Bill 3.0

Today saw the upgrade of the program Bill 2.0 to Bill 3.0. I was able to get in 3 miles today after my PT appointment. No Pain. Felt good yet out of shape some.

At PT, I learned some new stretches and ankle strengthening exercises. Apparently it all works together so I need to work low and high to solve this problem.

I go again to PT on Friday, hopefully I can upgrade to Bill 4.0. Obviously the main goal is to get to Bill 26.2

Keep on Running!!!

Baby Steps

I have now gotten in 3 runs of 2 miles each. Doesn't sound like a lot but after 8 weeks basically off, it is something. No pain either which is good too. I have a PT appointment tomorrow so maybe she will allow me to bumpup the miles some. I hope so.

I can tell you I have lost some fitness. I feel more winded at the end of a run that I normally would feel. I assume this will go away in a week or so of regular running, but I guess we will see.

I will be missing a marathon that I have run the last 4 years. It is the Trailbreaker Marathon only about 12 miles from my home. It is a cheap race with not many thrills and it is a pretty tough course for about 6 miles (rocky, muddy, and hilly trails) so in the past I have always run this one as a training run. I do have some friends planning on running (Mike, Paul, Chris, Brandi) so i will be there to cheer them on as well as advertise the new Heatbreaker Half Marathon taking place this summer at The Pettit Center.

So the latest report is low miles but no pain. Let's hope this continues, well, not the low miles part, but keep the no pain!

Keep on Running!!!

Pretty Good Day

My day started with a visit to PT. After my leg was thoroughly beat up, I was given the OK to finally run some. She told me only a mile and half today but then 2 miles each day after until my next appointment next Wednesday. With my leg sore from the therapy, I went to work happy with the thoughts of going for a short run after work.

The weather here in Wisconsin has been UNBELIEVABLE. Today it was about 70 and sunny and the 6 day forecast is for a lot of the same. That is insane for March and technically still winter. I think the normal highs for this time of year is the low 40's! I was excited to be able to go out and get my sweat on.

Work was OK today, but if you have read my posts for awhile, you may remember that I love the NCAA Basketball Tourny. Today was the first 'real' day of games and 2 of the teams I follow were playing. Unfortunately they were playing while I was still at work. I was able to download an App for my iPhone and was able to see both Marquette and Wisconsin crush their opponents. Another part of a good day.

It was about 70 when I was able to get out on my run. I was a little worried I would have issues but hopeful that since I wasn't going far at all, that I would be good. I started out fast and felt really good. No problems for mile 1. I did decide to run a 2 mile loop near work so I did an extra 1/2 mile. Don't tell my therapist! Mile 2 was even faster and no issues as well. I ended up running the 2 miles at 7:48 pace but was winded at the end. I lost some for sure but not all.

It was a good run and I am very happy to be back. I am optimistically cautious though. Only 2 miles for the next few days and hope I can increase later next week.

On the recommendation of my therapist, I did go and buy a foam roller today and have started using it. My outer thigh is pretty sore rolling on it but being the first time, I should expect that.

All in all, a pretty good day. I hope your was pretty good as well.

Keep on Running!!!

PT #2

I went to the Physical Therapist for the second time today. She really worked the muscles and tendons around my right knee. She sees improvement in the mobility around the knee so that is good new. But she also said no running yet. Hopefully in a week, but I can do walking so I will continue to do that.

A Spring Marathon is not going to be happening this year but she says that I don't need to cancel the possibility of running the Madison to Chicago Ragnar Relay. We will play that one by ear. I would be joining an Ultra Team on that so it really is up in the air.

Next apppointment is Thurday. In the mean tinme, I am stretching and using a rolling pin on my leg. Yeah, Yeah, I should just get the stick.

Keep on Running!!!

Something I Have Never Done Before

In all my years of life, I have never done this, nor did I ever expect that I would. What is it? I shaved my leg. Well, not both legs, and not my entire leg, but my right leg about 6 inched below and above my knee. I didn't exactly "want" to do this, I sort of did it out of necessity of not wanting pain. Good Reason, right?

