Over the Injury?

I felt good today after running 5.2 miles in 46:38 and working the afternoon. I feel like I might be over my injury after 8 months. I guess it just takes a lot more time as you get older. I am determined to qualify for Boston next year and be able to run. It's funny how the 2 are separate and not, for the first time, equal. I realize that many people did qualify for Boston last year and will not be able to run in 2011 but 2012 will be different. I know that people don't want to hear this but some were fast enough to qualify but not fast enough to register. I have heard some complaints from these runners. They should have taken a Monday off and signed up. I had Monday off and it took me 2 1/2 hours to be accepted. I knew something was up but most of the runners I know who qualified are faster than me and probably would not have listened to me if I told them they better sign up now.
They will be taking my place in Boston in the near future. I hope they feel the race is as special as I have felt.But I have my doubts. There are other marathons at this time of year but since I have qualified I never thought of running any other than Boston. I had hoped to run at least 10 in a row. So I need to get better at 59 to qualify.

End of Week and Turning Point

I took several days off last week; I still haven't been able to balance my 2 jobs after working at them for weeks. Maybe it's my age I don't really know. I did run 7.0 miles in 1:00:31 on last Friday and took Saturday off in anticipation of a 20 on Sunday.
Sunday I started running the 20 miler around 11:30; it was cool in the mid to upper 40's. I ran to the Fermi HS track about 4.3. I then ran almost 11 miles around the artificial track. My thinking was that I had had some left foot arch problems in the 1/2 in Colchester and I wanted to take it as easy as I could to see if I didn't break down trying to run 20. I felt strong at the end of the track run; I had taken 2 porta-potty breaks of about 1 minute each and stopped to drink out of a quart Gatorade bottle 3 X's (2/3 water, 1/3 Gatorade). I then took off for home.
I felt strong all the way home, even hitting 7:50 at one point. The totals 20.1 miles, 2:52:53, 8:36/mi. and a 13.1 of 1:52:30.
I have felt no pain in my right leg at all, even after 48 hours. Today I ran 3.1 miles on a treadmill in 29:13. My right leg felt a little weak twice but NO PAIN! I have recovered well. I will be somewhat conservative this week in the length and speed of my workouts but I am very pleased with my preparation for Boston.

Running Problems and the Larger Picture

My left arch and my nerve problems in my right leg have popped up again this week. But with the problems in the world they seem insignificant and if I have learned anything from all the miles I have run, it's to remain positive and hopeful. I ran 5.2 (outside), 6.5 and 6.3 the past 3 days but I'm so tired today after starting work earlier that I will take today off. The nerve pain in my right leg is back I think because of 2 days in a row outside. That is really sad. But after no pain after the 1/2 I am hopeful for the run in Boston.
I wish they would have 3 waves next year of 10K each. Or give people 1 minute for each year they have run ie if you ran Boston for 10 years you would get in 10 minutes below your qualifying time. I really wanted to run 10 years in a row and I think about it every day all year long. I know this is crazy but I do. I think this will probably be my last year though if stick to their plan. I will enjoy this year regardless of the time I run the marathon. I have taken the whole weekend off so it will be special.

Finally Outside

Well  I have worked every day except one in the past 13 and I only get a day off on the 20th. I am trying to fit my running in at different times. I still don't know which shoes I'm running Boston in because I have some arch issues. I ran 31.8 miles last week and 5.2 today. 11.2 miles outside in the past 2 days even with work. I hope to run a 20 miler outside next week.

Better and Better

The past 2 days my running has been better. 5.2 miles yesterday and 6.9 miles today in 59:56. I felt good.
I went to my friends funeral Mass today; it was crowded, nice to see so many people paying their respect to Mark LePak. I'll take tomorrow off; it's been an easy week trying to recover from the 1/2; just 16.3 miles total. I have found that as I get older it is best to listen to my body and not over due the miles.

Perspective

I've been sore this week after running the half. Monday I ran 1 mile on the treadmill and did 1.5 miles on the elliptical. I was more sore after but used both "The Stick" and the Trigger Point foam roller and felt better. After work today I ran 3.2 miles, 29:48, and used the elliptical for 1.25 miles. I'm feeling better; I'm about 1/2 way back.
I have a second part-time job, I am a Dial-a-ride driver. It's tough to see the elderly who were once good athletes reduced to using walkers or in dialysis. I must say I have been very appreciative of  my ability and even my speed which is consistent if not really fast. I saw in the paper today that a friend who I had recently seen at the gym died from ALS, he was 57. He was another person who was always active and I thought was in good health.
Appreciate every run and every race. Never be disappointed if you give your best that day or if you just enjoy the moment.
I love working at Fleet Feet if I just help one person a day be able to run better and enjoy running more than they did before they came to us. I'm lucky that most days I help several people run better.

Colchester Half Marathon

I hadn't run a 1/2 marathon since 2004. This was a hilly course and since I hadn't been able to get out much this winter I thought it would be perfect. I saw many people I knew and since I run alone most of the time it was a lot of fun running with so many people. They had a record crowd today and I got to talk to a lot of runners. One of my cousins' husband was there, Bob, and I got to talk to him before and after. I passed him at one point and was ahead for about 5 miles but he beat me by 1 second. I was happy with my time, 1:42:39 in 112 place. The winning time was 1:14 something; really fast for such a hilly course. I got to talk to the 3rd place finisher; Chris is a tri athlete in grad school at Yale. he came in in 1:17 something so you can see the times were fast. In fact, many of the top 200 runners are running the Boston Marathon or have run it in the past.

