Tiny Freak Goes Ninja

Training
401

Joe, you are the king of ghetto T-bar rows! Thanks for looking.

MFM, if you want the scoop on ITB issues, go to the Runner’s World forums, the injuries sub-forum and look for the thread “ITBS Support Group”. Having read through that entire enormous thread, it appears that the only real relief from ITBS is stretching, foam rolling, hip and gluteus medius activation and strengthening and training below the threshold of irritation, no matter how long it takes. If there were a shoe or orthotic or SOMETHING to buy to make it all better, you would find mention of it there. Alas, no.

And, you ManFromMass have discovered kimba’s crack…lululemon. Every gym outfit I own comes from that stupid expensive store.

sbmart, surely you speak from a place of wisdom. I will, as they say in my business, take it under advisement.

Betty, thank for the kind words you hot-ticket, you!

O, thanks for stopping by and looking. I appreciate your input. Yeah, I decided not to comment on quarter-squat dude. Luckily I didn’t need the rack that day. I LOVE the vibrams. For sumo deadlifting they staple my feet to the floor with awesome traction and perfect ground-feel. I’m happy to have them for that alone. Plus I rather enjoy having monkey-feet.

Today is a rest day. Badly needed.

402

I’ve had IT band issues but whilst it still gets tight, I haven’t had any serious knee problems (save the odd grumble) since I switched from heel striking to landing on the forefoot. Initially my achilles tendon got a bit grumpy and my calves are perma-tight but the knees are much happier. Consequently, my footwear has got more and more minimal (first Nike Free 5.0, then 3.0 and next it’ll be my Fivefingers once I’ve recovered from my foot problem). Wearing orthotics or a corrective shoe is pretty much pointless if you land on the fore- or midfoot.
Having said that, you might want to look at some videos (or even take a class) in Pose or Chi running technique to help you do it right.

I agree with sbmart on the glute strengthening, however. My glute warm-up and unilateral leg training has made a lot of difference to both my sciatica and to being able to activate my glutes more on squats and deadlifts.

Ouro - Vibrams are awesome for lifting. Go for it.

403

[quote]CBear84 wrote:

why surprised?[/quote]

Oh, I don’t know, I just figured you’d be all about the lifting and nay-say on “other athletic pursuits”, as they might interfere with the lifting. Just an egregious assumption on my part really, lol! But I forget that you were (are?) a swimmer and a rock climber!!

I’m with you Kimba, I fucking hate, HATE having to learn patience. Its sucks balls. And I cant really add anything more about the running and ITB issues, except to say that if you love the running, you’ll find a way to make it work. It may take some time, the right shoes, the right running regiment, etc. but you can make it happen. As long as its still enjoyable to you.

OH Squats looked good! You have impressive upper back flexibility. I found that the Oly lifting really helped my flexibility and mobility, so i’d be interested to see what they might do for you. I don’t know too much about this, so maybe others could chime in, but raising your heels on plates with OH squats will help you get a deeper squat (ankle mobility) which might translate to great quad/glute work…something to think about if you feel like tinkering around.

Ghetto Tbar rows are ghetto fabulous! Never thought to use one of the handles…duh!

Keep on keepin’ on :slight_smile:

404

[quote]kimbakimba wrote:
Joe, you are the king of ghetto T-bar rows! Thanks for looking.

MFM, if you want the scoop on ITB issues, go to the Runner’s World forums, the injuries sub-forum and look for the thread “ITBS Support Group”. Having read through that entire enormous thread, it appears that the only real relief from ITBS is stretching, foam rolling, hip and gluteus medius activation and strengthening and training below the threshold of irritation, no matter how long it takes. If there were a shoe or orthotic or SOMETHING to buy to make it all better, you would find mention of it there. Alas, no.

And, you ManFromMass have discovered kimba’s crack…lululemon. Every gym outfit I own comes from that stupid expensive store.

sbmart, surely you speak from a place of wisdom. I will, as they say in my business, take it under advisement.

Betty, thank for the kind words you hot-ticket, you!

O, thanks for stopping by and looking. I appreciate your input. Yeah, I decided not to comment on quarter-squat dude. Luckily I didn’t need the rack that day. I LOVE the vibrams. For sumo deadlifting they staple my feet to the floor with awesome traction and perfect ground-feel. I’m happy to have them for that alone. Plus I rather enjoy having monkey-feet.

Today is a rest day. Badly needed.

[/quote]

I did notice you looked over your shoulder at him before deciding to mock him though.

405

[quote]kimbakimba wrote:
I am feeling like a complete little Miss Crankypants this morning.

Yeah, I know. Shoes. Supportive. I’m curious enough about the potential for a “cure” that the next time I have a spare couple of hours and $150 bucks (mostly the time) I’ll stop by the local well-regarded running store and buy something.

My concern with this is that my ARTist wants me to mid-foot/forefoot strike because in her opinion heel striking is death for the IT band. Her advice to speed up my pace doing strides (more of a forefoot landing) and to do walk intervals has largely been successful. A big-ass supportive shoe might straighten me out, but at what cost? Worth a try, but I’m not hopeful.

I have been fighting with my IT band since oh…2006. Way before running, cycling originally fucked it up. I am unsurprised running fucks it up too. If you want to read the sad, sad scenarios of folks battling this chronic problem and trying literally everything, check out the Runner’s World forum.

My one goal at the moment is to figure out how to manage the running so that I’m always below the threshold of irritation. I guess I really don’t expect the root cause of the problem to ever go away.

Cho, the Q angle observation is right on. You are clearly in the right business, my dear. I have knock knees and bowed lower legs. When I stand with my feet pointed straight ahead, my knees turn in. Not awesome.

