March 5, 2013

Yes, surprise, another cold and windy 530 am jaunt through familiar streets. Four and change and a North wind that was brisk.  I need to up the mileage a bit now that I am not having any foot pain or negative feedback from running again.  I am constantly reminding myself that I took three months off to rehab my foot and it will undoubtedly take time to get back in game form.  These low-mileage runs, while necessary and therapeutic, are not real inspiring.  Nothing less than five miles per run from here on out.  Maybe a six or seven miler on the weekend to live a little...

March 3, 2013

Sunday morning bliss complete with empty streets and a cold North wind.  It was a "trash run" in the sense that the distance was short and I felt pretty unmotivated to fight the wind and cold, thus my pace was lethargic and unimpressive.  I just did not "feel it" for lack of a better way of expressing myself.  I went to the Smashing Pumpkins vault and listened to Siamese Dream, which is one of my favorites.  So I had that going for me.

March 1, 2013

It's now to the point where these four and five-mile maintenance runs are eerily similar, with little or no overall differences between them.  There are, to be sure, subtle nuances that ultimately make each run a bit different, which may or not be related to my biorhythm, phase of the moon or how cold it is outside!  Anyhow, I have a 10k on the schedule for early April and a half-marathon on tap for the end of April.  If the foot holds up and the arch stays intact, perhaps a couple of half-marathons this summer for shits and giggles?  We shall see.  Blink rotation on the box...

February 27, 2013

Frigid world view. There was a slight North breeze which kept things interesting on the way home. Out the door a bit late meant that 3.5 miles was the extent of the loop this morning. RHCP mix still in rotation. Five planned for Friday.

February 24, 2013

Stepped out to cold and windy Sunday morning, but it did not matter, as the weather had kept me from heading out during the week. A trio of mornings with sleet and freezing rain meant that I was forced to watch from the sidelines, though I did manage to get a run in on Monday. Needless to say, this morning's five miles was welcomed! The weather was manageable, even with cold gusts from the North and temps at freezing. Pace was slow: right at 9:30 minutes/mile. Depending on the weather--another front with rain and snow is supposedly going to hit tonight--I may try to get another run in tomorrow AM. RHCP mixed to perfection...

February 18, 2013

Typhoon-style winds from the South. Four and change slow and pseudo-bloated. Temps in the 40s meant shorts and long-sleeves. A lethal combination. Word. Cold front coming for Wednesday. Joy.

February 16, 2013

A frigid 22 degrees greeted me this morning. Luckily, there was almost no wind. The pace was slow. I felt bloated from too much Mexican food and too many Pacificos. An unexplainable gravitation to 80s music continues: Depeche Mode, REM, Inxs and the like on the box this morning.

February 13, 2013

Another cold and foggy trot through darkened streets. Was bracing for slick, ice-covered streets, but thankfully they were dry. Back in the game after taking a few days off due to a lingering head cold. Four miles and change at a slow 9:30 pace. Went all-80s on the box...

February 7, 2013

Misty Mountain Hop. Marine Layer Fog advisory. Humid. Very humid. Temps in the mid-50s, which meant I could pull out the shorts. A solid four and a half miles this am. Cleared to run, I will no longer bring up the Spring Ligament issue. A half-marathon in April looms...

February 3, 2013

These brutally cold morning are beginning to be commonplace.  Luckily, the wind has not been too bad these last few days.  The cold I can handle; the wind sweeping down the plains is another animal all-together.  Four miles and change at a mellow pace.  In fact, at this stage of the game I am simply trying to do the miles without having this foot issue weigh on me.  Times be damned.  Follow-up with the bone doctor mañana!

February 1, 2013

I have been running for a long time (16 years) and have rarely, if ever, had a colder run than this morning.  Granted, I lived in Honduras for damn near a decade, but I hope my point is well-taken.  It was very, very cold this morning.  According to the fiends at Wunderground, it was a frigid 20 degrees this morning with a windchill of 13.  Damn.  Four-miles and change to finish the week.  Tuesday doctor's appointment looms...

January 30, 2013

Cold Front Blues.  Classic early morning run with a brutal, unrelenting North wind and sub-freezing temps.  Three and change for an uneventful Wednesday maintenance run.  INXS mix on the box to get me through.  My right foot is doing great at this point.  Follow-up in a week and then I can start training for a half in April.

