Hitting the Reset Button

July 9 – July 15

Total Mileage – 3.1

July 16 – July 22

Total Mileage – 12.4

So I tested my right leg in Tahoe.  The first run went fine, had to adjust to the altitude, but after about a mile and a half I was settled in.  The next day however, I could hardly walk.  I went down to the gym to see if I could stretch it out but to no avail.  Rather than risking another micro tear (or worse), I decided to shut it down for the week.

On Monday of last week I sat down with a oversized desk calendar and plotted out the Giants Half and CIM just to see if it is even possible to re-start a training program and be ready in December.  I felt that I needed to start over for the following reason:

1)    I have no clue what I am doing.  If I were to stay on my current plan I would peak for a marathon at the end of October.  I have no clue what I would do to maintain a training level for the following month and change.

Good news is that when plotted out, I could start the week or July 23 and be right on track for both races. (Including a week off when I take the kiddos to Disneyland.  Let’s be honest, the odds of me getting a run in while staying in a hotel with two kids is minimal to zero.)  So that is that.  I am hitting the reset button.  Since my last “long run” was a half marathon on the fourth of July, I figure that this is not all that different than when I re-started after my first half.  I’ve got a pretty good base mileage going so hopefully this re-start will be easier than the last. 

Flirting With Disaster

July 2 - July 8

Total Mileage - 26.2

Things got serious this week.  I started with a 7 mile run on Monday, a 4 mile run on Tuesday, then a 13.1 mile run on Wednesday.  13.1 for a midweek run?!?  Surely you can't be serious.

Truth be told it was only supposed to be a 12 miler, but one you get 12 down, what is another mile?  I did not have a course in mind when I set out.  I just took off and saw where the road took me.  Main roads, trails, off road at one point, through neighborhoods, a park, and best of all- the golf course. 

I have decided that golf courses rule. 

The barefoot runners best friend

Grass cut so short its like running on carpet, water every few holes, shade...sure you have to dodge the course marshall's, but no big deal.  Good thing is that I was running on the sun city golf course.  By the time the senior citizens figured out that I was not supposed to be on the course, and told a course marshall, I was already five holes through and able to duck down between two houses and head back to the trails.


The trails around here are brutal. While there are a lot of trees, hardly any of them put any shade on the concrete pathway.  While the radiating heat is fine in the fall and winter, it is no good in June and July.  Beggars can't be choosers, and while these trails are not the best in the world (I am very partial to the Iron Horse in the bay area) it keeps me off the main roads and away from crosswalks and cars.

Oppressive, radiating heat...

I finished the 13.1 over a minute faster than I ran it a few months ago.  I cannot count it as a personal best because:

1. it was not an official race
2. being that my distance is measured by footpod and not GPS I know I was close to 13.1, but not sure if I was over or under. 
3. I had to take a quick break to fight off a cramp in my calf
4. I stopped for another minute because I thought I had been stung by a bee. 

Ouch!

I made it home with a wicked sunburn (which has now left me with a pretty sweet farmer tan) and what has been determined to be a minimal tear in my right calf (so it was not a bee sting).  It was about mile 12 when I felt a twinge in my calf.  I thought it was a bee sting and thought nothing of it.  Never once did I put it together that the bee sting would have been under my calf sleeve, thus impossible.  Good news is that based on everything I have read, they heal very quickly and don't pose much of a risk of re-injury. 

I did not do any running in Oregon (just not enough time).  We all survived flying to and from Oregon.  The Canuck is now officially married (scary), and my brother gave the greatest best man speech in recent memory (don't tell him though or it will go to his head).

So I ran a total of 26.2 miles this week.  I plan on doing that in one day ?!?
We head to Tahoe in a few days.  Altitude training, here I come.

Not all that much new to report

June 11 – 17          Weight – 208.4          Total Mileage – 19.2

June 18 – 25          Total Mileage – 21.2

June 26 – July 1     Weight - 209.5          Total Mileage – 18.2

So it’s been a long time since my last entry.  Not all that much new to report. Just hitting the pavement or the treadmill as usual.  The weather has been totally crazy here.  The week of the 11^th was insanely hot.  At one point, it was 97 degrees at 9:30 at night and there was no breeze.  I had to get my runs in early, but even then there were days where it was in the high 80’s by 8:30.  The week of the 18^th however was a different story.  Monday and Tuesday was hot, but I set out for my 10 mile run on Wed morning and I was concerned that I was going to need a jacket.  It was 42 in the morning and did not get up over 75.  It stayed that way through the end of the week and made getting out there much easier.  I ran the 10 mile in 1:42:14.  I did not go out super hard and was able to maintain a 10:14 avg pace.  Best part was that I was not super sore the next day. 

The heat has been back this week, but it was a taper week so it has not been to bad.  The long run for the week was 7 miles so it was nice to get a little bit of a break.  The next two weeks are going to be crazy between the 4^th of July, traveling to Portland to see the Canuck get married (canuckaphobia.wordpress.com), and then heading to Tahoe for a week.  I am hoping to get a few runs in while in Tahoe (the high altitude should do me good).  Although I did watch a guy pass out while running on the treadmill last year.  He came to once he hit the ground.  “The altitude is killer” He said.  “We don’t have altitude like this in Pittsburgh.”  I hope not to be that guy. I’ll keep you posted.