Category: avoiding injury

Loyal readers, I know there has been much anticipation about yesterday’s 5k. Despite the chilly temps and a looming full moon, I actually had a great race!

My time was close to but not quite a PR, I was most proud of my negative splits. Still even prouder that I can use “negative split” in a sentence. I ran each mile slightly faster than the one prior with an average pace of 8:07. This comes naturally to me as the irrational fear of not being able to finish the race keeps me from starting out too fast. I will not fall into the speed trap.

At one point I did see someone from our local run club taking photos, I smiled and waved. Smiled and waved. I smile and wave through most of my races, I smile and wave at the course marshals, at spectators. I thank the marshals and the water attendants. I like to think that even though I am not the fastest runner, I am the most pleasant and polite runner. The Miss Congeniality of road running! Or the psycho smiling woman, you choose.

When our run club posted photos on facebook from yesterday’s race, they did not post my smile and wave photo. Instead, I have a pretty scary and miserable looking picture, I didn’t even know there was a camera in the vicinity. Clearly I was unaware of the camera… “Hoka on line one, they want you to be the new face of running!”

I think we have a clear winner for my Christmas card photos. I had better lift my feet a tad more if I am going to clear that speed bump!

The moral of this story is, even if you think you are having the race of your life, smiling and waving at your fans, there may be a perspective that is different. I could choose to dwell on this photo or I can decide that my image of a strong, healthy, happy young runner is in fact the reality.

Now, to stretch my psoas, a muscle I never even knew existed before last year. Sore ass I knew but not psoas.

I am on my second pair of Hokas and I think I am ready for my third. I started with the re-release of the Clifton One one oneoneone. Super ugly shoe but it helped with my plantar plate injury I discussed here. One thing I can confirm is that when running in your 40’s, your shoes are really important!

My second pair of Hokas was the Rincon, much better looking and frankly, more comfortable. The tongue never stayed put in the horrendously ugly Clifton Ones and the Rincon had a more comfortable fit all around.

I don’t know how to crop in wordpress

I have run many, many miles in these shoes. I can’t tell you the exact number because Runkeeper and I are no longer speaking. I run 3-6 miles every other day, carry the one, that’s a lot of miles since Christmas, when I got these Hoka Rincons. After several weeks of lies, 12 min mile runs and other impossibilities, I decided to change my tracking ap. To be honest, social distance running has been more about mental then physical health, so my stats seem to matter less. Virtually every race has gone virtual so I wasn’t really training for anyting. I am now using my default Samsung health, I don’t love it but Runkeeper and my GPS couldn’t find a way to get along.

Back to the shoes, I am tempted to find another pair of these. The newest Rincon 2 aren’t my favorite colors, I guess this one is ok.

What I liked about the Hoka Rincon:

  1. Lightweight, I am apparently very weak and most shoes feel like those aerobic lead weights people used to wear in the 80s. At least that is how they feel to me.
  2. Breathable, the mesh is very interesting, though I am starting to get some holes in mine. The hammer toe I am now sporting after my plantar plate tear, approves of these shoes
  3. Color, I love the grey and the teal. I don’t feel like I am wearing orthopedic shoes.
  4. No blisters
  5. Can’t feel gravel. Loved my Merrells but I could feel every stone I ran over. I could run over fairly long spikes and not feel anything in these.

Don’t Love about Hoka Rincon

  1. Not much in the way of arch support. I actually use these inside and though I have no background in podiatry, I have found them very helpful against blisters from pronating. There is no evidence for any of this, I could very well be exacerbating some other issue but since I went to several podiatrists/orthopedists who were less useful to me than a Wendy’s drive up window.
  2. Material is a little flimsy but I think that also adds to the comfort.
  3. Could be wider in the midsole/bunion area.

I am getting ready for my first official trail run, a 10k in West Virginia next weekend. Let’s hope for no tropical storms!