THOU SHALT BE A COMEBACK

11.8 in 1:46:51/9:03 pace--I actually think the pace was a bit faster since I was stopped multiple times for stoplights--much longer than usual on the stops.  Felt strong and good.  I didn't do the full 14 plus, considering my knee woes all week.  I decided to make the long run a little shoulder and run a few extra miles throughout the week.  The plan is a 14 or 15 miler next Monday and then that will be the last really long run before my half marathon.  Hope everyone is ready for the new year!  I am!

7.5 at a gentle 9:10 pace.  I felt good and restrained myself so I would run a true recovery pace. I wrote the check and mailed the registration for my first half-marathon today so it is officially a go!  My knee is only mildly sore so I am glad I cut the long run a little short yesterday.  Came home and my husband and brother-in-law had cooked a massive breakfast of hash browns, eggs, bacon, and toast.  They have been staying here since the weekend so we are a a house full of 4 adults and 7 children--fun times!  All the younger kids have been running in a pack and having a blast.  Almost time to ring in the new year!

6.2 easy at 8:43 pace.  I ran on asphalt today instead of dirt roads--it confirms my suspicions, that for the same effort I run faster on asphalt.  Hmm.  Anyways busy day today--gotta drop my daughter off, get my tb test read, and make it to work on time for a night of New Year's insanity.

Horrible run today.  The plan was 1 mile warm-up, 6.2 mile tempo, and 1 mile cool down.  Well the new year had a nasty surprise for me.  I felt good during the warm-up, and kicked into the tempo feeling strong.  It started out GREAT.  I was cooking along at well under 8:00 pace and feeling pretty comfortable doing out--got about 3 miles and some change into it and then BAM my right ankle blew up.  No warning.  I felt that familiar tug on the outside, and my gait immediately turned into a limp-run.  The tempo run came to a screeching halt.  Jogging very slowly and limpy, I went a few more miles in denial to see if it would settle down.  I know what it is, because I experienced this with my left ankle several months ago.  Pereoneal tendonitis appears again.  The good news is that it is not as severe, I don't think.  I am still able to walk without limping--a plus.   I came home, did my ankle stretches, popped 800 of motrin, and plunged my ankles into a fifteen minute ice bath.  I am 16 days away from my half and I have already paid the money.  So maybe there is a little denial going on here, but I think I can nip this thing in the bud in a few days if I am aggressive with treating it.   I am not looking forward to the elliptical machine but I foresee its use for a few days at least.

Update: Ok I have calmed down now. I have been walking around at work so far with no limp and no problems. Ankle seems fine. My ankles seem very sensitive to even the slightest bank in the road--I have been running on the right shoulder a lot to make my left ankle feel better but now my right ankle is mad. Sooo..I think I will be able to run tomorrow but it will have to be either the treadmill or a track. Time to start looking for some bike trails and maybe limited running on sidewalks as too much concrete could cause other problems.

Anyhow HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Oh yeah I measured the distance I had gotten in the tempo with my time and it puts me at 7:34 pace for 3.17 miles before I was so rudely interrupted--that's a good pace for me so I am happy about that!

6.3 on the treadmill in the laundry room at my mom's apartment complex.  The treadmill faces out a window about 10 feet from a wall.  So I ran and stared at the wall.  No tv and no music. Yuck.  I will have to borrow my son's zune tomorrow.  Tried to run overground a little bit and my ankle said NO.  I guess I am lucky that I can at least run on the treadmill.  I am so much slower on the treadmill!  I started out at 10:00 and eventually accelerated into 9:13 pace which was taking a lot of effort.  Overground those paces are a piece of cake for me but on the treadmill they are killer.  What's up with that???  Anyways I am trying not to panic.  I keep telling myself I will be able to run overground soon.  15 days until the half.  Ugh.  I better get to icing.

6.4 miserable, and I do mean miserable, miles on the treadmill in the laundry room at my mom's apartment.  I borrowed my son's zune and this was my first experience running with music, but it didn't seem to help much.  I have a new respect for treadmill runners.  The unrelenting, monotonous pace...ugh.  I ran at 9:22 pace which overground is a piece of cake for me but on the treadmill was quite brutal..I don't know why this is?  I suspect the heat and humidity in the laundry room contributed somewhat to my distress--I have become quite accustomed to cold air and wind--perhaps running in the exact opposite is a shock to my system.  I tried to jog a few steps overground but it is still a no go for my ankle.  I have decided if there is no improvement by Monday I will bypass the treadmill and either do a stationary bicycle or an elliptical for as long as I can stand it in place of a long run.  14 days until the half.  Oh please little ankle get over yourself and let me run my race I have worked so hard for.....