I don't feel very comfortable in this group but maybe I could inherit Mr Yesterday's nick name, who seems to aspire on o new one...
Well...here are my "historical" achievements:
Stockholm marathon:
1995 4.46
2005 4.36
Svenska Klassikern: 1996
Vasaloppet (90km crosscountry ski) time: 11.29
Vätternrundan (300km bike) 1996 : time: 18 hours (approx)
Vansbrosimmet (river swimming 3km) 1.02 hours (try to beat that ! )
Lidingöloppet (x-country run 30km) 2.56 hours (my best running merit)
Vasaloppet 2005: 8.20 hours (challenge me !)
As you can see, 2005 was my last year with serious training and this was the year when my piriformis killed my running abilities. Still in 2010, I'm not able to train long distance running. I have tried countless treatments to get the piriformis to work normal without success. Probably my Piriformis Syndrome developed during 2003-2005 with lots of running milage combined with poor stretching. I got an early indication in 2004 with the "runners knee" but did'nt catch the signal and that it all originated from a tense piriformis.
(One week after my last marathon in Stockholm 2005 I started biking to work. A quite tough route and I was'nt used to biking. I was in good shape but my muscles was'nt used to biking. That in combination with continued running was the end of my running abilities...)
If you are struggling with runners knee (aching outer side of the knee) and don't have stretching as a natural ingredient in your training you should listen know. If you in addition spend hours everyday on your ass at work then you are in trouble. Running and office work is a bad combination for the hip system and in particular the piriformis. This is because running makes the pirisformis tense and it is actually the muscle you sit on, so when you sit down, the blood circulation through the musle becomes restricted. Just the opposite what a tense muscle needs. What happens is when the piriformis gets tense (which means it retracts), it transpires the retraction on to the outer side of the hip and along the outer side of the thigh down to the knee. I'm sure you know the basic stretch exercises and they will keep the muscels from beeing too tense. There is one exercise which is in my opinion the most important. It the one where you bend your knee in 90 degrees and put it onto a table and then bend your upper body forward. In all the years I "jumped over" this exercise becuase it was so painful - becuase my muscles were already so tense so I couldn't get the leg onto the table in the "basic position" in order to perform the exercise. I have had the Piriformis Syndrome since July 2005, if you want to know more about it, try google it and you will find loads of info...its a widespread problem among amatuer runners.
I have tried kiropractor, osteopat and massage and got better and able to begin running. But every time when i gradually increase the distance it hits me again. The best treatment I got was from the osteopat, he also gave me the best advice - quit running if I ever wanted to get well...and so I did. I haven't run since September 2009 and it seems to help.
Right know my piriformis is actually better than ever. Probably because I have kept away from running and done alternative training like rowing, ice-skating and x-country skiing (biking is on the "restrict" list)
I really have a hope in my heart that my piriformis some day will be good again so I can start with running which has been my number one favorite sport the last 20+ years.
A marathon is quite unlikely in a foreseeable future, but I bet that I will beat my 8.20 in my next Vasalopp within a few years. Probably not in 2011, but maybe 2012 or 2013. Right now I don't have the time available for such training with small children and two jobs and wife...
I won't write here too often, but will try to keep an eye on the blogg !
Now and then I might let you know how my piriformis is doing. (I'm talking to him everyday :) )
Good luck with your running !
Well...here are my "historical" achievements:
Stockholm marathon:
1995 4.46
2005 4.36
Svenska Klassikern: 1996
Vasaloppet (90km crosscountry ski) time: 11.29
Vätternrundan (300km bike) 1996 : time: 18 hours (approx)
Vansbrosimmet (river swimming 3km) 1.02 hours (try to beat that ! )
Lidingöloppet (x-country run 30km) 2.56 hours (my best running merit)
Vasaloppet 2005: 8.20 hours (challenge me !)
As you can see, 2005 was my last year with serious training and this was the year when my piriformis killed my running abilities. Still in 2010, I'm not able to train long distance running. I have tried countless treatments to get the piriformis to work normal without success. Probably my Piriformis Syndrome developed during 2003-2005 with lots of running milage combined with poor stretching. I got an early indication in 2004 with the "runners knee" but did'nt catch the signal and that it all originated from a tense piriformis.
(One week after my last marathon in Stockholm 2005 I started biking to work. A quite tough route and I was'nt used to biking. I was in good shape but my muscles was'nt used to biking. That in combination with continued running was the end of my running abilities...)
If you are struggling with runners knee (aching outer side of the knee) and don't have stretching as a natural ingredient in your training you should listen know. If you in addition spend hours everyday on your ass at work then you are in trouble. Running and office work is a bad combination for the hip system and in particular the piriformis. This is because running makes the pirisformis tense and it is actually the muscle you sit on, so when you sit down, the blood circulation through the musle becomes restricted. Just the opposite what a tense muscle needs. What happens is when the piriformis gets tense (which means it retracts), it transpires the retraction on to the outer side of the hip and along the outer side of the thigh down to the knee. I'm sure you know the basic stretch exercises and they will keep the muscels from beeing too tense. There is one exercise which is in my opinion the most important. It the one where you bend your knee in 90 degrees and put it onto a table and then bend your upper body forward. In all the years I "jumped over" this exercise becuase it was so painful - becuase my muscles were already so tense so I couldn't get the leg onto the table in the "basic position" in order to perform the exercise. I have had the Piriformis Syndrome since July 2005, if you want to know more about it, try google it and you will find loads of info...its a widespread problem among amatuer runners.
I have tried kiropractor, osteopat and massage and got better and able to begin running. But every time when i gradually increase the distance it hits me again. The best treatment I got was from the osteopat, he also gave me the best advice - quit running if I ever wanted to get well...and so I did. I haven't run since September 2009 and it seems to help.
Right know my piriformis is actually better than ever. Probably because I have kept away from running and done alternative training like rowing, ice-skating and x-country skiing (biking is on the "restrict" list)
I really have a hope in my heart that my piriformis some day will be good again so I can start with running which has been my number one favorite sport the last 20+ years.
A marathon is quite unlikely in a foreseeable future, but I bet that I will beat my 8.20 in my next Vasalopp within a few years. Probably not in 2011, but maybe 2012 or 2013. Right now I don't have the time available for such training with small children and two jobs and wife...
I won't write here too often, but will try to keep an eye on the blogg !
Now and then I might let you know how my piriformis is doing. (I'm talking to him everyday :) )
Good luck with your running !
So I'm:
-a Mr Whannabee
-a Mr Yesterday
-a Mr Piriformis
or just Mr W :)
Hello Mr.W, nice to hear from you again! Very intresting reading, i will immediately start stretching after my runs. I'd never had problems with piriformis but when it comes it seems to stay so i definitely believe you, time to seriously start stretching. Good luck with your training and greetings to your family!
SvaraRadera3.19.57
Morning Mr W. Thank you for this introduction. I guess we all need to hear about the importance of streching (on daily basis even if you do not run). I can only agree. You know back in 2002 I was in a similar situation with my piriformis.
SvaraRaderaIt took years for me. I really hope that you get rid of the piriformis-infamation soon. I also believe that the classic "bending knee up towards your head" on a table or laid down is one the most important stretch-excercises !
Also nice to read your Vasaloppet plans for the future. You know I am a poor crosscounry skier, but I haven't totally given up yet. Perhaps I can join and try to beat my 9.30 :-) ..
Hi Mr. W!
SvaraRaderaIt is nice to read about your achievements and thanks for the tips about stretching. I just started to get some pain in my right knee and I really don´t want to stop running, so I will stretch more.
Hope you get well from the piriformis.
Regards! Mylay