My physical therapy on my IT Band began last Wednesday and one of the things my therapist did was put special tape on my leg. Ahhhh, the reason for the shaving. She told me that I would be getting more tape the next few appointments so I may want to shave off the hair. The one piece of tape she put on the first day was enough to get me to comply. I can't imagine why anyone would ever want to wax anything, that hurt like hell having it torn off.

My therapist did feel that I did not have the IT torn which is good news. She did say some things in there were out of place so she will be working on putting them in the right place. Shae felt that I was lucky this didn't happen soon but because I had strong leg muscles, I was able to skate by. Not anymore. I will be allowed to run again pretty soon but only short distances at first. Maybe 1 or 2 miles at a time.

In the mean time, I have begun to do a little walking. Friday evening, my daughter Melissa invited a friend to go ice skating with at the Pettit Center so I decided to go for a little walk. I did a 5K on the track and SMOKED it in just under 48 minutes. LOL Oh well, it was exercise and got me moving so not too bad. I did get another 2 mile walk in Saturday and if I am not allowed to run soon, I may continue this. Not my favorite activity, but it gets me out there, Maybe help with those couple pounds I have gained the last 7 weeks or so since I last ran.

Next appointment for me and my hairless right knee is Monday morning.

Keep on Running!!!

I Got A Run In ... Sort Of

It has been an entire 6 weeks since my last run as I am resting my IT Band that caused me issues in the Disney World Marathon. So after church on Sunday, I lace them up and go out in the beautiful 30 degree weather and plan on running 4 miles.

I knew that since I hadn't run in 6 weeks that I must have lost something in the fitness area and I knew that I most likely added a few pounds to my frame since I hadn't added any exercised too. I knew that I might struggle some so I decided to run as easy as my body told me to go. I did put on the Garmin the track the mileage but didn't plan on looking at it until I finished.

Mile 1 feels good and easy. Mile 2 has a nice hill in it but I feel good and easy. At about 2 3/4 miles, I feel something in my right knee right where I had the issue 6 weeks ago but I chalk it up to my brain playing tricks on me. I only wish that were the case because by mile 3 the pain was back and I had to stop by 3 1/4 miles and actually walk in the final 3/4 of a mile.

AARRGGHH

Seems 6 weeks rest did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help the issue. I am now concerned that this may be more serious that I thought. I have a doctors appointment with a therapist to have it checked out again and have something determined to see what the h--- is the problem.

So I am STILL off running after a 3 mile return.

Keep on Running!!! ( I still plan on returning soon!)

Race Report - Disney World Marathon (Goofy Challenge)

I finished the Goofy Challenge at Disney World a week and a half ago. That is the good news about the race - that I finished, not much else to say good about my race as it was a disaster for me. Not a crash & burn disaster, no, it was an injury disaster. One that makes this the worst marathon (by far) that I ever ran - I take that back - that I ever completed, I didn't run a lot of it. Here is the story:

The race started awfully early in the morning once again. This time I was able to get about 6 hours of sleep before I woke us a little before 3AM. And after another day of walking the parks, I needed some rest. I was a little more awake this time and did not fall asleep on the bus like I did the day before. I got to the starting area a little earlier and after dropping off my bad at the bag check area, I took my time getting to the start area. I had plenty of time to get to my corral and settle in.

The start was pretty cool the same as the day before. It is really dark out still so they start with a lot of fireworks and flame balls over the start line for each corral start. It is really a cool site to see! Instead of going directly to the Magic Kingdom as the Half Marathon does, this race begins with a loop around the Epcot parking lot on the highway, then through the front of Epcot and leaving to go right past the start line again at about mile 4. This race isn't as crowded as the half marathon which is better. Instead of 22,000+ finishers, the full marathon had only 13,467 finishers, still way too many if you ask me, but 9000 less is better.

