Hope To Run Again Before End Of The Year

Some exciting track and field will be shown on national television this weekend and next.  I am especially excited about the mile run.  Both meets will have strong competitors running.

Swam 1800 yards today, which is 1.02 miles.  I really wanted to set a PR in this.  Considering the amount of swimming I had already done this week I was not sure how I would hold up.  Here are my previous bests over the years:

2002 - 42:16

2003 - 38:14

2004 - no record

2005 - 37:17

2006 - 32:21

2007 - 32:09 set on 5/15/2007

But today I beat them all !  Clocked in at 31:16.13

I have a harder time of finding a pace while swimming compared to running.  Based on my previous years it is easy to see that I really started to train harder in swimming and running in 2006.  Now if I could just get healthy enough to run again I would like to have these same improvements.

1800 yards free - 31:16

200 yards breast - 4:10

Well I got up this morning and decided if I hurried I could get to the pool before it got crowded.  So I was able to put in more laps than I had hoped for this week.  Different work schedules each week will not allow me to put in as much time each week.  But I am glad I am increasing my mileage. 

1800 yards - 400fr/200br x 3 - 33:51.22

100 yards free - 1:33.10

100 yards breast - 2:04.47

Tomorrow no swimming.  My arms will appreciate the rest.

ESPN2 11pm eastern - Reebox Grand Prix Track Meet, Sunday 1pm on CBS.  Should be some good running.

I cannot wait to see this race later today on CBS.

Flash Results, Inc.
                 Reebok Grand Prix - 6/2/2007                 
               Icahn Stadium -- New York City,NY              

Event 26  Men 1 Mile Run Reebok
===============================================================
World Record: W 3:43.13  7/7/1999    Hicham El Guerrouj, MAR  
    American: A 3:47.69  7/7/1982    Steve Scott, USA         
  All-Comers: C 3:49.92  5/27/2001   Hicham El Guerrouj, MAR  
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals
===============================================================
  1 Alan Webb                    USA                    3:52.94
  2 Bernard Lagat                USA                    3:53.88
  3 Craig Mottram                AUS                    3:54.54
  4 Nick Willis                  NZL                    3:55.09
  5 Suleiman Simotwo             KEN                    3:55.69
  6 Chris Lukezic                USA                    3:57.02
  7 Kevin Sullivan               CAN                    3:57.91
  8 Rob Myers                    USA                    3:59.36
  9 Nicholas Kemboi              KEN                    3:59.36
10 Ryan McKenzie                CAN                    4:02.98
11 Matt Centrowitz              USA                    4:03.40
12 Ming GU                      CHN                    4:05.79
13 Steve Slattery               USA                    4:09.41
-- Moise Joseph                 HAI                        DNF
-- Justus Koech                 KEN                        DNF
-- Dan Wilson                   USA                        DNF

Second time in two weeks I can say I have swam as far as I ever have in a day.  Went 3000 yards or 1.7 miles.  Swam 2400 non stop.  Then took about a three minute rest.  Then another 600.  I could tell I had used up all my energy whenI was done.  Came home and ate a banana and a plate of leftover pasta.  And with the rain yesterday, I get to watch a NASCAR race on a Monday. 

Total - 3000 yards - 56:31.95

2400 - 500fr/300br x 3 - 44:49.02

600 - 100fr/100br x 3 - 11:42.93

Took a little bit for me to get into the swim.  But felt good once I got going.

Total - 2500 yards - 46:13.63

1800 - 33:23.57 - 400fr/200br x 3

700 - 12:50.06 - alternate 100fr and 100 br

About halfway through I was getting arm weary.  So I changed things up a bit.  I usually do more free and less breast.  But I flipped flopped them.  So I got in 1300 free and 1200 breast.  Towards the end I could feel the different muscles that were being used from the breaststroke.  The pool is more and more crowded each day.  And with no designated lap lane it is tough.  People cannot always figure out that someone is working out in that lane on the far side of the pool.  I get tired I asking people for just a little time to get my swim in and then they can have the whole pool.  Dayshift starts Friday, So if I cannot swim in the evenings, I cannot workout at all.

2500 yards - 47:36.95

mix of free and breast

Swam the same workout as yesterday, but did it 58 seconds faster.  A few reasons for this.  One, I felt good.  Two, a couple of other people were swimming laps.  And the competitor in me had some "mini races" with them, of course  without their knowledge.  Third, the pool was going to close soon and I knew I had to hurry if I wanted to get the workout in.

