily HIIT run sessions are not a good idea!
The medical studies have various observations of the muscle's condition after HIIT, as well as that of the body in general. The overall picture is that HIIT depletes not only the energy stored locally in the muscle (needed for the mitochondria to convert ADP to ATP), but also depletes the muscle's ability to use energy.
I started out with one HIIT session per week, on the day before my day off. Even doing a light run on the day after a HIIT run session could be surprisingly difficult. I think the best plan is to not run at all on the day after a HIIT run session, having either a day off or just a swim and/or light bike day. And the next run should not be a hard one.
Pardon me while I climb back on to one of my favorite soapboxes: Foam rolling after HIIT greatly aids the recovery process. While you shouldn't do HIIT daily, foam rolling daily is a massive plus.
OK, enough about HIIT in general. What about the specifics? How am I, a perma-newbie in triathlon, using HIIT?
In my strength training workouts I use only my own body weight, and my only piece of equipment is a TRX. The specific exercises included in each workout cycle vary every time, and include random selections to push and pull with each skeletal muscle group (push-ups + pull-ups, squats + hamstring curls, kicks face-up + face-down, etc.), static and dynamic exercises for the core (planks, side planks, sit-ups, crunches, crab-crawls, etc.), integrated exercises to work secondary muscle groups (walking lunges, twisting lunges, kneel-to-stand, etc.), and finally runs with varying gaits (regular run, skipping, side-to-side, ice skaters, backwards run, etc.).
The only exercise type not presently included in any of my sequences are plyometrics, such as jump squats or clap push-ups. Doing these with perfect form as fatigue grows is almost impossible, and they simply add injury risk for minimal gains. I'm not saying I'll never include plyometrics, but only that they're not at all a priority.
Other than the run, each exercise is done for only 30 seconds, with no pauses between exercises within the sequence (not quite a scramble between exercises). After each sequence I take a sip of water and a brief rest that never exceeds 2 minutes. The goal is to have good sets with minimal rest. But always rest enough to ensure the next round is a good one! If two minutes isn't enough rest, then you're done, and no more sequences should be attempted.
It is important to note that I said nothing about the number of reps or the duration of each rep within each exercise. It is most important to always maintain perfect form. After that, it is important to maintain smooth flow, without jerking or tugging or bouncing. Finally, it is important to just keep moving, never stopping, but always permitting yourself to back off the level of effort when and if needed. It's the contact time that's important, done while always maintaining perfect form.
That's quite a bit of description for the strength HIIT sessions. My runs are much simpler.
First, it is important to never do a full-intensity run interval on a cold muscle (much like stretching), and it is also important not to stop cold after HIIT. So every HIIT run session should start with a warm-up run of a mile or so, then the intervals, then a cool-down run and/or a brisk walk for another mile or so.
Each of my intervals starts at a jogging pace then smoothly builds over about 5 seconds to a flat-out sprint. When I start to feel fatigued, I smoothly back the sprint down to a brisk walk. Wait up to two minutes and repeat. I'm done with intervals if I'm not recovered in two minutes. The goal is to start the next interval as soon as I feel I'm recovered enough for it, and not automatically wait a full two minutes.
That's where I am now. As I improve, I expect to eliminate the walk between intervals and use a jog instead. At this point, I see no reason to ever do more than a dozen intervals. Starting out, three can be plenty!
Again, it's not about the number of intervals or the amount of time spent at top speed. It's about always having perfect form, and letting the rest period dictate when or if the next interval happens.
I lost two months of winter training due to injuries, illness, weather and holidays. I need to get ready for SuperSeal and O'side 70.3 (my first half!) with the time I have left. HIIT has taken on a higher priority for me simply because of the large payoff for a small time investment.
At the softer end of the spectrum is what I'd call "surges", such as is done during fartleks, adding push and recovery segments to an otherwise ordinary run. At the softest end is switching back and forth between "race pace" and "cruising" on a longer run.
At the harder end is doing sequential 50 meter all-out sprints separated by brief pauses. The hardest of the hard end is doing them on hills or stairs, or while carrying weights.
