Thoughts for Sunday

I ran a 33:21/7:02/mi. in the Manchester Road Race 15/521 M5559 the top 3% of my age group; about a minute slower than last year but I felt great at the end, not even out of breath. I know I could have run faster but I was a little concerned about my right leg so again I am very happy with my time.
Saturday I ran 4.1 miles and then worked all day. My legs felt fine and I had a really good day at work; even fit someone from Sweden!
Today I ran 15 miles, 2:04:46, 8:19/mi. I ran in the Adidas Adizero Boston and felt really good. I did feel a little tired at first and my ankles ached at the end but it was a great feeling being able to run long at a good pace. My 1/2 marathon time was 1:49:30, an excellent time for me on a training run.
I still don't know about Carlsbad. I'm not sure I am really and I'm not sure I can afford it. I hate to have signed up for another marathon and miss it, 3 in a row now, but it may be for the best.

74th Manchester Road Race

Before I write about Manchester I did a recovery run of 4 miles on Tuesday to get my legs back for today.
My 3 daughters ran Manchester as the 3 blind mice; they had a great time even though the weather was a little cold. I warmed up for about 3/4 of a mile and then went to the bathroom at Dunkin Donuts. Then I had a 1/2 mile walk to the race. I did a lot of stretching and exercises at home in preparation and I felt good in the starting corral. This was the fifth time (I think) that I received a card for the 30-35 slot. the Adizero Bostons felt great from the start and I was able to get to mile 1 in 7:19 about what I had planned. I didn't feel that I was pushing myself so I was in a good position to take the hills. I did fall back to 7:55 on the hills at one point but as I crested the top I quickly went to 6:20/mi. I stretched it out on the downhill and tried to stay at about a 7:20 pace on the flat. When I got near the finish, the announcer  was saying that we were 33 minutes into the race. I knew I would be under 34 and get a card again next year. My time was about 33:33, a little over a minute slower than last year but with all my recent problems I was thrilled with my time.

I'm Really Back

Running wise, this has been a great week. Others at Fleet Feet have told me about lighter weight trainers but I didn't think their advice applied to me because of my back problems and I felt I needed more cushioning. But I believe now that I was wrong. I bought a pair of Adidas Adizero Bostons and ran first on a treadmill and then outside. They feel so light and my legs feel less fatigue. On Monday I did a recovery run in the Nike Max Motos on the treadmill, 5.4 miles. Wednesday again ran the treadmill in the Motos, 5.0 miles. But Thursday I tried the Bostons, 4.0 miles, 34:40, 8:40/mi. on the treadmill. Yesterday I wanted to see if they would work for me outside so I ran 4.1 miles, 31:54, 7:47/mi. Well the results speak for themselves. My legs felt great.
Today I wanted to do a long run to see if the shoes would work 2 days in a row and if there was ca chance that I could run a marathon in them. Well, 10.4 miles, 1:22:27, 7:55/mi. and my legs, hip, back, etc. all feel fine.
I sold 2 pairs of light weight trainers yesterday; hopefully the 2 people I sold them to will find that they work as well for them as they did for me.
I not sure right now if I will be able to get away for the Carlsbad Marathon. I still want to run it now with the possibility of running a faster race especially, but I'm not sure about my work schedule now.

WOW What a Day!

My right leg felt somewhat fatigued this morning but I had planned for a long run outside and the weather was perfect. I started to run and my legs felt OK; I thought it might have been that I needed to run and you know how your legs feel after one too many days off? I ran to one of our high schools in town (Fermi) which was about 4 miles and ran 5 miles around the track trying to speed down the back straight away every third time around. Then I ran a longer route home. 14.4 miles, 2:00:58; a 8:24/mi. pace and I feel great. My legs are tired but no real pain. I just hope I am over my problems so I can make plans for 2011. I am signed up to run Carlsbad, Boston, and Vermont.

Little Things Which Lead to Pain-Free Running

I haven't written since Monday. I have not had any pain for 9 days in my right knee but it has felt weak or sore a few times. Yesterday at work I had a meeting with one of the key sales people from Superfeet and after I told him what has been happening with my leg he told me 2 things which were exactly right with what was wrong and a simple exercise/stretch to help eliminate the pain. Using the bungy cord, going straight out and back has stopped the pain in my knee. One of my owners said today that you just have to talk to a number of people and get advice, try it, and you will be helped.
 I ran 5.3 mile on Wednesday, 4.0 miles on Thursday OUTSIDE!! and 4.3 miles today for a total of 32.3 miles for the week. This is the most miles I have run since the last full week of August.
No pain in my right knee; it feels so great I can not tell you how I feel!!!

3 Days without Pain

Although my legs did feel tired today and I have to make sure that my back stays curved with my shoulders back and my butt lifted up, I did not feel any stabbing pain in my right leg as I ran 6.2 miles in 57:35. I'm going to run outside soon and hopefully I'll still feel no pain.
I saw the NYC Marathon yesterday on TV; both the men's and women's races were exciting. Gebre Gebremariam and Edna Kiplagat were inspiring as was Shalane Flanagan coming in second in her 1st marathon.
She may run Boston in 2011 since she is from the Boston area and now with such a good 1st marathon she will probably want to run one in the Spring.

A Great Weekend

I felt no pain in my right leg all weekend. Yesterday I ran 4.1 miles before work and today I ran 12.5 miles; still no pain. I came home and watched the delayed broadcast of the NYC Marathon. I missed the Manchester City (NH) Marathon today but I feel I am able to prepare for the Carlsbad Marathon which I am also signed up for and then Boston.
I'm not sure I know the name of all the stretches I do for my back but I am stretching my back and cross training more than I run now in a week. Last week I ran 28.1 miles all on the treadmill; I hope to start running outside again soon.
I talked to my son briefly today and he asked if I would run the Raleigh (NC) Marathon next year with him. It sounds like a good plan so I hope to be able to run it in 2011.

Feeling Better

I haven't written all week; I've been really busy. I have already run more miles, on the treadmill, than I have in 4 weeks. I'm back to PT where they are working on my back. I ran 6.5, 3.3 and 4.1 miles this week and I plan to run tomorrow too. When I have time I want to go into some details of my therapy.