More snow, wtf?

Wanted to see how my leg was feeling after the short run yesterday so I figured it would be good to go out to Thetis and get offroad. I headed out after work, a day in which we had a dusting of snow early in the morning but by noon it had pretty much left us, except for the trails. I picked the Stewart Mtn trail as it is familiar and prior to reaching the mountain the trail is rather kind. I thought about running 10 or so but eased back on that just a bit as I was picking up Andy after so my time was a bit limited. I was out of shape and slow early on but was feeling pretty good. No pain. The trail was a chore though. The snow had sort of melted but was also frozen in some spots creating a minefield of sorts. Up the Mackenzie trail, the water was frozen over in places and the mud was slushy. Fuck that water was super cold too. My feel went numb for a spell as I barrelled through it all. I stopped at 4k and took a breather. I wasn't hurting but was tired. I doubled back the same way I came and when I got to the car I was glad to be out and done. I'm going to take a week off and rest up and let my leg heal more then try again next week.

8 km, 49:09, 6:08 pace
Sleep: 6.5 hr, 8/10
Legs: 6/10

Well, let's see now

MTSS, or shin splints. I've got a case of them apparently. Went to see Bruce last week and the massage seemed to work but the pain was there. So, stretching, ice, rest, the usual. The pain has lessened over the last couple of days so I figured I would give it a try, nothing to fancy, fully prepared to walk home if need be. The weather today was perfect, cold but clear and no wind. So I started out and headed down into the park for a quick lap around. I didn't feel any pain at all until just about 3.5km but it wasn't anything terrible. I finished strong even though I felt like I was dying, man am I out of shape and way too heavy but it's been eight weeks of easy living and more than time to get serious. Then my leg got sore and now I am seemingly starting over again but at least I am starting over. I was pretty happy with today, it was just nice to run. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow. I iced and stretched today after and my leg feels okay right now.

5 km, 24:27, 4:53 pace
Sleep: 8 hr, 9/10
Legs: 6/10

Finding the right road

Volunteered for the first race of the VIRA series this morning, fun to watch the fast guys run. Was pretty impressive to watch the top two gun it out over the last 50 meters in near Canadian record time. Beyond that I have been nursing a sore leg for the last week or so and it has been affecting me more than I have been willing to admit. I almost didn't run today due to it but finally made the decision to go out and give it a try. The real challenge has been of late to find a stride that feels comfortable, I just feel out of sync. Reminds me of the TED episode on the same subject. It took me almost 8km to find the right feeling again, despite the pain in my leg. I didn't want to push it or my luck for that matter so I called it a day shortly after that. I feel really good now, my leg aches but I can manage, stretch, ice, arnica and probably run again tomorrow.

10 km, 52:30, 5:14 pace
Sleep: 6.5 hr, 5/10
Legs: 4/10

Just one of those days

I had an unfortunate experience today that caused me some great effort and humility on my part but let it be said that I was at least prepared and did the best I could despite the circumstances. It was messy and awkward but after I was all cleaned up, everything is back to normal.

10 km, 54:00, 5:24 pace
Sleep: 5.5 hr, 7/10
Legs: 5/10

A test of sorts

On new years this year I wrote my list of resolutions, nothing too concrete but more of a list of intentions. Today was the first test of that list. I have had a long history of self sabotage, you know when things are good I take a left turn into traffic, upsetting the balance. Today I had fully decided that I wasn't going to run for reasons that still elude me but that was my stance. Now I have lofty plans for this year with some 4000km of training and 6 large races planned. So it made no sense to not train today, I'm healthy, the weather was near perfect for early January, the list goes on. But I had this thing in me that wasn't going to let me do it because I just get in my own way. So I meditated on it for a while and in short order I got my shit together and got outside. Not that the run was anything to write about, that is not the issue, the key here is that the feeling of satisfaction and pleasure, the real reason I run, was there at the end, as it always is. Riding the elevator back to the apartment, it occured to me that I had won this round but will have to continue battling from time to time until I can figure out just how to be my own best friend and welcome success.

8 km, 42:29, 5:17 pace
Sleep: 6 hr, 4/10
Legs: 6/10 (right anterior ankle pain, ice, arnica, neproxin)

And the heavens opened...

To say it was raining hard today was like saying the shower is just a little damp. I had a short but hilly run planned so when I got home from work I decided to suck it up and get out there. I was soaked waiting for my GPS to catch the satallite relay. Some of the hills I ran today had rivers that were a foot wide along with rain soaked leaves creating rapids that were jumping the sidewalk. It was hilarious. I got some strange looks from people trying to stay dry under their umbrellas heading home. I couldn't run as effectively as I had wanted to but it was fun running through puddle after puddle. By the time I got home, my shoes had an inch of water in them, so I undressed in the shower and wrung out my clothes before I washed off. Apparently an inch of rain has fallen today, must have been while I was outside.

8.6 km, 45:57, 5:18 pace
Sleep: 8 hr, 8/10
Legs: 8/10

Finally the snow has gone

And I can run free again, seems like alot longer than three weeks but it's high time to get back into the flow. Training takes a big turn come Monday as my goal setting is now complete and I've got some big races planned for this year. Today was an easy day to get out and warm up, just to run free admist the hundreds or so people out walking their dogs and strollers. I ran well early then eased off realizing that I was running too fast for today. The shortest race I'll do this year will take just over four hours, the longest probably as long as nine and a half, so there isn't a need to run quickly now. Tomorrow is the last day off for a while and I intend to enjoy it.

7.6 km, 37:22, 4:56 pace
Sleep: 6.5 hr, 9/10
Legs: 8/10