<p>Ran six miles today in the new shoes. I discovered that they are trail running shoes. Never tried these before. They offer a little more support and they are higher than regular running shoes. I suspect that there is a small motion control aspect to them as I have a little soreness around the left part of the left heel. The good thing is that my knees felt much better after the run. This could have been the new shoes or the added quads work or both. But I think that it is more likely the new shoes. I think that I have about 350 miles on these and the recommendations from the runners at work is change them every 250 miles - this is why we have a sneaker recycle at the office - people go through shoes quickly.</p>
<p>I tried my son’s shoes as I was going to see if he wanted to swap as the trail runners have more support. It turns out that he has running-style cross-trainers and they are really, really plush. He said that he really liked them but would switch. I told him to keep them as he runs all over campus in his shoes. They are New Balance MX505s - I’ll have to see if I can find them cheap on the web.</p>
<p>Sorry on all of the lower leg injuries - I know how you feel.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t run in the New Balance MX505. It’s a bottom end shoe. To a certain extent, you get what you pay for. You are doing 6 and 8 mile runs. Go with a better shoe.</p>
<p>Many of my running friends get 300-500 miles on a pair of shoes. I can’t get that many miles out of mine, but 250 sounds low for someone who doesn’t do anything wrong to break the shoe down.</p>
<p>This is what my son is using. I do actually like the cushioning (I add an aftermarket insole). They are as plush as my tennis shoes.</p>
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<p>The guy that told me this has run Boston many times in pretty good time and does the organizing for the company when we do events. So I assume that he knows what he’s talking about.</p>
<p>Soft and squishy doesn’t mean “good”. I, too, have run Boston with good times and I also know what I am talking about. If you or your son have a $50 shoe, I would replace it a lot sooner than 250 miles. 25 miles might be about right.</p>
<p>Yep. My ankle hurt so much when I fell, that I thought I was going to have to go knock on the door and get one of the Episcopal brothers to drive me home. I couldn’t take a step at first, but the pain subsided pretty quickly and I was walking OK in an eighth of a mile or so.</p>
<p>Doing anything on it yesterday wasn’t an option. I went out and got one of the simple elastic ankle supports today. I might just start wearing that for walking. It’s unobtrusive enough. We’ll see.</p>
<p>It was tender on a few of the exercises today, but nothing I couldn’t work around.</p>
<p>It does if you’ve had PF and knee problems in the past.</p>
<p>I take the same approach with tennis shoes and it actually works quite well.</p>
<p>How would you compare the MX505 to the best shoes from 20 years ago?</p>
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<p>My coworker ran it last year in about 3:20 at a ripe old age. I haven’t asked him about cushioning but I don’t really have problems with shoes, tennis or running if I’m careful about mileage.</p>
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<p>I have a german co-worker and he tells me that it costs roughly the same amount to make the various models of Mercedes Benz vehicles but they add features and set the prices at what the market will bear.</p>
<p>Tennis racquets cost $5 to $10 to make. It doesn’t matter if it’s a super-powerful $250 model, a signature pro frame for $200 or a WalMart special. The characteristics are different for different kinds of players but the overall costs are the same.</p>