I choose to be somewhere in between: Low enough to avoid damage to joints, tendons and muscles. High enough to be well beyond my endurance capabilities, to challenge my body's ability to mobilize energy in the muscles, to just shy of the point of being unable to continue with good form.
In strength training, my current practice is to do a sequence of exercises without breaks, each affecting different muscle groups, resting only briefly (under 2 minutes) when the entire sequence has been completed. Individual sets of muscles get challenged in each exercise, but not for long, typically 30-60 seconds. The cardio-respiratory system is challenged throughout the sequence.
The phrase used most in the literature is "High-Intensity Interval Training" or HIIT. A great term that also has lots of definitions and perspectives. Until recently there has been relatively little "hard" science done to quantify the effects of HIIT on various slices of the general population, with much of the prior work focused on elite athletes.
And as any age-grouper will know, what works for elites can easily fail for the rest of us.
However, it seems HIIT is special: Done right, HIIT seems to benefit just about everyone!
Let's start with some definitions and limits:
I. There are no absolutes in HIIT. What is normal activity for one person can easily be HIIT for another.
This is true even for the weakest of us: There is unambiguous medical evidence that doing limited HIIT immediately after surgery is of clear benefit to both cardiac and hip replacement patients. In the past it was thought that just getting these folks mobile was all that was needed, and in a general sense that's true, since for some even basic post-surgery movement is HIIT. But the bigger picture for these patients now is to get them up, work them hard (yet safely) for a moment, then get them back in bed.
For the rest of us, it is important for us not to all do the same workout. Each of us needs to tailor our HIIT to meet our abilities and goals. So doing HIIT as a group is not a good idea, though it is always OK to do your own HIIT workout while others are doing their own HIIT workouts.
II. HIIT is adaptive: What starts out as nearly impossible can soon become much easier.
How can this be? What's going on?
There are many components that go into "fitness", "strength", "endurance", "power" and related terms. Collectively they describe how hard we can use our bodies and for how long. Intensity versus time. There are many steps in the overall process that involve everything from eating, breathing, carbohydrate (glycogen) transport and utiliztion, fat catabolism, fatty acid transport and utilization, muscle mass, composition and density, ATP metabolism (mitochondria), and so on.
The primary (most obvious) measurable physiological effect of HIIT is increasing the number of mitochondria in muscle cells. We are still largely ignorant of much of what goes on in mitochondra. We can't tell all that much about the mitochrondrial activity going on within a muscle by examining the blood. It takes a muscle biopsy, then putting the cells under a microscope and simply counting the mitochondria.
What we do know is that more mitochondria means better energy production in the muscle, both for the long (endurance) and short (sprint) terms. There are certainly other factors involved, but the change in the mitochondrial count is a dominant factor.
Recent HIIT research has shown a simple result: Muscles utilized during HIIT exhibit an increase in the number of mitochondria present.
I want to make this point very clear: HIIT directly helps endurance performance.
There's a favorite triathlon truism: "Train like you race; race like you train." That is broken where HIIT is concerned. Train with HIIT, but never do an all-out 30 second sprint in a race. Other than to beat your buddy at the finish line, of course.
III. HIIT must be performed well within the body's limits.
Injuries are very common among folks "suddenly" adding HIIT to their workout regimen. It is important to start out gently, to prepare the body for the increased stress.
The most common HIIT injuries are muscle and tendon pulls, with severities going all the way up to detachments and tears. Taking any HIIT interval too far can also lead to joint injuries as form falls apart, and other injuries if falls occur.
In my own case, I had been doing lots of lunges, squats and jump squats, so I thought I was ready to add HIIT run sessions. On my second HIIT run session I got a moderate hip flexor pull: None of my preparation had included increased rearward leg swing. It is best to ramp up gradually, and let the body adapt to the actual exercise being attempted.
Vital point: Always stop at the first sign of pain! The old adage "No pain, no gain" is total bullshit. Fatigue and discomfort, even "the burn", are OK; the pain of damage never is.
IV. HIIT needs far more recovery compared to conventional workouts.
While many of us have no problem doing daily runs, daily HIIT run sessions are not a good idea!