I start pretty slow as I knew I spent it all the day before in the half. I was just going to run and have fun along the way. I expected a time somewhere near 4:30 and my pace for the first 5 miles was right there. Legs were tired but loosening up and ready to go. By mile 7, my right knee was starting to hurt some. I have had tendinitis in that knee for quite some time so i decided at mile 8 to take some Tylenol supplied by the medical tent and expecting it to go away a mile or so later.

By mile 10, the race enters the Magic Kingdom and we run the same route we did in the half marathon the day before. This time though, it is lighter out and we can see better. My knee still hurts so I decide to take some pictures with some characters in the park. I stopped by Rapunzel and Flynn Rider (aka Eugene Fitzherbert) and also by Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, and Louis (the alligator). Then out of the Magic Kingdom past the Grand Floridian and Polynesian Resort before turning off toward the Animal Kingdom. By the half marathon mark on the course, I knew it was going to be a very long day as the Tylenol was doing absolutely nothing to help my knee. It wasn't the tendinitis flaring up, I can run through that, it was something else this time and getting worse with each step. I went through the half around 2:23, much slower than i really wanted to.

In the Magic Kingdom, I stopped to see Rapunzel and Flynn Rider.

When I got to mile 14, I had to stop and walk. I decided to try to see if a half mile walk would maybe help the knee out. I tried running again only to find out a few hundered feet later that it was as painful as before, if not more. By this time, I knew I was in a ton of trouble for the race. It was sunny and warm out and walking was all I could do and DNF was not an option in my mind so walking was what I needed to do.

Near Mile 14 was Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbossa. Barbossa wanted to meet with me after the race for some Rum. At this point in time, I was all for that!

After walking through the Animal Kingdom and just past mile 18, I stopped at a Medical Tent and had them tape my knee up to see if maybe that would help. It actually did, at least for about a quarter mile. The problem was that the tape was way too tight on my tendons behind my knee so that didn't work. I resigned myself to the fact that if I was going to finish this thing, it would have to be with a ton more of walking, so walking I did.

I met these cemetery guys near mile 19. I felt like this so I thin the picture serves itself well.

Every once in awhile, I would try to run to see if by some miracle, my knee would let me. And each time I did, the same result, pain and deep pain. I felt odd while walking as I was beginning to be with more and more walkers as I stopped at a few more medical tents and more and more runners past me. The biggest issue with my mind was that I knew that I could probably run as fast as 9:00 pace if it weren't for my knee. After already walking 6 miles and 6 more to go, I felt great everywhere else.

At mile 23, the course enters Hollywood Studios and by this time of day, the park is already open so there are lots of people cheering us on. All I could do was walk. This continued part Hollywood Studios, through the Boardwalk/Yacht Club Resorts and into Epcot for the final mile of the race. Epcot was also open. People would say stuff like "You can do it" and "You are doing great". I appreciate all the cheering and I know a lot of the runners near me were doing really good, but I wasn't so it was kind of like a sting each time I heard it. I would just smile and maybe wave a bit and move along.

I made the decision somewhere along the way that I would do everything I could to "run" across the finish line so with 200 meters to go, I started running and was able to run/limp across the finish line and then lean against the fence and clutch my knee. I was able to get the the medical tent one more time and wrap my knee with ice.

Here I am running the last 200 meters of the race. You can see on my face how my knee really feels. I have horrible form and just want to stop.

I am so happy to finally be done. Now where is that ICE?

The funny thing is that as much as my knee hurt to run, it didn't hurt at all to walk. I did officially finish in a time of 5:44:35, only 13 seconds less that 4 hours more than my half marathon the day before. I did get my Mickey Medal and my Goofy Medal. In some aspects, I feel that I didn't deserve it as much as I thought I should and in other aspects, I felt I earned it more than before. I did finish 42.4 miles over the 3 days of races so that is cool.

