Week 17 - A 3 hour time change is killer

April 22 – 29

Total Mileage – 21.1

Weight – 216.5

I survived traveling to and from Ohio (seriously, it takes a day to get there and a day to get back) and managed to get a few runs in after work. I am generally a morning runner, but since I was thrown off by the three hour time difference I figured a night run may be more feasible. Since Monday was a travel day we did not have anything scheduled so I got in a 9 mile run. I paid the price for it the next day. My left foot (not to be confused with the movie by the same name) and my right Achilles were killing me. By Wednesday evening I was feeling good, but we had the inevitable corporate appetizers/drinks, followed by the team dinner/drinks. Thanks to the VP and one of our consultants, my drinks went from singles to a doubles which is definitely not conducive to a run; however I gave it an hour and a half then decided I needed to get my other run in. I hit the treadmill at the hotel and had a good run considering. Still came in under 10 miles per, and aside from a little tenderness in the right Achilles, I am feeling good. My short run of the week was pretty killer. It is great to be back home, but all of the travel took its toll. I clocked in right around 10:50 per for the 5k and was feeling pretty beat. I am glad that I get to taper mileage this week as I am going to need all the rest I can get if I want to have any shot at going under 2:30 on Saturday. (I checked the weather…Rain in Saturday’s forcast, mixed with off road trails…perfect)

Week 16 - There is a reason it is called a training program

April 14 - 21

Total Miles – 20.1

Weight – 213

So there is a reason that it is called a training plan.  Someone who is way smarter at this than I am developed a plan that if followed should help me achieve the best results.  So what do I do?  I don’t follow it for a week.  Couldn’t hurt right…

Wrong.  We had a bunch of stuff going on this past weekend so I figured that I could juggle some things around.  My run was going really well on Tuesday, so I figured that I would keep going and make it my long run and then just condense the rest of the week.  Since we would be away all weekend I figured that I would run Friday too rather than take Saturday off.  I tapered from 7 mi on Tuesday to 5 mi Wednesday and Thursday.  Friday was only 3.1 miles (5k).  How hard could that be? 

I was pretty sure that short run was going to be the death of me.  My legs felt like lead, my heart rate was through the roof, and it felt like I was carrying 50 pounds across my shoulders.  It was the slowest that I had run in a very long time.  Good for me though.  I had shied away from the plan once or twice in the beginning and had faced a similar fate.  As of late I had gotten to comfortable in the routine, to confident.  This reminded me the running gods will strike with vengeance should they feel the need to.  I am headed to Ohio next week.  I hope that I’ll get a few runs in while I’m away and stay on track.

Week 15 – On the road again

April 9 - 13

Total Miles – 16.12

Weight – 213.5

Just can’t wait to get on the road again….and so on and so forth.

When you get so used to running in the morning week after week, your body does not know what to do when you stop suddenly.  It was really tough last week, but I am sure glad to be back out there (whether it be treadmill or street).  I still have a little pain the bottom of my left foot, but it’s no where near as bad as it was last week. 

I went out relatively light this week not knowing how my body would respond to having the time off.  I started at a slower pace, but by Wednesday’s run I was back at the normal pace.  It’s weird, you almost miss being sore.  I won’t have to miss it anymore since I now have the minor aches and pains that come with a newer runner trying to find what works. 

I gave the KSO Treks another shot this week.  I am not sure if I will be wearing them or the old tried and true Bikila’s for the half marathon in a few weeks, but I want to be sure that I am comfortable in the KSO’s so both options are available.  The Treks provide an entirely different fit over the Bikila’s.  I’m not sure if it’s better, it’s just different.  The Treks provide additional support around the back of the ankle/heel (which provides an additional pressure point around the ankle bone when the strap is pulled down) and there is a lot more cushion (if you can call it that) on the forefoot and toes.  They are made to be a trail running shoe so the rubber is a little thicker and the tread is much more aggressive.  My plan is to swing by the site the day before the race and judge how much of it is dirt/rock trail vs. concrete.

I did not have an issue after my first run, but I noticed that the night after running in the Treks my feet were tightening up.  I am wondering if it’s my feet adjusting to running in a new shoe or if they are going to be an issue.  I think that I’ll just use them for my short run and build up running in them. 

I have been icing my feet after runs and using a “Rubz” ball if my feet get tight.  For $5.00 I can’t recommend one enough.  It’s roughly the size of a golf ball and is covered with hard plastic nubs.  You put it under your forefoot, apply pressure and roll it under your foot - instant foot massage.  Hurt like hell for the first few days, but it really helps. 

I could not have asked for better weather for the long run this weekend.  72, sunny, light breeze – perfect.  Luke wanted to try a new trail that runs underneath part of one of our normal routes and pops out near my cousin’s house.  Of course, he was asleep by the time we hit the trail and my cousin’s house so he missed all of it.  The trail was not too bad.  There were a few spots where it was covered in rocks due to the recent rains, but not as bad as it could have been.  A little hilly in spots, but it’s a route that I would run again. 

T minus 3 weeks and counting until the half.  I can’t help but think that I peaked too soon.  I had geared my training for the 10 miler a few weeks ago.  I am not sure what the training should look like for the next three weeks.  I may just repeat the weeks that had 8 and 9 mile long runs and see what happens. 