January 28, 2013

What a difference a week makes around here.  After having to brave the unrelenting Arctic air on most of my recent runs, yesterday I stepped out to almost tropical conditions with temps in the mid-60s and 100% humidity.  Bumped up the distance by a mile, which is generally not a big deal; however, it feels great when it represents a 25% increase.  And, more importantly, it was the longest run in an injury-plagued winter.  No foot issues: no pain or discomfort noted during, directly after or 24-hours later.

January 27, 2013

A pretty unproductive week culminates without a weekend run.  Planning on getting out there three to four times this week, as well as bumping up the mileage to four miles per run.  It's definitely hard to get motivated when one's weekly mileage averaged between 25 and 35 miles pre-injury. I realize this is a necessary phase of rehab; however, it's still difficult. And it's definitely a mental thing...

January 25, 2013

Another brutal morning, replete with a cold north wind and sub-freezing temps.  I managed another three miles with no physical pain or discomfort in the right foot.  So far, so good.  Planning on boosting to four or five miles on Sunday, even though that is technically against medical advice! We'll see.  A couple of weeks until my final follow-up and it feels good.  Perhaps a tinge of soreness, but nothing even close to October's fear and loathing.

January 21, 2013

Another frigid three miles in the pre-dawn hours.  I am feeling great, as my legs and lungs continue to get stronger.  No foot issues.  Will add another mile on Wednesday...

January 17, 2013

Three frigid miles.  Three uneventful miles.  Three slooooow frigid and uneventful miles.  The urge to get back to the five and six mile maintenance runs is pretty intense; however, I have no desire to re-injure my foot, especially after dealing with it for the last three and a half months.  Slow times with an eye for mechanics is my reality.  On a positive note, I can feel my lungs and legs getting stronger, which is reassuring.  

January 15, 2013

An extremely frigid three miles to start the day.  16 degrees Fahrenheit with a slight breeze.  Once again, I have no foot pain, either post-run or 24-hours later.  Off to the gym for a chest and triceps workout this AM.

January 12, 2013

Cleared to run a "limited amount" by the doctor, I hit the road for a frigid four-miles yesterday.  Took it slow with an eye for mechanics and cadence.  No issues with the foot post-run or this morning.  I am hoping to run every other day for the next couple of weeks.  My final follow-up with the sports doctor guru is at the beginning of February, so I will have to wait a bit to get officially "cut loose."  In the mean time I will work on getting my legs and lungs back.

January 9, 2013

Misty Mountain fog and drizzle with temps in the 40s.  Three miles in a very slow and methodical fashion.  No foot discomfort, pain or tenderness ahead of today's evaluation.  I am anticipating being cut loose to begin running again.  The issue will be the limits, and there will be limits, that the doctor suggests in terms of mileage and/or frequency.

January 7, 2013

Out the door at 530 am.  Two miles in brutally frigid (27 degrees Fahrenheit) conditions.  I plan on hitting the road again Wednesday morning for a three-miler prior to heading to the orthopod on Thursday.  No foot issue today--but the real test will be Tuesday morning.

January 3, 2013

Hit the road this morning for the first time in what seems like an eternity. One mile. Around the block.  It was joyous, to say the least.  My follow-up appointment with the orthopod is next week and the physical therapy guru suggested I hit the road for exactly one mile or ten-minutes, whichever came first, to check for pain or tenderness.  Not being able to run has been a complete downer.  It is amazing how much I took it for granted when healthy.  It remains to be seen whether or not the physician will cut me loose and allow me to ease into a full-time schedule once again; however, I am ready to hit the road! I will definitely respect it. Always.

November 17, 2012

A hammered Spring Ligament has sidelined me for over a month now. The abject disgust with this injury and my subsequent inability to run has been a downer! I've been sporting an air boot, had an MRI, taken a round of steroids and now, anti-inflammatory pills.  This, and I still have to wait another month before I'm cleared to run again.

The key was going to the doctor. Self-medication, denial, thinking it was "no big deal" and otherwise being a jackass about the nagging injury was as myopic as it gets.  The take-away is simply to call the doctor as soon as an injury occurs, regardless of how insignificant it appears to be.  My foot was bothering me for a month before I finally had enough and sought medical attention.  I am missing the Route 66 and, depending on the results of my follow-up visit, may have to sit out the Memorial in May, 2013.