1/2 Tomorrow

Well my left ankle has been hurting for 3 weeks. It's ironic since my right leg has been my problem since August.
Hopefully, everything will be OK tomorrow.

Adidas Adizero Aegis

I really like the Aegis. I ran 6 miles and my legs felt great. Some posting but still fairly light weight. I didn't push myself but still ran 8:42/mi. I felt less tired after running than before running. I really like working at Fleet Feet. I was thinking of all the people I helped this past weekend; it's a great feeling helping people have the opportunity to improve their running plus I get to make new friends.

Yesterday and Today

Before work yesterday I ran 4 miles in 34:53 and 1 mile on the elliptical. Today I hope to do the same only after work. They gave me a pair of Adidas Adizero Aegis yesterday. It was a great surprise. I can't wait to try them out today. They might be beefy enough to run Boston. I'll have to take them out on the road in the next 2 weeks.

February is My Favorite Month

Both my son and my wife were born in February so I guess it's my favorite month since 2 of the family were born then. But my body never feels too good right now. I ran Tuesday through Thursday  4.5, 4.5, and 3.2 miles and then took 2 days off due to work. 32.2 miles for the week. Today I ran 7.0 miles early then I was bust until almost 5:30. Next weekend is the half and I hope to have a good race. Saturday we has a presentation from Nike at work and then received some great swag. I will wear it on next Saturday.

20 Miler Yesterday

After taking Saturday off, I decided not to wait until later in the week to run a 20 miler. I didn't know if running 62 miles in 8 days would be smart but I felt good yesterday and I thought if I wasn't feeling my best that I would run less. I ran the 20 on a treadmill, I don't want to go outside until the 1/2 on the 26th, 20.0 miles, 2:52:58 at 8:38.9/mi. I felt good after but it was a struggle from mile 11-16 and I had thoughts of not going the full 20. But I got a second wind at 17 and knew I could go as long as I stayed mentally tough. When I got home and was eating I lost part of a tooth which had a lot of fillings and my ankles were sore but I feel OK this morning.

Continuing a Good Week

4.2 miles Wednesday, 7.0 miles yesterday in 59:37, first time under 1 hour in a long time, and 6.0 miles today in 53:08. I signed up for the Colchester 1/2 and the Hartford Track Club bus to the Boston Marathon yesterday. I did feel a little pain in my right knee this morning and my back didn't feel right after work last night. I had picked up a bench at work before I left and I should have bent my legs more. I'm sure I can work through this. 42.2 miles for the week. I will probably take tomorrow off since it's been a week without a day off. I'm listening to NPR and their coverage of Egypt.

I'm Feeling Faster

I feel like I'm getting a little faster; today I ran 7.0 miles in 1:00:35 and actually I was taking it easy. This was on the treadmill which is harder for me to run as fast as on the road. I feel good now hours later too.

A Simple Problem

I have been thinking that my leg problem should be easier to fix. I am getting stronger and I have a lot less pain but still it seems to be lingering. For the past 7 days I have been busy and the snow stopped me from running one day but I have run a total of 27 miles with a high of 12 miles on Sunday. I fit someone yesterday from Colchester and he ran the 1/2 there last year. He said it is hilly and they put on a great spread after the race. I'm looking forward to running it and I hope to sign-up today.

Last Day of the Month

4 miles today to see how well my legs recovered from yesterday. 1 mile on the elliptical. I had lunch with a friend today who needs to get some exercise. I suggested snowshoes or just getting out and walking; he feels that running right now would be too much on his legs. I feel fortunate that I am able and that I like to run. Although my back and right leg did not feel as good this afternoon as I would have liked them to feel.

Long Run

I took 2 days off so I could have a long run yesterday. 17.3 miles, 2:25:32 total at 8:24.7/mi. I ran all the miles on the treadmill in the Adizero Boston. I took 1 gel and about 10 oz. of Gatorade and about 40 oz. of water. I didn't have any right hip or leg pain and I still don't have any today. This was my longest run since July; I hope to run at least 2 longer runs before Boston plus the 1/2 marathon at the end of next month. For now, I see a lot of treadmill running which will hopefully keep the pain away. I think that all the strengthening exercises are working.
I don't feel quite so back running inside this winter since we have so much snow it would be very difficult trying to run outside near my house right now. The snow mounds are over my head everywhere and the cars cannot see people running at every corner.

Felt Good After Shoveling

Snow, snow and more snow. We have set a 1 month record in CT for snow fall. The old record was from 1945. This is the most snow we have had on the ground since we moved to Enfield in 1988.
I ran well this afternoon at the gym; 7.0 miles 1:00:07, 8:35.3/mi. my fastest 7 miler on the treadmill in the past 6 months. No pain tonight and I feel good. All this treadmill work is paying off. I turned 59 on Tuesday and I am hopeful that Boston will be a good day.

Tired Today

I went to the gym and intended to run a few miles; finished with 4.2 miles and 2 miles on the elliptical. My legs have been tired the past 10 days but no sharp pain in the right leg. I feel like this is not a good time to push oneself. Winter always seems like a time to relax just go with how you feel. I'm sure I will feel like running longer in a few days. I guess you should always listen to your body it's just that in the warmer weather I can usually run through it.

Another Snowy Day

I might go snow shoeing today if I can get down to my brothers house. He has a few pairs and there is always fresh snow this winter. I ran 7 and 6.8 miles the past 2 days and a total of 4 miles on the elliptical trainer. I was really tired and cold yesterday and so I didn't run until 3:30. I sitting here watching it snow; we;ll probably get another 2-3 inches with more on the way Wednesday night and all day Thursday.