My body isn’t built to run or cycle or lift weights. That hasn’t stopped me yet.

[/quote]

Kimba: I don’t know whether you are running in the right shoes or not. You’re likely right that different shoes won’t be a cure. But, they may allow you to extend the period before the threshold of irritation. There are tons of shoes out there. Do you pronate, supinate, have high arches or flat feet? The choice isn’t minimalist v. tank; forefoot running v. heel striking. Personally, I have never been able to run in Nikes–any kind of Nike–even those designed for my flat footed pronating feet. Nike is excellent at marketing. There are better shoe manufacturers.

I had diagnosed IT band knee pain last summer. My knee hurt when I drove, I couldn’t run, and I was waking up with night pain. I went to my fav speciality running shoe. Learned that my degree of pronation had changed, that I was now over correcting, changed my shoes, and I got better. I want it to be that simple for you too. If it’s not, I’m sure you’ll find your way to finding your “cure.” Hang in there.

406

OH squats looked good
ghetto tbar looked awsome- very solid.

IT band crap sucks ass.
I think sitting has done more damage to mine then any running
Foam no longer does it I need LX ball PVC or someone elbow.

I am no quitter either- til I am injured
now I am finding I am the greatest quitter ever.
not much running for me anymore but soon.

I thank my HS track coach alot- he was ahead of his time on
‘pose running’ and being efficient.

Sbmart has the inside track too- that tight hips and glute recruitment will fix most knee issues-
and will clear up allot of IT band stuff.

407

Hi Kimba, lot’s of awesomeness going on in here. About your IT band issues, knee cave, etc…I think VMO (TKEs kick ass!) and glute medius and minimus.

Just a thought.

408

Cal, the second I start slacking on monster walks, clams, foam rolling, pigeon pose stretch, etc. it appears my IT band goes to hell. I’ll also be adding back those one-legged glute raises you do. Haven’t done those in awhile, but they were part of my last PT program for my weak glutes.

Maschy, raising my heels on plates for OH squats! That sounds really good to me. I will definitely try this out next time. Thanks so much for your encouraging voice.

Joe, I didn’t remember looking askance at quarter-squat dude! I have to review the video and sure enough, you were right.

Nadia, I always appreciate your thoughts on running. Extending the time before the onset of irritation makes logical sense to me and if the buying of shoes could do that, I would consider it well worth the money.

kmc, thanks for looking at my OH squats. This gives me confidence to work them some more. I know that my glutes are weak. I always think I’m doing enough to address that. I’m always wrong.

Skye! Great to see you! I’ve been doing TKEs with a band, monster walks and clams for glutes, and I’ll be starting up the one-legged glute bridges again. Plus rolling and stretching the hips. Anything else you’d add?

Since Saturday’s run which didn’t go so well, I’ve been anxiously awaiting my next run which was this morning. I decided to dial things all the way back to 1 min run/1 min walk for 20 easy minutes. All was well knee-wise. I had an enjoyable time out with the birds and the voles, on a sunny summer morning before it got stupid-hot and humid. Eating 1/2 a banana and a bit of water and running right after I get out of bed so far is working great for avoiding side stitches (my other nemesis).

Since Saturday, I’ve stepped up on the rolling, stretching and glute strengthening exercises. Also, my bruised left big toe (from the cutting board incident) seems almost completely healed up. Its possible that the toe issue changed my gait enough on Saturday’s run to fuck up my knee…who knows.

I am nothing if not persistent.

409

That can happen. My right leg is wonky (the Q-angle is a little more pronounced than on the left leg, which means my knee doesn’t track over the right foot. Consequently, that’s the ankle I’ve sprained more times, and the achilles tendon that’s flared up, and the dodgy foot). However, the sciatica is on the left side and I’m pretty sure it’s because I do something weird on that side to compensate for the bum right leg. Bodies are clever - they will always find a way to perform a movement, even if it means using all the wrong muscles. And that makes trouble for us.

410

im having a moment-

marveling at the discussion of detail that goes on in here. not saying that it’s good or bad, just wow. lots of it.

thats all i have to contribute right now. i think i left my IQ at work…

411

When the only part of my training today that I want to publicly admit to is “hey, good job on the cable rope triceps extensions!” you know its blegh.

Sometimes the only saving grace to this weightlifting endeavor is that I look damned good in my bikini.

412

[quote]kimbakimba wrote:
Sometimes the only saving grace to this weightlifting endeavor is that I look damned good in my bikini.[/quote]

I think we will need evidence of this before we can agree…

413

[quote]kimbakimba wrote:
Sometimes the only saving grace to this weightlifting endeavor is that I look damned good in my bikini.[/quote]
DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS!

Also, you’re staving off bone mass loss. At our age and with being small, this is terribly important.

414

300×627 15.8 KB

ManFromMA, that was the nicest possible way of saying “pictures or GTFO”. Since I happened to still be wearing the bikini top from today’s 20 min. sun break, here you go for your agreement/disagreement.

Snapper, whenever I go to visit my mother I redouble my commitment to lift heavy shit until I die. Please, if ever you see me with a humped over back due to osteoporosis, just shoot me dead.

415

I have a hot radar and it went off and sent me to your log :stuck_out_tongue:

Total unequivocal agreement of coarse!

416


omnomnomnomnomnomnom.

kimba, here’s your sammich. you nom that, i’ll nom you while you’re distracted.

417

Wow kimba you look amazing. Absolutely incredible results.

418

WOW! You look fantastic! Incredibly lean. That midsection is enviable!! I WANT!

419

You have proven your point beyond any shadow of a doubt! You look fantastic, if I may be so bold.

(I did ask nicely, didn’t I?)

420

Much better posing compared to the pic on the first page :slight_smile:
midsection is looking tight.