Justin Park

Rest day.

Since the pain in my left shin is persisting and running (even the light load I've been doing) is not helping it, I've decided to completely lay off running for a while. I plan on giving it at least a week and then reassessing at that point. There is still hope for the Salt Lake Half, but I'm not going to force it if it isn't right for me. Its a bummer, but I'm going to keep this setback in perspective. I'd rather back-off now than be forced to in a few months when it'll be more important for me to be in groove.

Went to the gym this morning and messed around for 45 minutes on the elliptical. The rest of the week will probably be similar. I'd love to (and need to) get out on the bike, but work is pretty suffocating right now.

Had a late night and consequently didn't get up early enough to workout. Fortunately, I'm working at a client located relatively close to home and my gym. I was able to break away during my lunch break for 45 minutes on the elliptical.

30 mins on the elliptical.

Stressful week going on with work. I'm having a hard time falling asleep at night and getting up in the morning. Had an early meeting at work and Lindsay wanted to go the gym. I couldn't get up to take the early shift so I missed the morning workout. It doesn't help that I'm not running right now causes its making my motivation to stay active go to pot. Fortunately, I was able to make it to the gym this afternoon for an hour on the Stepmill and a few other little things. Felt good. Good workout to use some different muscles.

Again, couldn't get up today. It's been the same story all week. Late nights, stress. My system is jacked-up. If I don't watch it, this is going to become a bad habit. Made it to the gym after work for a quick 30 mins on the elliptical. I'm glad the weekend is here. I hope to be able to take the bike out tomorrow. Good news is the leg have been feeling progressively better. Virtually unnoticeable when I'm walking. I notice it a bit more when I'm weight-bearing, but there's no pain. The time off running is definitely helping. I might experiment a little on Monday, but my gut is that its not ready yet. We'll see. 

50 mile bike ride to the top of Emigration Canyon and back with my buddy Scott. I would have loved to have run this morning, but when that's not an option, a good ride is great consolation. Beautiful day, great friends, awesome.

Total rest day... Not like I've been doing much lately anyway!

Gave it a whirl on the treadmill for a couple of minutes. Though I was able to go without any true pain, there was discomfort and it just didn't feel right. I hopped off after just a couple minutes and hit the elliptical for 35.

My leg situation seems to be improving (slowly...) with the rest I've given it. I can put my finger on the exact spot where the pain is localized, on the mid-inner part of my left tibia. Definitely the most tender when I'm applying pressure right on it/massaging it. I don't feel any protrusions or strange textures or swelling; just a deep localized tenderness. Not sure if its a bone issue, soft tissue tear, or what. The only thing I know to do is to keep taking it easy until it tells me I'm ready...Just have to be patient.

A.M. - 40 minutes on the Stepmill

A.M. - 30 minutes on the elliptical.

A.M. - 45 minutes on the Stepmill

30 mins on the elliptical after work.

A.M. - Decided to give it a go again real easy today. Leg's still not all better yet, and I could feel it running, not painful though. Just took it real slow. I tried one of the new snazzy treadmills at the gym. It looked nice, but they've programed them to limit your time to 25 minutes... lame. Moreover, it wasn't very smooth either. Real loud and slap-sticky. With two minutes to go, I think something broke on the machine because it really started making funny sounds. Needless to say, I'm going to stick with my favorite Life Fitness one. The run went okay, but I'm not ready yet to start building back-up. Salt Lake Half is definitely out. I may see if they'll let me transfer to the bike tour thing because I don't want to just throw my fee away.

Also did 30 mins on the elliptical.

Wanted to go on a ride this afternoon, but the weather wasn't going to let that happen. Linds and I went car shopping.

Rest day.

Was up real late last night getting ready to issue a client's report today, so I missed the morning workout. Got the report out the door a little after 5 and was going to head to the gym. The weather was nice so I treated myself to a ride instead. Did about about a 32-miler from my house along Wasatch and up Millcreek to the gate and back. Felt wonderful. So glad to have the bike to fall back on when the running's stalled.

A.M. - 4 easy on the treadmill at the Life Centre. Five minutes each at 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, 9.5, and 6 1/2 minutes at 10.0. All flat. Leg felt okay, not great. I'm not ready yet.

A.M. - 30 minutes on the elliptical. Then headed up to Wyoming for Wednesday and Thursday.

A.M. - Stayed the night in a hotel in Green River, Wyoming on Wednesday night. The hotel had a small fitness room with an elliptical machine and a couple treadmills, so I had planned on spending a little time on the elliptical in the morning. Not to my surprise, a gentleman was on the machine when I got down there and he was early in his workout. My only option was the treadmill and I wasn't going to run. So I hoped on that baby, set it to a decent an incline and brisk walking pace, and tried to make the most of my time. I gradually ratcheted up the time and incline and ended up doing about 3 miles in in around 45 minutes. It actually felt like a relatively decent workout. Got a sweat going and the heart pumping a bit.

The hotel is on Wild Horse Canyon Rd and if you keep following the road (I think northeast) past the hotel, it soon turns into dirt and gradually winds and climb up through Wild Horse Canyon. Last year, when I was up here I ran up it and it was a cool run. Actually did see some horses and although its on the high plains of Wyoming, it actually felt like central/southern Utah because of the beautiful rocks. Wished I could have done it again.

A.M. - Early meeting in the office today. Got in 30 minutes on the stair stepper. If I were really concerned about maintaining some level of fitness, I should be making more of an effort to get in longer cross-training workouts. But in all honestly, my motivation has really been lacking lately without the running. That combined with work stress and discouragement with how long the leg is taking. It'll turn around. It always does. Getting back into shape is a large part of the fun anyways.

