Battling the LORC!

As my training runs get longer, I tend to keep my mouth shut and focus on my run. I like to focus on my stride, pace breathing, heart rate and nutrition. After having multiple running injuries, I suffer from (LORC) Lack of Running Confidence. I was diagnosed with LORC back in 1990 when I was in a training program for the US Navy.

In 2001, when I started doing triathlon, my LORC started to come back. I started and ended the season with shin splint. During the season, I did everything doctors told me to do. I stretched, iced, rolled and walked but the shin splints plagued me for the whole season. 2002-2004 was the same song and dance.

When 2005 rolled around, I signed up for Ironman Wisconsin 2006. My biggest concern was how I was going to battle the LORC. I spent a lot of time on the elliptical trainer at the gym. On Sunday mornings, I would go to the local 24hr fitness and use the elliptical trainer for 2-3 hours. Low impact training while gaining fitness and battling the LORC were my goals. It worked; I never had shin splints that entire season. The bad thing, I never made it to the marathon of IMWI. My initials went from KMK to DNF

While training for IMFL 2007, I hired a coach to help me battle the LORC. I spent many hours and miles running at Fiesta Island. It was a successful season. My coach at that time (Filipe L. & Luke W.) helped me hit many milestones in running. Unfortunately, on IMFL race day I was forced to walk 18 miles do to blistering issues on the bottom of my feet, both feet.

IMAZ 2008 and here we go again; walking. Coming off the bike and heading into T2, I knew walking was going to happen again. My LORC was definitely in overdrive. My feet hurt really badly when I came off the bike. To this day I still do not know why my feet hurt so badly. I tried to run but the LORC would not let me. I did my best to make it look good when I saw my friends; I made sure to run every time I saw them.

To add fuel to the fire, the LORC won again in 2009. While warming up at, the local TCSD, track practice I tore my right hamstring. This injury took me out of IMWI 2009 and IMSG 2010. Earlier this year while racing at the California 70.3, the LORC won again. My whole objective, for this race, was to gain some run confidence. I didn’t care about the swim or the bike, I just wanted to run. My legs and feet felt great but I was having serious gas issues.

IMFL training has begun. With the help of, Coach, Eileen Swanson I feel confident we will beat the LORC. There have been two scheduled 10-miles run. So far the long runs have gone well.

So if you see me out doing a run, please don’t be offended if I do not chat, smile, high-five, joke or share my day with you. I have to conquer the LORC!