Clyde's Comeback!

60 min's on the elliptical. Feet hurt the worst, bottom of toes got a couple blisters. I'm really tired. But sleep has been maybe the worst it ever has been. With better rest I might feel pretty good all things considered.

EZ run this morning after another horrible nights sleep. I'm gonna go on meds soon if this keeps up. Legs did ok. Feet still hurt. Really just need to let the body recover before trying to "hit" it again. Could take a few days.

Woke up at 3:37 and couldn't go back to sleep. Finally just decided to go out for a run at 4. Left the house to find 4 inches of snow outside my house. The roads were super slick and wet here in around my neighborhood but as I got over in the B-hills sector there wasn't any snow on the roads. Kind of crazy beacuse it's like 2 miles away. Just kept it steady this morning as I didn't want to slip and eat the road. Legs feel much better than yesterday. Foot blisters still are the biggest issue.

Run here with the Circle of Trust. Woke up early and decided to get a few in before the guys showed. So I headed out and Logan was pulling into the Cul de sac as I was leaving. So I waited for him for a sec and then we just did an out and back 2 miles before Dave joined.

18F here today. It's officially winter and cold here in the STG. But once we got going temps didn't seem too bad. Legs felt pretty good and seem to be about recovered. Feet are still sore and cracking with big dead sections of skin falling off. So I'm guessing they'll be an issue for a day or so.

3 miles on the treadmill this eveing. Had dinner only about 40 min's before getting on. Almost puked it all up. Close call for sure. I'm not sure why I chose to overlook the 2 hour rule. 

Over to the DC and back. Left the house at 6:30 and the low got down to 15. I felt pretty good but the section of my face (left exposed from my running hood/ mask) got really cold and seemed to loose feeling. Kept the pace fairly smooth but treid to be more honest on the return. 

Feeling pretty good right now with running. I'm finally getting my running body back and have trimmed down to under race weight. Maybe the extra stress lately has been a good thing. Feeling pretty fit overall and am getting a handle on the hip. I think it's been like 17 months since I've been in this boat.... It's been too long.

DC town loop. Got over there about 5 a.m this moring. Temps were warmer at around 31 F due to the cloud cover and snow that's coming. Started out dropping down into Bloominton and then coming back up by Sugar Leo. Came back by my house for a drink at around mile 8 then finished the loop. Didn't really feel that good today. Kind of jittery and weak. Life is crazy right now and the emotional stess seems to hit me while running. But the run was good to clear my mind. Just tried to keep it honest the whole day. When I got back to the DC I was at 20.8 so I did a couple laps around the parking lot to hit 21. Had a bloody foot and shoe when I was done. But it didn't ever hurt on the run.

6:39 avg for the run.

7 miles on the teadmill. at 5:30 temps said 4 here and -1 at the schools weather station. And the crazy cold is just one thing. Basically every road is just a sheet of ice due to no plows or salt trucks. So I just braved the treadmill. Wasn't really that bad with a little Walking Dead to pass the time.

P.M. Out and back into B-hills. Headed out to run the DC loop but once I got to the trail in B-hills it was too snowy to run on. So I just went to the 5 mile mark then headed back the way I'd come. 22F out and the temps didn't feel too bad. But the roads throughout were icy. I don't think I want to go out when it's dark and deal with the ice.

Kept the pace pretty honest and got some good flow in the closing miles. No watch but I'm sure I pounded the 7 min guy and most likely got the 6:50 guy too.

7 miles this morning. In shorts and no shirt! Got a really good sweat going too. But the air is turned up pretty high here inside the house and treadmill running seems to draw it out of me. Another episode of Walkind Dead. I've only got two more and then I'm out... need to find something to watch while on the machine.

P.M. 10.1 miles on the same out and back trip as last night. Got out the door and decided to keep it uptempo the entire run. Hit the first mile in 7:00, then the 2nd mile in 6:30. After that I stopped looking but ended with a 6:04 avg for the run or 61 min's 23 seconds. The chili in my tummy from lunch wasn't ready for the run so I had to stop at a porta potty. It's super cold seat made this stop one for the memory bank.

Lots of stress in life right now. I'm glad that running is being nice to me for the time being.