2500 yards - 46:39.65

mix of free and breast

Dayshift starts tomorrow nad last for the next seven days.  I hope I can get some swims in.

1000 yards - 18:30 - mix of breast and free

Missed my swim yesterday.  Lucky to get one in today.  Swam less than an hour after eating hamburgers for dinner.  Lots of kids in the pool.  Left my watch at home.  Had to use a clock on the wall for time.  Had to keep count of laps in my head.  Felt ok, but rushed as well.

The last few days have been frustrating and stressful.  Work has gotten into the way of my workouts on Friday and Monday.  Luckily got a short one in on Saturday.  I am also having even more "sensations" in the area of my stress fracture.  I am very concerned it is not healing.  Though it does not hurt because I am not doing any weight bearing exercises.  In a few more weeks I will most likely get another bone scan then I will know for sure.

But I took out all those bad feelings on today's workout.  I was not concerned as much with my effort, but more into distance and length of time.  Got in 2 miles.  Most I have ever done at one time.  I did have a lot of twinges of cramping in my feet and calves.  I really feel  I could have done another 1/2 mile and maybe even a full mile.  Cardio felt good all the way to the end and so did the arms.  Alternating between free and breast every 100 yards helped the different muscles used get a short rest between the strokes.

3600 yards - 1hr 8 min 00 sec - alternate free and breast every 100 yards.

Check my watch with 100 breast to go, and saw 1:06:00.xx  Decided to go all out and get a 2 min flat or faster to make an even 1:08.  And I did just that !

Walking out to the car on the way to the pool I stepped on one of those green and black bumble bees.  Of course he paid me back for stepping on him by stinging my foot.  The very soft and tender arch to be exact.  It burned pretty quick after the sting.  I iced it for about five minutes and took an Ibuprofen.  Did not see a stinger and there was no swelling so I went to the pool.  Cannot even tell I was stung now. By the way, the bee seemed ok.  I saw him fly away.

Swam 3000 yards today.  Kind of faded towards the end.  Arms got tired.  Form brokedown.  Cardio was not bad though.  Swam a mix of free and breast.

3000 yards - 55:09.18 - free/breast mix

Pool closed due to cleaning.  Seems they have an algae problem.  Bummed about missing another workout.  But off from work tomorrow, and with a days rest should be able to get several laps in.

Not sure what was going on with me today, but I could not get my act together.  Had my daughter with me at the pool.  I kept checking to make sure she was ok, so I kept missing my lap count.  Also I could not get my breathing right.  It seemed like I had to constantly take a breath every stroke.  I stopped swimming and decided to give up.  After sitting out and playing with Emily for about 45 minutes I checked my watch.  Saw I had done 1200 yards.  So I decided to give it another go and did 600 more for a total of 1 mile for the day.  This also was a morning swim, versus the afternoon swims I had been doing the last week and a half.

1800 yards - 33:05.60

2500 yards - 46:20.07

Swam 2000 yards free.  Took about a minute break.  Then 500 yards breast.

46:02.63

Checked my splits and realized I set a new PR for swimming 1 mile when doing the 2000. 

31:58.40

Swam 1000 yards free.  Rested for about a minute.  Then 1500 yards alternating between free and breast every 100 yards.

2500 - 45:42

Pool got crowded.  Had to cut it short.  Not happy about it.

1800 yards - 34:28.79

Everything was going good.  People were staying out of my way.  Then calf cramps halted the workout.

1550 yards - 28:54.94

Went to the pool.  Forgot about the pool party this evening.  So many people, I just went home.  My doctor would not approve but I decided to ride my bike.

Where was my helmet ?  And gloves ?  Had to wipe off a few cobwebs from the frame.  Sprayed WD-40 all over.  Computer battery dead.  Luckily had a spare.  Could not find manual to edit the settings after the battery change.  Thanks to the Internet, downloaded a new one.  FINALLY got to use the Garmin 305 I got for my birthday in May.  I gave it a quick 10 minute charge.  Read the manual on the heart rate monitor.  Then left the house.

Gave a moderate effort, and the leg did not hurt.  Dropped my water bottle at 2.74 miles.  Stopped and picked it up.  No matter what I wanted to get in 1 hour.  Afterwards the leg was sore.  I would have felt better if both legs were sore.  Hopefully no further aggravation to the stress fracture.

Garmin and the computer were .05 miles different from one another.  I will use the computer since I always have for my logging.  Max heart rate was 174, and avg. was 156.  I have no idea what those numbers mean.  But its the first time I have ever been able to record it.

17 miles - 1hr. 2sec.

