A "Duh" Moment

I had the ultimate "duh" moment on my way home today. I got new shoes about a month ago. Just about the time I started running again. So, I started up again from scratch on new shoes. DUH! Instead, I should have been rotating my shoes out until I adjusted to the new shoes. I knew that, but I just forgot. So, I'm going to try rotating them now and maybe that will help. The ol' shin splints are trying to come back - damn them! So I'm not sure if it's the new shoes or just the body rebelling against running again, but either way, that was a stupid way to handle the new shoes.

Back in the saddle...

After about a 6 week running hiatus, I am back in the saddle again. I think it was good to give my body a chance to heal and rest, but I really didn't plan on taking that long off. I had some personal stuff going on and was super busy. Anyway, I am starting off slow in an effort to AVOID INJURY!!! But I will say when I ran 1 mile on Christmas Day I thought I was in big trouble. It is so hard to start over again, which should give me big motivation to never stop running! Having said that, I'm happy with how it's progessing and getting easier every day. It won't take long to get back in shape. My legs are still strong, and could go all day. It's the lungs that need to keep up!

I've decided to post only miles run and not all my other workouts to keep it simple. I ran about 500 miles in 2008 and would like to be closer to 700 or 800 this year.

Still here!

I'm still alive! I haven't updated this page in a while, but I promised to be better about it!! I've now signed up for the Mini Marathon in May, and the Drumstick Dash again this Thanksgiving. So time to get back to some serious training. No more injuries, no more excuses!

Race Report (Sort of)

I did something yesterday that I've never done before, and hopefully will never do again. I dropped out of the race.

First, I ran into some bad traffic on the way down. Completely unexpected, so I missed the start of the race. I thought I could cross over the start with the walkers, but by the time I got parked & up to the start line, everyone had gone. Very disappointing. So I went ahead and joined in with the crowd and started running at what turned out to be the 2 mile marker. And it just so happens that I was running with much faster runners, so I was running too fast a pace to maintain, which is never good. I finally slowed to a more sustainable pace, and then of course, everyone was passing me, which is never good psychologically. As I continued to run, my knee started hurting again. I started thinking about running another 8 miles, and crossing the finish knowing I had not officially run the full 1/2 marathon. I also was concerned about my knee, and the fact that I had just overcome my back injury, and it still isn't 100%. So I made the decision to pull out of the race in order to prevent another injury which could take me out of running for the next few weeks. I wound up running about 5 miles. Plus I just don't think my heart was in it.

Based on the way I feel today (physically), I made the right decision. My knee still hurts, my ankle on the same side hurts, and the very low part of my shin on the same side is extremely sore. Psychologically, I'm pretty bummed out. But I think I need to get healthy & healed first. I knew I wasn't really prepared for this race. My training had been haphazard, and then I was recovering from injury, so perhaps I shouldn't have even gone down there. I will never again enter a race I'm not fully prepared for. I will also be back at that same race next year and will KILL it.

Half Marathon???

I'm going for it! My back is still a little dicey, but I ran 5 miles Wednesday night and felt pretty darn good, so I am going to attempt the race tomorrow morning. My NEW goal is just to finish the darn thing, running as much of it as I can. I am not too hopeful to get a new PR, but the course will be less crowded than the Mini was in May, and it's going to be nice & cool tomorrow morning, so you never know what will happen... on the flip side my training & diet has been not nearly as good as it was for May, and then I'm recovering from injury, so it's hard to say...

Race report to follow...

Another quick post

i hurt my back and i'm hoping i recover in time for next weekend. We'll see what happens...

quick post

Just a quick post to state, yes, I am still alive. Just really busy. Only a week and a half before the half marathon. HUGE huge huge blister on my big toe which is a pain (literally) and quite annoying so close to the race. Other than that, I'm on track for the half!