Out of the house at 4:50 a.m. I've skipped going outside in the morning all week. But Wednesday is the guys run... couldn't ditch out on the Circle of Trust. Especially when we meet at my house. I got about 10 min's in before Logan showed and then we did about 10 min's before Dave showed. In all about 2.3 miles before we left. So basically 10.7 with Dave. We couldn't do the normal DC loop because of all the snow on the trail. So it was a Tour de B-hills/ LV just trying to get the miles in. Seemed to drag because we were in no mans land not looking at an actual mileage while out running. My gps has to be stopped and "reviewed" to see actual mileage. We all had icicles on our eyelashes and Logan had frost over his entire body. He's a sweater and that's not a fat joke. In the end it wasn't really that bad. But when Dave rolled into the Cul de sac and said it was 3F I wasn't very excited about being out there.

P.M. 4.77 on the treadmill. Had a small window while the baby was napping. Took it and got the run in and some pasta cooked for dinner.

Ran the same route as we did yesterday after Dave joined. I'll call it the "ICE" loop from here on out. Wanted to put a GPS to it to see where we were at yesterday. And it ended up being exactly what I thought off my google earth calculations. A little warmer today at 10 F. I feel rediculous saying that because in any normal year 15 F is as low as it ever gets. More icicles on facial hair and eyelashes.

When I woke up this morning ( from a crazy restless night) I felt horrible. Just wanted to bag it today. But once I got out running I felt about as good as it gets. I love to get out and run- and feel good. It's been sooo long that this is a sweet piece of pie for sure. 7:04 avg

P.M. More time on the treadmill. Actually found a good station on xm and it played good songs almost the entire run. That helped and got me running a little faster.

Got to go to a free vip pre opening lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings. It tasted pretty good but has left me feeling so junky all day. Maybe the first and last trip there. So I kept having parmesan garlic wing burps while running- almost led to barf. FML.

Middle b-hills loop. Felt super sluggish today. Poor diet yesterday is most of the reason. That and the 2 hours of sleep last night. The only good thing about this mornings run was that most of the garbage worked its way out.
 

4.25 miles on the treadmill. Was all set to go outside but just felt like staying in. Feeling kind of trashed. Hope to rally for whatever happens in the morning.

Home by myself. What to do what to do... Actually slept pretty good from about 3 a.m to 7. So by the time I got running (after a stop at the office) it was right around 8. Started at the DC and did my big town loop. Into Bloomington then under the freeway. Over around the schools and back to my house at 8 miles for an aid station. Took about .8 of a Gu then headed out to the fields. Kept the pace honest all day. Wanted to hit around 10 miles at Tinman pace (6:00). Did that and a little mroe. Took the trails back down to the DC and was basically at 21 miles. Took about .5 more of a GU and some water then hit the Mayors loop around the river. These were my best miles staying basically in the 5:50's the last 5 miles or so. Hit the half in around 1:26:30... so a good neg split. Although most of the hills are in the first half. An all around honest course. Good amount of hillls and some good flats to help bring the pace back. I'm liking it for training as of late. Ended at 2:47:14 for 26.3 miles. So a 2:46:** full marathon on a training run. 6:22 avg for the day. Felt good and controlled all day. No issues.

Ice loop. I don't really like this loop but keep running it for some reason. It's got some decent hills in it througout the run and thats an area I could use help. Felt pretty flat with zest but had zero soreness from Saturday.

4.3 depressing miles on the tm.

Ice loop in reverse. The moon was amazing. The run was so so.

P.M. DC loop this evening. Temps warmed to around 51 F and I was able to run in shorts plus work up a sweat. Pretty smooth sailing all the way through other than a 5:16 mile or so to catch up to the running club from the river up to about barefoot gym. They were heading out on the tempo run and I caught up with enough time to chit chat for one mile up to river road. Felt pretty good in the legs. My stomach was jacked most of the run from lunch at Dickies bbq and then 2 large cookies from Great Harvest. Guess you win some and loose some. 6:39 avg for the run.

Big boys run. The Circle of Trust joined by Stephen and even Billy boy. Logan and I got in almost 2 miles before the group showed. Hit the good ol DC loop exept I wasn't paying attention when we left and let us go the wrong way. So we had to deal with traffic on the last two miles. Pace was laxi taxi which I needed as I felt like a slug this morning. Last night after my run my dang hip started to hurt. It's been weeks and I thought I might be free and clear... but like a bad dream I guess I'm back in the pain cave. It hurt pretty bad last night around the house and even in bed. But only minimal nagging out running this morning. FML. Got to really try and stay on top of this thing. I've gotten too excited about running again to have to deal with it all over.

