Healing

It's been almost eight weeks since I blew out the right shin on a twenty miler at San Tan Mountain Reserve. I've been to a chiropractor for five straight weeks and have steadily gotten better. Today marks my first run back at San Tan since December 23rd. It was a short 6.25 miler with my favorite running partner Susie. My fitness is low, but it's nice to be thinking of fitness and not my ankle/shin!

Hated missing two races (Cold Mountain and San Tan) in the Desert Trail Series by Aravaipa Running but better to miss some races and get better than to really have to miss some time because I was too stupid to stop.

This week's runs: Tue 4.5, Fri 5.85, Sun 6.25 for a total of 16.6. More of the same for the next few weeks, might get close to 20/wk, but got to be careful here.

Injuries Stink!

Still fighting these darn shin splints on my right leg. Tried cutting mileage way down but no improvement, actually maybe a little worse. Stopped all activity, running and tennis starting 1-16-11. Missing Aravaipa's Coldwater Trail race this morning, think I'm in mourning. :(

Went to a Chiro yesterday, one who has been mentioned in 'Running Times' magazine and has helped at least one 'big time' marathoner. I won't mention either name until I can see if the treatment is going to help me or not.

Chiro wants me to run though and check how it feels, okay, I'm up for that! Asked him if I could go run my 32k trail race, he said 'no'. Boo!!!

Load vs Capacity... Can you guess which one I overdid? There's a moron writing this blog.

Deja Vu (Dec 20 -26)

Sooner or later every runner experiences an injury. It's been awhile since I've been hurt, but that changed last after last Thursday's 20 miler. I felt some minimal discomfort on the front of my right ankle (lowest part of shin) during the run. A few hours after run I realized I have a case of shin splints on it. Same pain as last year on the left leg. Hoping that I won't miss much running while I rehab...

The week's numbers: Wed 2 miles, Thur 20.1 for a total of 22.1 miles.

Dec 13-19 Recap

Not a weekly distance PR this week although I was only short 0.9 miles. This week's big news was my long run Friday of 23.35 miles. Except for my marathon, this is the longest run I've ever done. Sunday morning Susie and I ran the trails at San Tan Mountain Reserve. Susie actually mentioned running up Goldmine trail and when we started up she wanted to quit, I wouldn't let her, she made it!

Being Christmas week I'm not sure how much running I'm going to get done, 'We'll see' said the zen master.

Tues 4.38, Wed 3.1, Fri 23.35, Sat 2.45 and Sunday 10.04 for a total of 43.3 miles.

Dec. 6-12 (Weekly Distance PR)

This was a post I wrote at Runner's World.

Hi guys, it's been a rough weekend and this morning half way to race (McDowell Mountain Frenzy 25k) and much too late to turn around I realized I had forgotten my Garmin 305. For about a minute on the freeway I fought the feeling to just turn around and bag the race. I didn't even have a watch so I just decided to run by feel and see what the day brings.

When I got there I recognized a twitter friend that I've chatted twitter with but never have met in real life. I didn't want to be 'that guy' so I decided to let her pace me without her knowing it because I saw a Garmin on her wrist! Anyway, I couldn't take it and just caught up with her and introduced myself to her. She was running with another lady who I had met on twitter but hadn't talked to in some time. We ran the entire race together and I just had a freaking ball. I usually walk one minute after each mile, but decided to hang with them as long as I could and never had a problem. We just talked like school children for three hours.

A big reason for running this trail series is to meet with some local runners and maybe get to run with them more often. What started out to be a horrible day became what maybe has turned out to be my best running day ever.

The trail was rolling hill after rolling hill and my stats are from one of the gals Garmin 305. We all crossed the finish line at the same time. 15.68 miles, 3:17:19 with 3258 elevation gain. To be honest I'm shocked at the elevation gain.

A very good day, glad I didn't turn around and bag the race.

For the week, 13.11, 3, 15.68 and 12.4 for 44.19 miles. That's a new weekly PR, yea me! :)

A Good Week After All

After my personal best 41.2 miles last week I wasn't sure what this week would bring. I felt fine but this ride has been bumpy at best. Started the week with 5.24 and 3.51 treadmill miles on Tuesday and Thursday. I decided Friday would be a long run of 15+ miles. I went to the San Tan Mountain Reserve and struggled from the start. No idea why, just didn't have it. Ran 16.51 really tough miles came home not feeling well, showered and hit the sack for a nap, and was awoken by two horrible calf cramps. Oh well, live and learn...

Saturday was tennis with the boys and today I set out for 10 on the home trails. My dear wife came with me for the first 6 and then went to get her mountain bike, catch me and ride. It was apparent I felt really good and decided I would see how I felt at 10 and then decide when to stop. I took one 'Endurolyte' capsule after each hour of running to see how it affected my stomach and would it help. Didn't bother stomach at all and I think they helped.

At ten miles I decided to go for a couple of more and ended up with 15.15 for the day. Maybe the best I've ever felt following a run of 15 plus miles.

Week total of 40.4 miles, my second best week ever. This week will be less as I am running the 25k McDowell Mountain Frenzy on Saturday. Good times...

Thank you Mr. B for the coaching, I couldn't be more impressed!

Over Thinking Running?

Reading Anton Krupica's blog this morning and it seems that the man just goes out and runs. I like this idea, quit over thinking the run and run!