How to NOT run a track meet

Since I started running, way back in November '07, I've been battling one injury after another. Usually something minor, a calf pull or small hamstring tear. Nothing that a day of ice/heat and Advil couldn't cure in 48-72 hours.

And it's not like I was doing anything crazy or hard to get these injuries. Once, I was just skipping and on my second step, something in my left calf gave out! Most recently, while doing straight-legged running drills, after getting the instruction to "paw down hard", on the 5th or 6th step, my left hamstring tweaked (that step was no harder/softer than the ones before it).

About 6 weeks ago, after no particular event, and about 4 hours after a rigorous but not insane hill workout, I stood up from my desk and practically couldn't walk. Every step on my right heel sent a shock wave of pain deep into my hip, kinda.

I say "kinda" because it was hard to localize exactly where the pain was. It seemed to move, shift, change locations.

$1,000 of bodywork later, I had various people diagnose that my right pelvis was slightly tipped forward and this led to all sorts of imbalances that sprinting was exacerbating. Whatever happened on that hill day was the last straw. Yesterday Mark Plaatjes, former LA Marathon winner, co-owner of Boulder Running Company, and AMAZING physical therapist demonstrated with some simple and painful movements that I had bursitis in my right hip.

He did some of the most excruciating and interesting work on my legs (I know this will sound odd, but even though I found myself reflexively popping off his table, and screaming all manner of rude expletives, I wouldn't use "pain" to describe the sensations), and by this morning, I felt sore, but functional.

I showed up at the Martin Luther King meet at the Air Force Academy full of excitement. This was going to be my first meet. I'd run the 60 and 200. I wasn't looking to break any records; just to get through the events without further injury and see what my base times looked like at 80% effort.

The track was PACKED. Tons of kids and a handful of masters runners. Between heats of the mile, our team jumped onto the track to warm up.

Striding down the backstretch and feeling comfortable at about 70%, some kids stepped in front of me. To dodge them, I bounded off my left leg and... TWANG... there went the left hamstring again. Worse than ever. Within a minute, I could barely walk.

I had gotten up at 6:00 am to drive 80 minutes for this meet and it looked like I'd be back home in time for brunch.

Now, for all I know, getting hurt BEFORE the race saved me an injury that could have happened DURING the race. But I'm still waiting for the disappointment/excitement to fade and, more importantly, to get over the idea that all these injuries are suggesting I should drop this idea of becoming a successful aging sprinter.

How to buy running shoes at a discount

I learned a few tricks when I bought all my different running shoes in the last few weeks.

First, www.footlocker.com, www.eastbay.com, www.champssports.com, www.espnshop.com (and I'm sure some others) all have the same shoes at the same prices. It seems they all use one warehouse (I don't know whose it is).

The only difference is that one or more of the sites will have a different special going on at any time.

So, last week, Eastbay had Free Shipping for orders over $99, while Footlocker gave you a 10% discount if you used a gift card. This week, Footlocker has the free shipping deal, while Eastbay gives $10 off a $50 order (too bad my shoes were $49.99).

Second, it never hurts to CALL and ask for a better deal!

I called Footlocker and said, "Since you're giving 10% off if I use a gift card, can't I just buy a gift card for 10% less than the cost of the shoes I want and then use my own gift card to get the discount?"

"You can," they replied.

"Well, that's a bit of a hassle," I said. "Can't you just give me 10% off?"

"Let me check," the customer service person said. After a few minutes she came back, "I can give you a coupon code to use that gives you fifteen percent off. Would that be okay?"

"Uh, yeah!"

Third, speaking of coupon codes... SEARCH for them.

My Asics shoes list at $109.95. I Googled the exact shoe name and found one store -- www.sportsbasement.com -- selling them for $85. As I was checking out I saw a place to enter a discount coupon. So, before I checked out, I Googled "sportsbasement.com discount code"... and I FOUND a code for 10% off. I entered it in the shopping cart and got an extra 10% discount!

Next, be aware of (or sometimes, beware of ) return/exchange policies. Some stores will pay for the return shipping if you do an exchange, but not a return. Some stores will let you order online and return you shoes at no cost to a physical store (if the store typically carries that shoe). Others make you pay for everything. So look careful. The shipping/return costs can turn a good deal into a bad one

Ebay is an interesting place to shop. It's amazing how often someone will bid MORE than retail simply because they haven't searched online for a good deal. So, before you bid on eBay, do your online shopping (google.com and froogle.com) first.

Oh, and in a non-price-related note, sizing can be REALLY weird. My Asics training shoes are a comfy 10. My Nike waffles are a 9.5 and are TIGHT (in a good way). My Nike spikes are an 8.5 and are just right.

I got my spikes! I got my spikes!

I'm not a shoe fetish guy. For most of my life, I owned 2 pairs of shoes: one pair of running shoes and one pair of dress shoes. And I didn't run in the running shoes; I just wore them everywhere, summer, winter, snow, rain.

Well, one pair of running shoes doesn't cut it in the sprinting game.

First I had to get a pair of light trainers. Something to use for those 2-3 mile warm up runs (more about those another time). I got a pair of DS Trainer XII. They look like my other shoes, but weigh about 1/2 as much. The first time I ran in them, it felt like magic...

Until I tried sprinting.

Then I could feel how heavy they really are (probably only about 12 ounces!).

So, next, I got a pair of indoor training shoes -- actually some cross-country waffles. Specifically, Nike Zoom Waffle Racers. 7.5 ounces. Amazing.

But then I got my racing spikes. I've I thought they looked cool in the pictures, but the reality of these gold/green (metallic chartreuse, to be exact) Nike Powercats, with neon yellow laces and black trim and sole... at barely more than 6 ounces...

I'm in love.

I show them to everyone who enters my house (they all oooh and aaaah). I want to wear them all the time. I want to get a new wardrobe to match. I bemoan the fact that Ric Rojas's team colors are red and white (CLASH!).

Tonight is the first time I get to see how it feels to run in them.

Can't wait.