The Meeting Of The Mind, Heart & Soul

Recovery Day. It is not often that the mind, body and soul are in complete agreement. The clock went off at 5:00 am as usual, and the "big three" were having a meeting. My mind said, "Not nearly enough sleep this week. You have a terrible need for sleep." My body said that the pounding cold  rain (30*) whipping sideways outside was nothing that he wanted to venture in to. And my soul was the most persuasive of them all. For some reason, it could just not endure a run on the damn treadmill one more day.

I love to run and I keep telling myself that spring is coming. Outside days are coming. But today, it came one day too late so I decided to catch up on my sleep and make my entire physche happy. Not one part of me wanted to get out of my bed early, and choose between running in the dark and the cold rain, or go to the sweat box and "hamster it" on the treadmill again. So I protested the weather by laying in bed and now talking with you. I hope you don't mind.

Who Is Montezuma And Why Is He Trying To Kill Me?!

I ran an easy 5k today. I had no choice but to run it easy because if I would have dared to "push" myself, well let's just say this post might venture into the "too much info" category. I need to point out that "The Goddess: decided this weekend was rent movies and eat Mexican weekend. (Unstoppable and 127 Hours are great movies.) I loved the movies, loved the food and I am now frightened to drive to work without the prior knowledge of where every rest stop and porta potty may be located.

Anyway, I ran very well when I was able to run (we took a few breaks don't ya know.) And I broke a good sweat and feel fine. Tomorrow is interval day and this MUST pass before I begin sprints. I'm sure I will be fine. And let's home tonight is cheese night or something.

Hal Wouldn't Let Me Run

Recovery Day. I was scheduled for a recovery day. I feel great though. I'm following the Hal Higdon training plan for the half marathon and he told me to stay in bed. What does Hal know really? He's trained a few people sure, (maybe more than I've met in my life) but I could have easily run today. Maybe though it would have affected my interval session in the morning. Maybe Hal is on to something after all.

I kind of like the Monday off routine. I'm tying to wrap my head around going back to work after the weekend. And I'm usually a little tired from all the rushing around trying to get all the weekend stuff done like watching movies, lying on the couch and drinking just a couple of beers with "The Princess." So I will admit, Monday as a recovery day actually rock. But it's back in the saddle tomorrow. Those intervals aren't gonna run themselves.

Hamster On A Wheel

Yes I wussed out. I ran my five mile run on the "Hamster Wheel" at the gym. Maybe it was the sleet, the snow, the hail or the howling wind that made take refuge in the sweaty confines of the Woods Fitness Gym. Or just that I wussed out. I'm training for a May half marathon, not the Ididarod Sled Dog race! Did I mention that I feel like I..... no need to say it again.

For some reason it was incredibly boring today. I tried pod casts, audio books and finally switched to classic rock but I still felt like I was on that treadmill all damn morning. I was so bored all I could think of was how tired I was  so I took way too many walking breaks out of sheer boredom. I fiddled with my I-Phone, drank water, toweled off  and then would look at the treadmill computer board and the damn thing STILL didn't seem to register any progress.

My plan was an 8 miler out 4th street creek to the steel bridge and return. I should have braved the blizzard and just gone. I might have had more fun but then maybe they would have just found my frozen body along the road during the spring thaw. Anyway, nothing hurts this week so I guess maybe this was for the best. No...no.... I was a wuss.

Kettlebell Workout for Runners.wmv

Great Morning To Run

I ran 3 miles today starting in the dark with my headlamp. I only needed it about halfway though. The sun started to shine through real quickly, not actually a sunrise yet, but easily light enough to turn off my lamp. It was 52* degrees this morning and not a drop of rain!! I can't believe I missed the rain. I looked at the weather map when I got home and it looks like all hell is about to break lose.

It's cool to run through town and then check out the GPS map on the Nike website. It makes a perfect line around the neighborhood showing every turn you took. I carry my I-Phone. I have thought about getting a Garmin watch, but I know some guys that carry a watch, a camera, an I-Pod and a cell phone for emergencies. My I-Phone is all that and light too. But for some reason, I still yearn for that Garmin. We'll see some day if it is even necessary. As of now, I'm happy with today.

