5/4 - 5/8 Updates

5/4 - PM 7.1 Miles
50:21

Ran with a neighbor of mine, Dan, to the park, loop and back. Gave me 14-miles on the day, and felt pretty good too.

5/5 - After 2 runs and 14 miles the prior day, I took this day off. I'm not in real "training" mode yet, so wasn't TOO important to get this run in yet. However, I did want to make sure I gave myself time to recover from it.

5/6 - PM 7.1 Miles
46:57

I got on it a little today... got nothing below 6-minute pace, but hung out in the mid-6's for the majority of the run. Felt good.

5/7 - Kenyan Way Saturday Long Run - 13+ Miles
1:27:20

I felt really good on this run. I can DEFINITELY feel that my fitness and cardio shape are not there, but it felt good to get out and join the group for a run and to be able to (1) keep up, and (2) finish the entire run. Luis helped push the pace about mid-way through and to the end, and I just wanted to see how long I could stay with the group and feel decent doing it. As we neared the completion of the first main loop at 9-ish miles, we might have dropped a couple of 6:10 miles, maybe just a little under that, but I knew I couldn't do that for the remaining 4 miles I wanted to do. So, we started the final 2 miles, and my watch said 1:00:35. So, to run the last 4 miles, when I was throttling back, at 27 minutes (or just under) is a good feeling.

5/8 - AM Easy Run - Distance not known
1:01:15

I took it out easy to run down to the park, but as I got to the park, inspired by a friend's jaunt through the trails across the street from MP, I decided to hit the turn off and go for a little trail running myself. I entered the wooded area at just under 15 minutes into my run, and emerged about 47 minutes into the run, so spent just over 30-minutes weaving through and up and down the trails. Was a good deviation from the norm, although I ended up about 10-15 minutes longer than I had planned on going. But, it was fun, and kinda charged me up even more after the way the week went.

I crested 50 miles for the week last week, and looking forward to bumping it up just a tad this week. It didn't start out with a bang, though, as I didn't even hear my 5:15 wake up call this morning. I was flat wiped out.

All having been said, my confidence has been raised. I am reigniting belief in the times I have wanted to run for all distances, and it's just fueling the desire to get out the door to run. Stretching and strength building are still key, so we'll see how committed I stay to the ENTIRE process.

Rodriguez...OUT!!

5/4/11 Easy AM Run - 7.15 Miles

7.15 Miles
47:55

Great feeling run. Moved well...definitely took my time getting up to speed, but really felt good to push the pace a little. Did middle 3-miles @ 19:00 (6:30, 6:20, 6:10), and finished up well. I thought about keeping that pace through the final two miles home, but I thought better of it.

It's not yet time for me to train my body. Right now, I'm definitely in the mode of training my mind.

Continuing Progress...Building Momentum

Last week, I took a couple of extra days in between running to make sure all felt good and in good shape.

Saturday morning, I got out and ran to Memorial for a loop, then continued with a loop of the bayou. It felt great. Total 1:22:36 running time. First run over an hour in a while, and man did it feel good. I kept the pace relatively easy, as I probably got in about 11 or a little more miles. I'll have to map it out to get the mileage.

Sunday afternoon, after dropping off my daughter, I headed out for a little over 7 miles to and around Memorial...heading to the park down Memorial and back from the park down Blossom. 49:32 total running time there, as I'm pretty sure the entire run was below 7:00/mile.

Monday, I got out for 7.1 in the morning and 2.2 more miles at night. All in all, a great running day.

As each day passes, legs are feeling better and better. I feel very thankful with each step, and just keep hoping that things hold together. REAL training won't begin for a few more weeks, but getting the confidence up with each run seems increasingly important.

I have a goal time in mind already for Chicago, but there is so much that has to go right in order for that to be a possibility...right now, it's just one day at a time and getting myself healthy and confident.

For those who have done so, I greatly appreciate the good thoughts and positive vibes.

4/26/11 - Off Day

Yesterday was indeed an off-day. I woke up with my left calf a little on the tight side. I suspected I might have over-done it the day before, as I did the 7-miles (which was fine), but to hit two miles sub-7 was a little much. It didn't take any cardio effort, but was probably more "strain" than my leg should have taken.

I took the day off from working out/running, but will resume this afternoon. I'll hit the road for a run (4.5-7, and plan on a gym visit after for some stationary bike time, core and upper body).

All I need to do at this point in the game is keep enough fitness and positive mental vibes before beginning Chicago training. Each time I run, I'm fast-forwarding in my head to when I can hammer out a 20-miler, do a 10-mile tempo run, a 9-mile progressive run, 30-30s at the park, 60-60s through River Oaks, etc.

All in all, the idea of Chicago training is really getting my heart-rate up and getting my competitive juices flowing. I just hope and pray that it is in the grand scheme of things that I can survive training and run this race.

4/25/11 - 7.1 Miles

7.1 Miles
50:06

Felt pretty darn good for this run. A little calf fatigue at the end, so I need to be careful there. Trying not to get ahead of myself, but things have been progressing well. But, I need to be mindful of aches and tightness and such. We'll see what the body says to do tomorrow...might be a day off.

4/24/11 - 4.5 Miles

4.5 Miles
32:06

Warmed the calf again the same way, but no compression socks (still dirty from the prior day of wearing them). I can honestly say this run felt good from start to finish. Felt good to be out the door and hitting the road, I tell ya. Great way to start my Easter Sunday.

