Waiting for New Shoes

The wear indicator (my knees) kicked up big time after my recent long run. It was definately time to order a new pair of Asics GT-1260. They are a brand spanking new model and I'm waiting, somewhat patiently, for them to be delivered.

RoadRunner Sports was having a killer sale (35% off and free shipping) so it was perfect timing.

Pondering another half...

Well my friend has talked me into training for the Carlsbad Half in January 2011. I think if I take it slow and cross train with the bicycle I should be able to pull it off. I know I can only do so much actual running due to the arthritis in my foot.
I think it's doable though.
I'm optimistic.

New Year - Fresh Start

Yay! A new year! And I'm pretty much healed from last year's accident. I can't wait to get back to my strength routine and to get back to a regular running routine. I will even get back on a bike eventually. I've got one waiting for me on layaway that I need to pick up before the end of the month. Look out world! Here I come!

Strength At Last!

I did my first full on strength training workout today after a little over 3 months of not. It felt good. Really good. It made me feel empowered and strong again which rather surprised me. I didn't realize I was missing it so much.
Just one more step on the path to recovery.
Ever onward!

Struggling Again

It's been awhile.....

I did a somersault off my bike in mid-August and broke my elbow. Three weeks after the surgery I developed extensive bloodclots in my left leg. It was a long haul getting back to being on my feet again.
The running is slow going but I'm making progress. Carlsbad is definately out for this year. I'll aim for 2011.

Trail Running

I took up trail running a little over a year ago and have to say that I really enjoy it. It's so nice to be out pounding dirt instead of pavement and seeing all the critters that abound in nature.
Not too mention it is pretty awesome on developing all those balance muscles in your legs that you don't normally use.
It's a nice balance between road and trail.
Now if only those bunnies didn't mock me with their speed........

Carlsbad

Hmmm....thinking about the Carlsbad Half again. I think I could definately be ready for it. January is over 5 months away.
Gotta take things slow so no injuries occur.
I think the combination of cycling and running is going to be good for keeping all the muscles working correctly.

A Return to My Blog

It' obviously been ages since I posted here, but I'm still running. Still running for a lot of different reasons too.
I run for my health.
So I can eat what I love.
For the feeling I get from a good hard run.
To improve.
To destress.
To enjoy nature.
To contemplate.
Love it!

On the road again...

It's been a while since I posted. But then it's been a while since I've had a good run.....

Once I recovered from the injuries it has been a long road back to good runs. I'm still not entirely there but it is getting better. It takes a while to get use to running with the heart rate level I seem to maintain. It is getting easier though. I'm finally starting to enjoy it again.

So tomorrow I'll be back on the road and hopefully enjoying it. :)

Recovery

It's been a while since I posted. But, what can I say, recovery sucks! I'm finally running without pain in my leg. My cardio, however, is crap. I can't run more than a mile without stopping to walk and it is killing me.

I swear that recovering the cardio capability is worse than recovering from the injury.

Every time I go out for a run I hope that it is one that I will enjoy. So far they all have been hard. High heart rate and a lot of walking as a result.

I want to keep challenging myself with races. But I don't know whether I should just forget about half marathons and stick to shorter distances..... I guess time will tell.

The Carlsbad Half is in January. That's something to shoot for.

Recovery.....

Recovery really sucks.......

I've been for walks.

I've been for rides on my bike.

I even managed to improve my time.

But in my dreams......

I'm running!

And it doesn't even hurt.

I want to run again.

Race Day

The day dawned cloudy and cool. Yup. Perfect race weather.

I woke up around 5:15am and realized if I were racing I'd already be on my way. It was still dark as pitch out at that hour. I comforted myself with the fact that I could go back to sleep and rolled over.

At 7am, start time, I woke up. That was when I realized how perfect the weather was for running a race. I went back to sleep.

8am rolled around and I dragged myself out of bed, thinking I'd be heading for the halfway mark, and limped into the bathroom. Yup, today was not my day to race. It would have been a good one though and I think I would have had a good personal time.

Here's to the next one.

So now I'm out........

I spent the week going back and forth to the chiropractor's to try and get over my injury in time for the race. I had numerous adjustments and spent quite a while with the electro therapy. My leg was actually feeling pretty good. I was hopeful.

