Concluding a tough week of Running

Last week was a combo type of feeling... on the one hand, I was on vacation, had my daughter, and just felt great about that.

On the other hand, I had a pretty crummy running week.

After a successful Saturday long run, Sunday was decent and Monday was good, but hot, as I ran late morning.

Tuesday, did a progressive run with Sean, Luis, Bill and RJ. I went in highly nervous, as not having done a workout in a long while, and not being sure how all things Achilles would hold up. During the workout was good, and even during cool down. I made it half way through the 5:30/5:25 mile, and had to throw in the towel. With cool down, got 9 miles in for the day.

I struggled the rest of the week, as the Achilles was just beaten up, I guess. In talking with Sean, there are some things I need to do differently, as what I have been doing just hasn't been doing the trick. So, with that, I started this week.

6.5 miles this AM...felt decent, but not great. Still, it was a start. Looking forward to a few more miles this evening, in the heat and humidity again. Time to start trimming down as well. I got all the way down to about 147-148 lbs...the lightest I'd been since probably Jr High or early HS. Now, I'm back up to 155. Those 7-8 lbs lighter would definitely lighten the load on the Achilles. Gotta be more careful and more conscious of what I'm putting in my body, as well as the volume I'm putting in.

Alright...back to work...

Visitors

So, in looking at my stat counter, I noticed that I get about 20 or somewhere there-abouts visits to my blog/day. The best part is that the visits come from so many different areas of the country. I know that a few/couple probably started coming to my blog through my postings on a couple of Runners World forum discussions...others through other blogs. Others are folks I've known for a while and have followed my blog(s) in the past.

I'd love to hear from some of you, though...either in feedback on my blog, or just send me an email (email addy is in my profile). If we've never met and you just read my blog, that would be cool to hear from you. If you're someone I know, and maybe I just don't know that you read my blog (scary...ha ha ha), drop me a line. If you fall somewhere in between and visit from time to time, shoot me a message or leave a comment. I like to know that folks are out there, and better yet, what you feel like you get from reading my posts. I'm sure to some degree, it's curiousity on what someone else is doing. Maybe you read and think "That guy's delusional." Maybe you read and think "Woo hoo...he's healthy again. I hope he really DOES make the Olympic Trials."

Whatever the case, would be cool to hear from some of yall. I plan to post more often on some of the stuff that goes along with my training, in addition to just posting about my running. It won't be much, as I'm not all that knowledgeable or well-educated on how our bodies fully function, how diets work, etc. But I do have thoughts from time to time that may be worth sharing, or at least starting a discussion. Like I said...it's not that much, and it's not all that often.

Okay...enough of that...back to work for me.

7/17/10 Kenyan Way Long Run, 15.15 Miles

15.15 Miles
1:42:54
6:47 avg
Miles this week - 65

I woke up a little late so missed departing with the group this morning, but that turned out to be a VERY good thing. There's a good chance that had that happened, I might have called it a day early. The first 3-3.5 miles were absolutely miserable. Nothing felt right, and it was very discouraging. I was glad to be running by myself here, knowing I'd have either been trying to run faster than I should have, or I'd have been bitchin' and moanin' the whole time, making it all worse. The change, though, seemed pretty sudden. In just a matter of a couple of minutes, the pain began to subside, and I was moving really well. Stopped at a water stop and chatted briefly w/Sean, then was on my way. The rest of the way, I felt awesome. Without a Garmin, I don't know the difference between the pace I started and the pace I ran from mile 4 on, but the difference had to be pretty significant.

I completed the first part of the route back to base, a little over 7.5 and thought about just getting the extra 2.5 in and then finishing off the mileage later that day, but with how good everything seemed to feel, I was lured by the desire to get my longest run in a month and a half (5/29-19.1 miles). It was an AWESOME feeling to get going and to feel how well everything moved heading down Blossom for a loop of the park. I know this is a lot to write about a run, but man it was just such a great feeling to get this all done and feel good about how it went.