I didn't feel like hanging around after the race. Besides not knowing anyone, I wasn't in much of a festive mood. So I ended up walking over to the entrance to Epcot with knee wrapped in ice and met my family inside who were already in line for pictures with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy. I was in a better mood by this time and made sure I got my picture with Goofy still with my race number on.

This was my second Goofy Challenge that I completed and my third Disney Marathon. there are a lot of aspects to these races that are a lot of fun. The course entertainment is second to none of the previous 37 marathons I have completed. The Medals you receive are also second to none. the 3 I received for the Goof this year are even a ton better than the ones I received 5 years ago when i did my first Goof. But I will not be doing the Disney Marathon or Goofy Challenge again. Too many runners! Too early of a start time and even earlier wake up time to get there. Been there, Done that is my attitude for Disney now. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE DISNEY WORLD, I am a Disney freak for the parks and fun, i just don't want to do the marathons again. I would consider doing the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon or the Disneyland Half Marathon, but not this one (or the Princess Half Marathon either, see an earlier post for my reasons on that one).

About my knee 1 week and a half later. On Monday, I went on a run with Mike to see how it would feel. I made it 2 1/2 miles before the pain started to come back. I finished 3 miles and called it a day. Today I went to see my Doctor and have it check out. As I suspected (and most of you probably already suspected as well) it is my IT Band. Of course rest is the best thing I can do but I have a dilemma. The Icebreaker Marathon is this weekend and I have run everyone of them and REALLY want to run again. I have been given the OK to try to run if I want to and have started taking a lot of Ibuprofen at meals to try to get the inflammation down as much as possible in case I do decide to attempt the Icebreaker. My Doctor also said he would play the "Bad Guy" if I decided not to run and I could blame him. I have not made a decision yet and most likely won't until Saturday. I just plan on watching a few friends run the half marathons and the marathon relays on Saturday and see how I feel after that. The full marathon is Sunday morning and I know if I do run, I most likely can expect a lot of walking again, unless the Ibu does its job.

Either way, after the Icebreaker, I will be taking some time off of running which is going to totally SUCK!!! Perhaps this will be a good thing as I really haven't had a longer break from running in quite a few years. Maybe some recovery is needed in other parts of me and I can come back stronger. I will return to run again!

Keep on Running!!! (I will again soon!)

Temporarily Out of Commission

Yep, I am out, but hopefully just for a few days. My back has been pretty bad since I reached for air off the grocery store shelf and has spasmed quite a bit almost flooring me a few times.

I went to the Chiropractor on Monday afternoon and had a good adjustment but today, it was very stiff and I still had problems with the muscle spasms. So I am going back for another adjustment Wednesday morning. I am hoping this will put it all back into place and I can get back to running in a couple days. I may need to go back again before I get the OK to run again. If things go according to the way they did in the past, I should be able to run on Thursday but will need to go a few more times for adjustments. It is absolutely amazing how just a little reach for nothing can mess me up so much.

I am a bit concerned about the 5K I am signed up for on May 7th but if I am back running soon, it should not be a problem. My goal is to run faster than the 20:59 I ran a little over a week ago. I will most likely miss my hard interval workout this week but maybe rest is better.

Today was the first time I was able to do any coaching of the kids at my daughter's school. The last practice was pouring rain and the kids just did a circuit around the gym. Today it was raining pretty hard and was windy but slowed enough to go outside to finally run. the first meet in a week and a half away so not much time left. I had the boys today, 8 of them. So I marked off a 200 meter sort of oval in the parking lot (no track available) and I had them do some 400 meter intervals. I paired them up into teams of 2 and had them run 5x400 each as a a person relay. After a water break, they did 3 more 400 meter intervals all together. Most of them seemed to enjoy it (as much as one can enjoy intervals) and some surprised me at how well they did. It was definitely a rewarding day for coaching.

Keep on Running!!!

