It's just that simple

Run to Gold's + treadmill - 1:01

Kept it easy again today. The hamstring is feeling a little better, which is a good sign. Averaged about 7:35-40 pace and got down to 7:15 pace at the end. I will plan to do some longer, easy miles this week until at least Thursday or Friday and see if I can resolve the hamstring issue that way.

A.M. Canal Banks - 13:44

Took an easy jog and then a short walk with my dog, Leo, this morning. Snowy but nice.

P.M. Greenbelt - 2:08

I did a 3 mile loop from the DoubleTree and then headed downstream toward Barber Park. My leg was feeling somewhat better so I unintentionally ran a little faster than I wanted for the first 6 miles (7:15 pace). My plan was to keep it at 7:40-8:00 pace this week until the hamstring was completely better. By mile 8, I was having a lot of soreness on the inside of my knee, right where the hamstring attaches to the knee. The last 7 miles of this run were very tough. I stopped twice to stretch and in the last few miles was hobbling at 9:00 mile pace or slower in places. I would have walked back to the car, but it was too cold.

I guess I might have been a little ambitious the last 3 days (42 miles). I'm guessing I'll be taking some days off now. We'll have to see.

Weights - 15 minutes

Hamstring/knee is hurting. There is no way I could run today. I did 15 minutes on the exercise bike at the gym and burned 155 calories. I figured if it was irritating the hamstring it wasn't worth it for such a minimal workout, so I quit after 15 min. I lifted for 20 minutes and hit the steam room and hot tub and tried to stretch it out a little bit. Later I iced a couple of times.

Recline exercise bike - 20 minutes (6 miles) & 270 calories

Weights and core - 20 minutes

Treadmill - 20+ minutes

Feeling a lot better. The run on the treadmill averaged about 9:20 pace. I got down to 8:57 pace and felt a slight tightening of the hamstring. But overall, I felt great after taking 4 days off.

I got diagnosed with a hamstring strain, specifically on the part of the hamstring that connects to the knee. The replies from a couple of FRB bloggers were right on target. I got an order for physical therapy, which I may or may not use. I think the next week will include just a lot of easy running and some cross training.