Salazar Interview, hard v. soft surfaces

darkwave wrote:

This is also my experience. My injuries have all been soft-tissue, and feet/ankles (plantar fascitis, posterior tibial tendonitis, achilles tendonitis). Soft surfaces definitely aggravate them, to the point that when I was returning from my PF, I had to actively avoid soft surfaces and run only on asphalt and concrete.[/quote]

Interesting that you bring this up. The first year OTC Elite was in Eugene, several of the runners came down with achilles issues. Many attributed this to running on the Adidas Trail.

One issue with this trail is that it is not level, partly a drainage issue. When the trail is busy, it is easy to find yourself running on a downside, which results in an awkward foot plant.

I still do a majority of my running on soft surfaces, but, as a roadrunner, try to do more on the streets as I approach races.

Eugene runners: are any of the local golf courses runner-friendly. Many years ago, ran at Laurelwood at night,but have heard that they aren't too keen on that any more.

I think a big value in the soft surface idea is that many soft surfaces are not as "predictable" as a hard surface, making the feet more active in their sensory-motor planning function, making each stride a bit different than the one before yet still similar enough to transfer. By altering patterns on softer surfaces, we're able to avoid a pattern overload type injury that a lot of runners come across. The idea of it reducing impact is not as readily accepted in the literature, and impact is not necessarily associated with injury risk, but that doesn't mean there isn't something to it.

Here in Flagstaff, most people can do the vast majority of their running on soft surfaces given our expansive trail systems. For me, I can walk out my back gate, and do 90-99% of my run on soft surfaces except where I am required to cross one or two roads.

Regards,

Carson Boddicker

www.BoddickerPerformance.com

I guess this explains why I'm all beat up. 100+ miles a week for several years and 120K lifetime, most of it on hard surfaces. I figured it out too late.

I live in inland (not beach) Miami. Basically my only choices for soft surfaces are Tropical Park or canalside. I'm sure that one day I'll step on a cottonmouth.

Oregon4Life wrote:

A Duck wrote:

Then you need to increase your mileage!

Kidding, yeah, it may not be possible, to drive and then run.

What about the graveyard loop?

When I said that the two miles from my house to Pre's "encompasses" my evening runs, I meant that those miles encompass the hard surface miles in the evening (I do another six when I get to Pre's), not that my run is limited to the two miles to and from Pre's. I actually do like the graveyard loop, but it's a little too short and, therefore, repetitive for my taste to make it my regular run. Another example of how picky I am is that I must chew Extra Peppermint, but NEVER Extra Spearmint.

Extra Spearmint is for Chicks!

Lol, yeah, okay, makes sense now the graveyard loop would be too short.

If you aren't feeling any ill effects of the 2 out and 2 back from Pre's on cement, then no need to drive to Pre's. and you know, you can run on the grass on campus on your way too the trail when it isn't too muddy.

I don't know how old you are; but for me, as I got over 30, I realized I could run 10 on gravel or trails, with the same wear and tear (soreness, tiredness the next day) as I could by running 6 on pavement. It became a no brainer for me to run the 10 on gravel or trails, and skip hard surfaces almost entirely.

But, WTF do I know, since I evidently never averaged 130mpw. ;-)

...Can someone explain to those who have never done it, exactly how easy it is to run 130 mpw when you have Pre's trail to do it on.

I mean it wasn't trivial, but it was not as hard as many make it out to be here.

Yeah, I would not recommend it for anyone under 20. I would not (personally) recommend running it on pavement.

I know how I did it was by moving up from 80mpw, by increasing my running time by 20 mins a week(I know it is counter intuitive to run minutes but then log miles, but others have discussed that here many times), by concentrating like hell on making my stride as efficient and energy preserving as possible, by eating tons of healthy carbs and veggies, and hydrating like a mad man. Sleeping 11 hours a day. And somehow I still managed to have sex for an hour a day as well...after my first run, and before my 2nd run, lol, hey I was 20 and in college with a hot girlfriend.

Oh, the last thing you need to run that kind of mileage? Is an absolutely addictive enjoyment of running long distance.

No one has mentioned the psychological benefits of trail running over road running. Many of you wouldn't still be running if it wasn't for the trails. Street running gets old....trail running never does. Think about it.

silly old fossil wrote:

No one has mentioned the psychological benefits of trail running over road running. Many of you wouldn't still be running if it wasn't for the trails. Street running gets old....trail running never does. Think about it.

It's never worked that way for me. I've never cared where I ran as long as there was minmal chance of being killed by cars or by some sort of animal. It's nice to have someplace that's quiet and peaceful but that can be a street through a pleasant residential neighborhood just as easily as a path through the woods as far as I'm concerned.

[quote]A Duck wrote:

...Can someone explain to those who have never done it, exactly how easy it is to run 130 mpw when you have Pre's trail to do it on.

Okay. I don't think that Pre's Trail is unique in this aspect, but there are multiple loops, inversions, ghost trails (behind the pond), out the frontside (Alton Baker Park) and the backside (Island Park in Springfield...did that just to annoy the Eugene haters). Wildlife abounds (sprey nests, heron rookeries, eagles) Friendly people to greet or meet and run with, folks to chase when you are not feeling great. Changing landscapes (orchards, meadows, woodlands, waterways.

Enough for starters?

I wouldn't say it was a sacrafice for Ritz or the gouchers to move to portland. They are well paid by Nike. They dont have to worry about finding a job that pays the bills.

This has got the be the biggest troll thread of all time!

Keep it on the CRETE!!!!

A Duck wrote:

Oh, the last thing you need to run that kind of mileage? Is an absolutely addictive enjoyment of running long distance.[/quote]

This is a great thread exactly because it has this spirit, so often invisible elsewhere on LR. So great to see others consumed by running.

I lived and ran in Eugene in the early 80's.

Saw AlSal running with his oxygen mask, and many other legendary runners.

The woodchips are to die for. but you have to go to Finland to find another trail like Pre's. The next best place I've seen in the US is Arcata CA, with its redwood trails (Humboldt alum-full disclosure!).

Where I live now, in New England, there are lots of trails, but they are rooty, rocky and/or gravelly. You can hear the slippage as you run, each stride sending contradictory messages to your hamstrings. So here I occasionally run on trails for my spirit, but my legs prefer smooth asphalt.

I've noticed no difference between the two surfaces in terms of injury-free mileage.