The medical studies have various observations of the muscle's condition after HIIT, as well as that of the body in general. The overall picture is that HIIT depletes not only the energy stored locally in the muscle (needed for the mitochondria to convert ADP to ATP), but also depletes the muscle's ability to use energy.
I started out with one HIIT session per week, on the day before my day off. Even doing a light run on the day after a HIIT run session could be surprisingly difficult. I think the best plan is to not run at all on the day after a HIIT run session, having either a day off or just a swim and/or light bike day. And the next run should not be a hard one.
Pardon me while I climb back on to one of my favorite soapboxes: Foam rolling after HIIT greatly aids the recovery process. While you shouldn't do HIIT daily, foam rolling daily is a massive plus.
OK, enough about HIIT in general. What about the specifics? How am I, a perma-newbie in triathlon, using HIIT?
In my strength training workouts I use only my own body weight, and my only piece of equipment is a TRX. The specific exercises included in each workout cycle vary every time, and include random selections to push and pull with each skeletal muscle group (push-ups + pull-ups, squats + hamstring curls, kicks face-up + face-down, etc.), static and dynamic exercises for the core (planks, side planks, sit-ups, crunches, crab-crawls, etc.), integrated exercises to work secondary muscle groups (walking lunges, twisting lunges, kneel-to-stand, etc.), and finally runs with varying gaits (regular run, skipping, side-to-side, ice skaters, backwards run, etc.).
The only exercise type not presently included in any of my sequences are plyometrics, such as jump squats or clap push-ups. Doing these with perfect form as fatigue grows is almost impossible, and they simply add injury risk for minimal gains. I'm not saying I'll never include plyometrics, but only that they're not at all a priority.
Other than the run, each exercise is done for only 30 seconds, with no pauses between exercises within the sequence (not quite a scramble between exercises). After each sequence I take a sip of water and a brief rest that never exceeds 2 minutes. The goal is to have good sets with minimal rest. But always rest enough to ensure the next round is a good one! If two minutes isn't enough rest, then you're done, and no more sequences should be attempted.
It is important to note that I said nothing about the number of reps or the duration of each rep within each exercise. It is most important to always maintain perfect form. After that, it is important to maintain smooth flow, without jerking or tugging or bouncing. Finally, it is important to just keep moving, never stopping, but always permitting yourself to back off the level of effort when and if needed. It's the contact time that's important, done while always maintaining perfect form.
That's quite a bit of description for the strength HIIT sessions. My runs are much simpler.
First, it is important to never do a full-intensity run interval on a cold muscle (much like stretching), and it is also important not to stop cold after HIIT. So every HIIT run session should start with a warm-up run of a mile or so, then the intervals, then a cool-down run and/or a brisk walk for another mile or so.
Each of my intervals starts at a jogging pace then smoothly builds over about 5 seconds to a flat-out sprint. When I start to feel fatigued, I smoothly back the sprint down to a brisk walk. Wait up to two minutes and repeat. I'm done with intervals if I'm not recovered in two minutes. The goal is to start the next interval as soon as I feel I'm recovered enough for it, and not automatically wait a full two minutes.
That's where I am now. As I improve, I expect to eliminate the walk between intervals and use a jog instead. At this point, I see no reason to ever do more than a dozen intervals. Starting out, three can be plenty!
Again, it's not about the number of intervals or the amount of time spent at top speed. It's about always having perfect form, and letting the rest period dictate when or if the next interval happens.
I lost two months of winter training due to injuries, illness, weather and holidays. I need to get ready for SuperSeal and O'side 70.3 (my first half!) with the time I have left. HIIT has taken on a higher priority for me simply because of the large payoff for a small time investment.
Sunday, January 22, 2017
What I Do For "Trigger-Point" Upper Back Pain
The following plea for help was recently posted to the TCSD email list:
If you don't presently have this problem, please feel free to jump ahead to the "Cause and Prevention" section.
First, some terminology: "Trigger Point" pain is a catch-all term equivalent to a localized combination of a nerve inflammation and/or muscle spasm. There may also be muscle damage involved, where the swollen muscle pushes against a nearby nerve. Or a nerve may be damaged, and the local muscles are overreacting with cramping/spasming. The central idea is that it manifests as localized point-like pain.
