Seven Over Easy

I had my first decent run since the race yesterday. It only took two weeks, but I'm thinking I'm getting close to being better. I ran seven with a friend - a great mix of hills, trails, and pace. I think we probably ran the course somewhere near 7 minute miles which is good. My Achilles did not bother me during the run (aside from being slightly tight) though it did ache a bit afterward. I stretched it, and it feels pretty good today. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come. I plan on taking today off and then heading out for a run on Saturday (anywhere from 5-9 miles depending on how I feel).

1/2 Way There

This post, predictably, is late. I ran 6 on Tuesday at 7:30 pace. I felt great breathing and stride-wise. My Achilles is another story. For the first three miles (this run was all flat), it actually felt okay. Then, it started to hurt on the second half of the run. It's a difficult ailment to describe really. Essentially, it aches. It's not excruciating on the run itself, just tight, and aching enough to let me know it's there. I was diligent in stretching it, and my calves, after the run but to no avail. The tightness sets in and it hurts a fair amount. The pain is centralized mostly to my right leg, which coincidentally, is also the leg that has bad shin splints (enough so, that they are very raw to the touch). I'm thinking the two may be correlated as I know tight calves can lead to shin splints. Anyhow, I think it's somewhat better, but still in need of some time. I took Wednesday off, and will try it again today.

Back on track?

Well, my achilles has been sore since the race. As mentioned in the previous post, I tried to run last week to no avail. I've taken to the dreadmill partially because of the rain, and partially because it's easier to stop when the pain kicks in (and not be three miles out on a trail or road somewhere). Anyhow, I ran 2 miles at 15 minutes two days ago (stopped short when the leg started to hurt), and 4 miles yesterday. Yesterday's workout was the most normal since the race. My leg felt somewhat normal - not totally normal - but I'll take what I can get. My plan is to brave the great outdoors today for a four or five miler. That will be the true test. Stay tuned....

Achilles: 1, Tharp: 0

I ran for the first time yesterday since the race. I was excited to get back out on the roads after taking three days off. Well, I ran 4.5 in 32:25.... breathing felt fine (easy), but my achilles/soleus muscle on my right leg were a mess. I had thought they were just sore from the race, but now I'm thinking I may have strained them a bit. Just what I need right now as I start to get back in shape - an injury. Ugh. I guess I don't know for sure that they're strained, but I'll take the next few days off again to be sure. I used the ever-so-good-smelling Icy Hot last night to see if that would help (for the record, it didn't). So frustrating.

San Dieguito Half Marathon

Wow. This post is a day late because frankly, I didn't feel like doing anything after the run yesterday.

I suppose I should mention before I start that this run was gorgeous. The course winds through Rancho Sante Fe, which for the uninitiated, is the wealthiest neighborhood in this great country of ours. Seriously. Oh, also worth noting is that this entire run is either uphill or downhill. Tough on the legs to say the least. For anyone that's interested, here's the elevation chart:

Death Hills

Okay, back to the race... I wanted to start slow. How slow? No clue. Maybe 7:30 (It was mostly downhill)? So, the race starts and were off. I cross mile one, and there's a guy with a stop watch that calls out 8:20. 8:20! How is that possible? I'm running downhill... So, now I'm a bit nervous and speed up. I also make the decision right then and there to not check my watch for the rest of the race. Why? Because I don't want to be fretting about time the whole way when I'm just trying to get through this thing.

So, miles 1-9 feel great. I'm passing people each uphill, enjoying the downhills, and feeling pretty good. I also am able to tell (without looking at the clock or hearing the time splits) that I'm cruising. Probably close to 7 minute pace. Good times.

Then I hit mile 10. Uh oh. Here's the point where I've reached the maximum amount of distance that I've trained heading into this race. And my legs are feeling it. It's like a switch goes off and my body is telling me no. Basically, I suffered through 10. I really slow down for 11. Then that wonderful thing happens between 11 and 12 where the mile seems to take four. I'm convinced I've missed it, when I see the marker up ahead. My legs are trashed. I'm running slow, but I have a mile uphill to finish this stupid thing. I'm not sure running 13 is any fun at all at this point. Basically mile 12-13.1, I crashed. Crazy leg cramps. I stopped and walked four times (with stretching). The last mile was just over 12 minutes (looked at my watch at 12). Ouch. I see the finish finally, but cannot even speed up. I end up crossing at 1:40.

I'm totally stoked with the time, especially with this being my first. That said, that really competitive side of me knows I could have likely run closer to 1:36 or so had I not crashed. No worries. I'll train better next time.

Next up: La Jolla Half Marathon at the end of April.

On the Treadmill...

So... I hate the treadmill. It's not even a love/hate relationship - just hate. What good comes from a treadmill run I ask? (For the record, I had to run on the dreadmill yesterday because it was pouring outside). Moving on... Let's make a list of what is terrible about the treadmill:

1. It's hot. Anytime you run in place, you don't generate any headwind. That automatically raises the temp several degrees. Add to that the really annoying fact that gym architects (?) seem to take some weird pleasure in placing said treadmills directly under lights, and we can chalk up another several degrees.
2. There is no scenery. Running outside affords new sights and smells every step. Inside.... well, only gym smells, and no new sights. And don't start with me about watching TV. The goal of exercise should not be to find a way to make it seem like being lazy inside.
3. It's excruciatingly long. Has anyone ever tried to do a long run on the treadmill? Running 30 minutes is like 60 outside. Dreadful.

Enough of my rant. Yesterday I ran a bit more than four at an increasing pace. Started (with zero incline) at 7.6 and moved up to 8.9. Was easy. Light stretching afterward.

I plan on taking the next two days off to rest/stretch for the hilly beast of a half marathon I plan on running Sunday at 8AM.

A Blog to Track the Insanity

So I have a confession to make: I'm running again. Yes, I fell off the wagon. Yes, I have apologized to all of my joints, my ailments, and to those that have advised against it. The thing is.... I just love it too much. There is no greater drug than a good run. Years ago, I found my first love in running. I lost it over time to schedules, joint pain, and lethargy. No longer. I'm back.

So, this blog is about tracking my training. There is something particularly relaxing about accounting for your miles on a white page. How far. How much. How often. How it's done. People may read this, or they may not, but I'll be tracking every footstep from here forward as I rouse that athlete that is buried somewhere deep within me.