Hope To Run Again Before End Of The Year

3.1 miles.

Splits: (1) 7:32  (2) 7:15  (1.1) 7:37

Total:  22:24 (7:14 avg.)

Thigh pain was hardly noticeable.  But cardio has suffered from so much time off.  Legs got tired as well.  Go back to doctor tomorrow.

Swam 1000 yards - 18:34 - mix of freestyle and breaststroke - about 20 minutes before run.

8:00am - Swam 1000 yards - 18:53 - mix of breast and free.  Arms sore from past couple of days.

8:30pm - 5K - (1&2) - 14:47 - (1.1) - 7:38  Total - 22:25 (7:14 avg.)

Been awhile since I ran in the dark.  I always feel faster than my watch shows.  Lost track of where I was and missed my first mile split.  Time was only a second slower than yesterday.  Thigh pain was "there" but not to the point it was altering my form.  Two days in a row with less pain.  I hope this continues.  The doctor believes it is a quad strain.  Less running, but not stopping,  and more time is his suggestion for healing.

Pushed mowed my yard today for about 2 hours and walked 30 minutes with wife and kids.  The high temp. today was about 86.  Thought about taking off my shirt until I realized how big my tummy has gotten.  I have gained 11 pounds since last November.  10 on my gut, and 1 on my face it looks like.  So I decided to add some push ups and crunches to my daily routine.  I had done this for about 8 months last year, then just stopped doing them.

I did 5 sets of pushups and crunches with 1 set being 10 pushups, then 10 crunches.  30 sec. rest in between each.  Arms felt rubbery and abs burned when I was finished.

Played outside with the kids all day and my leg hurt the whole time.  Went for a 30 minute wallk with the family and was planning to run afterwards.  But by the time the walk was over and from pushing a stroller I changed my mind.  The leg still hurt and I figured I would rest it.  But I was able to get in 4 runs for the week so I do not feel to guilty.

I also planned to do 50 pushups and crunches in the evening. But I had to lay down with Justin to help him fall asleep.  It worked for both of us.  I woke up about 10pm and went to bed.

Woke up and felt bad about sleeping instead of doing the pushups and crunches.  So I did 50 of each.  And I cannot believe how sore I am from the ones I did on Friday.  My chest muscles are hurting.

Playing with the kids outside my leg still had pain.  I took a motrin pill about 5pm.  Decided to run 6.2 miles later in the evening (7:40pm).  As I started the run the leg felt fine.  Probably the drugs.  After 4 miles I changed my mind and decided to turn around and run another 4 to equal 8.  Ended up finishing in 59:47.  My splits were: 7:31, 7:39, 7:42, 7:31, 7:20, 7:29, 7:17, 7:16. (7:28 avg.)

I was hurting all over the last 2 miles.  Form was breaking down and looked like a flailing idiot the last 1/2 mile.  I will be sore fromt this and hope I did to strain my quad any more than it already is.

Also did 50 pushups and 50 crunches in the evening.

Afternoon -

Swam 1000 yards - 18:54 - mix of breast and free.

Rode the Airdyne - 10 miles - 33:37 - 5 mile splits - 17:07 & 16:30.  Used legs only, no arms.

Evening -

Ran 5 miles.  Legs were tired form yesterday's run and today's Airdyne ride.  Sore too.

I need to stop being lazy and get my bike out of the basement.  I am wasting these good weather days by riding inside.

50 pushups & 50 crunches - soreness from these is just about gone.  Wish I had never stopped doing them in the first place.

Afternoon -

I know this is a running blog, but today I had a big PR in my swimming.  The workout I do the most is 1000 yards alternating 100 free and 100 breast.  Over the past couple of weeks I have still been doing a 1000, but mixing up the strokes and effort a little. Here is today's results versus my previous best.  (25 yard pool)

March 27, 2007	January 26, 2007
1:27:97 fr	1:30:44 fr
2:02:67 br	2:05::42 br
1:36:53 fr	1:37:54 fr
2:00:19 br	2:01:23 br
1:34:53 fr	1:36:80 fr
1:59:23 br	2:01:47 br
1:35:52 fr	1:38:32 fr
1:59:61 br	2:01:11 br
1:36:70 fr	1:37:88 fr
1:56:79 br	1:52:63 br
17:49:74 / 1:46:97 avg. per 100 yds.	18:02:84 / 1:48:29 avg. per 100 yds.

I know I am no Mark Spitz, or today its Michael Phelps, but I am still pleased with the improvement.

Airdyne - 6.2 miles - legs only, no arms - 20:49 - (3.1) 10:29  (6.2) 10:20

Evening -

4 miles - 30:25 - Splits: 8:17, 7:21, 7:18, 7:29 - 7:36 avg.

Started slow.  Legs felt very heavy and tired.  Tried to run faster middle 2 miles.  Slowed a little on 4th mile.  Quad pain has been the same since last week.  It has not gotten worse with the increase in running.

Walked 30 min. with the family.

Needed to start getting ready for work and had forgotten push ups and crunches.  So I did 25 of each.

Midnight Shift - 12am to 8am - I cannot put into words how much I dislike this shift.

4:30am - Slow walk - 35min. - Checking buildings.  Helped stretch out my legs.  They were a little stiff from sitting in the car so long.

Had court in the morning after work.  Did not get to sleep until 12pm.  That makes 26 hours awake before finally going to sleep.  When I woke up my leg hurt more than it had in a few days.  With only 5 hours of sleep and the leg pain I decided not to do any workouts.

Evening - 30 min. walk with family.

50 pushups and 50 crunches.

Afternoon -

1000 yards swimming - 18:44 - mix of free and breast.

Evening -

4 miles - 29:06 - 7:33, 7:13, 7:22, 6:58 - Outside of left thigh and groin pain.  I think the groin is hurting because I may be changing my form from the outside thigh pain.

It was nice last week to be mostly pain free.  I probably have done more than I should earlier this week.  Some more rest seems to be what helps relieve the pain the most.

50 pushups and 50 crunches