A New Trail to Run

This weekend was a planned long run. Since I had decided to go long on Saturday, I skipped my run on Friday. Well, not because of that, but because I was waiting at home for the new refrigerator to show up. The delivery crew gave me a window of between 4 and 7 but 7 came and went. Finally about 9:15PM, they arrived (long day for them). After getting it in the door and all hooked up, I was able to get to bed closer to 10:30 to 11. Oh well, up by 5:30 to run.

I decided to try a new bike trail run that starts in Pewaukee and goes out toward Delafield. I saw in on some mapping websites I go to and just was curious how it was. It is called the Lake Country Recreational Trail. I got to the trail head at about 6:30 and was surprised to see that is was paved. Nice for bikers but disappointing for a runner but it will do. I took off toward Delafield at an easy pace and enjoyed the new scenery.

After 4 miles, the trail went to crushed limestone for awhile and it went through NAG-Waukee Golf Course. Up until this point, I thought this would be a good trail to bike on with my girls but along the edge of the golf course, the trail was just gravel and seemed poor for biking and just OK for running. A large hill was through the gold course to add to the challenge.

After NAGA-Waukee Park, the trail was paved again all the way to Delafield. I got to the end of the trail at 7.3 miles in. I didn't want to run only 14.6 miles so I had planned more miles. I ran to Genessee St. and across I-94 toward Lapham Peak Park. This is the park where the Trailbreaker Marathon turns around right at the top of the observation tower. Sounds like a good place for me to turn around this time so up the road I ran and climbed the 250 feet to the tower and then the 40 feet to the top. It was just over 10 miles to the tower.

After a minute of looking at the views from the highest point in the area and the local lakes all around, I was off back to my car. I was at 9:16 average pace at the tower, most gained in the last 250 feet climb in the last mile but I picked it up a little on the way back. It was cloudy so the temps stayed around 45 to 50 without the sun. With 4 miles to go, i picked it up more and was able to end the run at an average of 9:03, an under 4 hour marathon pace for just over 20 miles. I was good with this.

So the morning was good and the run was good. The afternoon was not as good. I was grocery shopping when I reached for something on the shelf. I hadn't even touched it yet when my back twinged and tightened up. UUGGHH!!! For no reason (that I know of) my back just goes out. I wasn't even lifting anything, just reaching a little over and BAM! Since this was Saturday, my Chiropractor was not in. I stretched and iced but still no luck. What a pain in the . . . well . . .back side.

Funny how someone can run 20 miles in the morning and then simply reach for something and that is what takes him out.

No improvement this Sunday morning or evening so I will call early Monday for an appointment, hopefully the Dr. is in. Most likely a couple days off of running for this but I have gone through it before and after a couple adjustments and I will be fine.

I also passed 500 miles for the year during the run, coincidentally right about half way in the run near the tower.

Keep on Running!!!

Ice for Skating and Ice for Knees

I am feeling good but I am feeling beat up. Does that make sense?

I have run 4 times this week since the Maple Leaf Indoor Marathon last weekend. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I went on some easy 4 milers. Twice I ran with Mike for good conversation, the other by myself, all after work. Tuesday I could still feel the marathon (duh), but Wednesday and Thursday were very easy so I felt pretty good.

But then there was today. As I write this, I am sitting on the lounge chair in my family room with an ice pack on my right knee, 2 quite large blisters on my left foot toes and a bloody broken blister on my right foot toes. I feel like the walking wounded but I feel good. Make sense? I didn't think so.

You see, tonight I decided to take Melissa (my oldest daughter) to the Pettit Center for some Ice Skating. She got some new (used) Ice Skates for Christmas and likes to skate. We went skating together last Sunday (Yes, I can Ice Skate ... sort of ... and I can do it the day after a marathon ... sort of). She wanted to go again but I really didn't. Sounded like a perfect opportunity for her to skate while I ran laps. So that is what we did. She had a blast going around the Olympic Oval, that is until her skates laces loosened up too much and she didn't know how to retie them properly. I ended up running 40 laps which is just over 11 miles. She thinks she did 12 laps, maybe 3 miles.

