Veteran Runners

[Bob E]

I’m one month out with the Biomet device installed by Dr. Gross. So far my recovery is, in one word, unbelievable!
I’m age 55 and my resurfacing was due to an accident during a triathlon, I was run over by one of the “safety marshals” that ride around on the motorcycles during the bike leg. Anyway, enough about that. Up to that point a little over a year ago my 5K was still under 18 minutes and ½ marathon ~1 hour 25 minutes. The only reason I mention this is I was (and hope to be again) a good runner and biomechanically efficient. I was a mid to forefoot striker.
I plan on running again, but only after the Doc says I am ready, after 6-12 months. I’ll be back in the pool next week and plan on riding my trainer in a few weeks.
I’m researching the best shoe for a runner with a resurfacing in order to limit impact. I ran in a neutral shoe before which is cushioned and will probably continue with this. The Newton shoe is an interesting concept. It promotes forefoot strike. Has anyone tried these?
Something else I’m looking into is my stride. The POSE Method may be a good option for hip resurfacing runners. I think it will minimize impact by shortening the stride length and increasing cadence.
Any comments on this from runners and how they adapted back to running would be greatly appreciated.
Bob

[Tommy]

Bob,
        I became a chirunning fan real close to pose running, I had poor running form before my BHR so it was hard to pickup after surgery but as I transition from walking to running after surgery the focus on mid foot landing really help improve my running. In videos I look much more comfortable.
                                                                                 Tommy

[Bob E]

Tommy,
Sorry for the delayed reply!! I'm at almost 8 months now and doing good. Running about two miles three days a week. The Chi Running method really seems suited for us. It promotes low impact.
Bob

[Tommy]

Good to hear Bob glad to help enjoy every mile I know I will
                              Tommy

[Jeremy76761]

Funny Bob, your five KM and half marathon times are virtually identical to mine in 2007 when I was 33. I haven't ran since then because of a series of soft tissue injuries and now, OA in my left hip.

Keep me posted. It would be good to hear how your running career unfolds,

Jeremy
Toronto

[Sandspinner]

Bob,  Sounds like your taking your time coming back which is a very good thing.  I waited 6 mos from the surgery date per the Drs. orders but when given clearance I got up to 5m within 6 weeks and then developed bursitis in the new hip.  I had to take 5 months off and have now started up again (in April) walking a half mile then running 2m and walking a half mile.  So keep up the good recovery and your patience will payoff.  Good luck.. Tony

[Ernie]

I'm at six months and have been walking a lot (6 1/2 miles) and doing the elliptical (60 minutes)  I would like to start running again.  Did any of you have problems returning to running?

[Lopsided]

I started running at eight months. I did not have problems, but, it was just not the same.

When I used to run, I would push it, I was aggressive and strong. Now, when I run, it is merely jogging in comparison, and I am aware that all my other joints are creaking. So I do not get the same satisfaction out of it, and maybe I should not expect to.

Now I swim everyday, and play table tennis. For me it is a case of moving forward, rather than trying to go back to where I was. Other hippies have gone back to running successfully.

At six months you are still a little early. Start running, moderately, but know that your full recovery will take well over a year.

D.

[David]

Lop,
Do you feel that your running is limited due to your new hip device or are you just not in the same physical condition as before?
Thanks...

[Ernie]

I ran this afternoon for the first time in more than a year.  I took it very easy, walking 1/2 mile, running 1 mile, walking 1/2 mile, running last 1/2 mile.  It felt good to run again, even if it was only a slow jog. The only pain was in my unoperated hip which I'm scheduled to have resurfaced in December.

[Arrojo]

Lop,
Do you feel that your running is limited due to your new hip device or are you just not in the same physical condition as before?
Thanks...

Yes, good question.  It is hard to start running again after inactivity.  I think you just need to build up aerobic fitness and get the legs to remember what running was like.  Easy for me to say, I am not there yet.

[Matulis]

I have not been on these boards recently, so I thought I'd send an update as not a lot of runners seem to comment.  My surgery was May 20, 2011.  I was back on my road bike at about 6 weeks and I rode all summer -- usually at least 50 miles a week and couple of weeks got close to 100 miles. It took me a couple weeks before I felt comfortable enough to lock into my pedals, but so far only one accident -- car ran me off the road. No major damage. My longest rides were in the 40 mile range, and I usually averaged in the 16 to 17 mph range for speed. Oh, I am 53 and a long time recreational runner, who came back to the marathon at age 50. I did 2 before the hip went totally south. (Broke 4 hours, which made me happy!)My goal was to get back to some running. I saw my surgeon, Dr. Nunley at Barnes Jewish in St. Louis, Mo. in early Nov. 2011 and he gave me the go ahead to try jogging again. So that was about 6 months out from surgery. I actually had already started just a bit on the track before seeing him. I should also mention that I did some fairly intensive physical therapy work July through early September and that helped a lot with getting me more flexible.  I was able to get back up to running 3 miles after about two weeks. So for about the past two months I have been running 3 miles 3 to 4 times per week. Usually at a pretty slow pace -- 9:30 to 9:45 overall pace with my wife. I bike in my trainer most non running days for maybe a half hour.
I have managed a sub-9 minute pace on my own a few times and my last mile has been as fast as 8:12 pace. Pushing it can bring a bit more pain, but nothing significant and not in the hip but rather the lower back. I also think my body is figuring out how to run with two legs that are basically the same length. I do think a long warm up is essential to making these hips work correctly. I find my third mile is almost always my fastest.  Early on I experienced some lower back pain on the affected right side (that's the hip I had resurfaced). But that has eased up a lot and now I am able to go 3 miles without any pain most days -- well other than old-man runner pains.  I figure I am really still pretty early into the recovery so I am happy to get my 5k time back down to 26 minutes and change this soon. We'll see how it goes from here. Mostly I love being able to tie my own shoes again and walk without people asking me why I am limping. And I never biked before, so this opened me up to trying that. I like it much more than I ever thought I would -- even if Treks cost a whole lot more than my running shoes. Happy New Year to all of you and I hope you are doing well.

[OtterDriver]

Thanks for sharing Matulis!

Good to hear there's hope for us in our second half century!

Bruce

[JEMacpherson]

There are so many of these about running that I’m going to create a single post and put the same one on each, just in case people only look at one or two.  Sorry for the repetition â€" if you’ve seen this just skip it.

I was an avid runner in the past and quit due to my back, started up again and avoided the old back problems but developed right hip pain, and had the resurfacing surgery July 2011 at age 57.  I worked very hard to get back to running.  I did the 2011 Bainbridge Island Turkey Trot, a 5K run in November exactly four months after the surgery.  It is now March 2012 and I run 35 to 40 minutes 3 times a week or so and plan to bump that up a bit now that Spring is here.

I completely changed my running style:  I have a shorter stride and now run exclusively on my toes and mid-foot with minimal pick up and virtually no heel striking, even on steep downhill terrain (where I take tiny quick steps on my toes).  I’ve kept a fairly quick gate and I’m pleased with my overall speed.  I am using my old shoes but plan to get one of the new minimal impact “barefoot” styles like New Balance Minimus or Vibram 5 Fingers.  The barefoot theory is really working for me â€" some achy feeling once in a while but no actual pain at all, and I’m limited by my wind and my stamina and not the hip.

I am thrilled with my resurfaced hip â€" so glad I did this instead of a total.