Elite Jogging For Dummies

Easy run from Diva's with a group of three.

My first race after a long drought of not racing. When did I race last, you ask? It was the BAM Triathlon in August 2010, where I ran the 5k to cap off that race.  Why did I race, you ask?  Great question. Well, I guess I felt like my mileage has been decent enough that it was worth getting on the road and seeing where I was at. That's what I was thinking a couple of weeks ago when I signed up, anyway. Having been on vacation all last week, my motivation was not terribly high.  In fact, I didn't firmly commit to running until about 10pm Friday night. But once I decided, I was pretty much all in. I would run to my potential, whatever that might be.

Turns out it wasn't much.  I ran this race in 55:19 in 2007, 5:32 pace.  I knew I didn't have a chance to run that fast.  Maybe I could crack an hour. Maybe not!

I had a nice little warmup at the start but then had a long portapotty line to navigate. The race started slow, as it should, considering the first two miles have a big climb.  I was trading places with some folks. I ran with Kevin Tuck for a while, then he dropped me at the top of Little Mountain. I then ran with Allie Scott -- who is awesome -- until close to mile 6 or so. Walter jumped in and joined bandit for a while and they both dropped me . . . nicely, but still.  So I was just hanging out crusing down the canyon, watching my 6:20 splits reel off my watch. I was just taking the temperature of things, seeing how I felt.  I had plenty of cardio strength from my semi-decent fitness base, but no leg speed at all. I just have not had the hard miles to earn it.  That's the way it goes.

My wife and boys were waiting near the finish and it was great to see them. I was happy to cross the finish line feeling somewhat strong.  I hoped most of all to have some fun, and I think I did. It was enjoyhable to know I could go out and get my body to move somewhat rapidly down the canyon. I can't take it for granted.

The most symptomatic thing of my lack of real fitness is the soreness in my legs after the race. It's almost like marathon soreness, due to the downhill quad pounding in Emigration canyon. 

Four sore miles!

Another four mile run, still sore.

Legs feeling better, managed 6.5.

From Diva's, I ran with a group of four.  Leg soreness mostly gone.  Should be fine for a longish run this weekend.

I boycotted the weather. Running in the snow would only encourage it further.

Great run, for February.  South loop from Foothill Sbux with a group of six.  I lagged today, still getting my legs back from last week's race -- more evidence of how pathetically out of shape I am.

This cold I've had for several days, which started pretty mild, isn't getting any better. It's in my chest, which is unusual for me. I'm tired of the brain-rattling cough.  So the miles are commensurate with the overall feeling.

Still not feeling great. 

Easy.

Had to go to work super early. Again.

I got talked into a short run this morning.

A run on the south loop through Holladay.

A combination of factors meant it was a five mile kind of morning. I'm going to try to take the boys out in the jogger this evening if it's not raining.

 So impressed with Paul Petersen's performance at Boston.  Awesome, just awesome.

 PM:  In a remarkable burst of motivation, I took the boys out for a 3 mile run in the double jogger at about 7pm.  It was raining but we had fun.

Workout with the Black Sheep, my first in several weeks. A small group today. We did a ladder workout 400/600/800/1000/800/600/400 followed by 3 x 400m.  My times were generally slow, with 400 splits pretty uniformly in the 85-88 range. Really no leg speed at all, in fact.  The longer intervals were lungbusters.  I have a long way to go!!!!

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.  Plantar fasciitis in both feet, hurting worse than ever.  I don't know what's going on.  I have been mixing up my shoes as I've been waiting for a new pair to arrive, but they (Ascis DS Trainer) are more "stable" than the shoes I've been wearing and am waiting for (Asics Speedstar).  I wore the Kayano with inserts this morning in the hope that a super cushy ride would help, but it didn't. It just altered my gait and probably aggravated the problem. 

I tried to run again, and it's just not working. Right foot was fine, left foot is "unrunnable" without significant compensation in form and gait, and foot landing due to the PF.  Usually the foot warms up, but that's stopped happening these last couple of days.   I had to turn back after a mile, it was pointless.  I iced when I got home and that seemed to help.  Rolling out the foot now.  May try again tomorrow. 

Up at the Bear Lake Cabin, Heather and I ran a 7 mile loop around the trails and dirt roads at the bottom of the hill. 

Wow, back to injury mode.  I thought the foot was feeling pretty good, until I ran on it. It feels very weak and unstable and just generally painful. I'm going to try to lay off it this week. 

I swam 1200 meters at Fairmont Aquatic Center, my first swim of 2011. It felt pretty good for the first 800 meters or so, then my "form" fell apart. 

No running again--foot still a mess. I did a pilates core workout and an easy yoga thing compliments of on-demand exercise tv.

No running.  I went to Fairmont Aquatic Center and swam a mile.  It felt better than Tuesday.

No running. Again. I did a core workout at home.

I got antsy and decided to run two miles to test out the foot, which was feeling fine while walking around. It felt fine while running too. Then I remembered that even though it could feel fine while running, it might hurt for a while after running. And that's just what happened. Heel pain the rest of the day.