Relentless

0 - Had to take another zero.  Sometimes it feels as if the leg is getting better - sometimes not.  I have been using the shocker on it and wearing a compression sleeve to improve blood flow to it.  Have been reading Laura Hillenbrand's new book Unbroken.  It the absolutely amazing story of Louie Zamperini who was 7th in the 1936 Olympics in the 5000 and then became a POW after crashing in the Pacific.  The story is a mix of my two favorite things running and history so it has enthrawled me.  

0 - With nothing else to do up here in SLC (usually all I do is run), I finished up my book this morning.  This may be my new favorite book.  The story is truly amazing.  I would suggest it to anyone. 

On the leg, I am seeing some pretty good progress.  Continuing to wear the compression sleeve, along with Wintercrest, and shocking my leg.  This morning the only soreness was very deep into the calve; I could push all the was down on it before I felt the pain hit.  I imagine that the extreme cramping developed into a little bit of a strain that tweeked the calve pretty good.  Will I run tomorrow?  I am not sure.  Earlier (Sunday'ish) I thought I might take the whole week off, but I am getting pretty antsy.  I know I need to let it heal all the way, however.  But the will to run is acting up big time.  

afternoon - 3 Treadmill.  By the time I ran this afternoon, it had been 6 days since my last run.  Coming back from an injury (whether major/minor/or in between) is always a little stressful since you don't want to waste the time you took off and re-injure something.  So that being said, I ran 2 on the treadmill at an easy pace so I could stop and stretch when needed or stop the run if needed - took a couple stretch breaks, but things felt pretty good.  Finished off with Molly's Mile in a freezing downpour.  (Landreth blue 507.4)

noon - 4 Treadmill.  Things felt pretty good after yesterday, so I planned on doing pretty much the same thing, but upping it to 4 if there was progress.  There was!  Today my calf felt great.  3 on the treadmill was nice and easy, but I actually enjoyed it (yesterday too) - it went quick and allowed me to focus on form a bit.  Then hit Molly's Mile in the slush.  Last night's snow has melted off the roads, but there is still a couple inches on the grass and the kids and dog loved playing in it.  (Boston 367)

On the reading front Once a Runner has gripped my attention once again - an inspiring, great read as always.

mid-morning - 5 Treadmill.  4 on the Treadmill today.  Took it easy for a couple miles - including some stretching breaks; then worked it up to 6:31 and 6:00 for the last two 1/2's respectively, just to test the leg out (since there was no pain) to see if could hold a little speed with no pain.  Felt great again.  Just the slightest little tightness at the end of Molly's Mile out in the very cold (kind of glad that I wasn't out for a long one today, except the trails would actually been great today).  (Stratus grey 645.85) 

4030.3 - that is the end of the year mileage.  Not too shabby, but as usual the numbers are just numbers - it is much more of a journey than that.  A lot of ups and downs.  Really enjoyed my time training with The Circle again (and it was great to have Steven and James join into it).  Running up Pine Valley with the boys was fun as with many of the other runs with the team (up at Pine Lake, to the Y, and many others).  Of course the biggest highs were others' runs most notably the XC team (girls at Region and boys at State).  My marathons were kind of bummers, but not too bad looking back on them.  A pretty good year all-in-all.  Glad the calve is feeling better as I finish it off and get ready for the next set of adventures!  

mid-morning - 7.5 Dino Tracks.  Finally broke in the new New Balance 101's.  Allyson warned me that they would get dirty, and I told her that was the goal!  Run started very cold and all the mud was frozen, but along the south facing cliff slopes the ice was melting and the trail was very muddy - loved it!  Calf felt great and I think I will be able to keep going okay next week.  Molly's Mile.  (NB101 7.5)

Week was okay in that I think I took pretty good care of my leg and with a couple days now till Monday morning, it should be strong for next week.

Goals for next week: get back to normal (whatever that is!).

And since this is the 1st of 2011, I guess I'll throw out some year-type goals.  First, I think I have a couple good races (marathons) in me yet, so I would really like to keep up the good push for that to come to fruition.  A solid training season, with better race circumstances that last year, should yield something decent.  Second, as I always want to do, enjoy running and don't let it become work without a meaning.  Third, keep developing all the running around me - the team, the youngsters and anyone else.