32.1 Miles so Far

It's been a good week. I have run 4 days so far (one day left to the week) and no pain. I want to run another longer run Sunday so I'm not sure what I will do tomorrow.
This weekend is the first Brooklyn Marathon, https://www.nycruns.com/index.php?option=com_dtregister&Itemid=361&eventId=32&controller=event&task=individualRegister
This is a small race but I'm sure it will grow. Don't wait too long to run it or you may be running with 1000's.
I just received my new Brooks Glycerin's http://www.brooksrunning.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-BrooksRunning-Site/default/Default-Start?src=pgooaw100&gclid=CKOx15GzwawCFYUbQgodbjytpg for the Rehoboth Marathon.
Thanksgiving will be my 22th or 23rd Manchester Road Race (Manchester CT). Even with my bum Achilles I hope to run sub-40 to keep a card; right now I am in the U-35 corral.

Running Consistently

I'm trying to run more again since I'm feeling better. Tweaked my back today lifting tree stumps; my brother came up from Waterford to help clear out some of the downed trees.
I ran 5.2 miles yesterday and 4.4 miles today. I hope to run and swim tomorrow.

Cross Training

I ran 3 miles on the 10th and biked 17 miles on the 11th. After a day off I ran 19.3 miles on Sunday in 3:03:26. It was a little slow but I felt good after. Baby steps. Monday I started my swimming program; I want to be able to swim a mile twice a week. I started by swimming 32 laps in about 28 minutes. I have a ways to go but I really haven't swam much in over a year. I took today off and had an acupuncture session; both the swimming and acupuncture helped my Achilles.
I scheduled my appointment for the driving portion to obtain my commercial license today (waited 40 minutes to talk to someone at CT DMV) for Dec. 14.

Raleigh Half Marathon

Yes I ran the half. The course was very hilly and my son kept saying it was nothing compared to the full. So I was happy with my decision. I ran about 8:10/mi. after the first mile for a while. I would slow down on the hills until about mile 8. They gave out Accelerade as the sport drink which was very good. I ran with Keith from mile 3.5 to 5 and then he took off. He was running the 10k. The 1/2 and full ran together for about 9+ miles and then the 1/2 looped back to the finish. I felt strong and kicked by about 15 people the last 2+ miles. Finished strong at 1:48:13, 6/40 in my age group, 55-59.
Today my Achilles doesn't hurt at all. It's actually a little scary; I have had at least some pain now since July. I have a lot of yard work to do today but I will work out later.
Last night I signed up for the Rohoboth Beach Seashore Marathon on December 10. I just want to get back to running marathons. I will take it easy; a 3:50-4:00 would be OK.

To Run the Full or the Half?

Well last Friday I ran a 7 miler on the treadmill. Sunday I went out to see how far I could go and still feel good, no Achilles pain. I made it 15.1 miles; I probably could have gone 18. I ran slow and my quads were tired before any Achilles pain. Too little to late? That's what I was thinking. After 7 miles on the elliptical yesterday I ran 4.5 miles today on the treadmill in 40:12, 8:56/mi., as fast as 7.3/mi.
I'm wondering if I should use the Galloway Method and try the full. I'll have to see how my Achilles feels.

Tiffany's First 1/2 Marathon

It was a fabulous day and my Achilles cooperated. Tiffany was strong throughout and sprinted at the finished, surprising me and I had to catch up just in time to finish next to her. Time: 2:09:02. She was 175/316 in her age group F2024, 9:51/mi. Awesome job!
I had to run up the hills a little faster and wait for Tiff to keep my Achilles quiet but it worked fine. I had fun and I wasn't sore after. Sunday I was able to run 2 miles and go 2 miles on the elliptical.
Pictures to come.

Hartford 1/2 Tomorrow

Well I'm ready, I just hope my Achilles and sciatica are ready ;)
I have run 12 miles, used the elliptical for 22.5 miles and biked 20 miles since I last wrote. I have have had 4 acupuncture treatments. I'm not sure I'm picking the right shoes or running in the right shorts/compression socks but tomorrow I'll find out. I hope Tiffany has a great run!