Let's start with finding out what's going on. There are multiple distinct injuries (including fractures and disc problems) that can result in similar upper back pain.
Assessment #1:
Get a FREE Injury Screening from TCSD sponsors FunctionSmart or Rehab United. Your medical insurance may cover specific forms of treatment/therapy. Work with them to find out. Starting with a good, focused treatment (such as ART), even if only a single session, can serve as a reset button to hasten overall recovery.
Assessment #2:
Go to the gym (or a fitness equipment store) and do a 20-30 minute high-cadence light workout on a recumbent trainer. Push just hard enough to work up a sweat, but not so hard that you're forcing yourself against the back of the seat. Keep your arms relaxed. If you have a power meter available, average anywhere from 120 to no more than 250 watts.
My hope is that this recumbent spin session goes perfectly fine, with no additional upper back discomfort at all. If so, then recumbent is your bike workout plan for a while. If not, then stick to swim and run.
Assessment #3:
Go see your Sports MD. I can't say it often enough: A Sports MD is an athlete's best friend and advisor in all things medical.
I'm not talking about a doctor who does sports. "Sports MD" is a separate board-certified qualification. Every local medical system has them. If possible, try to select a primary physician who is also a Sports MD.
Next, let's get our toolbox together.
Recovery Equipment List:
Please notice that pain relievers are not on that list! I use them only when I have to reduce the pain in order to sleep. Otherwise, keep all lines of communication with your body wide open.
Another thing not on the list are motorized massagers or pressure-point devices like the "Back Buddy" or "TheraCane". These can be useful, but it is way too easy for them to make an injury worse. Only if you are experienced using them as part of your regular workout recovery can they also be used as part of injury recovery. It's best to avoid them completely if there is any doubt.
Please take everything that follows with a grain of salt. It's simply the results of my own search, and what wound up working for me. YMMV, and so on.I'm looking for some advice/knowledge. In November, I suddenly had intense pain in my right upper back, near my shoulder blade. It made it difficult to move or turn my head. After quite a bit of trial and error, some research, and a couple visits to a doctor and masseuse, I figured out it was a "trigger point" of muscles that have a hard time relaxing, and instead stay completely contracted. It was caused by biking, as swimming and running really didn't irritate it at all. I would wait about a week for the pain to go away completely, get on the bike, and be in intense pain again within 24 hours. It eventually led to my entire right arm going numb because the muscles were hitting nerves. So I stopped biking for a little over a month. I got back on for a short trainer ride yesterday, and unfortunately the pain still came back. I'm at my wits end, and am really not sure what to do. I have gotten my bike re-fitted already and have tried muscle relaxants. Massages help immensely, but I can't afford to keep going, and it doesn't seem to be preventing it.Does anyone have any experience with this type of injury? How can I expedite recovery and/or insure recovery at all? I'm on a budget, so cost-effective recommendations are greatly appreciated!
If you don't presently have this problem, please feel free to jump ahead to the "Cause and Prevention" section.
First, some terminology: "Trigger Point" pain is a catch-all term equivalent to a localized combination of a nerve inflammation and/or muscle spasm. There may also be muscle damage involved, where the swollen muscle pushes against a nearby nerve. Or a nerve may be damaged, and the local muscles are overreacting with cramping/spasming. The central idea is that it manifests as localized point-like pain.
Let's start with finding out what's going on. There are multiple distinct injuries (including fractures and disc problems) that can result in similar upper back pain.
Assessment #1:
Get a FREE Injury Screening from TCSD sponsors FunctionSmart or Rehab United. Your medical insurance may cover specific forms of treatment/therapy. Work with them to find out. Starting with a good, focused treatment (such as ART), even if only a single session, can serve as a reset button to hasten overall recovery.
Assessment #2:
Go to the gym (or a fitness equipment store) and do a 20-30 minute high-cadence light workout on a recumbent trainer. Push just hard enough to work up a sweat, but not so hard that you're forcing yourself against the back of the seat. Keep your arms relaxed. If you have a power meter available, average anywhere from 120 to no more than 250 watts.
