Notes From the Bench – Back to the Pool

I got the work in, but oh how I hate aqua jogging! I started out with just over an hour on the elliptical before hitting the pool for just under an hour. So glad that my orthopedist is allowing me to do elliptical.

Also, thankfully today I only had to compete with water aerobics for about 10 minutes, which was nice. Those ladies absolutely own the pool.

Right now I’m enjoying an awesome ham & cheese omelet at Noshville Delicatessen, sitting at the counter next to country singer Vince Gill in his overalls. Typical day in Music City!

Notes From the Bench – It’s Gonna Be Tough This Time

It’s only been one official day on the bench from running, but I can already tell that this time is going to be harder than my last stress fracture recovery. When the last one occurred I just chalked it up as a freak thing from pushing too hard in the final stages of my prep for the Milwaukee Marathon last year. Even though I was not able to run, I still had grand plans for 2013.

With this one, the circumstances are different, and my running future much more uncertain in my mind. I know that before I go back to setting goals and signing up for races, I’ve got to do some serious evaluation regarding my training. All of this has left me less than motivated to get out the door and cross train to maintain fitness.

However, my plan tomorrow is to do just that, and I’m thankful that this time around I’m not limited to things in the pool, but can incorporate elliptical, bike, and walking from the start. Also, even though this is disappointing, it is such a small thing in grand scheme of things. I’m so incredibly blessed, that I really have NOTHING to complain about.

I hope everyone that is still out there running will have a great weekend of training and racing. Keep “Beast Mode” going!

Quest for Boston – Injured Again….Quest Abandoned!

In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing…

But…

I suspected it strongly on Tuesday after my morning run in St Louis, and just received the official diagnosis from my Orthopedist of another femoral shaft stress injury. This one is in the opposite leg, but is nevertheless my second in 7 months. Best case scenario is that this is a “stress reaction,” which would mean 4 to 6 weeks of no running. Worst case scenario is a full-blown stress fracture, which would be the typical 6 to 8 weeks like before. Since it does not yet show up on an x-ray, we’ll just have to wait for my four-week follow-up to know which one it is.

While this is obviously frustrating, it is also forcing me to re-evaluate everything with regard to running. As part of this re-evaluation, I have made the decision that I am no longer going to allow the B.A.A. and their outrageous and inequitable qualifying standards to rob me of my ability to run and enjoy other great races.

Don’t get me wrong, I still want to run Boston, and I’m still going to strive to excel in running, but at this point pushing myself past my physical limitations for the sake of a 3:10 marathon just doesn’t make any sense. I love to run and I love to race, and right now I’m not able to do either. There are WAY too many other great races out there for me to sacrifice all of them in the hopes of running a BQ.

With this injury I’m going to take a step back and re-assess everything. This includes my goals, my training plan, my mileage, my schedule, my shoes….everything. I simply want to be able to (1) Run/train with my friends, (2) Stay in phenomenal shape, and (3) Participate in great races across the country.

As for next steps, I’m going to hit the pool again for some glorious aqua jogging (and other allowed cross training activities), focus on getting healthy, forget about all races until this fall, and do what I can to ensure a successful race in New York in November.

Beast Mode…On Hold!

Quest for Boston – Turning a Corner

The last time I posted about running, it was actually about not being able to run due to a sinus infection and bronchitis. I ended up taking 11 days off because of the illness, but started feeling better on Wednesday.

Thursday – Track Workout

My return was last Thursday night at track with the JSRC. I was feeling decent (though with some definite fatigue), but then right when the workout started, the rain began to pour! Not exactly the best conditions when trying to come back from an upper respiratory illness. The workout was pretty simple, with:

  • 3-mile easy warmup
  • 6 x 100m stride outs
  • 2 x 800m fresh (300m / 400m recovery)
  • 2 x 400m good (200m / 400m recovery)
  • 2 x 800m fresh (400m / 400m recovery)
  • .4-mile cool down

My times were a little off from normal pace, but I think that was to be expected with the illness, the rain, and still being on Augmentin and Prednisone. I was happy with the consistency of my 800m splits, which were 3:07, 3:07, 3:07, & 3:07!

Friday – Shakeout Run

This was a super-easy 4ish mile shakeout run, in my Saucony Hattori shoes, through the streets of Bellevue. My legs felt surprisingly good after track the night before. Nice to get the kinks worked out on an easy run.

Saturday – Long Run

On Saturday Paxton and I drove across town to meet up with Dan, Dawn, Sally, Bob, Kelly, and Judy from our group for the Nashville Strider’s 20-miler on the Stones River Greenway.

I didn’t especially need a 20-mile run, but I knew it would be a comfortable pace, with good friends, and I do want to keep my mileage up since I’m pacing the Country Music Marathon again this year. This is also one of my favorite routes in Nashville, though it is very challenging with over 2,700 ft of cumulative elevation gain…

The temperatures at the start were in the mid 60s, which is a little higher than normal, with fairly high humidity. Thankfully the humidity burned off after an hour or so.

I felt pretty crummy during the first 5-miles, but then things started to settle down and I got into a nice, comfortable rhythm with the group. The hills in the last 3 miles were a bear, but I kept feeling pretty good until Paxton and I finished mile 19 after breaking off from the rest of the group a mile or so earlier.

By far the best thing about Saturday morning was seeing Paxton look really strong, especially at the end. It’s great to see him running so well again after taking a lot of time off last year.

This Week

This week we are in St Louis with the kids for Spring Break, so I’m hoping to get in a few good runs at Forest Park before heading home on Wednesday.

Beast Mode…ON!

@runningmyownrace

runningmyownrace replied to your photo: Sara & Olivia inside the “Electrostatic Generator”…

That’s where I’m originally from! Stop by Ted Drewes for some frozen custard and get some pasta on The Hill! Oh, they also have a fantastic zoo. Enjoy!

Awesome city! You are definitely right on about getting pasta on The Hill. Charlie Gitto’s tonight was crazy good. We’re planning on heading out to Ted Drewe’s tomorrow, and then the Zoo on Tuesday if it will stop raining! Thanks for the recommendations!

Also hoping to get in some miles this week in Forest Park!

We gather to worship…

We gather to worship the glory of God, and we scatter to reflect the
glory of God.

Bob Clark, Preaching Minister, Lafayette Church of Christ – Describing the concept of “Gathering and Scattering” when living the Christian life (Rom 12:1)
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