The Next Step

Huntsville, AL:  I traveled to Huntsville yesterday and still had some pain in the foot so skipped the run yesterday.  I didn't want to over do it today since the foot has been acting up.  It felt pretty good today but caused me a few problems toward the end.  Took it easy the whole way.

Huntsville, AL:  The foot felt better today so went a little longer.  It started bothering my around 4.5 miles so cut it off at 5 to keep from causing more problems.  I will try to go a little further tomorrow to see how it does.  Just ran pretty easy the whole way around 8:15 pace.

Huntsville, AL:  Ran on the TM at the hotel because I wasn't sure how my foot would react.  The plan today was to just run until it started bothering my and then quit.  I just took it easy and the achilles started to bother me around 3.5 miles so I stopped at 4 miles.  It is starting to get pretty frustrating with my foot.  It has been a tough couple of months and hope that I can get over this problem.  At this point I am not sure what to do about it.  I have considered taking off for an extending period of time and just cross training to see if that will take care of it.  I am not quite ready to give up on running with it yet so will see how it goes for the next week or so then reevaluate it.

Finally back to running today.  I had some problems with my foot then everyone in the family was sick with the flu besides me so spent most of my time playing Dr.  It was good to get back but had to run on the TM because of all the ice we have had around here.  The roads are still not in the best shape and pretty dangerous with the cars.  I felt good today and the running seemed easy.  Shows what some rest will do for you.  I didn't have any problems with the achilles either which was very good.  I will try to just resume normal running this week and see how the foot responds.

41:02 (8:12 avg) 

Washington, DC:  Traveled up to DC today and ran on the TM after work today.  Nothing special just easy 6 miles.  My achilles was good again today so that is a good sign.  Just trying to stay consistent and get my motivation up.  I am not really motivated to do much right now running wise.  I have a lot going on in life right now with the family and work.  It seems like running is starting to get crowded out.  Maybe the spring weather will snap me out of it soon.

47:48 (7:58 avg) 

Washington, DC:  Crazy busy day yesterday plus didn't feel the best so didn't get a run in.  Had early morning meetings today and then flying back home so was able to squeeze in 5 miles on the TM this morning.  I felt good but just ran easy.  

39:45 (7:57 avg) 

Back home today but stayed inside on the TM because still a lot of ice on the roads.  It is going to warm up the next few days so that should take care of the ice finally.  I felt pretty good today.  Started off easy and gradually picked up the pace as I went along.  I finished around 7:30 pace which felt good.  No problems with the foot so that is a good sign.

55:05 (7:52 avg) 

Honolulu, HI:  I traveled out here yesterday so left early and got in later than planned. I was tired when I got in and missed running yesterday.  I got out early this morning and it was great to be able to get out in shorts and short sleeves.  I felt good this morning and just cruised along.  I ran up to Diamond Head and back which is always a great run.  I have been spending a lot of time on a TM so it was great to get outside.  No problem with the foot which was great.

 49:55 (8:20 avg) 

Honolulu, HI:  It was warm this morning and very windy.  I was very sluggish getting going this morning.  I started off easy and pretty much stuck there.  I just couldn't get going.  I am not sure if I was tired from the trip or maybe running the hills yesterday took more out of me than I thought.  Anyway, I did the same loop up around Diamond Head and just tried to enjoy the morning and scenery.  I did have a few dull pains in the foot but nothing too bad.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

60:45 (8:36 avg) 

Honolulu, HI:  Last day in HI and another warm and windy morning.  I ran the same route up around Diamond Head.  It was a beautiful morning with the full moon reflecting off the waves.  Pretty cool.  I felt sluggish again this morning and took it real easy.  I was especially slow going up the hills.  That is something that I am not used to and show how much fitness I have lost.  It reminded me of how far I have to go to get to where I would like to be.  I had some pain in the achilles but nothing too bad.  It still concerns me because it is not getting any better and is holding me back from really getting back into my training.  I am not sure what the next steps will be to get over this.  I did experience a first today.  As I was getting back in the city and close to my hotel a rat ran across the sidewalk in front of me and had to jump over it to keep from stepping on it.  Not all is excellent in HI.

51:02 (8:40 avg) 

Traveled back from HI on the red eye. No sleep at all so wiped out when I got in.  Had some family activities as well so no running.  Foot hurting also.

Morning choir concert with my daughter then spent the rest of the day with my other daughter and didn't run.  My foot was hurting anyway so probably wouldn't have ran.

My foot was better today but I thought I would give it some more rest so I rode the bike for 45 minutes and around 14 miles.  It was a pretty good workout and I felt good.  I am not sure what to do about the foot but it gets better after resting a few days then when I run about 3 days in a row it hurts again.  It doesn't seem like I can get back to normal running without causing problems.  I am going to try a cross training routine and see if I can build back up that way.  I guess the bike ride is equal to around 5 miles running.

Philly:  Traveled up to Philly today.  I did 30 minutes on the bike then did some core work.  The foot is better today but I am going to be conservative with it to see if I can finally get this thing healed.

Philly, PA: I thought I would try to run some on the hotel TM today to see how the foot was feeling.  I started off and it was hurting so I just stopped and did the ellipitcal for about 45 minutes.  I did some core work after as well.  Not bad but would rather be running.

Philly:  Busy day at work and just did my core workout before a dinner meeting.  

Philly:  I thought I would try to run on the foot again today and see how it went.  I started off easy and didn't have any pain.  I decided to run until I felt the first sign of pain and then stop.  I made it 2 miles and it started to bother me some so I shut it down then moved to the elliptical for another 25 minutes. It is frustrating but will have to work on other things to stay in shape until I can get this foot fixed.