If all goes well, next week, I'm shooting for a "full training" week. That means consistent two-a-days and throw in a couple of moderate workouts, ending with another long run next Saturday. We'll see how that all goes.

7/16/10 PM Easy Run, 7.1 Miles, 14.5 Miles for the Day

7.1 Miles
49:25
6:57 avg

Ran most of this run w/Geoff, as we met along Blossom and headed to and around the park. Felt pretty darn good for this run. No Achilles issues to be too concerned with today. Great stuff.

7/16/10 AM Easy Run, 7.35 Miles

7.35 Miles
53:28
7:16 avg

Just an easy loop from house to and around the park and back. This was a strange run...I didn't run on Thursday, as I should have done in the morning. Time just didn't work out for it, BUT I did make it to the store to get my new Pearl Izumi SyncroFuel trainers, so this morning was the maiden voyage. They performed well, and I feel good about the purchase.

The Achilles, however, did not respond well to 36 hours of no running, from Wednesday afternoon's 7 miles through this morning. They were both stiff when I got out of bed, all the way through getting out the door. That concerned me, and was rough for the run to the park. I was running pretty gingerly until I got about half a mile into the park. FINALLY, they both were loosening up and I was able to move a bit more fluid. I saw Coach Wade twice as I made my way along the path at Memorial. The final 2-miles were the easiest.

First 2 miles - 15:26 (7:43)
3 miles @ the park - 21:48 (7:16)
Final 2 miles - 14:03 (7:01)

7/14/10 PM Easy Run - 6 Miles

6 Miles out and back
43:19
21:43 out
21:35 back

The run went just about the way I wanted it to. After kinda pushing it earlier and in some pretty rough heat, I wasn't feeling really good about how well I'd rehydrated, although I wasn't feeling bad at all. So, I just took it out slowly. Chatted briefly with Sean as I hit the road at the start, and was on my way.

The Achilles got a little achy as I made my way back, but after about 3/4 mile of aggravation, the feeling actually subsided as I neared the end of the run. All in all, a good day, hitting 12 miles and not feeling all that much worse for the wear.

7/14/10 - Lunch Run - 6 Miles

6 Miles out and back
20:40 out
20:10 back

With no Garmin, I'm only estimating distances. Ran from home to the 3-mile mark just before getting to the tennis center. Ran 13:48 to the Crestwood water fountain (2-miles), then about 6:52-ish when I turned and headed back.

The run didn't happen on purpose, really. After a late night and not getting in till about midnight, I opted for sleep over running before work. As I headed home to eat for lunch, I had two discussions with folks about running, so when I got home I just headed upstairs and changed quickly and hit the road before I could think twice about it. I just felt the need to Run Like An Animal....yes I'm excited about my upcoming purchase, which should be tomorrow, of my new Pearl Izumi SyncroFuels. They sure felt great in the store and taking a few quick strides up the sidewalk. Guess we'll see how they feel.

Anyway, the run culminated without issue, and I felt pretty good for having run well in pretty rough heat. Great stuff.

7/13/10 - PM Easy, Quick Run - 3.5 Miles

Got out to the Cloverleaf for this one. It takes me about 2:30 of easy, easy jogging to get over from my place to the CL. When I get there, I will generally click the lap on my watch just as I go around one light pole and start my CL loops.

I had to be at my 2nd jay oh bee by 6:30, and with construction on Post Oak as I tried to get home, time got cut short. I sorta inadvertently ran a progressive short run here. The CL loop is not quite a mile, as generally I have to run about 10-15 seconds further for a full mile, but I didn't have exact measurements, so I only have my loop times. Completed them in 6:06, 5:46 and 5:24, then headed home. I was pretty wiped at the end of those...again lending to the knowledge that I'm not in great fitness shape, but it was fun to run that way.

7/12/10 PM Easy Run - approx 6.5 miles

6.5 Miles

Got out and went for a repeat of the morning's run. I've since deleted the info from the run, but essentially ran about 45-46 minutes for this run. Stopped when the Achilles pain came in. Starting to think there is a daily mileage threshold present. Hmmm....

