High-Octane

Today it seemed a little warmer than the conditions read, but better than normal. Today I go back to the foot doctor, on my own accord, to see if there is anything that can be done to relieve some of my foot pain. I'm sure at best it might be a cortisone shot but he may not want to do that. I'm really hoping for something to relieve the nagging pain.

On a different note, today I ran the big loop. No real goal but as I ran the first part was just running while the middle was a slightly uncomfortable and then a push at the end. I also had run the same run about a month ago (8/28). It is interesting to compare the two as the conditions, topography and other factor are all exactly the same or very close. Looking at the paces and HR it is interesting to see the improvement mile after mile and how much it has been in a short time. I think in anoter month I will improve another 30 seconds per mile with the same effort.

Next weekend I am going to California to run the Long Beach Half Marathon with Callie (my daughter). I can't decide if I am going to just run with her (at about a 8:45-9:00 pace) or try and push myself. I think my best effort would be about a 7:30-7:45 pace.

I started a regiment of Alieve Saturday evening and decided to ride my bike in lue of a long run this weekend (not that I could have run anyway). Rode to church 25 miles and then back home 25 miles at an avg. speed of 17.5 mph each way. (So 50 miles total.) I am getting stronger on the bike and know from past experience it will keep me in somewhat good condition, it just takes a lot of time.

My foot was sore but the biking was bearable.

With the regiment of Alieve my foot felt much better this morning so I went out for a 7 mile run. The weather conditions are improving: 70 degrees, 50% humidity and 50 deg. dew point .

My legs were a little tired from the 50 mile bike ride yesterday but nothing was sore.

Again, comparing this run to the same run less than a month ago, I have improved a full minute with the same HR effort. Also, I almost hit a 6:XX mile on the last mile without really trying. I'm making improvement despite the little amount of running I'm able to do. I've averaged less than 30 miles per week over the last 8 weeks, since I started back running.

I decided to push a little harder today than I have since I started back running. Fastest pace and highest HR for any run at any distance. I could feel the lactate in my legs nearing the end of the run and my left hamstring got a little tight. All in all it was a good run though. I originally planned to run 10 but was running short on time so I made it 8.5.

My foot is feeling better with the regiment of Aleve. The weather is better but still warm enough to get a good sweat on.

Still trying to decide how to run the Long Beach Half Marathon this weekend but I've pretty much decided to just run it with Callie and hopelly help her hit her goal. I think I'm in about 7:20 condition right now but if I run with Callie it will be more like 8:45. The weather is supposed to be warm (I think actually in the high 60's to start) somewhat like what I'm running in right now. We'll see...

Had a fun time running with Callie in this race. Her goal was to break 2:00... fell a little short but still okay with the heat. The plan was to stick close to a 9:00 pace for the entire race. Callie is not up for running negative splits like I am. 9:09,9:11,8:55,8:53,8:58,9:12,9:12,9:09,9:11,9:26,9:46:9:21,8:57,last .1 ??. Callie started to fatigue at mile 10-11.5 but picked up the pace the last 1.6 miles. I encountered her by telling her to just start picking off runners in front of her. She passed over 59 runners in the last 2 miles. This is a big race with a full, half marathon and even a bike tour. I was a little disappointed in the crowd support even compared to some of the smaller races I've been to. The half marathoners were allowed to start at 6 am instead of 7:39 as originally planned due to the heat. It was about 74 degrees at the start. I am happy I decided to run with Callie and hoping my encouragment helped her shave a few seconds off her time!

Apple picking in Oak Glen...

No recovery needed after the Long Beach Marathon on Sunday. My foot felt terrible the two days before the race and then fair the day of the race. Today it felt better than it has in weeks, I also felt refreshed (other than I got home and in bed at 2 am this morning. Decided to do a faster and shorter progressive run this morning. The weather was warm at 80 degrees but the humidity and dew point were low making it much more plesant than 70 degrees with the typical 90% humidity. It's funny how much hotter it can be if the dew point is low and still feel good.

I'm thinking I'm in about 7:20 shape for the Chosen Half Marathon coming up in about a month and hoping to drop that down to about 7:10 by race time.

This is the first time I've hit a 6:xx pace in a long....time!

Rode my bike this morning instead of running ... I'm kinda thinking that was a mistake as it was 59 degrees, 55% humidity and 43 degree dew point. I wore gloves and still got a little cold.

21 Miles @ 17 mph avg. (The route is somewhat hilly.)

I should have done this run yesterday, it was much better weather then. 

The last 4 miles of this route are the hilliest. I typically run the other direction but though this would be good preparation for the upcoming Chosen Half. The Chosen Half is now a one way run (not an out and back as before) with more of the hills at the end of the race.

I was hoping/thinking I could do a little better on this run but it's still about the same pace as my latest 10 mile runs with the same effort. So 3 miles gained is good. :-) Last mile was the fastest but I payed in effort!

Went to the gym (first time in several months) and run 4 mile on the TM @ 8:45 pace.

44 Miles Total.

Foot was very sore and I couldn't run. Rode my bike to Chruch and then back home. 16 mph to chruch and 18.5 mph home.

On the good side...This run was about 30 seconds faster per mile than a month ago on the same run with the same HR effrot and one minute faster per mile than the same run two months ago with the same HR effort! All this improvement while only being able to run an average of 30 miles per week. :-)

On the bad side... My foot pain just won't go away. For some reason last friday it got really sore, I could hardly walk on it so I had to skip running Sat and Sun. I did bike Sun but it was painful. Started taking Alieve again and was able to run this morning on a pretty sore foot.

Dang foot is really bothering me but I had to do something. I'm in Palm Springs for a trade show so I went to the fitness room and ran the elliptical with some resistanceto make it feel like running for 15 miles around a 9:00 pace. I know it's not running but close enough for me to count.

Another day in Palm Springs. Still struggling with the foot, but it doesn't hurt quite as much.

Please don't give me too hard a time as I ran the elliptical again for 10 miles at 9 min pace. (I know it's not really running )

My foot was a little better and I decided to run on the TM instead of the Elliptical today. I haven't figured out what causes the flair ups of swelling and pain but it's really been sore for the last few days. It was very sore when I started and seemed better as I ran but afterwards back to very painful. Averaged 7:50 pace with some good speed 6's and below on some short 1/4 burst, then back to mid 8's.

Saturday...started a regiment of Alieve again to take some of the swelling out.

My foot felt better today but it was raining in the morning so I opted to run late in the evening. For some reason it just feels harder running in the evening to me. (Not that I do it very often.) Got 3 MP miles in. Don't know why my HR was so high to start out...this was really strange??

My foot was very sore for the first 2 miles then just unconfortable for the rest of the run. Legs were tired from last evening run but the weather was good!

My weight was down to 156 which is the lowest it's been in six months. Finally about the right race weight.

Couldn't resist the nice weather this morning. I was all packed to go to the gym but then felt how nice it was outside and opted to stay home and run.

I have a little concern this morning with my left foot (not my right that I've had surgery on), this morning when I was simply putting on my shoe if felt as if something stung me on my foot right at the same spot where my right foot began hurting. As I rub on that spot there seems to be a little tinder spot there....Oh I hope I'm not getting the same hammer foot condition on my left foot now! :-(

Just an easy low effort run this morning.

Now very concerned with my left foot. Having an occasional sharp pain in the same place as where the right foot broke down. :-(((((((

Still going to try and run in the next couple of days...maybe it's nothing.