Week 14 - Shut it down

Total Miles – 0.00

This may be the hardest week so far, the first week that I have to deal with a “serious” injury.  (Ok, so it may not be serious, but it sure feels like it).  Since finishing the race on Sunday, my left foot and heel have been killing me.  Not that I have a medical degree, but it appears to be either heel spurs or the dreaded plantar fasciitis.  I have been icing it every night and sleeping with a brace on that stretches the foot.  I felt a little bit better last night, so when I went to get the mail I jogged a few steps.  It felt better to jog than to walk, but there is no way I could have gone more than a mile.  So I am shutting it down for the entire week, hoping that the rest will do me some good.  I am also going to do a few “modifications” to my shoes to see if I can cobble a solution together. 

With my first half marathon a month away I don’t have the luxury of taking 2-3 weeks off.  I also can’t go back to regular running shoes at this point.  Every time I try to do so, shin splints and lower back pain are not far behind.  I think it may be like throwing a curve ball.  Go ahead and throw them, your arm is going to hurt.  Depending on your motion however, you can choose: do you want it to hurt in your shoulder or your elbow.  I’m pretty much faced with the fact that yes, this is going to hurt.  Do I want shin splits and back pain, or do I want my foot to hurt.  Ideally I want to be pain free, so I’ll be taking it easy over the next few weeks.  Thankfully I have nothing planned from May – September, so I can really scale back if I need to.

It feels really weird not running.  I can actually say that I miss it.  It’s strange to wake up at 4:45 and not be getting ready to head out for a run.  Yes, it is really nice to sleep in, but truth be told, I’d rather be out running.

Week 13 - The Sac Town 10 (er.....10.57)

March 26 - April 1

Total Mileage - 24 miles
Weight - 213.0

All was going pretty well this week until Friday. I was testing out the new KSO Treks and was about half way through the 4 mile run for the day. I was already having problems with the bottom of my left foot since last week and this did not help things. I was coming off of a downhill stretch on the trail when it felt like I had stepped on glass. Pain right up through my arch, heel and calf. I stopped for a minute, the pain subsided and I was back on the move. It was not until Saturday morning that I realized that something was wrong. No swelling to speak of, but I could not flex my foot without serious pain. I headed over to Fleet Feet and picked up a brace that would hopefully help. It looks like a walking boot, and made to be slept in. I was not sure when I went to bed last night if running today would even be a possibility. Since my running partner for the 10 mile race bailed to go snowboarding, I began to think that skipping it may not be the worst thing in the world, since I have the half marathon in a few weeks. Better to rest and run that one, then seriously injure myself.

When I woke up this morning though, the brace had done the trick. There was just a little pain, but nothing intolerable. I taped it up and slipped on the old trusty Blue Bikilas. I tested the foot out and it felt better running in place then it did walking. I had signed up for it, paid my cash, and figured that if I only made it a few miles then DNF'ed that it would at least get me a little more prepared for the half.

I finished, in a pretty good time too. I beat my goal of 2 hours (1:48:26) and overall the race owas a very well produced event. The police did a great job of blocking traffic, aside from the 80 year old woman that was pulling out of a church parking lot and was not going to abide by the traffic control (and had her window down and swore at us to get out of the F'ing way. That is going to cost her a few extra Hail Mary's at next weeks service) and the guy around mile nine that thought that it was merely a suggestion when the officer told him to stop.

I started the race running with the "Five Finger Fanatics." Two couples, all in Vibrams, were running their first race together. I ran with them until mile 2 and then they slowed up, I kept going and did not hear from them again. I spent most of the race picking out someone and making it a goal to pass them, or at least keep them in my sights. That and I wanted to beat as many of the relay teams that I could. They only had to run 2.5 miles each before handing off the baton.....wusses : )

I finished, in a pretty good time too. I beat my goal of 2 hours (1:48:26 which is appx a 10:16 per mile pace) and the race overall was 10.52 miles. (It was measured with a hand roller, so if you do not take the exact line that the measurer did and hit the inside on every turn, you are running extra miles.) There were tons of people along the way cheering for no one in particular and the finish line was crazy. People on both sides being as loud as possible trying to push you though the finish line.

You walked through a line and got your medal, returned your shoe tag, got a banana and assorted foods and were on your way.

There were a few things that I learned today.
1) It does not matter if you are barely going to finish the race.  You need to make your way to the front of the pack at the starting line before the gun goes off.  This way when you pull up inside the first mile you can hold everyone else up.

2) Runners are a lot like sharks.  They think that if they stop moving they will die.  There were hundreds of people running in place in the parking lot, at the starting line, at the relay exchange stations.  Seriously, knock it off.

3) My shorts are waaaay to long for a runner.  Now they are not "Fab Five Michigan" long but they hit right above the knee.  Apparently, you need to dance that fine line between shorts and indecent exposure.  Oh and while I am at it: Spandex is a privilege, not a right.

4) I need to learn how to manage the "refuel stations."  There is something about having to slow down / drink on the run out of a paper cup that I cannot grasp.  I dumped an entire cup of water on myself at the first station.  By station three I was getting the hang of it, but it was not graceful by any means. 

We'll see how I feel tomorrow. By the time I had got back to the house (30 Min's) my left foot had totally cramped up and I can barely walk. Hopefully this is something that I can stretch out and not have to go to the Dr. Now I am setting my sights for the half. My goal is 2:30:00. Lets see how close I can get.

Course Map

Bib and Finishing Medal