I felt pretty good most of the laps, that is until the last few when I picked it up. My knee got pretty sore the final 3 or so laps, reason for the ice on my knee right now. I didn't even realize I broke a blister until the socks cam off so that doesn't hurt at all. The other blisters are annoying, but maybe a weekend of no more running will help.

I don't think that this week was the recommended workouts for the week following a marathon, but then again, when have I ever done the sane thing. I hope you all had a great week.

Keep on Running!!!

Freezing!

Freezing! I has been friggin' cold up here the last few days. But that did not stop me from running. After a 20 miler on Saturday morning with Mike on a mild day, the weather turned for the worse Saturday night into Sunday and now it is very cold.

Yesterday, Mike and I ran 4 miles after work and it was about 9F out with some wind. That made it very cold but layers saved me again. Today I ran on my own. It was a little colder, 8F, but it felt a little warmer as the wind was low. I did 7 miles today.

I don't mind running when it is cold, I just can't run fast, nor do I try. I feel that if I did, an injury would be right there. First of all, my muscles take a long time to warm up, if they ever do, so slow running is good for that. Second, there is so much ice still on the road, that easy running is safer to help avoid slips and falls.

As for injuries, my right knee tendinitis is sure making itself known in this cold weather. I have decided to bite the bullet and ice it at night and just deal with the pain that comes with that. I just got done with that and now have a warm corn bag wrapped on my knee. I will continue this so hopefully the tendinitis will either go away or reduce itself.

I did have a new problem on my run tonight, but one that is easily solved. Seems my running tights are too old and have now caused some rather irritating chaffing on my inner legs. I went out tonight to find some new ones but the stores I went to either had super expensive technical running pants or stuff I had no interest in. I just need some simple running tights, nothing fancy. I did find some at one store but they color I wanted were too small and I really didn't want bight blue or red tights. I will look again tomorrow.

It is now a little over 3 weeks until the Mississippi/Alabama double. I will run long again this weekend but then start cutting my miles back. While I have run a double long run for 3 years in a row (twice a half/full, and once a full/full), I still have no idea how to do it properly. Mike and Paul will be there so the main goals are to finish both and have fun. I am confident I can do both.

The Road to Ankle Recovery

I know you have been reading about my issues with my ankle recently so I broke down on Friday morning and made an appointment to see the chiropractor. I didn't know if he would be able to help my ankle at all but I was due for a regular adjustment. Once I met with him, he said of course he could help me out. This made me feel better as the less the number of doctors I need to go to, the better. I had my regular adjustment and then he took some X-Rays of my ankle. He then proceeded to adjust my ankle and the rest of my feet. He cracked my toes which felt odd and hurt a bit but I guess they needed it. I went back today and the X-Rays showed that there is a bone between my heel bone and by leg bone (sorry, I don't remember what the name was) is out of position and he says that is my problem. He adjusted it again and I need to go back again on Wednesday.

Since my ankle was so sore recently, I took the whole weekend off. I didn't run until this evening. I ended up taking the family camping at our Church's Family Camp out. We all had a good time and I was able to stay up late out at a campfire late with other people, something I don't get to do often. Friday night, I stayed out until 1:45 AM. This is very late for me. the corn on the cob wasn't even put on the grill over the campfire until 12:30 AM. I had to wait until then. Saturday night I stayed up until 2:30 AM. We had a wonderful time around the fire just talking about anything, staring up at the stars watching a few shooting stars and seeing a few satellites going by.

Well, like I said, I did finally get a run in today. I ran after my volleyball match (we only won 1 of 3 but they were very close) and got in 9 miles. My ankle was sore during the run but it settled in after about a half mile. I ended up averaging 8:44 per mile but I wasn't going for speed. It was raining lightly the entire run which felt good and it was quite dark at certain parts along the bike trail in the wood but the rest of the run had lights. I plan on continuing the running hoping the chiropractor will adjust and fix the problem. Tomorrow will be something like a 5 miler and maybe a double run on Wednesday. I am off work this week so my schedule is all screwed up so hopefully I will keep the running together.