Elliptical Training

I have run only a few of times in the past 15 days. I have found lately my Achilles doesn't hurt while running but it does hurt for about a day afterwards. So I started to use the elliptical trainer at my gym. I go for about an hour, one mile forward and the next backwards. I repeat this for 6-8 miles at a time. Then I row, bike or use the treadmill. After getting up this morning my Achilles does not hurt to the touch and yesterday it didn't hurt while I was at work. So there is improvement, just not at a very fast rate. I am going to a Chiropractor on Monday who I have heard good things about who I hope will improve it further using acupuncture.

Hope

I hope I will be able to run with my oldest daughter Julie on September 24 in the Cole Brook 1/2. On the 5th I ran 6.5 miles on an artificial track and grass (about 50:50). I ran through the park on the 8th with my dog, 2.8 miles. I was feeling OK but my right knee was bothering me. I bought a CEP knee support when I felt like I couldn't stand at work all day. I felt fine then and I used it to run 11.4 miles on grass at one of our town's high schools on Sunday. I worn the Ghost 4 and stopped when both legs felt tired. Yesterday the right achilles was sore but today I was able to cycle 26 miles and I have been wearing Zensah calf sleeves all day which seemed to help.
I will try to run again tomorrow, on grass, and then take the Brooks Glycerin out on the road on Thursday.

Rehab

My right achilles has been a mess. I have done a fair amount of biking/cycling for a month. What is it about people who bike that they need for me to say cycling? I find it boring. I go about 15-18 miles per hour and I enjoy listening to music the whole time in contrast to running where I never listen to music.
I just started to run again on July 31; 3.2 miles on a treadmill. I tried 2 miles the next day and I had to stop. I am going to PT and as I had therapy the next day I said I felt I was back to square 1.
Yesterday I woke with the thought that I should take my dog for a run in the park next door. We went for a 5.8 mile run and I wore Saucony Kinvara's over grass, trails, rocky paths and asphalt. 5.8 miles and my legs are good today. I ran 2 miles before church and work and my legs still feel fine tonight. My achilles is OK.
What am I to do? I am going to try to run with Julie tomorrow on the roads to see if the Kinvara's are working more than the Ghost.
I will have cancel the full in Erie but I hope I can run the 2 halfs with my daughter Julie and Tiffany at the end of September and the middle of October.

What Running Life?

Well I was doing well and on my way back to running well then my right achilles tendon has done me in. I ran twice this week but today I used my bike. I had planned to bike more in August to keep from getting hurt I guess I should have started in mid July ;) I did run 18.2 miles on Sunday July 17, 2:35:55; 8:34/mi. in the Ghost 4. I don't know if my achilles pain is from the minimal shoes, the lower orthotics or over use. I was planning on running the Kelly race in New London next Saturday but I'm not sure now. I know I need to rest and ice the tendon and I have been but I'm getting tired of this happening each August (4 bad months of August in the past 6 years). I ran 115.2 miles in July so it wasn't from running too much!!!

Family

Well the whole family is running and even my wife is talking about doing a 5k. My youngest daughter just got back from a run as did I (10.1 mile in 1:24:38) and my son who is visiting, is going out right now.
My daughter Julie ran a 5k yesterday, the Enfield Twilight 5K.

Busy Two Weeks

I can't believe I haven't written for almost 2 weeks. The rest of last week went well but I did have some leg pain. total for the week: 30.7 miles. I was talking to 2 women I work with who are getting a Doctor of Physical Therapy and they gave me 3 exercises to strengthen my back and one, Liz, made me realize that some of my daily routine was doing more harm than good. I started doing the exercises the next day and after 5 days my back and right leg feel better.
I ran 15.4 miles on Sunday and felt good (2:13:55; 8:41/mi.). I have run with Tiffany (on  Monday 4 miles) and the past 2 days 6 and 6.1 miles. All outside. I am making sure my gait is short (84-88 x2 strides /min.) and I am going slower. So far so good and I have already run 31.5 miles this week.
I signed up to run the Hartford Half with my daughter Tiffany in October and the Colebrook Half with my daughter Julie in September (one week after my Presque Isle Marathon).
I'm also signed up to run the City of Oaks Marathon in Raleigh in November.

Increasing Miles and Good Long Runs

I ran a total of 32.4 miles last week increasing my miles again over the previous week. My mileage is much lower this year but today I ran 10 miles at 8:07/mi. and felt great for the entire run. I have had double digit Sundays for the past 3 weeks and I hope to run 18-20 miles next Sunday. The Brooks Ghost is a great training shoe; it's even a great base for running on a cantered surface.

