<p>NMinn, that’s so sad. Do not feel bad about not being able to exercise - most of the time, rest is the best therapy for injuries. I know that back pain is awful. My miracle cure was an oral steroid course. Back then, I stopped all running, just did some gentle stretching and things that did not make the aches worse.
Fingers crossed for your trip to Mexico.</p>
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<p>Yep. That’s what they prescribed for me when I had a bout of cervical disk pain – along with Percocet pain killers. Who knows what actually worked, but thank god whatever was pressing on the nerve root stopped being inflamed and the pain went away.</p>
<p>I guess the vast majority of us have underlying disk herniation issues, even though we may usually be symptom free. I’ll tell you what though… a bout of back pain like NMINN is suffering sure gives you a newfound desire to protect the back!</p>
NMinn- I feel for you and I am hoping you’ll be fine by Mexico. I know how painful it must be.
<p>Thanks all. I am weaning myself from the pain meds and muscle relaxers even though I have such pain. I just can’t stand to be so lethargic and foggy. Sleeping and laying on the couch is just tiring! I do like the therapist’s plan to build my core but she says I am so tight and spasms so painful I really can’t do much until they can stop the cycle. I do have some exercises that I am trying to do to loosen and strengthen. Thanks for the link idad!</p>
<p>I did get in several miles of walking yesterday. We’re trying to work out the logisitics of a contract for my son and it involves me working remotely and walking around in Boston for a bit each day.</p>
<p>The minor injuries: ankle - rolled it three weeks ago during tennis; it feels 98% a day or two afterwards but it is sore after tennis though the level is declining. Knees can be a little sore after long running days. I may either have a bit of PF or Achilles. Taking a few days off running may be good for a lot of things. I have been going non-stop on exercise for several weeks.</p>
<p>Made a lot more money on NKE stock recently. The Champion shorts have arrived at Target - they’re not discounted but the regular prices are already pretty good. It may be time to pick up a few pairs.</p>
<p>The Champion shorts are good for running but not for tennis. The pockets are a bit narrow which makes it difficult getting tennis balls out. The Nike and New Balance shorts are better for that.</p>
<p>NMINN:</p>
<p>Here’s an excellent article from McGill outlining his approach to back pain. You might have to look online to figure out the names of the muscles he’s talking about, but it’s a really good article:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.backfitpro.com/pdf/selecting_back_exercises.pdf[/url]”>http://www.backfitpro.com/pdf/selecting_back_exercises.pdf</a></p>
<p>Wonderful appt with my gynecologist this morning. He stuck what felt like a knife in my uterus for a biopsy. I am a hypochondriac, dont even ask why I wanted this. But just one more thing to worry about the next few days. I was relieved when he told me my uterus felt normal so just hope the biopsy supports this. Ugh. Sometimes it is very hard to be a woman. No exercise for me today. Sleep deprived and a sore uterus. 
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<p>On the other hand, my doc was very happy with my weight loss and blood pressure.</p>
<p>I’m very careful to replace my shoes every six months or so, so that there’s always cushioning. Of course, I only run maybe six miles a week, at most. I bought a new paid of inexpensive Saucony’s a few weeks ago. Now I’m having a sore hip. The soreness goes away after a day or so. Could be the shoes, could be the fact that I’m “of a certain age.” </p>
<p>Is a $120 pair of shoes twice as good as a $60 pair of shoes?</p>
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<p>Which one fits better and is best suited for your running style?</p>
<p>(And sometimes the expensive shoes are offered for much cheaper prices when the new model transition occurs.)</p>
<p>Not really. It is hard to answer this question, because there are so many different levels of shoes, and an expensive shoe might not be right for a particular person due to the technology in the shoe. Many of the manufacturers (not Brooks) make really crappy shoes for the mass market stores. I think it is important to get “real” running shoes as opposed to the mass market shoes. They don’t have to be that expensive, and you can get the prior model (usually minor changes are made and in some cases only a color change) on sale. Going to a specialty running store and having your gait analyzed can be very helpful. They can recommend the right shoe for you. </p>
