Pavement is the place for me

I forgot to mention that I've been battling congestion in my chest and nose the past two or three days. It hasn't been bad though luckily. I can still do everything fine, even running. The problem today is has turned into a pretty bad cough. Took tonight off to give myself some extra rest so hopefully I can pull back on track tomorrow. Long run has moved to Sunday luckily, so that will give another extra day to recover before it.

Felt good to get back out after a day off yesterday. Still coughing and congested, but felt fine running.

went out to eat with new church friends after the service. Ended up raining, although I was dead tired and took a nap anyway. Another needed rest day to fight off the congestion.

Headache started at the end of the day before school accompanied by congested coughing and sneezing. Got worse when I got home. Weather has been horrible, changing 20 degrees this way and that, supposed to be 70 tomorrow. Not helping the situation. Still coughing, but the headache was getting worse. Took a nap at 7:30 on the floor, got up at 10:30. Went back to sleep in the bed. Got up at 3, still had a headache. Tossed and turned and groaned till 5. Took some medicine, 15 minutes later threw up (may have been from bad cottage cheese, it tasted a little weird at dinner). Felt better and went back to sleep on the floor.

A little catching up while it's 70 degrees outside. Ran a while tonight. Still had some pretty rough coughs throughout the run, but for the most part everything felt good. First 3 miles was like a death walk. Calves were so tight and wouldn't budge till 5-6 miles. Felt a little better this morning after all the craziness last night, and after eating a good lunch I felt really good. The warm weather probably helped lift my spirits a little, although it was still overcast. Soccer Complex tonight, 10 miles one way, then 3 the other. Ball of foot pain was quite noticeable, on both feet. I'm thinking of getting some inserts or new shoes with better forefoot cushion.

Normal loop. A few hill sprints on the HH. No pain during the run. Crossing my fingers.

 Track practice starts next week. I'm not sure how it will affect running, but it should be fun.
 

Normal loop. Right knee was a little stiff. Toenails still giving me problems. They don't seem to be healing at all. Newer shoes also caused some new blisters to develop. Run felt fine. Pace was brisk despite feeling easy.

 Was going to run a 10k next weekend. Already signed up and everything, but forgot about a coaches seminar that starts Friday and goes through Saturday. I'm pretty positive it's next weekend, but maybe I am wrong and will get lucky somehow. Oh well, not much I can do about it now.

Bah. So much for running injury free. I really thought I was doing well, but I must have done something wrong. I'm still not sure exactly what that was. Too many miles after a hill day? Overstretching? or the adjustment I made to my shoes yesterday? I don't know for sure, but yesterday everything was fine with the tendons in my hamstring. Today they were sore and felt really tight. I loosened my shoe yesterday at the top because it was too tight the day before and had bruised. It must have been a little too loose and my foot moved around putting pressure on tendons that normally can take care of themselves. Just additional stress I figure.

 The good thing is I still am able to run. I know that's probably not the best thing to do, but it doesn't hurt, it's just tight. I went out tonight hoping that it would warm up and it did, but still is tight. I'll try and evaluate again tomorrow if a rest is in store. Basketball Sunday doesn't help matters any, but at this point a little more time is needed to see if this is an injury worth worrying about.

Rested the hamstring.

Left ham muscle tight today from basketball. Another day for rest because I don't want to pull it, plus it will give the right ham extra rest. It's feeling much better though.

First track practice. Ran with the distance guys. I was SO SORE! from yesterday at basketball and not running for 2 days. The lactic acid buildup just made my legs feel like stone, especially the calves. I could hardly run, but I kept up with them. I'd say we were well into 6 minute pace, although we did have 2 stops for traffic lights. 2 laps warmup and 2 cooldown for an even mile.

Another 5 with the crew. We ran a slightly different route today, but still the same old rolling hills. It even included a cut through a backyard. Pretty sweet. Got to know a few of the guys a little better too. It was a good run, but at about 4 miles my right tendon started tightening up, so I had to slow down. Not sure what to do about it at this point, but I'm thinking I may need a few slower runs to give it some recovery. It feels better, but whatever I did to it last week sure is causing problems. Guess it's better to play it safe, but don't really feel like it so close to my goal race at the end of March.
 

short run with the track team. Stayed to the back because of the issues. Left calf was the guy today. I took my pod today and figured we were running faster than a 6:30 mile average pace. That would explain most of the problems with my calves. Another factor would be the newer shoes and between those two and the tightness already, I'd say it's a wonder I'm still able to walk.

Feeling better though, will start running more after practice.
 