<p>I used to work for a computer company. We made a processor board that doubled the compute power of a computer and sold it for $95,000. This was back in the 1980s when $95,000 was a real money. It cost us $5,000 to make the board. I realized how the provided us all with good jobs when I discovered that. There are other examples where we shipped computers with various features at various prices. If a customer wanted a feature added, a tech could just go and blow a fuse, set a dip switch, solder in a wire or cut a wire.</p>
<p>Could you tell me, from the perspective of materials science, the difference between a low-end and a high-end shoe?</p>
<p>If anyone wants to try an iPod nazi workout, here was today’s workout. He screwed up and forgot the second set of SuperSet #3, so I went back and added that to the end. Everyone one of these exercises is fantastic. I think I’m going to really enjoy this workout as I get up to speed. I was really dogging it on the jogging in place, burpees, and jumping jacks, but I’ll be able to ramp it up. It takes a few times through to know how much you can push it and still get through the workout.</p>
<p>Super Set #1</p>
<p>1 Leg Squat
Plank on ball
Jogging on spot</p>
<p>Rest 1 min, then repeat
Rest 2 min</p>
<p>Super Set #2</p>
<p>Step-ups with Biceps Curls + Press
Side Bridge with Twist
Burpies </p>
<p>Rest 1 min, then repeat
Rest 2 min</p>
<p>Super Set #3</p>
<p>Lunge Walks with Lateral Raises
Push ups + Knee Roll-ins (on ball)
Jumping Jacks</p>
<p>Rest 1 min, then repeat
Rest 2 min</p>
<p>Super Set #4</p>
<p>1 Leg Hamstring Roll-ins
Ball Crunches with Twist
Sprint Start Shuffles (mountain climbers)</p>
<p>Had my appointment with the knee surgeon yesterday. He was shocked that I had lost weight. Couldn’t believe I did it on my own without a program and “at my age” !!! I was not happy that he referenced my age several times. Ok…full disclosure…I am 54…Really??? Is that too old to get in shape??? Then he asked what my workout routine consisted of. I told him I use the recumbent bike for an hour 6 days a week, walk on the treadmill at slow speed (3.0) for 20-30 minutes after the bike to get rid of stiffness from sitting on the bike and lift light weights three times a week. He told me that “at my age” I should probably take Wednesday and Sunday off. Seriously??? I have no heart conditions, am now getting in decent shape and he is just making blanket statements based on my age!!! I was not a happy camper! Anyway he insisted that my knee pain is not from my meniscus surgery but the development of arthritis. I told him there may well be some arthritis but really I have sharp, stabbing, pulling pain when I make certain movements. It is not aching, waking me up at night or throbbing. I can actually feel movement or a tearing/burning feeling at times. Anyway he suggested a cortisone injection which I got. Went to the gym today and still have the same pain in the meniscus area. So does cortisone injections help soft tissue damage??? Will have to research that. I’m supposed to go back at the beginning of December. If I don’t get relief I am getting a second opinion.</p>
<p>Cortison reduces inflammation. It’s not going to heal a tear or a separation though it might allow something like that to heal. Have you had x-rays or an MRI?</p>
<p>Had x-rays yesterday but no new MRI since he did the surgery last October. The meniscus pain improved after the surgery but never went away. My knee is noticeably swollen and painful when touched/prodded in meniscus area.</p>
<p>Have the X-Rays been read yet? Perhaps they will show the problem.</p>
<p>The reaction of your surgeon is a bit odd - a cortisone shot wouldn’t do much of there were a real issue not related to inflammation and it’s been quite a while since the surgery. I would consider a second opinion if the X-Ray doesn’t show what the problem is.</p>
<p>I think you need a new doctor (seriously). What an ass, and I don’t think he diagnosed you correctly. You should see an orthopedist who is used to working with athletes because they tend to be excellent diagnosticians and won’t give you the “at your age” crap. Also, I was always told to NOT exercise for a day or so after a cortisone shot. You would need an MRI to see if the menisucus is torn again.