Either way, I'm happy with the day's mileage, and looking forward to the remainder of the week.

7/12/10 AM Easy Run

7.35 Miles
53:03

This run felt great... no issues in the Achilles. I'll update some of the last week's stuff later. What I will say though is that Saturday's long run was a good one... stopped after an hour and 20 minutes, though. My fitness is GONE, it seems. But not issues on the Achilles. Good stuff.

I'll be back out on the roads this afternoon, working on getting mileage back up. Also, been working on getting my weight back to where it needs to be. Honestly, part of my problem with my Achilles' might have been tied to a little extra poundage that I was trying to carry all those miles. I definitely need to stay fueled, but I also need to shed a few "lb's" as I start upping the mileage again. The weeks are clicking away as Twin Cities gets closer, and I'm not changing the goal time right now. When it gets closer, if I'm just not at the fitness level I need to be, then I'll get with Coach Wade and re-evaluate.

7/6/10 PM Easy Run, 7.35 Miles, 12.6 Miles for the Day

7.35 Miles
49:35

A successful run of one of my usual routes from my place, to and around the park and back. Felt great. I was probably...no make that definitely...running faster than I should have for much of the run, but I just went with what I was feeling. Got to the park and just cruised around...felt great.

After 5 miles, my Achilles began to make its presence known, as I began to ease up on the pace. As I got further down Memorial towards my place, it became more prominent. After crossing Shepherd, I saw Jon Warren down there, as his group did their workout along the bayou. I stopped and chatted with him for about 3-4 minutes. When I got running again, for the final 3/4-mile to my place, the Achilles pain was pretty much gone, as I cruised on into my place. He did invite me to join them any Tuesday to do the workout. Looked like an awesome course they had set up as they ran along the bayou. I just may do that in a couple of weeks, as my leg gets stronger and more "reliable", so to speak.

Overall, great day of running. I won't jump to conclusions and say "I'm back." That's evident by the pain I felt that got up to probably a 7-8 on the pain meter for about a mile and a half. But I'm encouraged by the way it subsided after a brief break. I liked that a lot. Both the left and right got a dose of ice as I watched some TV and ate my dinner. Going to get after it again in the morning and afternoon tomorrow.

7/6/10 - AM Easy Run, 5.25 Miles

5.25 Miles
36:55

Not much to say except... pain free. Loved it. Let's see what happens in the PM.

7/5/10 - 6.2 Mile Easy Run

6.2 Miles
45:30

Easy run... legs didn't feel too bad, but there just felt like there was no push off, no "explosion" in my steps during the 2nd half of the run. Felt like if I was in a race, it would have taken forever to pickup the pace. If I had to stop for a car or something, I couldn't just get back on pace right away...had to slowly pick it up.

Overall, however, happy with the run that I was able to get in 6 miles with "minimal" discomfort.

7/4/10 - Easy Run, Approx 5.5 miles

5.5 Miles
39:00

I had to pull up about a mile short of the desired run distance here, but for 90% of the run, felt really good. As soon as the Achilles pain became too much, I stopped. The battle is not yet to be fought. Right now, it's taking care of the injury and working on fitness.

7/3/10 Kenyan Way "Long" Run, Approx 9 Miles

1-hour run

Did a portion of the route with the Kenyan Way, in to downtown, around Minute Maid Park and back to base. Added 1-mile loop and called it a day. Might have been the best thing, as the Achilles is still not 100%. I had planned on 14-miles, but opted to cut it short while it was feeling good still.

The strange part was that during the first couple of miles, it was aching the whole time until we got to the first water stop, about 2-3 miles in. After that, ran a much faster pace that felt good on the legs, but took its toll on me, fitness-wise. I'm not quite in shape to have run the way I did for a long run, but it was promising as far as my injury goes.

7/2/10 - 4 Miles Easy on Treadmill

30 minutes on the treadmill, during the torrential downpour.

7/1/10 - No Run