Rosswog Running Blog

Another red-burn day as the Inversion seemed to get even worse.  Since I was unable to get in my run until late in the afternoon after the Recreation Center had closed, I went for a run up along the benches of the Wasatch Front in an effort to try to avoid running in the really bad air.  Consequently, after jogging over to Smith’s and back in order to pickup some groceries, I ran to Skyline High School and completed a single lap around the school’s snow and ice covered track before heading back to home.  The total distance of these combined runs was 12.2 miles at an easy pace with my right calf still feeling sore.

While watching my Broncos lose a disappointing game to the Raiders, I completed 300 sit-ups and 30 push-ups.

Once again, it was a red-burn day and I cannot wait for the next storm to come through the Valley to clear away the haze.  Due to the inversion and a tender right calf, I stuck to running at an easy pace on the treadmill today.  In total, I completed 4.1 miles.

For my non-running workout, it was my baseline routine of 300 sit-ups and 30 push-ups.

Due to working on a few pre-Christmas projects, it was a late night.  As a result, it was another relatively light running workout for me today.  Since my right calf was still tight and sore, I divided up my workout between the treadmill and elliptical.  Overall, I completed 1.3 miles on the elliptical and 3.6 miles at an easy pace on the treadmill.  I’m definitely wearing my recovery socks tonight in an effort to try to squeeze the soreness out of my calf.

In addition, it was another concise non-running workout in that I completed 300 sit-ups and 30 push-ups.

The soreness in my right leg still persisted today, even though I wore my recovery socks during my entire shift at work.  However, compared to yesterday, my calf muscle was feeling a little bit better.  In order to not put too much pounding on my right leg, I put in 1.7 miles of on the elliptical before jumping on the treadmill for 2.9 miles at an easy pace.

Also, a winter storm came through the Salt Lake Valley and cleared out the inversion!  Consequently, I could not resist going for a short run under the clear, starry, late-evening sky.  As a result, I slipped on my Five Fingers (i.e., my theory is that if I work into my routine a little bit of bare feet running, it might help me improve my gait and work the soreness out of my right calf) and jogged over to Big Cottonwood Park and completed three laps around the softball complex before heading back.  The total distance of this run was 2.2 miles at an easy pace.

In regards to my non-running workout, I completed 300 sit-ups, 30 push-ups, and 20 (50 lbs) reverse curls.

My right calf was still feeling sore; therefore, during my breaks from work, I hit the elliptical machine a couple of times in an effort to loosen up the muscles in my lower right leg.  In total, during these breaks I was able to get in 1.2 miles.  Following, work I ran for 5.1 miles on the treadmill at an easy pace.  Also, when I got home, I took it easy and watched a pretty entertaining and inspirational running flick that I absolutely recommend called Run For Your Life (a documentary on Fred Lebow and the creation of the NYC Marathon and NY Road Runner’s Club).

To conclude my Christmas Eve workout, I accomplished 300 sit-ups, 30 push-ups, 80 (60, 50, 40, 30 lbs), and 60 (50 lbs) reverse curls.

Merry Christmas!  After taking it easy during the morning and most of the afternoon, I headed out for my Christmas Day Run.  For this run, I ran over to Sugar House Park and took one lap around the park’s inner circle before heading back.  The total distance of this run was 13.7 miles at an easy pace (i.e., my right calf is still tight and sore; however, after a few miles I was able to loosen it up).  In addition, it was neat to see all the kids and parents out with their sleds at the park; however, I was the only runner that was out (i.e., I think it was a little too cold and too late in the day).

My non-running workout just consisted of the routine 300 sit-ups and 30 push-ups.

Shortly after rolling out of bed this morning, I got out the door and jogged the 2.1-mile distance up to the Salt Lake Running Company for a group run.  On the way up, my shoes must have turned to concrete because my legs were sure felt heavy.  However, being pushed by the group during our 6.5-mile run, the heavy-ness and soreness slowly dissipated enough to knock out a 6:34 mile (we averaged 7:16 miles for the distance).  With that said, I might have pushed it a little too much, because on the 2.2-mile jog back to home, I started to feel some soreness in my IT band.  By the way, the temperatures were brutally cold outside; for example, my neck warmer frosted over and lost some feeling in my lips (i.e., a feeling comparable to a Novocain shot at the dentist).

In regards to my non-running workout, I was able to get in 300 sit-ups and 30 push-ups.