Tactical Preventive Measure

Planned but not scheduled RECOVERY DAY. After yesterdays longer run in the cold, I had an idea that my right leg might flare up so I decided to factor in a recovery day based on two logical points. First, Friday has ALWAYS been my scheduled day off but I never took it. I only switched Friday's off day with Saturday because the gym was closed on Saturday morning before work and with the bad weather I couldn't count on a workout outside on ice on Saturdays. I'm able to get outside more now so I can stick with the original schedule.
Second, Brenda sleeps in due to her work schedule today and gets up early for work tomorrow. If we keep the same schedule it is easier to get some rest and not be disturbed by the other person getting out of bed and waking you too.

Actually I took Friday off because I thought I might be crippled from the pounding yesterday in my minimalist Nike Free shoes. (I saw an article in Runner's World showing Matthew McConahay running in Nike Free shoes. Makes me feel like a rock star with Tiger blood.) It didn't happen. Actually I work up early and fresh with no pain. That is a very good sign. This may be my first decent long run of the year followed by a day of no major pain. Tomorrow.....we run.

Beautiful Day....Beautiful Run

I ran 6.5 miles today and then weighed in at 171 lbs. I didn't have a set plan of how far to run. I decided to go out the door, head out 4th street creek and turn around when I was either too tired, too hurting or too thirsty to continue. It was thirst that turned me around in the end. It wasn't that bad but it was an out and back course and you never know where the point of no return is. I played it safe. I could have gone farther. It was the most enjoyable run of the year.

I didn't carry water, food or gel today. I went old school like I used to. I don't like carrying stuff. I get to paying more attention to the "stuff" than I do to how I feel and that defeats the fun of the run. But soon, as summer approaches (yea!!) I will have to get used to carrying water. I remember the old days suffering through a long hot run without water.

My leg didn't hurt even though I ran in my Nike free shoes. We'll see if it get worse later. I felt strong and the sun was shining although it was very cold. (8* "real feel" when I left home,) I feel, right now as I write this exactly how you SHOULD feel after a run. i can't wait for the next one.

Now What Exactly Is Going On Here?

I had to take a semi-emergency unscheduled Recovery Day. I didn't get much sleep last night due to leg cramps. They actually started as I was laying in bed trying to fall asleep. I woke up this morning at the proper time with my right leg throbbing again. It seems every good effort day is followed by a partial breakdown anymore. This is beginning to get worrisome.

This is my dilemma. When I was in my thirties, I ran hard! There were races where I thought to myself, I'm either going to PR this race or I'm going to pass out on the course and I always finished well. I could count on my body to respond. But now, at near sixty years old, if I put myself in that same position, my body screams for a day off. The worst part is I don't know what to do about this. I could train every day very easily, that would still be healthful, but you don't get in shape to race that way.

I am at a crossroads. Either I am a racer with goals and ambitions, or I am a recreational athlete who dabbles in the sport. I don't want to be a dabbler. My body wants to be a dabbler. But I have goals for the year of 2011, the year I turn 60. I'll hit it  again hard tomorrow and I'll be fine. The question is.....what will Friday hold?

Tip Toein' Around

I went to the gym and got my four miles in. Actually I ran about 4.29 miles according to my GPS app. I felt good and kept a good pace too. Of course I took some short walking breaks and had to make a bathroom pit stop but those things happen. The last time I tried to run on the treadmill was last Friday when I had to stop. My legs were so sore and tired that I had to give it up.

I count this as a successful day....for the time being. I feel fine now. I feel like I had a very good run. I got my miles in and I did it on sore legs still barking from the savage downhills of Sundays Grandview run. But it is later when I find out if it was completely successful. I could feel my right shin aching the whole time, just not bad. It will be later this afternoon when I find out if I'm OK. So for now, I am a runner again.