P.M. 5.1 mile run out through Silkwood. Wasn't going to run tonight because of the hip issues. But I spent 8+ hours in the car driving around the greater STG area delivering Chirtmas cheer. Couldn't really tell what the hip was doing all day and by the time I got done I just needed to shake the legs out. Ended up feeling really good. Like I wanted to throw down and do some speed work... but I just didn't have time. So it looks like more Jekyll and Hyde with the hip....

Ice loop. Temps were pretty mild this moring. 31 F. I had tights on but didn't need them. Wore a watch today with the thought of maybe doing a workout of some sort. But then I found myself just running lost in a spiderweb of thoughts. Trying to figure out how to make friends with the monster under my bed... then maybe it'll let me sleep.

P.M. 4.3 miles on the treadmill. Nothing special. 

Middle B-hills loop. Then extended up the inner river trail to River road and on home. About tripped 3 times to day in radom spots. The fading moonlight just didn't seem to be enough... Had to cross over into the golf course for a pit stop and saw where a some likely teens had built a homeaid bong to smoke weed. So that was eventful on a uneventful morning. Was slowish today and had some mild hip issues:(.

p.m. 5k on the machine. Just ez to get a few more miles in. Hip was so so.

Run with the Circle and Stephen. Billy joined us early on but turned back a little sooner. We left my house and did the new airport loop. Took the road out to the airport overpass and then the new paved road all the way around back into the fields. I'm gonna like having that road. Be a good running and cycling training spot. Pace was pretty laxi taxi most of the day. Never really worked. There was maybe a mile or so section from like 18-19 were we pushed a 5:45 or so but mostly just chill today. At around mile 14 Dave predicted the run would be 21.17 (which is random) but then the fact that it ended up being that was totally crazy. Because we added some in the fields and I'm calling it just a lucky guess. He says it's his internal Hawk-o-meter. But I'm the only one with that good of internal clock. So luck it was. Ended with a 6:46 avg for the run.

ICE loop. Extended because I had my head down and ran past the turn off and then had to run over to the restroom by the golf course. Did not want to get out of bed today and didn't want to run either. After several weeks of really burning strong to run. I kind of lost the passion over the weekend. Plus I'm just emotionally and physically drained. So it was a battle today... at first. But later in the run I felt really good and was glad I'd gotten my sour butt out. Need to hit it hard again this week with mileage and then I'll feel like I've got a good enough base to start trying some faster speed stuff.
P.M.

8 miles tonight. 6:46 avg. Tried to work on form. Keep the hips square, and under me. Really working on pulling my butt in and not running around with a ghetto booty sticking out. Kept it smooth and EZ. Felt great.

Summer tempo loop with the Circle today. Warmed up for about 3.4 miles. A little longer than the normal 3 miles spot. Then started the tempo on the corner by the farm. Didn't have a goal on pace or actual tempo length. Hit the first mile nice and relaxed then started to really feel good. Felt controlled and smooth throughout. Until about 5 miles into the tempo. Got really bad stomach issues and had to stop at 5.5 miles into it. After the potty stop I just didn't get going again and bagged any more tempo miles. So I hit a 5:30 avg for the 5.5 miles of tempo. Splits: 5:38, 5:30, 5:23, 5:36, 5:25, last .5 in 5:30

Not too bad. Mad that I had to stop for stomach issues and mad that I didn't hit 6 or 7 full miles. But I feel it's a pretty good place to be in December. Happy to at least start the process.

Cooled down back home and a little more to square it off at 14 for the morning. 29 F when we left at the start. Got horrible sleep last night.

P.M. 7 miles tonight. Another run in shorts and tee shirt. Temps were great today with full sun. I've been needing the VD. Looped around Stone Cliff and back up 2450 for an even 7 miles. 6:36 avg. Legs felt fantastic. I have little to no recovery time lately. Makes me smile 7 times over.

Up around 4 and out running early before the boys started the maddness. Kind of a melancholy run. Just lots of deep thoughts as I ran solo in the darkness of a Christmas morning. The highlights were some really cool falling stars. Hoping everyone has a happy day!

DC loop. Super somber run. Heart just hurt the entire run. Hate to say it but I'm really excited for the holiday season to be over. Just not very chipper this year. Oh and the hip hurt like he&& too. FML

P.M. 8.5 miles with a little 3x1 mile workout mixed in. Hit a 3.8 mile warm up around the big LV loop. The whole time my hip hurt like crazy and I kept talking myself out of doing a speed workout. But I just needed it. Mind is totally going crazy. So a good hard body pounding might numb the emotional  drama. Decided to reopen the old LV mile track. Basically there's a 1.3 mile loop right around my house. So you run a mile hard then have .3 recovery or around 140 seconds give or take.