<p>For example, the most intricate, built up shoes made by Asics and Saucony are terrible for me. I can barely lift my feet in them. I am somewhat of a shoe snob and pay more than many people would. I also have many pairs, but I have a partial Brooks sponsorship, which helps. I do try other brands, too. My friend who manages a Fleet Feet store says, in his opinion, Asics is making junk right now. </p>
<p>The Olympic Trials Marathon was just run by a runner wearing Skechers Go Run shoes. Nike dropped Meb as a sponsored runner (and someone is probably now losing his or her job over that decision) when they couldn’t come to terms with him. The Go Run is apparently a legit shoe, but I haven’t seen a pair in person.</p>
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<p>At the end of the day, it’s primarily a fashion business. Find a pair that fits well and is appropriate for your foot if you have a notably flat foot or bony arched foot and then buy last year’s version in last year’s colors for half price!</p>
<p>I don’t care at all about the color, and I usually buy the $55 shoes that are on sale for $44. I’ve worn Saucony for years, then switched to New Balance for some reason. (Availability, I think.) Maybe I’ll just get another pair of New Balance and see how they work.</p>
<p>MOfWC, runblogger has a great (as in well-balanced) little review of the Go Run shoes. Sounds like a real deal to me. BTW, Runblogger has a shoe addiction, too.</p>
<p>VH, I would stick with the certain shoe that works for me until something changes. A $10 savings on athletic gear could translate into a $1000 doctor’s bill. :)</p>
I think a good strategy is to pay the $100 for one pair, as a resonable compensation for sitting in a running store and trying on a dozen pair of shoes to find the brand, style (level of support), and size that actually fits your foot. Then, just wait for the model year closeouts of that shoe for subsequent pairs.
One of the keys is figuring out the lingo so you can recognize the high support model, the regular model, and the low support/cushioning model in each line. That would be important to know if you were looking to try a different brand, too.
In general, I doubt that the differences in good quality running shoes are likely to be the underlying cause (or cure) of hip pain.
<p>For me hip pain responds well to gentle yoga stretches, especially the plow. Just go slow and try different approaches until you find what works. A little advil now and then is also good.</p>
Good solid punch-the-clock workout. I’m on the second week of this pair of workouts and I’m not cranking up the weight, so I’m feeling good with all the exercises. Challenging, working on some form and some fun TRX and ValSlide stuff, but not killing myself. One of the great things about geezer fitness is that I don’t feel like I’ve got to set a new personal best with every workout.
Did the plank/side plank 30 second intervals I described earlier, with my feet up in the suspension straps.
Loved the power set again. DB hang snatches alternating with med ball overhead slams. Who’da thunk the ol’ (formerly) fat guy would enjoy “explosive” exercises? I can’t believe the difference in the overhead slams now compared to when I first did them sometime last year.
Another day of Romanian deadlifts with the barbell. The hex bar I ordered finally shipped and will probably arrive on Monday, but it’s been OK working with the barbell for a few weeks. I feel like I’ve started to get the hang of the deadlift with OK form. It’s a killer exercise for the butt!
<p>Thought about you guys (espec iDad) at the gym tonight. Did a couple of miles on the dreadmill while I watched country music videos and then lifted some weights. I like the dumbbells at our gym- they look like the old metal ones but they are a very hard rubber. They don’t scare me as much! The gym is still pretty full with the “Januaries”, but not too bad.</p>
<p>Dang. Country music and lifting weights. It don’t get any better than that, MOWC! I’ve got an endless loop of Patriots football podcasts on the iPod for my workouts this week. Of course, the Patriots players and coaches give absolutely nothing to the media. Very disciplined outfit.</p>
<p>Ran two miles - son said let’s go to the Y and I felt reasonably good after going to bed early yesterday. Ankle/Achilles/heel felt fine. Left knee a bit sore but that’s okay. Work and schedule are crazy so workouts will be abbreviated.</p>
<p>Running for fun and profit:</p>
<p>[NKE</a> - SharpCharts Workbench - StockCharts.com](<a href=“NKE | SharpCharts | StockCharts.com”>NKE | SharpCharts | StockCharts.com)</p>
<p>Just my free weights workout today and some planks. As soon as H gets out of his “recliner”, we will eat my root vegetable soup. Somehow, H, who had already shed more than 30 lb, managed to drop another couple of pounds just by “reclining” for a few times a week during the holiday season.</p>