My hope is that this recumbent spin session goes perfectly fine, with no additional upper back discomfort at all. If so, then recumbent is your bike workout plan for a while. If not, then stick to swim and run.
Assessment #3:
Go see your Sports MD. I can't say it often enough: A Sports MD is an athlete's best friend and advisor in all things medical.
I'm not talking about a doctor who does sports. "Sports MD" is a separate board-certified qualification. Every local medical system has them. If possible, try to select a primary physician who is also a Sports MD.
Next, let's get our toolbox together.
Recovery Equipment List:
- Tennis ball
- Foam roller
- Hot/cold pack that has a strap allowing it to be worn on the pain area while moving (like these).
- Breathable heating pad (not the sealed plastic ones)
- Epsom salts (optional)
Please notice that pain relievers are not on that list! I use them only when I have to reduce the pain in order to sleep. Otherwise, keep all lines of communication with your body wide open.
Another thing not on the list are motorized massagers or pressure-point devices like the "Back Buddy" or "TheraCane". These can be useful, but it is way too easy for them to make an injury worse. Only if you are experienced using them as part of your regular workout recovery can they also be used as part of injury recovery. It's best to avoid them completely if there is any doubt.
Here are the two major things I do to prepare for an injury recovery session.
Preparation #1:
Always be fully hydrated. Aim for a gallon of water per day when sedentary, especially when injured. If your pee is yellow, you aren't drinking enough water. It should be very close to clear. You should be peeing fairly often, at least once every hour or two.
I can't overemphasize the importance of thorough hydration as part of both the recovery process and also of pain management. Both the initial injury damage process and the subsequent healing process release byproducts into the blood that can cause their own irritation: Diluting and eliminating them ASAP is the way to go. Also, pain causes the release of stress hormones such as cortisol, where again dilution and elimination really help: Pain is often a feedback loop, so cleaning things out can actually lessen the pain itself.
So stay hydrated! (But not overhydrated: Avoid hyponatremia.)
Preparation #2:
Take a hot soaking bath, with salts if you prefer. Showers don't count. Or lay on the heating pad in bed and read a book or watch TV for 20 minutes. The goal is to relax and increase blood flow to the injured area.
Thorough relaxation and increased blood flow are important to recovery, second only to thorough hydration.
Let's get ready to start fixing things.
Recovery Session Start:
What follows should not cause any pain whatsoever, nor should it make any existing pain worse. If that happens, stop and go see a Sports MD.
This preparation is useful not just before injury recovery sessions, but also before going to bed, or whenever the injury is bothering you.
Let's start working the injury area.
Preparation #1:
Always be fully hydrated. Aim for a gallon of water per day when sedentary, especially when injured. If your pee is yellow, you aren't drinking enough water. It should be very close to clear. You should be peeing fairly often, at least once every hour or two.
I can't overemphasize the importance of thorough hydration as part of both the recovery process and also of pain management. Both the initial injury damage process and the subsequent healing process release byproducts into the blood that can cause their own irritation: Diluting and eliminating them ASAP is the way to go. Also, pain causes the release of stress hormones such as cortisol, where again dilution and elimination really help: Pain is often a feedback loop, so cleaning things out can actually lessen the pain itself.
So stay hydrated! (But not overhydrated: Avoid hyponatremia.)
Preparation #2:
Take a hot soaking bath, with salts if you prefer. Showers don't count. Or lay on the heating pad in bed and read a book or watch TV for 20 minutes. The goal is to relax and increase blood flow to the injured area.
Thorough relaxation and increased blood flow are important to recovery, second only to thorough hydration.
Let's get ready to start fixing things.
Recovery Session Start:
What follows should not cause any pain whatsoever, nor should it make any existing pain worse. If that happens, stop and go see a Sports MD.
- You are hydrated.
- The injured area (or the entire body) has been warmed.
- Initial stretch: Pull an arm across the chest, over the collar bone. Put the opposite forearm or hand on the elbow and pull in gently (not at all hard). Hold the stretch for 5-10 seconds, then switch to the other arm. Repeat 3 more times (each arm pulled twice).