Wednesday

Wednesday's five and change convinced me to stay off the street for a bit.  The pain in my foot is an undeniable issue (go figure), so marathon training or not, I feel compelled to rest it.  I am rolling the dice here: hopefully, a week or so of rest will provide some healing and allow me enough time to pick-up training and still make a go of the marathon on November 18 (36 days out).  Or not.  So, maybe I'm not as hard-headed and defiant as I think I am.  We shall see how this saga plays out.

Time: 49.42
Distance: 5.25 miles
9:28 avg. min/mile
801 cal.
Temp: 65 degrees Fahrenheit

Tuesday

Warmer than Monday's run and a bit of wind, but still very pleasant.  Foot pain 3/10 most of the time, although it seems to be more prevalent when not running.  Warming back up in these parts, lows in the 50s and 60s moving forward.  Stepping out for another five and change this morning, while Thursday will be a day of rest. 

Time: 48:51
Distance: 5.38 miles
9:05 avg. min/mile
823 cal.
Temp: 45 degrees Fahrenheit

Monday

Coldest run of the cycle! Brought out the long-sleeve compression shirt, hat and gloves for this one.  A beautiful morning with the temp at a solid 33 degrees Fahrenheit.  There was, thankfully, absolutely no wind.  Foot issue continues; however, the extra days of rest seems to have helped.  Ibuprofen and ice/heat will either get me through...or not. 

Time: 49:28
Distance: 5.39 miles
9:11 avg. min/mile
822 cal.
Temp: 33 degrees Fahrenheit

Thursday

After this maintenance run, I felt that taking a couple of extra days to rest my right foot was the best call.  These last two weeks of training, while definitely a huge downer, definitely put the process of marathon training in a clear, realistic perspective: it is brutally difficult on one's body.  I have been running since 1998 and know this well.  My goal is to power through this nagging injury, because I have done it before, but most importantly I am a stubborn jackass who really wants to run this marathon.  A reasonable person would probably go to the doctor and be told to lay off for a month to six weeks, which is what I should do, but...

Time: 49:28
Distance: 5.39 miles
9:11 avg. min/mile
822 cal.
Temp: 62 degrees Fahrenheit

Week Eleven Summary:
16 miles (297 for training period)
3 runs and 0 gym days
Weight: 196 lbs. 

Wednesday

Cool Runnings! Long-sleeve bliss with the temperature a cool 56 degrees Fahrenheit.  Absolutely beautiful heading out Wednesday morning in the pre-dawn hours.  Ran the exact route as Tuesday morning, only a bit faster.  Pain in the right arch persists; however, I switched to a new pair of shoes with the hope that this rectifies things.  We shall see.  Still sore at this stage.  Heading out for six miles shortly.  Tomorrow is my long day: 12 miles on the agenda.  The weekend is for rest and staying off my feet as much as possible.  Weekly total to be right at 30 miles. 

Time: 48:31
Distance: 5.35 miles
9:05 avg. min/mile
817 cal.
Temp: 56 degrees Fahrenheit

Tuesday

The eleventh week of training kicked off with an uneventful five miles.  The weather has finally turned, or so it seems, which is great news.  The only issue moving forward is my right foot: it is still sore and painful to the touch.  I will change shoes this morning to see if a new pair will add support.  Continuing with ibuprofen and six-mile runs in the hopes that the pain goes away!


Time: 49:50
Distance: 5.35 miles
9:19 avg. min/mile
816 cal.
Temp: 57 degrees Fahrenheit

Sunday

A fitting end to this week's training! Headed out in a steady rain, as is customary, and then things got ugly around mile five.  The rain became a downpour and lightening became an issue.  By mile seven it was like running in a typhoon, which is why I bagged it and headed home. I was bummed about stopping short, but it was pointless to continue: had it been a marathon, the race would have been called.  Not the best week of training; however, these things happen.  The plan is to take today, Monday, off and get four runs in this week: 6-6-6-12. 

Time: 1:26:22
Distance: 8.00 miles
10:49 avg. min/mile
1,182 cal.
Temp: 64 degrees Fahrenheit

Week Ten Summary:
32 miles (281 for training period)
5 runs and 0 gym days
Weight: 196 lbs. (-2 lbs)