A nice out and back tonight. I really have no idea where the guys are going when we run. Most of the time I'm just struggling to keep up. Tonight the legs were tight starting off. By mile 2 they were getting better, and it felt like the pace had slowed a few seconds. We eventually got up a hill, and I looked at my ipod to see 3 miles. So we were halfway through our 6 mile run. So we abruptly turned back at the top of the hill, as the front guys didn't want to cross the street for some crazy reason (we would have to get to that side eventually). So off we go back to the school. This course was simple, and it didn't take much for me to memorize it, other than the short trip through the woods. Luckily I noticed it was by a school sign, so it was fairly easy to spot.

 I was in the middle of the pack most of the time, but at 3.5 I just felt like we were going slow, and for the first time in about week, I felt good. The legs suddenly started turning over fast as usual. They have been feeling like they were dragging along and that the strides were much to long. So off I went, passing the front guys and taking off all alone. This felt even better because now I could control the pace, slow and quicken as I needed to get into a groove. Most of the guys stayed with me, but I didn't realize it because they had crossed the street behind me. I checked over my shoulder a few times, and finally saw them over there. Then I sprinted across when I saw a chance and got back with a couple of them. They stayed with me most of the way. My legs were definitely burning, but breathing wise I could have went all day. Overall that was a great run and I really got back into the stride that I was missing. It felt a lot more efficient and smooth, and therefore fast. Three lap cooldown on the track. Ave pace around 6:30


 

Attended a track coach seminar in Chatanooga this weekend. It lasts until 4 or 5 on Saturday. There is no time to run, because lectures happen from 5-9 tonight. Just another rest day. I suppose I could run at 9, but that is without any food since we won't be taking a break to eat. Looks to be pretty fun though.

Six miles as soon as I got home from the seminar, which was very informative. I think the best part was getting some contacts I can go to for advice.

Six miles wasn't too slow, 6:55, but I was working a lot on the things that were talked about over the weekend and I felt a lot better about how I've been training and running. Probably the two things I need to really work are drills and core workouts. If I can get those in I would feel a lot better about not being injured and improving my efficiency.

 Church basketball tomorrow and probably a run on the tread since it looks like thunderstorms. Monday I get to do my long run, thanks to the principal giving my area the day off instead of an inservice. I'm so grateful to her. She even brought down some track shirts for me "just to get me started." She was the coach a few years ago when our school was winning state championships. Very, very nice to have someone like that around.

 

Basketball today. Ugh, we lost by 14. That was actually better because we were down by more than 30 at one point. I was the only one playing defense today, so I ran a lot, a whole lot. I stole it a lot too. We would have been slaughtered if I would have come today. Injuries today were a jammed middle finger on the last play, and a pulled tricep right before halftime. I massaged and it loosened up, but was tight the rest of the game. It feels fine tonight though. Other than icing the swollen finger, no big deal.

 Was going to run on the tread since it was pouring out, but figured if I do my long run in the morning, I can put in slower miles later in the day. This week looks horrid weather wise, Windy, and then Rainy until next Monday. Lets hope the weather guys are wrong.
 

I went exploring for my long run down by the school today. I stayed on sidewalks, ran by creeks, uphills, downhills, up a whole friggin lot more hills into the wind, and then did...you guessed it, more hills into the 12mph wind. I wanted to go farther, but my strength had waned and the bowl of cereal I had for breakfast wasn't going to cut it anymore. So I just stopped at 18 and called it a day. It hasn't been the best last few weeks, so a longer run today really made me feel great. At least until I drove home and realized how sore I was not only from bball yesterday, but now hill running on top.

No real injuries, although the pain in the toe is still there. I think it is called "turf toe" and happens from running on hard surfaces like astro-turf. I run on pavement, all the better eh. It was a minimal hindrance most of the run, but with all the time I've been taking off it's now worrying me that it isn't going to go away soon. Should be back on track this week. I found a new giant hill to run, so that will be a heck of a lot of fun thursday or friday.

I had typed up 3 paragraphs, but waited to hit submit and lost it all. So here's the short version.

At the track with one of the guys who's been having knee pain. 3 miles. Ran a little more with another guy, then by myself. Conditions were super windy and a wierd sunny/cold mixture. If you wore something long you'd burn, but at the same time if you didn't you'd freeze. I went for freeze.

Still having toe pain and right tendon tightness. I can feel the tightness especially when the knee is flexed and bent back. Also have some pretty good back pain on the right side, which has been around a week or so, the same time as the tendon stuff. Not sure what got pulled, but it's probably from basketball. Turf toe hurts even when sitting, and was earlier tonight.

Met a guy at the track who recently ran a 2:39 marathon. I'm hoping to keep in contact with him and hopefully he'll be able to give me advice now and then. He might even start coming to a few of the practices.

