Slow & Steady Wins the Race :-)

Lovely bike ride with Jordanne at Cedar River Trail.  Did 14 miles with her, then came back and still had about 20 minutes to kill until I had to pick J up at the airport so I really tried to pick it up these miles, I think the max speed I got was 17-18 mph.  Although it was pouring on the drive there it was actually really nice and even a little sunny during the ride, lovely river and forest views. 

TD: 19 miles    TT: 1:38:00    AP: 11.5 mph (pretty slow!)

Didn't intend to run today but my ankle had really been feeling good so I decided to test it.  Cooper joined me for 2 loops and Justin joined me for a loop too!  Felt pretty mediocre to bad the first 4 miles and kept planning to stop, but suddenly after 4 miles it felt great, so I kept going... and going... and going.  My legs started to feel really heavy around 7 (hoping because of the bike ride, not because I've lost all my fitness!), but I thought if I could do 10 I would feel a LOT better going into the half in 2 weeks.  I will probably pay for this tomorrow, I scheduled some PT for Thursday, I'm hoping some graston / torture / kt taping / and more will help. 

TD: 10 miles     TT: 1:34:01     AP: 9:24 (I think that's what I saw, not positive). 

1 loop around the neighborhood with Cooper.  Ran for 1 mile of it, my ankle hurt so I stopped.

40 minutes on the bike trainer before work, 60 lunges (30 each leg) afterwards.

AM - Went to PT before work and ran .5 miles on the TM (it didn't hurt! after KT taping).  The PT said a million things that I wish I could remember, but he thinks maybe I shouldn't wear the VFFs anymore (sad) (although he also said he thinks its more hips than feet which is why I have these problems no matter what shoes I wear).  We're doing gait analysis with a video camera on Tuesday so I'll know more about that then.  I do have a small leg length discrepancy (1/8th of an inch) but he doesn't think that's as big of a problem as the other guy.  He thinks my hips are the big problem, and that my glutes aren't engaging, so we did about a billion glute exercises and they were on FIRE.  That's my homework.  I also have to majorly work on calf flexibility.  He taped up my foot and it feels SO much better just with the tape, so I go back Tuesday and then next Friday for taping before the half marathon.  He also said I don't really have to fear a tendon rupture (which is why I wasn't running through the pain), unless I got ran over by a car while I was running. :-)  I didn't get to use the anti-gravity treadmill but I saw it and maybe next time I'll get courage enough to ask!

PM - Decided to test it out, so did 2 loops around the neighborhood (3 miles).  First loop tried wearing the Merrell's with the inserts, that hurt big time (not enough space inside the shoe), so after 1 loop came home and changed into the Nike Free's and grabbed Cooper.  Ankle feels so much better with the tape, which keeps my strike on the outside basically and doesn't allow the pronation as much which is what is pulling on the tendon.  

Got to babysit Denali for a little while this afternoon while her nanny is on spring break - I'm so lucky!  She was getting grouchy so I took her out for a little walk and she fell asleep instantly.  Ran 1 mile even though I knew I shouldn't and am abiding to the every other day rule now but it was hard to pass up such a golden opportunity of free time in the middle of a nice sunny day.  So walked about 3 more miles (1 hour total) including up the ginormous hill by her house - great workout!

When Lisa got home from work we went for another walk - 2 more miles up some more big hills.  Denali is so so so precious, but I need more ways to entertain her!  

Another perfect day!  Sunny blue skies, lovely.  Yard work, then drove to Bremerton for a tennis match, 1.5 hours of tennis (I won 6-2, 6-4, against a lady who hit the ball SO HARD), then we tried out Bremerton's finest (aka the #1 restaurant according to some website) at Boston's Deli & Pizza.  Shared a calzone and some pizza - would have been better if it had been fresh I think, then ferry'd it up back home (PS - driving is WAY faster but ferrying is more fun and scenic!).  Perfect Saturday.