Happy Easter to all! Hope it was a wonderful day for any and all of my readers.

4/23/11 - 7.1 Miles

7.1 Miles
51:12

I heated a wet towel and wrapped my calf in it, then repeated a couple of times. Then, added a pair of compression socks for my run...seemed to do the trick.

I started out my run and didn't feel all that great about it, but about a mile in, I felt pretty loose and just kept on around the park. Not sure about whether I negative split the run, but it was a good one. Just happy to get the mileage in. Confidence building by the day.

4/22/11 - 4 Miles

4 Miles
31:00

A little bit of an uncomfortable run after a massage the prior day. I might should have taken the day off, but opted for a 9am run down to the park and back. Calf just a little sore.

4/21/11 - No Run - Massage Day

No run today, even though I felt great when I woke up this morning. The calf does require a little Connie attention, so off to see her this afternoon I will go for my 2nd massage.

Later, it's soccer practice night, so I'll be running around the field with the kiddos for that. That should be enough for me today. :-)

Ready to hit the road tomorrow morning and throughout the weekend for a little mileage.

For those that have ever missed time while injured, or just couldn't get out when you wanted to, you know the sheer joy of getting back on the roads. Right now, I can only say I'm sort of basking in that glorious feeling each time out.

4/20/11 AM Easy Run, 4.5 Miles

4.5 Miles
33:45

Great feeling run today, but legs definitely telling me "Hey, you haven't run 4-days in a row in a looooong time." A little sore in the calf, but not like it has been...I really feel like this is left-overs from the issues I had been having. Massage appt scheduled for tomorrow. In the meantime, pretty sure I'm not going to do any running tomorrow...maybe. But, if things feel okay, I may get out for a morning 30-minute run. Logic, though, says I should stay off of it, and just get the massage, run Friday, then try to go for another hour run on Saturday.

We shall see. :-) Either way, it is just good to be back on the roads.

4/19/11 - AM Easy Run 7.1 Miles

7.1 Miles
52:23

Awesome feeling run. There is still some issue existing in my calf...pretty much lay-over from the tightness I've been battling. However, running felt awesome.

Here is where patience will come into play...I want to run this afternoon so badly, but all of this return to fitness is going to take a patient process. That journey has officially begun.

Changing Tides

On a few folks' recommendation, I looked into some new shoes, as I embark on my endeavor to get my calves and legs healthy and ready for some training. On Sunday, I ventured into Luke's Locker to see what kinda recommendation on a shoe I could get. I have alternated between being told I pronate heavily and need stability control, to being told I can go with neutral shoes. I was beginning to think that my neutral shoes were to blame for my injuries, and to a degree they were. But it seems it wasn't the lack of stability control, but quite possibly (and I stress the word POSSIBLY) the brand. I got into my first pair of Mizuno's in early May of last year, and was sidelined with Achilles issues a month later. After much attempts at healing and some time off, I ramped up mileage again, and got into another pair of Mizuno's in December, and was again sidelined after mid-January. I'm not sure if that was the cause, but.... So, yesterday I purchased a pair of Asics Gel Starspeeds. They are light, neutral trainers. After two 30-minute runs (one yesterday afternoon and one this AM), I'm sold. They shoe felt good, light and just what the doctor ordered. The best part of my run yesterday, was my little girl running a mile with me. She has no idea of her talent and potential...she ran and conversed with me the entire mile, but said she was spent at the end of that mile. She just looks so natural for an 8-year old. We'll see what comes for her. More to come!

Cautious Optimism

So, I said I would wait till next weekend to run, but I decided on Monday night to get another 30 minutes in...or 4-miles. Saturday's run, oddly enough, was exactly 6-months out from Chicago...April 9. Not sure why, but I liked that. Monday, I got out and ran pretty decent. I don't wear a Garmin, but know my mileage points along my 4-mile out and back route. I hit mile one in 7:35, then 7:05 and hung around there, to complete 4-miles in just under 29 minutes, so I added on a little bit and finished up at 31:00. I stretched, rolled with The Stick, and just felt pretty good about the whole endeavor. I haven't made it back into my massage therapy, but need to schedule that for this or next week. It seemed to be the right thing, so I can't let that go to the side. Anyway, 8-miles done so far this week, and thinking of 4-more tonight. Just a side-note, despite looking at my watch and timing my miles, I am in NO WAY pushing anything during my run. As a matter of fact, i think I'd have been happier to stay near 7:30 pace, but I just ran how I felt. That's all for now.

Health and Reality

Just a quick stop in to post. I'm still working on getting healthy. Been dealing with some calf issues now, and I'm starting to think i'm on the tail end of those. Been working in the pool and stationary bike...mainly the bike. My iPod has been the saving grace that allows me to stay on for an hour at a time. :-) It's tough, I tell ya... not cause it's hard, but because it's kinda boring.

I made another attempt at a run on Saturday, and it was finally "successful", in the sense that I went out for a set distance and was able to run that distance... 4 miles in just under 31-minutes. I was truly pleased with that. I was on the cusp of using that to fuel confidence to run more this week, but I think that just tells me to keep doing what I'm doing, and make another go next weekend.

As for reality, I think it's time I actually said out loud that the Trials are no longer the goal. There is just no way that I can see right now that 2:19 is going to come out of this body by October 9. I'm okay with that, though. Right now, focus is getting healthy and getting on the road to get fit, so that I can train for the marathon and run a good time. Sometimes, you just have to deal with the things that life throws your way, and right now I'm learning to deal with those things.