I am taking the 2 oldest princesses with me to Door County this weekend starting on Thursday morning. This place is absolutely beautiful and I love going up there. I will try to get some good pictures to share. I really want a retirement home up there someday. I am planning a long run up there. My mom will watch the kids while I go out for hopefully a 20+ miler. My plan is to run from the hotel complex all my relatives are staying at just south of Egg Harbor all the way through the side roads to Fish Creek. I will then enter Peninsula State Park (the place I ran the Door County Half Marathon) and run through there until I get to 20 or so miles. All my extended family meets there for a hike along the trails so I will plan on meeting them at the start. Ideally I would like to stash some clean clothes at the park and hop in the lake to clean off a little before the hike. I don't think they all want to smell how I will after a long run without cleaning up some.

I wish you all could join me for a run up there. It is a great place to run. I would even buy the ice cream at Wilson's afterwards. Mmmmmmm Wilson's.

Fartleks - It Has Been A Long time

I ran again today with Mike after work. After deciding not to do hills since Mike's knee was a little sore, we decided to do 5.5 miles with Fartleks in the middle. We set off at an easy pace of about 8:40 or so and then after 2.25 miles, we started the fartleks. We ended up running 8 sets of fast for 1 minute, slow for 1 minute. This took us about 1.5 miles out and then a nice easy run back to work to finish. It felt good today for me. I could feel my ankle but it was the usual.

That was until I went to the grocery store to get supplies for camping this weekend. While walking through the store, my ankle just kept getting more and more sore. Not to the point where I couldn't walk or anything, but just to the edge of almost limping a little. Now I am starting to get a little worried about this. I have twisted my ankle before and even did it once during a track workout, but this feels different. The soreness feels like it is in the middle of the ankle just below the ankle bone but above the heal. I am due for a check up with the doctor so maybe it is time to make an appointment and get this checked out as well.

Like I said, I am camping this weekend so i was planning on a 13 miler Friday morning before we leave. I have now decided to scratch that plan and give it a full 2 or 3 days rest from running. Am I disappointed? You bet! But this may be nothing. the uncertainty is not fun. I don't go to the doctor often, which I know is not a good thing, but I think now is the time. I am off work all next week so maybe I can make an appointment then. I have a nice long run planned for next weekend that I would really like to do. I will be in Door County and would love to run from Egg Harbor through Fish Creek and add about 10 more miles in Peninsula State Park to make it at least 20. We will see.

In other news, I saw something yesterday I don't see often at all and it made me really think. I was grocery shopping (again) and as I left, I saw an lady with a shopping cart full or groceries being arrested for shoplifting. he police were waiting for her and the store knew she was going to do this as she had been for a few days. At first I was feeling like it is a good thing and that what she did was wrong and she deserves to be arrested as stealing is wrong. But as I thought about it, I still feel her arrest is the right thing, but I wonder what led her to do this. It is possible she was just a petty thief and this was a log time coming. But what is she is on hard times and can't afford to feel her family (I am only speculating here). If this is the case, she still should not have done what she did, but I wish someone would lead her to a help center to a church that could help her. I know my church helps out those in need even if they are not members of the church. Anyways, I said some prayers for her last night in hopes she will get herself or her situation figured out.

The economy is real bad for some out there. I just hope people make the right decisions during hard times.

What is Between an Easy Run and a Tempo Run?

My ankle still seems to be giving me some problems. It seems to be quite sore when I start and then after about 12 mile, it goes mostly (not completely) away. Then on and off during the day it is sore and not sore. I wish I knew what it was but I can still run so that is a positive.

Monday was 8 miles at 8:29 pace before Volleyball. I felt good and the pace was almost completely even the entire way. Then we ended up only winning 1 of 3 games at V-Ball. Should have won 2 but oh well, it was still fun.

