Week 10 - Derailed

March 5 - 12

Total Mileage - 8.0
Weight - 216.6

It had to happen eventually.  I was all prepped to add cross training to my Monday routine to get the lactic acid out of my legs. When I woke up I felt like I was hit by a ton of bricks.  Every joint hurt.  I thought that I'd get my gear on and feel better once I got to the gym.  I did not make it to the gym, I got the stomach flu instead.  I spent the better part of two days in bed.  I missed every run for the week except one (the long run).  It was the first time that I had missed a run since I started training (and not only did I miss one, I missed three).

On Friday we traveled down to the bay area (which led me right through Concord, home to a RoadRunner retail store).  Returning the shoes was no problem at all.  I was even lucky enough to get the same pair of black Bikilas (not easy to find), and was on my way in a matter of minutes.  The staff there is fantastic.  If you are in the area, drop in and become a member of their VIP program.  It costs a buck a year and gets you all sorts of discounts and a 90 day trial period on shoes.

Sunday was about getting out and giving the only run of the week a shot.  I was still down in the bay and thought that the Iron Horse Trail would give a nice flat surface to run on.  It was 42 degrees and drizzling when I started my run, and I was ill prepared for that weather.  By the two mile mark the sun was coming out and the temperature was perfect.  What I had forgotten about the trail was that there is a soft dirt path that runs right along side of it that has been ridden over by countless number of mountain bikes.  I chose to take the soft dirt path to give my knees a break, not realizing that it would tire me out mentally. 

Running "barefoot" means that you feel every rock, every pothole, every divot.  After the first jagged rock that I stepped on, I became painfully aware that I needed to pay close attention.  Keeping an eye on every step is enough to make you feel that you were taking a test that you had not studied for.  Mentally exhausting.  The trail took me through Central Park, and back through San Ramon Golf Course.  It's one of the nicer trails that I have run on, and beats running along the busy Roseville roadways.  It also holds a lot of interesting people.  At one point I was passed by a guy running full tilt in brand new running shoes, running shirt, running vest, arm sleeves, hat and Oakleys.  Did I mention the jeans.  Yep he was running in jeans.  It was almost like he went to the store the day before, decided that he was taking up running and cleared out the store (except the store did not have any shorts).  Seriously....jeans?  I caught him a short time after and he looked like he had run through a wall.  I remember being that guy (going out way to fast and paying the price) and I wish him all of the best.  He stopped me and asked me about my shoes, letting me know that he just bought a pair and was looking forward to running with them.  I told him to follow the directions (don't want to see him go out that fast and pull a calf like I did) and was on my way.  I finished the 8 miles at the same 11:27 pace that I finished my long run with last week.

I paid the price for it though.  My right knee is killing me today and I am starting to get concerned.  I think that I have ruled out ITBS (yes I am self diagnosing) but am concerned that it is a tendon or meniscus issue.  Time to break out a knee brace.  Seriously, between the braces for shin splints and the braces for Achilles tendinitis I am becoming more neoprene than man.  (We can rebuild him...but we don't want to spend all that much).  Three weeks to go.  Got to hang on until April 2.  Then I can take a week or two to rest and start prepping for the Giants half in Sept.  Sad, I'm already thinking about designing a shirt for the run.  Right now I am leaning toward having "David B. Flemming is my Homeboy" plastered across the back.  I am open to any suggestions.