By the way I have never been a good cyclist, but I have always enjoyed it.

Well I was mistaken yesterday.  There was not a pool party, just a lot of people.  But tonight there WAS a pool party.  DJ, food, drinks, the works.  But I marched on in and swam my laps anyway.  Tonight I was "sports entertainment."  I also broke the Golden Rule of swimming:  Wait 1 Hour Before Swimming After Eating !  I had eaten a nice dinner - steak, potatoes, corn on the cob and bluberry muffins - about 40 minutes before my swim.  I could really feel it too.  I ended up breaking the swim into three segments.  Mostly so I could stop and stand upright so my stomach would feel better.  I felt like I needed to do the "Kobayashi Shake."  But too many people watching.

2500 yards - 45:42.59

I was also getting cramp in the muscle next to my shin.  Never had that before.  Felt wierd, but not bad enough to stop.  My leg had no ill effects from yesterday's ride.  But I will probably not ride again until the doctor clears me.

On Sunday I finally went to bed around 4:15pm.  I had been awake for 24 1/2 hours.  So no workout.  Monday morning my body and mind just did not feel like going to the pool.  Since it would be too crowded in the afternoon and evening I decided to ride my bike again.  First I rode to my brother in law's house for dinner.  Then went for a longer ride afterwards. No problems with the leg during or after the ride.

When I got home and logged my ride I was VERY happy with some results.  My average pace per mile for this ride was my 7th fastest.  And it was a couple of miles further than the rides in front of it.  The pace on my ride last week was similiar to this one but I had not noticed.  So what does this mean?  Well I think it shows my overall cardio fitness has decreased very little, if not increased, during my injury.  I have only had a handful of rides since October 2006.  And for me to be able to ride with a greater effort for a longer amount of time is great news.  I go to the doctor tomorrow.  Hopefully he will allow me to ride with his consent.  Also he may allow elliptical training.  I really hope this bone is getter stronger and a reoccurrence is not in my future.  It will be as exciting as it will be difficult to get running again.

15.57 - 53:47 - stopped at 1.4 miles to eat dinner, then resumed.

Rode bike to the pool - 2.31 miles.  Swam 2000 yards.  Rode home - 2.3 miles.  Total time for all - 52:45.

Of course I am still following the trend of working out right after eating a meal.  This should change as I switch to a new schedule at work tomorrow.  Doctor appointment at 9am.  I am hoping for good news.  Of course without a scan or x-ray we will never know for certain. 

Went to the doctor today. He said the usual recovery time is three months for my injury.  So another thirty days.  He did schedule another bone scan so we will have something to look at when I go back.  A couple things I did not like though.  He said I am almost near the magic age of 40 and maybe I should consider alternate forms of exercise over running.  And this one was even better, "Remember, you are not a professional  athlete."  I can easily ignore these comments as long as he helps me heal up properly.

My daughter is home with me sick today.  Then I work evening shift.  No workout today.

Been at work for about 7 1/2 hours now and with the getting in and out of the car so often I can feel a dull pain in my thigh.  It is similiar to when I was running, but not as bad.  I cannot or either do not want to believe that three bike rides can set me back.  But the ache is there all the same.  I guess swimming only for another month.  But it did feel good to do an exercise that made me sweat and get out of the pool for awhile.  Of I can always push mow the lawn/weeds in the 90+ heat.

IT IS MY OWN LAZY BUTT'S FAULT !

I woke up after five hours of sleep and helped get the wife and kids out of the house.  But instead of heading to the pool afterwards, I took a two hour nap.  By the time I got to the pool there was a small group of people already playing in the water.  I made actual physical contact with someone seven different times.  I found myself losing concentration at times.  I also started out a little fast and really slowed towards the end.

I swam 1 mile to begin with.  I decided to see if I could set a PR.  I did.  Swam 1.02 miles in 30:47.62.  This beat my old time by 1:10.78.  Then swam a relaxed 700 yards with a free and breast mix to end up with 2500 for the day.

2500 - 44:13.35

This morning I just did not feel like going to the pool.  But I went anyway.  I am glad I did.  I do not want to get into the habit of skipping just "because." 

1000 free - medium effort - 17:05.90

1000 alternate free and breast every 100 yards - pushed it - 18:02.74

500 - mix of breast and free - very relaxed - 10:38.90

Just enough time to go for a quick swim in the morning.  Too many things my wife needs me to do around the house today before I go to work.

1.02 mile - 33:30.66

mix up of free and breast - low to medium effort - arms were a little tight in the beginning.