track fan

2:07:32.  Nice to be back on the trail ... still not really feeling "good" - it seems as though every run is a struggle.  It is hard to describe, I am just tired and don't really feel "good" at any point ... but I can still get it done so all is good.  I am pretty sure it is just the stress of the last few months. 

There was a really big cycling race here this weekend, it was a stage race. Friday was a time trial, yesterday was a road race, and today was a criterion course.  The course was actually my 5.5 mile loop (they said it was 5.6) and the long downhill portion was in front of our house.  Each age/grouping (Pro, CatII, etc.) did somewhere between 7-9 laps.   Very cool, the fast Pro men were FAST ... you could hear the peloton before you could see it!

I hope you are having a wonderful day!

SUPER news -- Shalane Flanagan just took bronze in World Cross-Country.  I don't think an American woman has metaled in world cross since the early 90s (92 was the last year an American woman won - Lynn Jennings).   She is still my favorite to won the Olympic Trials Marathon ...  although there are so many good women distance runners right now (including Amy Hastings who just ran a 2:27:xx in the LA Marathon today!).

Galan Rupp came in 3rd in the NY half-marathon in 1:00:30! 

AM: (10 miles, 1:24:36).  27:53wu/28:36cd  + 10 x :45 w/2` recovery.

PM: 4 miles easy.

After a few days of 80-90F weather it was a beautiful 50F today!!

Felt a little better (I got my SI joint pulled out again yesterday).  I think I might have to get a blood test soon, I am not really slowing down, but something just "doesn't feel right".  It was interesting because Kory had mentioned carbs to me on Sunday, and Dean actually (independently) said something about it last night.  I have not actually been "no carb" but I have cut out many carbs from my diet.  I have felt better (less full) in general, but it is possible that after a couple of months of this diet it may be catching up with me.  When I say lower carbs I mean, no pasta, no potatoes, no rice and very little bread.  Not entirely carb free, just lower.  If my iron/thyroid comes back normal, it may be that I need to think how to smartly add a few more carbs into my diet.  Anyway, today was better so we will see if whatever it is just dissipates on its own.

Have a great day bloggers!! 

Don't know my time - it was a recovery run so I don't really care how fast it was ... I was, as usual, in a hurry to get to work to prepare last minute stuff for class this morning (today went super well, I think everyone is starting to get it!!).  It was 43F and sunny (perfection), I ran up the Yeatman trail and, as usual, struck on how beautiful it was ... I am extremely lucky to be able to run in such a beautiful place.  

Felt good, I actually got 6 hours of sleep last night -- woohoo!  I only had to take 15 mg of melatonin to get there (getting old is definitely NOT for sissies).

So, after a year of trying ALL (and I do mean ALL)  conservative treatments for his foot problem Dean is having surgery on Friday.  This is pretty much the last chance he has at ever being able to run again.  And for a man who has run fairly competitively since Jr. High (nearly 40 years) it is very important.  Anyway, he was diagnosed with avascular necrosis in his second metatarsal (basically the head of the bone is dead because of a lack of blood supply).  The surgery is pretty interesting in that they cut a wedge of bone out and "flip" it, and then put pins in to hold it in place while "new bone" grows up around it.  It will be a long 6-8 weeks of absolutely no pressure (e.g., crutches or wheelchair) on his foot and then another ~ 8 weeks while the bone gets strong enough to run on it ... but it will be so very worth it to see him running again!  Anyway, keep him in your thoughts on Friday, if you would please.

I hope you are all having a wonderful week, happy hump day!

AM: (9 miles, 1:18:20).  Last  hilly 10` at half-marathon pace.  Felt ok ... I was out too late last night, Dean had a faculty candidate and we took him to dinner and it ended up being a late night. My hip feels weird again, it doesn't really hurt, I just don't feel like I am getting any range of motion, simply odd.  I have not felt as bad (overall) as I did last week, the increased carbs must be helping ... 

PM: easy 4.

Very busy day today -- I hope you are all doing well!!

Ran up the Yeatman trail, added on a little to make it a 70` run. I tried a new trail, beautiful views but very technical and sort of scary (long drop, rocky, not even single track).  I don't think I will run that much, although from my vantage point I saw a trail that looked interesting ... that one looked much more "running friendly".  Maybe next Friday I will try to get over to it.

Spent all day with Dean at the outpatient surgery center.  The surgery went well.  The doctor was emphatic that he stays completely off of the foot.  He now has a screw that is holding the bone in place and if he puts any pressure what-so-ever on it before the new bone grows around it then it will not hold.  So he has to wear this huge boot on his foot even in bed, has to use crutches for everything, can't drive, and is pretty useless (even for bug-killing which is most definitely his job).  He is doing well considering, and it being March Madness and all isn't that hard for him to be a couch potato.

I hope you are doing well! 

AM: (8 miles, 1:09:58).  I got out a little late (apparently painkillers makes Dean a little chatty ;-) ), but I felt better than I have in almost 3 weeks.  Yea for sweet potatoes.  Saw BigBoy and CoCo ... they were happy to get their Saturday carrot fix.

PM.  Easy 4.

I need to get caught up on some work that did not get done yesterday ....  GOOD NEWS: outdoor track has started!!  Cardinal Invitational last night, good to see who is in shape at the beginning of the season, it is going to be a good one!!

Happy Saturday bloggers.