Birthday Run

I have read (on blogs and in other stories online) of runners that celebrate their birthdays  by going out and running their age in miles.  Well, I don't think I am up to running 38 miles.. or even 38 kilometers.   So I headed out my door yesterday with the goal of running 38 meters (plus a bit extra) in celebration of my birthday.

[caption id="attachment_2690" align="aligncenter" width="490"] My wife made me a home-made German Chocolate Cake![/caption]

They can't all be good runs

This posting is a little overdue... And any of you that follow my Facebook page have already seen me whine..

I headed out for my run on Saturday, after eating a large supper.  Now, I know that running right after eating can cause problems, so I kept this in mind.  having really enjoyed this  mid-day supper of chicken-pesto melts & corn on the cob, I waited a little over two hours before I headed out.  That should be enough time for the 'ole stomach to settle, right?

Shin Splints HURT!!!!! Seriously, is 24 pain-free days to much to ask for?

I have to admit, I am growing progressively less amused with the idea of ankle pain.    My calves seem to be doing GREAT!!! I did 3.5 miles yesterday with a "Faster-than-marathon" pace - and they felt AWESOME!!! In fact, my whole body felt great - EXCEPT for my shins on my left leg.  I have one place on the inside of my leg (Front/inside) that is quite painful.  There was a matching pain on the outside - but the inside one was definitely worse.  I cut my run short from what I had planned (it was going to be a mid-week longer run) due to this.  The last half mile or so was REALLY painful.

I got home and iced it, and spent the night massaging it (or as close as I could) while taking Advil and after a short period I was walking on it ok, with just a slight twinge. It gave me great hope!

This morning I was walking with a noticeable limp and significant pain. I have KT Tape'd it (though this doesn't seem as effective on shin splints as it is on a sore calf), and took Advil. I woke up too late to ice it sot hat will have to wait until tonight.  I am thinking tonight will be a bike ride or a swim for my work out, and possibly friday as well. 

I hate how negative my blog has become, but it has become a frustrating game of "what can I hurt now?"    I know that I am physically capable of doing the Marine Corps Marathon, and enjoying it - If my left leg will let me.  This is a goal I have had since I was 16, 20 years ago. I 'd really like to see a check on that bucket list!

Less than 24 more days.. Is that really to much to ask for?

Cursed!! CURSED I TELL YOU!!!!!!

So.. I am really starting to wonder if there is a hex on me. 

Friday my calf was feeling well, so I figured a nice slow 1 or 2 miles on the treadmill could be perfect to see how it was coming.  On to that boring piece of equipment I went!  First .25 of a mile! DONE (and boring!) 2nd .25 of a mile? Done! (still boring) 3rd .25 of a mile? Done (and boring.. but better than not running!)  Then... sigh.. disaster.  My son came in to the room (for about the fifth time) to make a funny comment.  I turned to look at him and my left foot hit the plastic on the side.  My leg twisted and I caught myself on the hand rails - but a different part of my calf started hurting.

Sigh.  I am wondering if I will be able to manage 26 miles, 385 yards in just 53 more days.  At this point I need another 2 weeks (or so) of not running to let my calf heal.  My longest run to date has been 12 miles.  After 2 weeks, I will have 39 days to get ready for the distance, after not running for a month.  Luckily I have until October 20th to defer (10 days before the marathon) - so I should have a good idea of whether or not I am capable of doing it. I am not going to run in my VFFs again until after - and my new goal is simply to finish it.  5 hours just became an acceptable marathon time.

I wonder if anyone has ever successfully trained for a marathon by using a bicycle before? I plan on getting ALOT of miles in on my old-school 10 speed while I can't run.  Started on friday, will continue it this week!  Today is rainy and nasty - so off to the YMCA to use their elliptical and stationary bikes. 

I suspect that it isn't going to be very difficult to get a PR for my second marathon...

Bad Run! Bad Run! NO COOKIE FOR YOU!

[caption id="attachment_735" align="alignright" width="213" caption="The cause of my Alcohol-Induced-lllness."][/caption]

So, as you my readers may already know - I was a complete slacker last week and did not run like I should have.  This trend continued on sunday when - due to my alcohol-induced-illness (combined with countless family visits), my long-run did not happen.  However, since i am such a conscientious runner (with an over-active sense of guilt), I felt I should make up my long run last night.  Luckily - we have a the Greater Binghamton Bridge Run Half-Marathon course that was mapped out and certified right in town AND it goes right by my house.  How perfect is that?

So after my wife got home from work, off I went with my trusty water bottle!  I was a little frustrated as my Droid X doesn't seem to have a functional GPS anymore.  I'm not sure if it is a hardware error, or something with a recent update to the Maps/Navigation. 

[caption id="attachment_734" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Map of the Bridge Run Half Marathon Course"][/caption]

  For this run - I was using a pre-mapped course so while I wouldn't have my splits (Frustrating), I would at least know exactly how far I went! 

I took it nice and slow, with no worry about how fast/far I was going.  (This was very easy to do as I didn't have a phone with GPS to give me splits or let me know what my pace was.) 

First five mile run, post calf-strain

[caption id="attachment_371" align="alignright" width="220" caption="Look! A Healthy Non-Complaining Calf!"][/caption]

So I headed out on a slow run to see how my calf held up.  I decided to run in my Asics rather than the VFFs, with a goal of stressing my calf out as little as possible.  I did run with a forefoot/midfoot strike rather than a heel strike. The good news?  The calf held up just fine - no complaints from it at all!  I did stretch after a half mile warm up, as well as half way through the run.  It didn't feel bad, but thought it was a good preventative measure.  I also stretched that good, health calf when I got home.

The run itself?  Honestly, it wasn't all that enjoyable.  It seems my cardio abilities have faded in the last three weeks, though I know that will return quickly.  I also started off behind a cigar smoking man walking down the side-walk - its amazing how long THAT smell stays with you!  Took me half a block to figure out what the smell was!

Anyway, back to my whining.  So the run wasn't as enjoyable as many of them have been.  I ran in my Asics, and the feeling of my foot hitting the ground simply isn't as enjoyable.  I know that those in the "church of the barefoot runner" (read that name on a Podiatry Forum) refer to shoes as "foot-coffins" and I really felt that way today.  To quote "Barefoot Kenbob" - it was like singing with earplugs in.   I suspect I was also dehydrated, didnt' sleep well, etc.. etc...  Lots of things came together to make this a really not-fun run.  I even walked at several portions of the last two miles, figuring better to hurt myself when I wasn't "feeling-it."  I am hoping that anyone that knows me passed me while I was running, not walking.

Still despite not feeling like the best run in the world, I am still glad I went.  I knew starting back into running after 3 weeks off (well, 2 weeks, plus 1 running day, and a week before that) wasn't going to be easy on the lungs and legs - but I really expected more "fun."  Think I will pull the Vibrams on for tomorrows run. Its simply more fun.