Archive for the ‘Doctor's tips’ Category

You are taking the advice regarding conditioning for the heat and humidity of Peachtree.  Today you are running in the heat of the mid afternoon.  You have done this before and you feel that your tolerance and acclimation is improving.  Today, however, things begin to feel different.  You started out feeling unusually well and running well.  However, the last 15 minutes you become more fatigued and feel weaker than normal.  There may be a little nausea and even a slight headache.  You cannot tell if it is actually early muscle cramps or whether your muscles are just aching.  As you begin to concentrate, it is harder to focus on where you have been and you may feel a little dizzy.  Realizing these symptoms as being unusual, you stop, take extra fluids, walk in the shade and gradually the symptoms resolve.  You still feel a slight headache the rest of the day and the next day your muscles are a little sorer than normal.  The runner who has experienced these warning …

Continue reading Dr. Joe’s Training Tips: Well Done on Race Day »

On race day, you may have the horsepower in your legs to get the 6.2 miles down Peachtree Road, but if your cooling system is not ready, your tow truck may become an ambulance and your mechanic may be a doctor at Grady.

Any machine, such as your body or car, takes in fuel (food or gas) and burns this to produce movement and heat.  The food that you eat is quantitated in calories, which is a measurement of the heat produced when burned. For every calorie you use in running, 75% ends up as heat and only 25% as work energy in the most efficient athlete. As you exercise, the body must shed this extra heat.  To do this, you have a cooling system that must be conditioned to be ready on RACE DAY.

One form of heat loss is accomplished by radiant transfer from your skin to the air.  On cool days, this system works well.  To lose heat on the hot/humid days of July 4th, your body must sweat.  Blood and energy must be redirected away from the muscles used for running to the skin to …

Continue reading Dr. Joe’s Peachtree Road Race Tips: The Body’s Radiator »

Foot pain is not uncommon in runners. Your feet absorb approximately three times your weight with each foot strike. For the average runner, the journey down Peachtree Road takes approximately 9,300 of those steps. That adds up to a lot of stress on your muscles, tendons, bones and joints.

Most foot and leg discomfort that occurs from running is usually minor and can be prevented with proper footwear and good training. When aches and pains do occur, they can often be self-treated, allowing you to continue your training for the coveted AJC Peachtree Road Race T-shirt.

Blisters: Blisters result from friction to the skin that causes fluid to collect underneath it. This can be due to poorly fitting shoes or from excessive moisture on the foot.

If you do develop a blister, it can usually be self-treated by cleansing the skin and making a small hole in the blister with a clean needle to drain the fluid or blood. Once the fluid is drained, leave the skin on top intact, apply an …

Continue reading Feet don’t fail me now »

The AJC Peachtree Road Race is less than 10 weeks away and the excitement is already building. The weather is getting warmer and the roads are getting more crowded with runners preparing for their July 4th run down Peachtree Street.

One of the many great things about the sport of running is that it is not “gear intensive.” All one need to enjoy a run are a pair of running shoes, some running clothes and a surface to run on. That being said, the proper selection of this gear can make a huge difference in making running more enjoyable and in minimizing the chance of injury.

As many as 20 percent of runners who develop leg and foot pain can attribute the cause to worn-out running shoes, improperly fit shoes and incorrect shoes for their foot type and running style.

When selecting shoes for running or walking, one should first select a running specific shoe. Utilize the expertise of an experienced shoe consultant at one of the many specialty running shoe stores in Atlanta. They …

Continue reading Geared to run »