Did a mile with the guys. Just not feeling it lately.

Day off of school due to illness. Still not feeling great. Hopefully will be re-energized and pickup my normal training again. I think a lot of it has to do with my routine changing due to coaching and being sick.

Rainy today, but I ran anyways. It wasn't too bad, mostly just a sort of mist. Luckily April bought me a windbreaker last weekend and that helped keep me dry. I didn't really have anything like that, so I was grateful. Did hillwork since that has been lacking. I would have liked to make it an easy day, but I've got to crack down since raceday is right around the corner. I did three on a series of large hills. Then I did a few more as I ran back to the school. I was going to go with the guys, but I decided I needed the freedom to do my own route. They were only going 5-6, and I wanted to stay out at least an hour. I sort of got lost which actually helped because I ended up running farther than I probably would have. No ipod so I was running blind, but it was free and fun. Smartly enough, I did bring my watch, so I was able to know how long I'd been out. Worked on running drills today.

 

Morning run around the neighborhood. Normal loop only once up the HH. Felt kind of faster than normal, but was pretty relaxed most of the time.8 miles

Late run at the soccer complex. Very nice and consistent, nothing over 7:00 pace, which will be my ideal goal for March. Felt relatively easy, I was pushing too. The hills were the only time I got slightly winded, but by the peak I was recovered and ready for the next mile. Practiced running tall, and that helped greatly. Wore my zooms, but still had the turf toe pain. It's such a nuisance, but I'm willing to deal with it for another month since it hasn't grown worse.8 miles

We lost our basketball game by 3 points today. I was actually happy with the results. We were actually ahead by 6 the first half. I had numerous steals and jumpballs, and made over half of my three point shots. I had a lot of fun. At one point a guy on the other team said "that guy is everywhere". I like getting in their heads. If I were taller I could have played college ball. Actually that's not a very good reason. I probably would have played regardless, but I ended up in art school. I'm glad it worked out that way. I love art and it has given me many opportunites and opened my eyes to things in the world I wouldn't have noticed.

 So the game was fun although we lost. After that I went on the treadmill for 6 miles at a normal pace. Not really pushing, just a steady state run to get some miles in for today. This week will start the guys workouts at track. I think I've got them doing 1200's tuesday, and 400's thursday. Not real sure I'm about to check over the schedule in a minute. Tommorow is an easy day, I'll probably run with the guys, then head off on my own.

My goal this week is to run everyday. For me that means putting up 8 a day since that is where I feel like I've worked out. I hope to push that up past 10 as often as possible. Also in that respect I hope to get in some doubles. That means waking up early. I'm not an early riser. I enjoy getting up early, but normally it results in lack of sleep since I'm a light sleeper and have trouble falling to sleep. Hopefully I'll get into a groove. I'm working now on just getting to bed at a consistent time, then once a routine begins I'll work in running.
 

Normal loop. Another run below 7. Starting to crack down a little on the time. There was a lot of effort to run that fast, but at the same time I was a little tired already from yesterday. Took the HH twice, which made the pace a little deceptive.

Ran with some of the kids who needed a decent pace for their 1000's today. Got home and was exhausted from not getting enough sleep last night/woken up early. Passed out on the couch. Colder tomorrow than it has been all winter here.

Cold today. Couldn't get warmed up. Wearing shorts probably didn't help but oh well. Was doing fine until the last 800 meters when the pug decided to come after me. At first I tried to stop and pet, then said forget it and just left it in the dust. I was too cold  and it was too close to the end of run to deal with crap. Unfortunately I half pulled my right ham a little. Luckily it just tightened up and I don't think anything too bad happened. I'll massage it tonight, but I think it's fine because it didn't fuss on the cooldown. I need to build more patience.

The guys did repeat quarters tonight. I was happy for the most part, there were a few stragglers though.

8 hill sprints was what I mustered today. Pretty nice workout, I was really breathing. Ran 3 miles, then 5 miles worth of ups and downs on the hill. Finished up with 2 miles as the sun was setting. It was colder again today, but not as bad as yesterday. Right ham was a little tight for the first 2 sprints. It sort of felt like something was loose in there. It went away and I felt a lot better about the rest of the workout. One more increase in my long run left, then I'll start doing some speedwork and tapering. I'm not happy that I missed hill workouts due to being sick though. I wanted to be able to do at least 14 by this point. I probably could have, but it would have been too much. I still need to conserve a little for this Saturday's run, since I'm going at least 22 and hopefully a little farther.

Did hill sprints yesterday, tomorrow doing a long run, so a day off.