Today I went out for a trial run. I figured I'd do a mile and see how I felt. As soon as I started running the pain started. My gait was some sort of weird hobble thing. I did manage to do the mile but it was a walk/hobble as opposed to a run.

So now it is time to rehabilitate and regroup. I wonder whether I'm just not cut out for the distance and should aim for shorter. Or whether I do have another half in me somewhere. I guess time will tell.

One thing is for certain, I won't be giving up running.

Down But NOT Out!

I went to a chiropractor today who does sports medicine. My injury is IT Band related. He did some adjustments and some electro-massage therapy. I've got some exercises to do too. I'm to go back the next 2 days and if I'm pain free on Friday/Saturday, I'll be running on Sunday.

I have to say the electro-massage was rather wild. Talk about a funky feeling thing. But it seems to have had some effect because I'm not near as sore.

I'm actually hopeful that I may be able to run the race. If I do I will take it easy and walk if and when I need to.

So the fingers are crossed!

Palm Springs

A nice getaway..........

Hmmmmm.....

Well I did my last long run before the race a week ago yesterday. It about did me in. The run went fine. I did 12.5 miles. A great time and pace. Only problem was I think I crippled myself. My adductor muscle siezed up after and walking became downright difficult.

When I got home I'd soaked in a cold bath for about 20 mins. I continued to ice my leg off and on for the next few days. As well I kept it elevated and wrapped. It's been a week of rest from exercise. I've kept up with walking and stretching but I do still have some pain.

At this point it is up in the air whether I will run the 1/2 marathon next week or not. I don't want to make my injury worse. But I have trained hard for this. I will try a couple short runs this week and see where it leaves me.

I so wanted to do this race without injury.....

RESIGNATION

I am hereby officially tendering
my resignation as an adult. I have
decided I would like to accept the
responsibilities of an 8 year-old
again.
I want to go to McDonald's and think
that it's a four star restaurant.
I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud
puddle and make a sidewalk with rocks.
I want to think M&Ms
are better
than
money because you can eat them.
I want to lie under a big oak tree and
run a lemonade stand with my friends on
a hot summer's day.
I want to return to a time when life was
simple; When all you knew were colors,
multiplication tables, and nursery
rhymes, but that didn't bother you,
because you didn't know what you
didn't know and you didn't care.
All you knew was to be happy
because you
were blissfully unaware of all the things that
should make you worried or upset.
I want to think the world is fair.
That everyone is honest and good.
I want to believe that anything is
possible. I want to be oblivious
to the complexities of life and be
overly excited by the little things again.
I want to live simple again. I
don't want my day to consist of
computer crashes, mountains of paperwork,
depressing news, how to survive more days
in the month than there is money in the
bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness,
and loss of loved ones.
I want to believe in the power of
smiles, hugs, a kind word,
truth,
justice, peace, dreams, the imagination,
mankind, and making angels
in the snow.
So . . . here's my checkbook
and my car-keys, my credit card bills
and my 401K statements. I am officially
resigning from adulthood.
And if you want to discuss this
further, you'll have to catch me
first, cause........
......"Tag! You're it."

Some Long Runs.......

Well I did the 11 mile run over a week ago and it went fairly well. I had to walk some of it though because my legs were just not doin' it. By the time I got home they were screaming at me so for the first time ever I filled the tub with cold, cold water and sat in it. That really helps! It also really helps the cool down.

The run was down Florida, up Zoo Place, through Balboa Park and back and then home down Georgia. It was a nice route with some ups and downs. Zoo Place being the most up of the ups.

Last Friday I went out and did an 8 mile route around Balboa Park. The route was pretty and had some ups and downs as well. The heat killed me though. It's just been so darn hot lately that it makes training difficult. I don't know how people do it in the south. And the humidity..... This is Southern California, it's not supposed to be humid.

Oh well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a cloudy cool day come race day. Only one more long run to go and it will be time to taper off. I'm working on intervals this week. Or trying to.

Tomorrow is 11 miles........

Today is really hot and strangely humid.....

I think I'll be up before the sun...

Random Thoughts......

Running is a road to self awareness and self reliance.

You can push yourself to extremes

and learn the harsh reality of your physical and mental limitations

or

coast quietly down a solitary path

watching the Earth spin at your feet.

But, when you are through, exhilarated and exhausted,

at least for the moment

everything seems right in the world.

-Author Unknown