A.M. - Though I had signed-up for the half marathon, I ruled it out a while ago. My intention was to try and switch over to the bike tour so that my race fee wasn't a total forfeiture. But when my buddy Scott called me Thursday night about a Saturday morning group ride that was going to be longer than 26 miles and with a bunch of friends, it wasn't a hard decision how I wanted to spend my Saturday morning.

Sin confession: For anyone reading this, please don't hate me, but I admittedly supported a bandit in the race by convincing a co-worker to take my race bib and make use of it. So that 2:08 you see next to my name isn't me. Don't rat me out to the race director! I fronted the cost. I knew he wasn't going for a Boston qualifier or anything like that. I just didn't want my entrance fee to be wasted. Congrats "M" on a good first half marathon... Can't wait to see how you improve by UV 1/2!

A group of 7 of us (me, Scott Tasker, Brad Porter, Jon Miller, Dayne Hassett, Rob, and Russ) headed out from Scott's house at around 7 AM. All of these folks, except for Brad, is going to be on our MS team in June. We headed north on 7th/9th East and bisected the marathon course at Van Winkle (prior to the marathoners getting there), then bisected the half marathon course at 17th South. Just after we cut through, I saw one of the front runners. Looked like a masters runner and looked familiar, but I didn't know who he was (not Steve). We went up to 8th South and then turned west. As we were crossing State, we saw another fast runner. A shorter younger guy with purple shorts cooking along really good (sorry, I didn't recognize him either). That was the end of our encounters with the race. It really made me sad that I wasn't running in the half. I've really grown to enjoy this race over the last couple of years and had been looking forward to it.

We continued west for a ways and then north eventually getting onto the Legacy Parkway trail. We didn't go very far north though and after 25 miles, most of us decided that we wanted to get in some hills and to get in some semblance of a workout. We headed back east under I-15 and then started back south. We stopped at a gas station for a quick refill on the water and then headed down toward the capital. Russ wasn't interested in tackling any hills today, so he broke off from the rest of us and headed home. The rest of us climbed up past the capital and then up into the avenues and up and around the University. Then east to the road just east of the zoo. Through the Foothill neighborhoods and on the path over the freeway to Wasatch. Then south to 9400 with a couple good climbs up the hill just passed Big Cottonwood and the one just past La Caille going up to 9400. Then straight down the hill to Scott's house down by Mt. Jordan middle school. 

Fun, fun ride. We got in around 57 miles or so. Most was done at a leisurely pass since we had a wide range of bikers with different fitness levels, but the hills allowed it qualify as a decent workout. I'm feeling good on the bike. I need to be doing more of it too though. I think I'll be fine for the 100 and 70 miles for the two day MS ride, but if I get into Lotoja (odds not good, but will find out next month, really keeping my fingers crossed!), then I've really got to get serious and be much more consistent on the bike. Scott has been diligent about his riding and has been doing spin classes consistently. It's paying off because its easy to see his improvement. Rob, one of the guys from Scott's ward who rode with us, was a Cat 3 cyclist a few years ago and has done Lotoja several times. It was fun talking with him about his racing experiences and his thoughts on training.

This is going to be an interesting year. Assuming the leg gets better soon and I can resume training, I really want to build on last year's good running year. Last year, the only thing I was really focused on was sub-2:30 at St. George. I worked hard and was ecstatic when it came to pass. But this year I don't have such a concrete goal. We've got our second kid on the way in 3 weeks. I'd really like to get more use out of my expensive road bike and do decent in Lotoja if I can get in. There are a few other relatively big life decisions/changes that we're working on before the end of the year too. So things will be interesting. The danger, of course, is becoming too diluted in these various pursuits and ending up not really excelling at anything.

If I get into Lotoja and the leg still is giving me fits by the time June rolls around and its not looking like I can get the kind of training block that I want to for St. George. Then my fitness focus will likely be cycling. However, if the leg comes back on track soon (I think it will) and I don't get into Lotoja, running will clearly be the primary fitness focus.

Things will come more into focus over the next month or two and I'm sure things will proceed to work out as they are meant to be. 

Rest day.

A.M. - 40 minutes on the stairstepper at the gym.

P.M. - Took out the Stumpjumper for a quick ride up the home course; Little Cottonwood Creek Trail. The trail was free of snow all the way to the top, no surprise given the record heat weather. Didn't make it out the door until about 7, but got home just before sundown. Beautiful ride as always. Great way to end the day. 

40 minutes of elliptical.

40 minutes on the stepmill

25 minute test run. All flat 5 minutes each at 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0. Felt alright. I want to think that progress is happening, but its soooo slooooow... I may try again tomorrow and push it a little more. Dang injury.

P.M. - 35 minutes on the treadmill:

5 minutes each at 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, 9.5, 10.0 (all flat). Then 5 mins @ 10.0 mph, 1.0 incline and 5 mins @10.0 with 2.0 incline.

Hardest run I've done in almost a month and first time all April that I've run back to back days. Progress...Leg felt okay, but still noticing it during the run.

A.M. - Shorten version of my standard Little Cottonwood out-and-back course...It's been about a month since I've been out on the roads. Leg felt okay. I was just happy to be outside running in the cool Spring air. Not sure if the leg is really ready to roll yet, but I'm getting impatient. Don't understand why this dang injury is taking so long. I feel like I've been being careful....Get better already!

Rest day. Walked to and from the school with my daughter. Messed around on the playground.

A.M. - Shortened standard out-and-back.