track fan

45 min walk, 15 min run.  Was a little sore from treatment, I can't tell if it is fixed or not.  I won't run more than 15 min at a time until it doesn't hurt at all anymore.

1 hour on the gol' blasted elliptical.

My goal is to exercise at least as long as I would be running.

I saw Stephanie Rothstein at John's last night (she was the woman who finished the 20K last weekend just ahead of Nan).  Last year at this time she was sidelined because of a fractured sacrum -- she FE'd a lot last year.  I am thinking of her while I cuss at the machine in the gym ;-)

1 hour of psychological torture on the elliptical machine.

Just me and the FE ... another hour, another 650 calories.  Today I kept the incline lower and focused on keeping my strides/min at 190 (I actually got it up to 210).  Still couldn't get my HR above 120.  I am sure I am actually getting a much better "all over" workout these days, but to be honest I really don't care about overall health, while I  know I should, I just don't.  I care about running.  

The funniest thing is that I just am completely not used to gyms.  In a way the people watching is one thing that makes it sort of tolerable.  Now this is not a gym-gym it is a gym that is a wellness center for empolyees of UA hospital/medical center and patients that are recovering from stroke, heart attack, or something like that (most of the non-employees are over about 80 years old).  I only see the older folks when I work out in the morning, if I work out at night (last night I finished up about 8:30) then I see employees.  Anyway, there are still the 'peacocks', and the 'tired and overworked but trying to stay in good health'.  Pretty nice folks all and all.  Weirdest thing is that the 'gym' has windows on one side and from this window you can see a long covered seating area (looks like a long bus stop - at least 100 m long) - I thought it was a bus stop, but then I kept seeing patients walk by ... and then, I realized it is the smoking area.  So, if you want to have a smoke you have to sit there on your bench and watch a bunch of weirdo's in the gym watch you.  Pretty interesting ...

I hope you are doing well, staying healthy, keeping happy and running well!

1:05 on the wonderous elliptical.

Talked to John today, he might come and make a house call on Saturday (which would be cool and save us 4 hours of driving time).  U of A Wildcats are playing his hometown team (Iowa State Hawkeyes) on Saturday and he has family that is in for the game.   Anyway.  I told him that this morning was the first time in over a month that I have been able to walk with no pain ... he told me that he knows it is hard, but "keep up with the FE for a while longer".  He apparently know things it is a calf strain and that these injuries are notorious for getting reinjured if you start back too soon.  So, I am still ellipticaling - and today it hurts a lot again anyway.  Can you say "tired of this?".  BUT, I am lucky in so many ways, small potatoes!

Ryan and Sarah Hall spent a fews days in Phoenix this week (seeing John actually).  Ryan is running the Philly Half this weekend -- as part of his "tune-up" for Chicago.  GO RYAN!

1:05 on my old buddy the FE.  zzzzzzzz, boring.

30 mins of intervals on a spin bike + 1 hour elliptical.  Next Tuesday I am going to my first spin class, so I wanted to get prepared.  The good news is that my mountain bike shoes will clip into the spin bike ... the bad news is that something that I was doing hurt my calf -- I am hoping the instructor, Jessica (who is my massage therapist and is letting me in her classes for free for then next couple of weeks) can show me how to do it right so I don't hurt my calf.  It was a good workout.  I think I will have to increase my workout times to keep a little fitness, so I will likely be working out either 2 times a day a couple days a week or increasing my overall workout time a few days a week.

I was so busy today that I just now (7:30PM) finished my "lunch" - I ate some nonfat yogurt and granola + a banana and nectarine for breakfast at about 9:30 and then had non-stop meetings until 6PM, meaning no lunch.  And then, I am cruising across town to get to my Egoscue appointment (I was late, of course) .... and got into an accident (not my fault, this guy hit me from behind as me, and everyone else was stopped in traffic).  I felt bad for him, he was scared (and so young).   No one was hurt, my car is dented, but I don't really care that much and I am not sure I will even get it fixed.  What a day.

GOOD LUCK tomorrow all you racing bloggers!!  I can't wait to see how  you do!

John finally told me today, he is 100% certain it is a stress fracture.  I don't know what I did yesterday, but it started hurting pretty bad on the bike (didn't hurt on the elliptical).  Anyway, today you can (and even I can) see exactly where the problem is ... and it is bone. 

I am having some tests done on Monday.  I am not supposed to use the elliptical without a walking cast ... but I am not sure what I will do tomorrow (since I can't pick up my cast until Monday).  For some reason the spin bike hurt my leg.  I am pretty depressed.  I will be more depressed if I am not running by mid-October (my drop dead date for being able to train properly for Houston).  Getting old is not for sissys.

But WOWWWWWEEE congratulations allie and Scott and all the fastrunning bloggers who ran TOU today -- YEA!!!