Getting back to Boston

Ran after work tonight (so I started after midnight; sue me). Three laps around the mall, then six hill sprints on Duncan. Legs did wonderfully. Worst thing was pure fatigue from lack of sleep due to Max's spasticity last night. Maintained 9:30 pace, which is what I wanted. It was definitely cold enough, dropping into the mid-20s as I ran. At this point, more concerned about rebuilding my pace and staying healthy than the pace; that will come later.

Bad news is, after several days of no pain, the leg chose tonight to act up. Good news is, I found a way to temporarily alleviate it so I don't have to shut down a run. It'll act up in another mile, but as long as I get down on one knee for a few seconds, it'll settle down enough to continue for a few more minutes. Tedious, to be sure, but better than not running. I'll have to test it on a longer run in a few days, assuming it continues to act up. Anyway, got in four miles around the mall. I've felt really tired all day; didn't sleep well last night at Bryant and didn't take the needed nap this afternoon. Maybe I'll sleep well tonight and the leg will calm down.

Need 13 more miles to get to 1400 for the year. That would have been a wonderful total in 2008, lousy last year, really lousy this year, but I've kept enough of a fitness level that I can ramp up in the next 16 weeks if the injuries cooperate.

Golf course loop today. Leg hurt for about the first four miles, then settled down. I pushed the second lap harder, with the last 1.4 at marathon pace, then jogged the tennis court trail once for a cooldown. It was cool, mid-40s, but pretty humid after last night's rain, so I worked up a pretty good sweat. Then I came home, took an ice bath, then a warm shower. Good to know that the leg pain does go away if I push through it, at least temporarily. That may be what allows me to train adequately from now until April if the sciatica, or whatever it is, doesn't go away completely. It may just be that the pain turns to numbness after four miles. Fine with me; I can run with numb. I can run with pain too, but numb is better. Anyway, a short run tomorrow will put me over 1400 miles for the year. Think I'll go to SHS and do some intervals if I can get into the stadium. Or jump the fence and do them anyway.

Intervals at SHS. Good thing it was breezy because it's in the mid-60s today. In late December???? Ran 8 X 200 at what I guess would be 1500m pace. Probably too fast, but I thought I needed to get the legs used to going fast again, and it worked pretty well. Again some twinges in the calf, but stretching kept that manageable. Anyway, most of the reps were in the 47-second range for 200. Ran 2+ to warm up and 2+ to cool down for a total of 10K. One other guy out there jogging at something under 10:00 pace; ran the reps in lane 2 to get around him (which probably means I really went something like 80 yards over 10K). Anyway, good workout, getting the nice after-workout glow (AKA the relief of no longer bashing yourself over the head with a ball peen hammer). And got the 1400-mile landmark out of the way.

Slow fish at Carol Ann Cross Park to end the year. Leg was pretty painful for the first few laps, eased up after 6 laps. Really didn't want to run, leg aside; did not sleep well, probably due to screwed up body clock (I've been staying up late because I'm working 3 p.m.-3 a.m. tonight).

Finished the year with 1408 miles running. I'm glad to see 2010 in the rear view mirror. Separation, unemployment, divorce -- it hasn't been a good year. Not everything has been bad, but plenty, thank you. Hope 2011 will be much more settled and happier. Good trip to New Orleans would be a good start. Good trip to Boston would be nice too.

Started off the new year with a progression run, modifying an old course slightly. Up Burnham to Free Ferry, west to Rogers, down Rogers under the freeway to 66th, up 66th to FF, and back home. Comes out to just under 7. Hudson called for a 7 miler with a one-mile progression this week, so that's almost what I did. The progression was about 1.3 though; not quite to MP, but down in the mid-8s. This sucker was one hilly route, so I think I got more value than just a routine 7. Leg was a little bothersome early; later just sore glutes from the hills.

It occurred to me that I would like to average about 7 miles a day all year, so this is a good start. That would get me over 2500 again, maybe 2600. Now if I can get my sleeping pattern straightened out...