- Final stretch: Hug yourself with both arms, hands on the opposite shoulders (or as close as possible). Exhale completely, pull in slightly, then inhale fully. If you don't feel a stretch across your upper back, then curl forward until you do. Hold your breath and stretch for at least 5 seconds. then slowly exhale and relax. Release the hug, letting the arms gently swing to your side. Restart the hug so the other arm is on top. Repeat 3 more times.
This preparation is useful not just before injury recovery sessions, but also before going to bed, or whenever the injury is bothering you.
Let's start working the injury area.
Initial Manipulation - Tennis ball wall roll:
If you experience any pain spikes during what follows, then stop immediately and see a Sports MD.
Gently lean your upper back against a wall, with your knees slightly bent, feet placed just wider than shoulder width. Place the tennis ball between the middle of your back and the wall, at the level of the injury but not on it. You should be leaning with only just enough pressure to keep the tennis ball from falling to the floor. Do not press hard against the tennis ball!
Lower your arms to your side. Relax your upper back, neck, shoulders and arms.
Using your legs, move your back so the tennis ball gently rolls all around the injury. If the tennis ball can't gently roll over the injury itself because the shoulder blade is in the way, pull the arm on that side across the chest at the collar bone (as done in the initial stretch). Move the tennis ball in a random motion for 1 minute.
Be sure to always keep your upper back and shoulders relaxed: Do not tense up! The tennis ball may be uncomfortable, but it should never be painful. Pain defeats the whole intent of the manipulation, and may make the injury worse.
Repeat the same motions on the opposite side. Be sure to always do this gently, matching what was done on the injured side.
Symmetry is important! Whatever you do near the injury must be repeated on the other side of the body. Why? There are several important reasons, the most obvious of which is that your recovery will be complete when both sides feel equally good!
Take a minute break after the other side is done. Repeat the preparation stretches if desired.
Repeat the tennis ball roll on each side with slightly increased pressure to improve muscle manipulation, but never to the point of pain or major discomfort. Then stop: It is important to not over-do any part of an active recovery process.
This may be all you can handle for the first few times. Stopping early is vastly better than overdoing!
You can have as many initial manipulation sessions per day as you like, so long as you rest, hydrate, heat and stretch before each one.
The tennis ball wall roll is awesome. I also use it on my lower back (QLs), glutes and hip flexor.
Time to get hard-core.
Daily Manipulation - Foam Rolling:
Daily foam rolling is the Fountain of Youth! Well, at least for muscles. It should be part of your daily routine, injured or not. Training or not. Like food and water.
Athletic injuries seldom occur in isolation. They typically happen when the entire body is under stress, but one part is either more sensitive or is receiving extra stress (due to misuse or overuse). It is important to treat any localized injury as an injury to the entire body. Foam rolling is the best way I know to help whole-body recovery (with hot tubs running second).
I will not cover the details of foam rolling here. There are lots of printable instruction guides and video tutorials available online that can be found by searching for "foam roller tutorial". Find the one you like best. This video is pretty good, but the audio has issues.
I am more than willing to guide an informal foam rolling session for any folks wanting one. Post a request to the TCSD email list and we'll make it happen.
Be sure to roll all of the following areas for two minutes each:
If you are new to the foam roller you will likely need to take frequent breaks, so plan to spend an hour getting everything rolled out. If you are a foam rolling master, you may be able to do all the above in just over half an hour. If you are rolling for less than 30 minutes there is no way you are doing even a minimally adequate job.
Remember what I said about no machines on the recovery equipment list? Well, I lied. There is one machine that has proven to be a near-miracle for me: The HyperIce Vyper mega-vibrating roller. It lets me get a full rolling session done in under 20 minutes.
While I highly recommend the Vyper, I do not recommend getting it until after you have become a master with the regular foam roller. What I said about hurting yourself with machines still holds true: Using the Vyper without first mastering the regular foam roller is like riding a race motorcycle without first knowing how to ride a bicycle. Truth!
And that's about all I do to recover from Trigger-Point upper back pain.
But what about getting along with it during the day?
Between Recovery Sessions:
That's where the wearable hot/cold packs come in. I take them to work with me and use them as needed. Hydrate, do a set of upper back stretches, then apply heat. If that doesn't help enough, follow with cold.
