A Little Break In The Action

I't a scheduled Recovery day. I feel good although my foot is barking again. The hard race Saturday night followed but a good 6 miller on Sunday made it sore but I will be all right.

Singing In The Rain

I wanted to run 7 this morning but I got in a good 6 miler. After last night I just wanted to ease into a nice pace but I weighed myself this morning and I was at 167 lbs. That's only 7 lbs. away from goal weight. I felt mean and lean so I pushed it a little and ran it in about an hour. I actually turned around at the 3 mile mark only because the rain really picked up and I had had enough for the day.

I hope all my DM friends ran well this Easter weekend and feel well.

Laziness Overcame Me

No excuses The "Laziness" overcame me. I got up at 5:00 am and rain was smacking against my bedroom window like someone throwing gravel. The gym was closed today for renovations and I just didn't want to go downstairs and spin so.....I went back to bed. I guess an extra day of rest isn't bad as long as it doesn't become a habit. But this morning....no fever for going outside in the rain.

My Garmin Is Calling Me

My new Garmin is calling me but this is a scheduled day off. Sadly, I will follow my schedule and rest. Love to all my DM friends.

My New Garmin

OK. I ran 5 miles in 55 mins. but that isn't the good (or bad) part. I wore my new Garmin Forerunner 305 for the first time and I discovered something. I'm not quite the slow slug I thought I was. To explain, I have run the same 5 mile (GPS measured) course for years! And I could never break 50 to 55 minutes. It pissed me off and made me feel slow. Today, for the first time, I wore my Garmin and could see my "real time" pace. It turns out that once I get past the road construction, past the grocery store, around the traffic snarl and through the school drop-off, that when the road opens up.....I'm running a 9 min. mile pace like I'm strolling to the frig for a beer.

Do you know how happy that makes me? On an open course, with traffic control, DURING MY HALF MARATHON! (ha!) if I can run through a 9 min. pace, I can beat my goal of two hours for the 13.1! I am so happy. I never got that before because I never saw how much time is wasted waiting for traffic, watching for cars and running around bulldozers. I can't begin to tell you how great a run that 5 miler was or how great I feel. I hope every one of my friends here (all of you) had a day like me.

Hiding From The Storm

I did 45 mins. of ab work and cardio in my basement today, mostly out of necessity. There was a terrible storm blow through the valley this morning. At one point, I took my pooch and retreated to the basement to be safe just in case. The wind died down a little so I figured I would get something accomplished.

I did 50 decline bench sit-ups, 10 mins. of rope skipping (forgot how hard that was) and then did a 10 mile time trial on my spin bile. I covered 10 miles in just a little over 30 mins. At least I got something out of a bad morning.

Oh Baby It Felt So Good!

Oh Baby It Felt So Good! I was back in my running shoes today. I ran an easy 3 miles in around 35 mins. trying not to stress my foot, but all went well and I was a happy guy. Strangely I found that when I ran faster, I felt much better. Not twangs of pain or soreness. But if I slowed my gait, I felt the little twing that reminds you that it's still there...but getting better.

I don't want to miff my minimalist friends out there but I think the shoes I bought earlier in the season brought on a lot of problems. I bought a pair of Nike Free shoes and excitedly took off in them. Hard runs in the park, intervals on the treadmill and soon I was hurt. I think it was a case of too much too soon. Today, when I shuffled along staying up on my forefoot, it hurt. When I ran faster and I lengthened my stride, I had more of a heel strike which took the pressure off my forefoot and I felt much better. But today, I am a happy man because....I....am a runner again!

It's Nice To Kick Back

Scheduled day off today. I have an early meeting and I don't get hope until late so it's a good day to just kick back. Tomorrow, I try a short run and get back in to the game.

Either Follow, Lead or Get Out Of The Way

I went to the gym today and did an insane hour of ferocious cardio. I think the more "casual" gym go-ers were a little taken aback. I hammered 15 minutes on the Spin bike. I killed an Elliptical machine for 15 and then hit the treadmill for 30 minutes at 10* elevation at 4mph. I was pissed I couldn't run. There was a puddle of sweat under every machine when I was done. I wanted to be wearing Corey's Superman underwear.

I thought of Corey, Nora, Dixie, Skibba, Tim, and everybody that I love on DM and I tried to break every machine. And I wore basketball shoes. I knew if I wore running shoes I would run. So I did what I had to do to rest my foot and ankle and I raised the roof. I love this place and I love you people. Y'all are what I think of when times get tough.

My love to Jodi, Skibba and all the people who raced this weekend. I can't remember them all. I want race reports...we all do. And I am praying for Corey's family and the baby. See ya later.

Watch Out Lance!

I went to my first spin class in a long time. It started at 6:00 am and I was very surprised by the turnout. I thought I was the only one in this hick town who got up this early. Anyway, it was a 45 minute class including 30 second of all out intervals, 60 second intervals (lots of them) and 6 minute, 7 min. and 8 min. hill climbs. I forgot how difficult they were. Then we were led to a large matted room where we did 15 minutes of brutal ab work.

I have to say two things. First, I dearly miss running but this was fun. The time went very fast and I thoroughly enjoyed myself without hurting my foot. Secondly, It was hard. My breathing was excellent but my legs....whole different angle coming at the legs than running. I hope to get back to running very soon but I'm happy today. I feel like I did something.