Where's the Donuts?

Five on the Warren-Manette Bridge loop, good to break out of my rut and do a different run. Felt good, slowed down a bit near the end because I was pushing the pace, but that's a sign that everything felt fine. Especially on a route with so many hills (more downhill on this one than others). Beautiful morning also, sun's out and temperature is really mild. I think it was a bit short of 5, I'll add a little next time. 35:55. 

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Easy miles on the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle. It was nice to run a flat course. 39 minutes. 

supernova -- 244 

Back to running, took a little break there. Probably a little more than I should have. My foot was bothering me, I thought it might have been faciitis, I don't think it was though. So a few days off turned into a long break because I went to Chicago and didn't run there. Now I'm home, foot feels fine, and I'll try to get back into a routine. 

Short version of the 11th-Shore Drive route, just to get back in it. Took it real easy, just enjoyed the rested legs (which are a little less fit, although I've kept riding my bicycle every day to work to keep me in some shape). Warmer outside than I expected, and it's supposed to get hot the next few days. 24 minutes.

supernova -- 247

Warmest morning of the year so far, five miles on the 11th-Shore loop. For the first time ever I bumped into other people running that route. Maybe it'll pick up as the summer begins. I was a little sluggish, but that's probably my body's leftovers from an epic lawnmowing session last night. Good pace otherwise, good frame of mind to run in. 35:56.

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Beautiful morning on Beach Drive, I was back with the Slug Club after a few weeks away. Mike and Ernie ran marathons last weekend so the plan was for easy miles -- of course, we ended up pushing the pace at the end and threw in a 6:43 mile on #8 and 7 minute on mile 9. Other than that the pace was around 7:20, we were pretty consistent. I felt good, my left foot is bothering me a bit but I think it's more like a bruise on my heel than anything more serious. Fitness felt great for that distance, I even enjoyed the miles that were a bit faster and forced a little effort.  

supernova -- 262  

 11th-Shore Drive. Nice morning. My left foot is still sore when I begin the run, but it goes away real soon after I warm up. Still hoping it's just a heel bruise or something, doesn't seem to be getting any worse or affecting any other muscles. Felt strong otherwise, a little warm by the end. Stretched my legs out some on the downhills coming home. Good way to start the week. 36:26.

supernova -- 267 

Rainy morning and I went with a relaxing workout. Indoors on the treadmill at the YMCA, I wanted to baby my foot and see if that surface was a little easier on it. I just ran for 25 minutes to get the heart rate up, right around 8 minute miles. Like it has been, my foot was stiff to start and felt ok after warming up. Nice stretching session afterward.

supernova -- 270 

Warren Bridge-Manette Bridge route on a misty morning, kind of cool. Good pace, foot was a little iffy to start but fine once I got going. There's a few hills on this loop, so it made me work a bit. I was pushing some at times but stretched my legs down the hills. The slight change in pace and different scenery were good for me mentally. 36:42.

supernova -- 275

11th-Shore Drive loop, I had a bathroom emergency and had to cut it off a bit short. No rest stops on that route. Again, the foot felt alright after warming up. I have noticed there is a small lump on my left arch, under the skin. I felt it last night massaging my foot, and it was there this morning. No idea what it is, but I have a feeling it's connected to the discomfort. 30:48.

Long run planned with the slugs tomorrow, I've put together a decent week of miles for the first time in a month. Still a ways to go to really get in shape, but at least I'm getting back in the routine.

supernova -- 279 

Early morning run with Mike and Ernie from Slug Club, it was beautiful out by 5:45. Sun was coming up through the clouds, a little mist hanging over the water, and maybe 60 degrees. I even forgot how early it was once we got started. We saw an eagle eating a bloody breakfast, like three feet off the road. The thing just stared at me, like I was going to get eaten next. I was a little worried about my foot, heading out for 16 and all. I felt it most of the run, though any pain went away once I warmed up. I did feel a slight pull the whole time and I was aware of it, but I tried not to favor my foot.

The plan was a "true 7:30" pace, according to Mike. Like usual, that didn't happen, Ernie complained about it the whole way but still finished right with us. Here were the miles: 14:57 (first two); 7:22 (at this point, Ernie says 'You guys go ahead, I'll stay back at 7:30 pace'); 7:19; 7:08; 7:35; 7:13: 7:26: 7:39: 7:06 (Ernie, still with us: 'Alright, I'll let you guys go so I can hit 7:30s'); 7:19; 7:05; 7:22; 7:05; 7:30 (Ernie, after slowing down 15-20 yards behind us and then catching up: 'You guys going to hit 7:30 at all?'); then 7:14. For some reason a rhythm was hard to find today. Still, an enjoyable run. At mile 14 my legs broke down a bit, but nothing serious, just that training breakdown that feels good.

After the run and stretching my foot flared up and became painful to walk around. So I sat and drank coffee and ate French Toast for an hour. I'm at home now, did some fairly intense stretching (all over, but focusing on my calfs and feet), massage with a can and my fingers, and icing, and my foot is feeling alright. I'm watching it closely though, I think the plantar may be inflamed. That's my theory to why I can feel the little lump.

supernova -- 195

Nice recovery run today, and good news on the foot. I met Aaron on the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle, didn't wear a watch and just ran at a comfortable pace for awhile. Nice to catch up, and another beautiful morning. Four and a half is an estimate based on a few mile markers I saw and the clock time when I finished. No pain in the foot though, not even on the warm up. I played basketball for an hour after running yesterday pain-free, which tells me maybe the shoes are do for a replacement. I didn't get that done today like I planned, but hopefully soon. I think massaging my arch and icing really helped Saturday morning, I did it again this morning after the run and the plantar seems to be improving. 

supernova -- 299 

Took Memorial Day off to plant in the yard and cut the grass, I got up early but went out to breakfast instead of running. Came back with the 11th-Shore long loop this morning. Easy pace, overcast skies. My foot was a little painful at the start, but warmed up and I didn't notice it. I didn't have a chance to buy new shoes over the weekend, but I have a pair of trail runners I haven't worn in months, with probably 50-70 total miles on them. So I wore them today, I'll work them into the rotation this week until I get to the shoe store. Stretched, massaged, etc. and icing right now. 36:17. 

 pearl izumi trail

11th-Shore short loop, the pain is still hanging around in my left foot and I mis-timed my bathroom stops so the run was cut short. I needed to spend more time doing the massaging/icing to get this thing healthy. I felt pretty sluggish today, probably a combo of the cloudy weather, skipping yesterday's run and some tentativeness because of the foot. The slug run tomorrow will be shorter than last week, I'll stay on the safe side for a few more days while I heal. 24:20

supernova -- 302 

Easy Saturday with the Slugs. The other guys are breaking down so we scaled it back, I could have added a few but we were trying a new breakfast place and I didn't want to be late. As usual the pace wasn't on 7:30. We even tried to make it a contest and have each guy lead a mile without using his watch and see who could hit the closest (my try was 7:15). The miles went: 15:30 (1,2); 7:43; 7:19; 6:56; 7:19; 7:15; 7:25; 6:45; 7:03. The last two were after I had stopped to go to the bathroom, so I was rushing a bit to catch up. My foot is a little sore now, but I didn't feel it for the majority of the run. My heel feels a little more pain now. It's improving, but I should be patient and keep on the treatments. Breakfast place was a winner, I think we'll keep going there. I went with the waffles. 1:13 total.

supernova -- 312