I wish you were here. I have a great orthopedic surgeon.</p>
<p>MOWC…Really!!! He didn’t say anything about not exercising today! Actually the PA said I might be sore because I feel so good that I may do more than usual but never said not to do my daily routine.</p>
<p>I’m in the camp that suspects many doctors don’t know a proper fitness program from a hole in their head, but in fairness to your doctor: every fitness expert I’ve been reading stresses the importance of taking one or two days a week off. I’ve been bad about following that advice, but I do think it’s right. If you are working out at high intensity, you do have to give your body recovery time.</p>
<p>I don’t know exactly what hurts your knee, but maybe you should think about a week or two off from the bike and the treadmill and go heavy on the weights and core exercises for a while? Give the knee a chance to simmer down and take advantage of the opportunity in other ways?</p>
<p>The one inescapable fact about walking, running, biking, and other long-distance “cardio” is that it all involves thousands and thousands of repetitiions, which is going to put wear and tear stress on the joints. All exercise does, of course, but I guess it makes sense to mix it up and try to spread the load around. I’m fighting it right now. It’s absolutely gorgeous out and I’m dying to go walking, but I’m trying to figure out if that’s really the smart thing or should I do Airdyne intervals and give my ankle another day to recover? It’s not like today is the last day I’ll ever have a chance to go for a walk!</p>
<p>BTW, also in fairness to your doc, I suspect he is very impressed by your weight loss. These guys don’t see many people hit their 50s and then start working out hard and lose 40 pounds.</p>
<p>One could always spend a day or two stretching (like doing stretching exercises for an hour). I do stretching before working out anyways but that’s just a standard routine that takes about five minutes.</p>
<p>I can usually recover from leg soreness (knees and ankles) with one or two days with ten to twelve hours of sleep. This usually happens on the weekends. During the week, I usually don’t get enough sleep.</p>
<p>I think part of why I was told to take at least a day off was because an anesthetic is injected, too, and it DOES make you feel “healed” and that you can do anything. However, I was also told to let the shot settle down and take affect.</p>
<p>NM - oh, my heavens! I agree with MoWC completely. I am the most patient of patients. Your doc’s attitude speaks volumes and what is coming through loud and clear is a lack of respect. </p>
<p>I accompany several seniors to their appointments. My mother in law, who is 85, had similar problems with her knee and she had a physician who did NOT dismiss her with the “at your age” crap. She was referred to a superb physical therapist and after about two months of appointments and following an ever evolving therapy regimen - she is back to walking, rowing, lifting weights, and cycling that would put most 35 year olds to shame. </p>
<p>I always worry when cortisone is given willy-nilly. Willy-nilly is a medical term, BTW. Cortisone has its benefits, but it is powerful and has its own side effects, so it should be used judiciously. </p>
<p>Ok - end of rant. Get yourself to someone who is willing to work with a good physical therapist (that is one who also views you as an athlete and fit person, because damn it, thats what you have become!</p>
<p>PS - just let me add that on the whole, I have nothing but gratitude to most of the physicians I see. And as I have said, I see a LOT. Between my spouse and my seniors, I do know my specialists </p>
<p>Once in awhile, however, I meet up with a doc who clearly is not engaged with the senior I am accompanying. I always give them the benefit of the doubt - and say something like, “I know this is routine for you, but …” and usually they will get the picture that they have been patronizing.</p>
<p>If you are still on the prowl for winter workout gear, TJ MAXX has Marmot [Polartec</a> Power Dry](<a href=“Polartec® | The Science of Fabric™”>Polartec® | The Science of Fabric™) long-sleeve base layer shirts in crew neck and half-zip versions. This stuff a two-layer synthetic that’s softer and stretchier than normal fitness tech t-shirts. It’s not sausage casing tight, but it’s stretchy and fits snug – perfect for wearing under a long-sleeve shirt, fleece, sweartshirt, or jacket.</p>
<p>Plain black. No Logos. Crew neck $19.99. Half Zip mock turtleneck $24.95. It’s on a table display in Marmot boxes. Stuff like this is normally $40 to $50 from Marmot or North Face or Patagonia.</p>
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<p>I’m all excited because I rocked the new 36 inch jeans today. Not even relaxed fit, but 36 inch regular fit. Along with a tight wool sweater. That’s a helluva long way from that pair of 44 inch jeans I’m having bronzed as a reminder.</p>
<p>If I keep losing weight, I might have go buy some skinny hipster jeans, horn rimmed glasses, hang out in Starbucks, and slap an Obama bumper sticker on my hybrid!</p>
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