Running Journal, Monday, 2011-04-11: Running in Circles

Running Journal, Monday, 2011-04-11

Resting heart rate: ? bpm (forgot)
Body Mass Index (BMI): n/a (kilograms/(meters^2))

Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR):  calories
Weather: n/a 

Temp:
Time: 6:45-7:30 p.m.

Terrain: super-flat

Comments: First run after missing six maintenance runs and three long runs, over a course of three weeks, including what was to be my first marathon distance, last Sunday. Ah,  well. After the March 26 long run, I chose to take some downtime to recover from a persistent cough and sickness, and also I felt pain in my lower left back. After three weeks of downtime, the cough is finally gone and the lower back pain had become muted, again. The back pain is a warning sign, though; and so I am attempting to shake things up a bit: (1) minimizing street running, which involves lots of concrete, and instead run maintenance runs at the American River College stadium track and long runs on the American River Parkway; (2) and profit ?.  Not sure what else to try, yet. I read one suggestion about strengthening my core through targeted exercise, to better support the torso while running.  One resource suggests perhaps seeing an orthopedist, an osteopath, or perhaps a chiropractor. Possibilities: (1) muscle strain (the most common cause of back pain for runners); (2) sciatica; (3) uneven pelvis or unequal leg lengths (relatively common); (4) Relatively weak abdominal and lower back muscles; (5) flat feet and over-pronation (i.e., your foot tends to roll inward too much when you run); (6) if your second toe is longer than the big toe (a condition known as Morton's Toe), this could cause a weight imbalance resulting in back pain; or (7) disc degeneration. Well, #2 (sciatica) and #6 (Morton's Toe) seem out. #5 seems out, as local running shop Fleet Feet claims to have experts fit shoes based on pronation, and I have not had a problem with flat feet before. That leaves #1, muscle strain; #3, uneven pelvis/leg--would take a doctor to diagnose, so no immediate answer; #4, relatively weak muscles; and/or #7, disc deterioration, which would be the worst case scenario. So--will be taking it easy, investigating as I have time. Ran in circles this evening at the American River College stadium track, one of the most boring things to ever do. I hate it with a passion, but if it helps, I will do it.

Goal Time: n/a

Distance (running): ~39.0 km (~4.0 miles); 

Weight (after run): n/a

Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: left lower back sore
Foods eaten today: oatmeal + raisins + banana, banana x 2, veggie spring rolls, walnuts, almonds, apple sauce cup, peach yogurt, apple, milk, Amy's bean + cheese burritos x 2, Ben & Jerry's Late Nite Snack ice cream