Perfect Long Run on Father's Day

So I finished up last week with a 4.7 mile run at 8:19/mi. 29 miles total for the week; building back to 40/week.
Sunday I ran 14.5 miles in 2:00:12, 8:17/mi. and I could have done more (18-20) but I had to get ready for church. Although my bunion on my left foot hurt most of the run, my sciatica did not hurt and I had only one sharp pain since.
Today I started training with my daughter Tiffany for her first 1/2 marathon in October. She is very determined  but lacks some confidence which I hope to work on as much as her physical training. Running long becomes mostly mental if you have put in the time and I believe she will come to this conclusion on her own by September.

Sticking to the Plan

I had planned to run inside for 7 miles twice this week and did Tuesday and today. I hope to run a 14 miler on Sunday since I have Father's Day off. My bunion on my left foot continues to hurt while running and sometimes after for awhile. Hopefully, this will not slow me down. I really wanted to run outside this morning since I had a rare morning off but worked in the garden instead. Next month I will post some garden pictures if the animals don't eat everything. I now have rabbits besides turkeys, deer, etc. and others trying to get in. One of Annemarie's uncles said he electrifys his garden fence.

10 Miler

I was laying in bed this morning thinking of all the things I had to do this week; I work every day, run most, and work in the garden besides all the everyday things to help with around the house. There just doesn't seem to be enough time.
It was raining when I started this morning and continued through most of the run. It was nice and cool and the traffic was light. I had to use a port-a-potty after mile 7 but I was able to pick my speed back up and finished with an 8:20/mi. pace. Everything felt good. We had a trigger point discussion after work at Fleet Feet on Friday.
I have since started to use some of what I learned and I believe it is helping.

2011 KeyBank Vermont City Marathon

I LOVE this marathon! My running is not up to speed yet after all the problems I have had in the past year but it felt great running here again for my sixth time. My family is making big plans to run the 2-person and 5-person relays and the marathon next year. I hope the lottery works in our favor.
Some thoughts on the marathon:
I started at about 8:30/mi. but kept going faster and I tried to slow some. I got my picture taken with my Marathon Manics peeps several times which was cool. I got to cheer for several in the out and back portion from 4-9 miles. Unfortunately, I was just in front of the 3:45 pace group and I think I lost some energy there which I didn't make up. I did go faster to get away from them and it cost more energy. But it happens and I did not let it spoil my run. I started with a Vibram runner in front of me at the start and I passed him at mile 17. I also passed a bare foot runner between 17-18. I drank a lot and by the end 17+ I drank both Gatorade and water almost every station. I joked with the runners and spectators on the 4+ mile bike path. I did go slower but I did feel strong and my legs don't really hurt much today. The HUMIDITY was just too much for me.
My results:
591/2405 top 25%
15/94 M5559 top 15%
3:50:19 net time
Over the final 6 miles I passed 61 runners and 17 passed me.
This was the first time I can remember a breeze at times helping to cool us. It was wonderful.
I look forward to running again next year.

A Lot has Happened Since May 1

First, Mom Smith died. Even though I knew it was coming it was a shock. I didn't really have anyone to share my feelings with; my wife and best friend, needed her family who were all here at home. It is strange not to see Mom next door anymore; I still expect to see her coming out of her house to tie up her dog.
I work 2 jobs and I am a little tired. My body seems to be revolting at times from all the running I want to do.
Since May 1 I have run a 10.5 and a 10.0 outside and my left ankle feels worse than my nerve problem in my right leg. I have no idea how I will do in Vermont; I hope to run better than Boston. # of us at Fleet Feet are running in Vermont; Steph, Liz and myself. I hope we all have great runs and finish strong!

Busy Times

First, my wife's mom had a massive stroke and is not going to recover. So it is a sad time for the family. Anne always treated me like a son, she was a great mother-in law and I always felt lucky like I had 2 moms.
My running is coming back slow, I was able to run 4Xs last week for 22 miles and I ran 10.3 miles today in 1:27:22, 8:29/mi. My right leg has hurt some but no stabbing pain just a dull pain around the right knee. I do not have my speed back but I only ran inside on the treadmill one time last week (6.7 miles) so I do feel good about that and I think more outside runs will help my speed in Vermont.