Yesterday was a nice 5 miler with Mike. We ran not a Tempo but not an easy run either, well, at least for me, for Mike it was an easy run. First 3 miles we at an average of 8:13 then mile 4 was a 7:50. The last mile we picked it up and with a nice finish, we ended that mile at 6:54. That felt really good. As usual, we stopped a the the platform scale to weigh ourselves. I keep telling people I want to lose about 15 pounds to get that marathon time down and I always get the same look and responses. The ole why do you need to lose weight or where do you plan on losing it from. I am 6' 2" tall so I guess I can weigh more because I am tall, but I still want to be lighter. Right now I am going at 182. My goal would be to get to 170. I am the same height as I was in college when I was weighing 160 and running great. Just want to get those last few off now.

I do use the weight thing as an excuse (jokingly) as to why I run slower that some of the guys I run with. I say stuff like my weight/pace per mile is as fast as them. Hey, it sounds good!

Today is a planned 5 miler while the oldest is at Gymnastics. I hope the ankle is not an issue but I will see.

Good Month, New Injury?

I am having a really good month of running this June so what better way to ruin it that worry about a possible new issue with my body. I ran 8 miles today before my volleyball match. I did it at a good pace of an average of 8:25. But now I am experiencing some new pain. Well, actually I have felt it for about a month but today it was its worse. It is my right ankle. Over the last month, it sort of felt like I has twisted or sprained it and it is now recovering type feeling. I feel it when I start running and it goes away and then I feel it after I am done. At first I contributed this to my old running shoes. I thought that after a new pair of non worn out shoes would do the trick and at first I thought it worked, but after this weekends 17 miler it felt sore again. Then today it was sore the entire 8 miles. It didn't help playing sand volleyball afterwards but I had to play for the team. I am hoping this is temporary and will go away real soon as I want to still increase my mileage to close to 50 miles per week but I am beginning to worry about this. I am due for a physical so maybe I will make an appointment and have this checked out as well. I have an ice pack on it now so maybe that will help. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV so I think I will leave this one up to the experts.

A Lot Better and a small give away

I woke up today and my toe was feeling better, not great, but better. I went to work and was able to walk normally. I think a lot of the problem was the shoes I was wearing. New shoes helped a lot because the top of the toe which was swollen some, was not rubbing . I any case, I did not run today. I am sure that I could but I did not have time today. I am hoping to get in a mid length run tomorrow (8 to 10 miles) and then have a fun weekend at work. Can you tell that was full of sarcasm?)

Today in the mail, I received my Runner's World Gift from my renewal of my subscription. It is a Runner's World Training Log. I keep a log of my runs, but I keep it in a spreadsheet in Excel. So I now have a Training Log that I will not use. So now I will have a giveaway. If anyone of you would like it, I will send it to you. The back of the book has lots of running tips, ideas, pace chart, etc. Just leave me a comment and let me know where to send it and it will be on the way.

We Have a Little Problem

When I say I have a little problem, it really is a little problem. It is the toe next to my big toe on my right foot. I have had problems with this toe on and off for awhile. If you look at it from above, it looks crooked slightly curving away from the big toe. This causes lots of blisters on the curve of the toe. Well, as long distance runners, we all have blisters now and then and I don't usually have problems with them. It is the other problem that quite a few runners have that is my issue. Last night I lost the toe nail there. I am sorry if that sounds sick but many runner have this and this isn't the first time I have had this happen to me. The problem is that it cut too close to where the toe nail grows out of the toe and it is very sore today. I am walking with a limp when just yesterday I ran 5 miles no problem. Needless to say, I will not be running today as that would be very painful and I need this to heal some quickly. Hopefully only a day or 2 because this is annoying and rather sucks. It is such a small toe but causes so much pain. AARRGGHH!!!

I'll be back running soon, I know that, but it felt so good yesterday, I wanted to continue it. I guess better now than a few days before a race.