Now lets talk about how it happened in the first place, and how we can avoid it.
Cause and Prevention:
The fundamental cause is poor riding form.
We ride in either or both of two positions: In road position, leaning on locked arms, or in aero position, leaning on our upper forearms.
Both positions transmit front wheel vibration and impacts directly to the shoulders.
Most of us ride with our shoulders relaxed, with the shoulder blades close together.
This means that shock and vibration goes from the road, up the arms, through the shoulders, and on to the shoulder blades, causing the shoulder blades to lever over, forcing their inner edges to pinch the nerves and muscles in the area against the ribs and spine.
Bingo. Injury and pain.
Keeping this from happening requires making some changes.
Change #1 (Technique): Ride with the shoulders neutral (front to back).
Change #2 (Technique, road): Ride with the elbows slightly bent (never locked).
Change #3 (Equipment, road): Use cushioned bar tape and gloves with gel pads.
Change #4 (Equipment, aero): Ensure the aero bar pads are mounted on cantilevers and/or have multi-layer construction that includes gel. Be sure to replace old pads before they lose their cushioning performance.
If, like me, you ride a road bike with clip-on aero bars, then all the above will apply.
These changes work together to accomplish two simple goals: 1) Reduce the levels of shock and vibration that reach the shoulders, and 2) keep the shoulder blades away from the spine.
A simple ride-time stretch can help reset the shoulder blade position: Every 10 minutes or so take a moment to push the upper back as far out as it can go, hold the stretch for 5 seconds, then slowly let it go in far as it can go, and finally reset it to a mid position. Repeat as often as needed.
Bottom-line, if you are stuck in an injury/heal/re-injury cycle, then you haven't fully addressed the cause. Worry less about the injury and instead focus on eliminating the causes!
Update:
How can I tell if I'm OK to ride?
Elbow planks. Be sure to always have perfect form! Keep the knees locked. No lifting the butt into pike, no dropped/sway back.
Breathe smoothly. Don't struggle! Quit before your form breaks. The best way to exit plank is to drop the knees then push back into Child's Pose.
Once you are stable in plank, do the ride-time stretch mentioned above. Focus on keeping your shoulders neutral.
If you experience any pain spikes during what follows, then stop immediately and see a Sports MD.
Gently lean your upper back against a wall, with your knees slightly bent, feet placed just wider than shoulder width. Place the tennis ball between the middle of your back and the wall, at the level of the injury but not on it. You should be leaning with only just enough pressure to keep the tennis ball from falling to the floor. Do not press hard against the tennis ball!
Lower your arms to your side. Relax your upper back, neck, shoulders and arms.
Using your legs, move your back so the tennis ball gently rolls all around the injury. If the tennis ball can't gently roll over the injury itself because the shoulder blade is in the way, pull the arm on that side across the chest at the collar bone (as done in the initial stretch). Move the tennis ball in a random motion for 1 minute.
Be sure to always keep your upper back and shoulders relaxed: Do not tense up! The tennis ball may be uncomfortable, but it should never be painful. Pain defeats the whole intent of the manipulation, and may make the injury worse.
Repeat the same motions on the opposite side. Be sure to always do this gently, matching what was done on the injured side.
Symmetry is important! Whatever you do near the injury must be repeated on the other side of the body. Why? There are several important reasons, the most obvious of which is that your recovery will be complete when both sides feel equally good!
Take a minute break after the other side is done. Repeat the preparation stretches if desired.
Repeat the tennis ball roll on each side with slightly increased pressure to improve muscle manipulation, but never to the point of pain or major discomfort. Then stop: It is important to not over-do any part of an active recovery process.
This may be all you can handle for the first few times. Stopping early is vastly better than overdoing!
You can have as many initial manipulation sessions per day as you like, so long as you rest, hydrate, heat and stretch before each one.
The tennis ball wall roll is awesome. I also use it on my lower back (QLs), glutes and hip flexor.
Time to get hard-core.
Daily Manipulation - Foam Rolling:
Daily foam rolling is the Fountain of Youth! Well, at least for muscles. It should be part of your daily routine, injured or not. Training or not. Like food and water.