1. 5:05- Whoa... was not expecting that. Obviously my body isn't use to doing miles as my target speed was like 5:17-5:25ish. Next two might be crazy bad...

2. 5:05- Started to think my watch is messed up. As this is too fast but only one left maybe I'll finish a speed workout happy once in my life?

3. 5:08- A little slower but I relaxed way too much on the first quarter. Pretty happy to see something under 5:10 that's for sure.

Then just a 1.15 mile cool down back home. Didn't notice the hip durning the hard miles but it hurt on the cool down and kills now:(  However if I can rally the troops and feel better in the hip tomorrow then I'll be really happy about this workout. If not then it's just another stupid thing I've done this week.

Over to the freeway and around the truck stop. Then back over to the DC and up around River road and home. I only wanted to run 8.3 miles this morning and thought this loop would be close. It would have been right on if I hadn't gone around the truck stop.

Hip was achy and tight but not like I thought it would be. Last night it was just crazy painful. But I worked it over several times with the stick, myrtl routien, electric stim sessions and lots of Wintercrest. At least it allowed me to run without having to bite down on wood. Kept things smooth to aid in recovery. 7:24 avg. Slept like garbage again. But that seems to be the new norm so it's really not news.

P.M. 26.2 mile bike ride. 20.6 mph avg. Took the airport road out around and was going to do the new road all the way around the loop. But some construction workers down on the north side didn't seem to like me in the area so I flipped it around and just did an out and back. Ended up being 26.2 miles on the numbers... hmm. Didn't hammer it but did keep the pace honest the entire ride. Forgot riding cream and will pay the price in days to come:(

Big workout/ Long run. 21 total miles on my big town loop. 11 mile warm up at 6:42 avg. 10 mile MP tempo at 5:41 avg.  So something like a 6:12 avg for 21 total miles.

Hit the warm up with the plan of keeping it honest but ez enough to be able to run a good tempo section. Looped by my house at mile 8 for a potty stop and to shed some layers. Grabbed a GU and an hammer tab drink. Didn't take them until I was at mile 10. After that I jogged another mile to let them settle a little before starting the tempo. Ended up hittin mile 11 right around the old summer tempo starting spot. The plan was to run from there around the summer tempo loop and take it all the way down to the DC for a full 10 miles at marathon pace or somewhere in that range as I really don't know what MP is right now.

Spits: 5:41, 5:46, 5:40, 5:49, 5:48, 5:38, 5:38, 5:42, 5:38, 5:29

Pretty even effort according to the hills in the run. Hit the first mile a little faster than planned. 2&3 were perfect. 4&5 I knew would be slower as you get on and off the Mesquito trail and some hills. 6,7,8,9 were all locked into a nice flow. 8 being a little slower because of the hill under river road but very even effort. Then 10 was a little harder effort because I could smell the barn. Had to go around the restrooms then up to the flag pole by the DC to hit the even 10. After that I should have cooled down but I just walked back to the truck and called it a day. Pretty happy about the results of todays run. Hip started out hurting throught the first 8 miles but after that the heat patch must have warmed it up and I really didn't feel it the rest of the run. 29 F at the start. Overcast.
 

Drove to the DC and then just ended up running the regular DC loop... Felt totally different starting and stopping there. Think I'm starting to feel sick.

Tempo loop with the Circle of Trust. Warmed up for 3.6. Felt sick all night and didn't feel great about running this morning. But I didn't want to miss the workout. Body aches, and shivering had already started. Through the warm up I felt so so and just decided I'd start the tempo and if I totally died and had to lay down in the road then so be it.

Today was the first time in weeks or maybe since STG marathon that I felt cramping in the legs. Felt it come on hard at mile three in the calves and quads. Last week for the most part my tempo felt pretty smooth. Today seemed labored almost throughout. And again I got stomach issues at mile 5 (almost the same spot as last week) but was able to fight off stopping until 6.2 miles into the tempo. But then I had to GO.

After stopping I hit another 6:00 mile down to River Road but my heart wasn't in it anymore. After that I just started to jogg the remainder of the run.

Feel even sicker now... like garbage actually.

5:34 avg for the 6.2 tempo miles

 Splits- 5:37, 5:23, 5:29, 5:44, 5:34, 5:37 and the .2 at 5:57 pace but I'd already stopped tempoing.