On the Mend

So, my foot is feeling better already. I have been able to walk on it today without having to do anything strange with my foot like the last few days. I still have a noticeable limp, but I can place my heel all the way to floor and have only moderate to bad pain today - manageable. I'm wondering if by Saturday, I'll be able to take a short run while I'm in Washington. Man I hope so - I've been really looking forward to that. I'm hoping to even do a little bit of sightseeing while I'm there - I can't get enough of things I've already seen a dozen times or so like the Declaration of Independence - I mean the ACTUAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE! The inscriptions inside of the Lincoln Memorial I remember being particularly moving and the whole Jefferson Memorial area is just absolutely lovely. I think Karen is going on some kind of power-shopping yard sale tour starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday so we'll see how my plans work out. I have to remember I actually have to WORK for a short time while I'm there. I hope it works out to be as quick, easy, and engaging as I imagine it to be and that there are not the technical or personnel problems that can occasionally arise. One way or another, it will be nice to spend some time with just Karen - can you believe, my parents said this will be the first time in about 4 or 5 YEARS since the two of us have been away for more than a few hours by ourselves. Last year's trip to Chicago you may remember was a bust - one I'm really not over yet - but I really don't think about it all that much. So - this should be very fun and once I get on the plane all the planning stops and the doing starts!

Busted!

Can you believe it? A broken foot! Well, I guess not really broken, it's just a stress fracture, but man that is disappointing. I guess I'll just have to use this time to cross train or something. I was REALLY looking forward to running around the monuments and national mall in Washington this weekend - but, AS they say, OH WELL!

Capital City 10-miler

Alright - we did it! At 8 a.m. the next morning,that's about as much enthusiasm as I can muster.
10 Miles
1:59:35
11:58 pace

Can you say S......L......O.......W...... ...but like you were saying last night, I definitely feel like I accomplished something significant yesterday. We have one under our belts now, a fairly lengthy run that is, so we know that one way or another we can finish. I was telling Karen yesterday that a goal for next season would be to finish in the top half of my age bracket - so for most of the races we've run, that would put us in the 9 to 9:30 pace range. HOWEVER, yesterday, we would have had to run an 8:00 pace to finish in the top half of our bracket. Can you believe that - an 8:00 pace was the median score. I'd be curious to see what the average pace was. Next year, I'll move into the next age bracket, 35-39 - the times don't seem too drastically different to me.

OK, so back to the foot pain I was telling you about last night - it's still here this morning. I'm thinking about heading over to Sports Med' this morning and having one of the docs there check it out. It is a very sharp and easy to locate pain, not one of those dull throbbing types. I don't think it's a bone actually - I'm wondering if it's muscular or tendon/ligament pain - when I run my finger across where the pain is, I can feel a swollen band of something - I don't feel this on Karen's foot which I used as my "normal subject". Anyway, other than the foot, I feel great today - a little bit of stiffness but nothing that is limiting my range of motion at all or anything like that - feeling really good!

Congratulations again Jeff on a great run and for being such a good guy when Kristie needed you yesterday - she was really struggling there for a while and I know you really helped her through that.

OK - the next guy is the 5k WMU Campus Classic - I can't wait!

OK -What a GREAT RUN!

Wow! I just had an awesome run. I'll give you all the splits and pace later, but I felt GREAT to GOOD to the whole way. Muscles felt great - breathing was only a small challenge for the last 10 minutes or so - but I had a great time. More later!

Getting Ready ...nervous....a little

OK ... so.... I haven't run in about 5 days, it's Wednesday, and we have a 10-mile race ahead - whoa Nelly! I think I just need to readjust my sights and not think of it so much as a "race" but as a recreational or fitness event. I've never run more than 6.5 miles so .... I think the overall concept is to run farther in your training runs than you have to for a race - again - breaking all the rules! :)

Last Friday Next Sunday

Friday Night
2.25 Miles Approximately
22:03 Minutes
9:48 Pace

OK, I'm really looking forward to the Lansing run this upcoming Sunday - it will be a fun "distraction" and gives me something to think about outside of work. Karen said she is going to set Eddie up for the 1 mile run and Heather will run the quarter-mile run. Should be a good time.

Good Run - Faster Pace

OK, so I ran home from work today for lunch. How cool is that?! It was hot - the newsguy said 86 when I got home but I felt pretty good the whole time - warm and wonderful! Felt so good to be on the road. I could hear the same thing in your voice last night - there's a certain "bounce" to it after you've run. All the kids are out and about walking to/from classes, the weather is terrific - just a really nice mood today. So, here are the specs:
2.6 miles
26:02 minutes/seconds
10:01 pace

Run Home from Work

The other day, Thursday I think, I literally ran out of my office ..... running shorts and sneakers donned, I hit the road and ran home from work, which was pretty cool. One mistake - ran WITH traffic on the one-way Kendall - should have run AGAINST traffic on Solon. Need to drink more water at work - it's not summer any more and I need to keep mindful of things like food, water, and sleep as they relate to running.

2.5 miles
27 minutes
10:48 pace

2 Miles: Back on the Road

2 Miles 25:03 minutes
First Mile 14:03
Second Mile 11:00
Just feels great to be back on the road. Even though I went to the doctor's office today, I think I might have sinusitis, I hit the road anyway and it felt great to be back out there. The ankle held up great, even after I jumped around on that PS2 Dancing game of Eddie's. Back to the run ...... Nice and slow, very s....l.....o.....w...... just what I needed.

Catholic Prayer for Self-Motivation

OK bro, dig this one!

Omnipotent God, vitality of life, Your strength supplies my motivation.
I am stirred in the path of Your Will. Maintain my self-motivation to always search, find, examine, will and act upon the truths placed before me.
May I become a driving force for others, encouraging them to pick up their crosses and follow the virtuous road of life. I thank You for Your continued vigor that coexists in my whole being, my soul, my spirit and by body! Amen

A week off

OK, so the last time I ran was last Sunday night, the day after the CRIM. This was not an intentional week off, but I was down with a cold this whole time and today is the first day I've felt better - not 100% yet - but at least I feel mostly like myself again. Today I watched my Wolverines beat the Miami of Ohio Redhawks in Ann Arbor. The score makes it look bad 43-10, but that Miami team is good. Our defense played great and the offense played good enough, but we definitely have some special teams problems to work out. Our secondary is SO good and you just are not going to run against Michigan successfully. BUT - will we have enough offense to get it done. A FRESHMAN - and I mean a TRUE not a red-shirt freshman started today. The only other 18 year old to EVER start at QB for Michigan was Rick Leach in 1975 (we won that one too!)

So, I twisted my ankle today playing with Rosa. It is swollen a bit and sore - hopefully will only keep me off the road a day or so - I'd like to hit it again on Monday or Tuesday.

Where are you bro?

OK, so it has now been 5 days since we ran the CRIM - where are ya bro? I know you said you were back on the road Sunday night, and I mentioned I was also, but I haven't run since. I've felt like crap - I have a summer cold - which makes no sense because it is so damn hot outside! I'm looking forward to getting over this thing so I can get back out there!