Athletic injuries seldom occur in isolation. They typically happen when the entire body is under stress, but one part is either more sensitive or is receiving extra stress (due to misuse or overuse). It is important to treat any localized injury as an injury to the entire body. Foam rolling is the best way I know to help whole-body recovery (with hot tubs running second).
I will not cover the details of foam rolling here. There are lots of printable instruction guides and video tutorials available online that can be found by searching for "foam roller tutorial". Find the one you like best. This video is pretty good, but the audio has issues.
I am more than willing to guide an informal foam rolling session for any folks wanting one. Post a request to the TCSD email list and we'll make it happen.
Be sure to roll all of the following areas for two minutes each:
- calves
- hamstrings
- quadriceps
- ITB (outer thigh)
- adductors (inner thigh)
- glutes
- illiac crest
- lower back (QLs)
- spine (do crunch over low and mid spine, and self-hug at upper spine)
- lats (also great for swim recovery)
If you are new to the foam roller you will likely need to take frequent breaks, so plan to spend an hour getting everything rolled out. If you are a foam rolling master, you may be able to do all the above in just over half an hour. If you are rolling for less than 30 minutes there is no way you are doing even a minimally adequate job.
Remember what I said about no machines on the recovery equipment list? Well, I lied. There is one machine that has proven to be a near-miracle for me: The HyperIce Vyper mega-vibrating roller. It lets me get a full rolling session done in under 20 minutes.
While I highly recommend the Vyper, I do not recommend getting it until after you have become a master with the regular foam roller. What I said about hurting yourself with machines still holds true: Using the Vyper without first mastering the regular foam roller is like riding a race motorcycle without first knowing how to ride a bicycle. Truth!
And that's about all I do to recover from Trigger-Point upper back pain.
But what about getting along with it during the day?
Between Recovery Sessions:
That's where the wearable hot/cold packs come in. I take them to work with me and use them as needed. Hydrate, do a set of upper back stretches, then apply heat. If that doesn't help enough, follow with cold.
Now lets talk about how it happened in the first place, and how we can avoid it.
Cause and Prevention:
The fundamental cause is poor riding form.
We ride in either or both of two positions: In road position, leaning on locked arms, or in aero position, leaning on our upper forearms.
Both positions transmit front wheel vibration and impacts directly to the shoulders.
Most of us ride with our shoulders relaxed, with the shoulder blades close together.
This means that shock and vibration goes from the road, up the arms, through the shoulders, and on to the shoulder blades, causing the shoulder blades to lever over, forcing their inner edges to pinch the nerves and muscles in the area against the ribs and spine.
Bingo. Injury and pain.
Keeping this from happening requires making some changes.
Change #1 (Technique): Ride with the shoulders neutral (front to back).
Change #2 (Technique, road): Ride with the elbows slightly bent (never locked).
Change #3 (Equipment, road): Use cushioned bar tape and gloves with gel pads.
Change #4 (Equipment, aero): Ensure the aero bar pads are mounted on cantilevers and/or have multi-layer construction that includes gel. Be sure to replace old pads before they lose their cushioning performance.
If, like me, you ride a road bike with clip-on aero bars, then all the above will apply.
These changes work together to accomplish two simple goals: 1) Reduce the levels of shock and vibration that reach the shoulders, and 2) keep the shoulder blades away from the spine.
A simple ride-time stretch can help reset the shoulder blade position: Every 10 minutes or so take a moment to push the upper back as far out as it can go, hold the stretch for 5 seconds, then slowly let it go in far as it can go, and finally reset it to a mid position. Repeat as often as needed.
Bottom-line, if you are stuck in an injury/heal/re-injury cycle, then you haven't fully addressed the cause. Worry less about the injury and instead focus on eliminating the causes!
Update:
How can I tell if I'm OK to ride?
Elbow planks. Be sure to always have perfect form! Keep the knees locked. No lifting the butt into pike, no dropped/sway back.
Breathe smoothly. Don't struggle! Quit before your form breaks. The best way to exit plank is to drop the knees then push back into Child's Pose.
Once you are stable in plank, do the ride-time stretch mentioned above. Focus on keeping your shoulders neutral.
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