Wednesday 3/30/11

AM Legs a bit beat up from yesterday. I was rolling my ankles yesterday quite a few times and my left arch had a little pain (not much) so I chose to spin on the bike for 40 minutes. 2 min climb/3 min spin x 6 then 10 straight minutes spinning. This xtraining will allow me to recover better and helps with the leg issues.

PM 40 minutes of spinning.

Monday 3/28/11 and Tuesday 3/29/11

Monday AM easy 42 minutes (5 miles)

Tuesday PM 12 mile trail run with MQ, JJ and Ryan Miller. It took them 1:30:00 but I finished about 6 minutes later as my legs just went on me. Very interesting route that JJ took us on. I got dropped about 8 miles out and wasn't sure which way to go but fortunately they yelled for me and I was able to get back with the group.

Sunday 3/27/11

AM At 9 am I decided to go to Manchester NH to run the 2 mile race. Left leg was sore on the way up but I had pre-registered and wanted to at least get my mug and hat and try a warmup and see if it would be possible to race. I bumped into Art Demers and his son, Phil and we warmed up on the out and back course. Art and I reminisced about our college days and he was happy I was there to verify all the stories he has been telling his young boy about his early running success. Art and I both qualified for the NCAA Div II 10k together at the BC Relays back in April, 1983. Those were the days.

Well, after chatting and quickly dressing up for the race, I made it over to the start and put myself right on the front line. Heck, I paid my $ and I felt okay about being next to the big guns. Race director, John Mortimer gave the command and we were off. I can tell I am not ready for all out efforts due to the leg but somehow I managed to comfortably hit the 1/2 mile mark (short??) in 2:30 (self-timed) and was in the top 20. I felt pretty good and enjoyed viewing the leaders as they made the turn at 1 mile and headed back down Elm St. I hit the mile in 5:32 and was starting to gain on some runners. With a strong headwind going out we had the wind at our backs (true Irish). I was feeling it a bit at 1.5 miles (8:35) but figured I could dip under 11 minutes if I could hold on. I finished in 10:57 and won the masters division.

I am pretty happy with this effort and have to say if I can figure out this leg issue things will get better.

Warmed down with old friend and NA native Dr. Dan Sullivan.

7 total miles.

Saturday 3/26/11

PM 8 miles on the river trail with Jim Johnson. JJ is racing the Eastern States 20 miler tomorrow morning so I took it easy on him. 1:02. I almost did a face plant on the way back. Legs are okay but left hammy is still sore. I am just going to take it day to day until PT and see what happens. I am registered for a 2 mile race in Manchester tomorrow but will not race.

Friday 3/25/11

AM 6.6 miles in 48:15. Trying to convince my body that it will improve.

Thursday 3/24/11

I have not posted since Sunday's race and felt like it was time to share what I've been up to this week. I took Monday completely off but probably could of handled a run but it was a zero. There is something about being injured which takes me mentally off my game and missing days becomes easier (or necessary). Talking to MQ about his 1:10:36 effort really fired me up because he worked very hard to run that time and I am really happy for him. I look for big things later on this year for him and the entire CMS team. They all ran well on Sunday and my effort was very sub par. At times, I feel like running is more of a job than hobby. If you don't have the passion to train or if an injury slows you down , then you begin to wonder why you bother with it. Tuesday came and I decided to run for 30 minutes. Later that evening, I cycled for 30 minutes. Maybe a new approach to training will inspire me and allow me to get through this injury phase. On Wednesday, I ran for 40 minutes and went to Dr. Eugene Brady an orthopedic Specialist. He determined that I had no knee trouble but diagnosed me with a hamstring strain on the left leg near the ischium. I don't want to get too medical here so the short version is 4-6 wks of PT with Pinnacle. He DID NOT say stop running. I booked my first appointment for April 4th. Later that evening, I cycled for 40 minutes. On Thursday, I ran for 35 minutes in the morning and cycled for 35 minutes in the evening.

Sunday 3/20/11

New Bedford Half Marathon

23 minute warmup (3 miles)

202nd place 1:24:14 knew going in it was not going to be easy...time to heal and get healthy

602/609/614/621/605/604/606/612/645/650 (1:02:51 at 10)/647/646/700/50

no warmdown

Saturday 3/19/11

PM 38 minutes. 5 miles. I hope to run NB tomorrow. I will be there.

Friday 3/18/11

AM 49:37. 6.5 miles. Feeling a bit better but hammy is still lingering with a little pain.

Thursday 3/17/11

AM 50 minutes very easy. 6 miles.

Wednesday 3/16/11

AM 40 minutes. 5 miles.

PM 40 minutes. Spin.

Tuesday 3/15/11

AM 64 minutes. 8.5 miles. Felt tired, slow and injured.

Monday 3/14/11

AM 48 minutes. 6 miles. Leg is still not 100% but I don't give a damn.

PM 30 minute spin. 7 min on saddle @ above 100 rpm in small ring / 3 min climb @ above 80 rpm in big ring x 3

Sunday 3/13/11

PM After chasing a flying squirrel this morning and taking care of business, I spun for 90 minutes on the bike. Pretty good effort. This week should bear some news concerning the leg issue and hopefully a plan to get back on the roads (or trails). No need to recap the week but oddly, as I type this, I don't feel worried about my running future. I have hopes to conquer any demons and come back fitter and stronger.

Saturday 3/12/11

AM 6 minute jog/ 4 minute walk/ 10 minute jog/ 4 minute walk/ 10 minute jog/ 4 minute walk/ 6 minute jog.....at least it is something.

Friday 3/11/11

AM 30 minute spin.

PM Went to the doctor today and explained my injury. He had me get an x-ray of my left hip and knee to make sure there is no issue in those areas. When he gets the results (probably Monday) he will order a cortisone shot in the left butt to help deal with the pain there. I hope this all works out the way he explained it because I do not want to miss a lot of time.

Thursday 3/10/11

AM Easy 60 minutes. 7.5 miles. Inside of left knee bothered me early on then the pain moved to behind knee then to hamstring. It all kind of went away by 40 minutes into the run but reappeared with 1/2 mile to go. On a scale of 1-10 (10 most severe), I would give it a 5. Bearable, but possibly dangerous to continue without evaluation.

PM 30 minute spin. Very easy. Leg feels good while on bike.

Wednesday 3/9/11

AM Its tough to stay away from it as you all know. Managed to run/jog for 50 minutes (6.5 miles) and walked in the last mile. Took a 15 minute ice bath. I hope to continue this until my leg feels like it wants to turn over. Obviously, I am considering contacting a doctor about this but I want to see if less activity and some icing will put me in the right direction. New Bedford at this point is 50/50. I know it is stupid to consider racing 13.1 miles while injured but I have seen more extreme cases of pain overcome during competition.

RIP Mueble Runner

AM 60 minutes. Ran very easy. 7.5 miles. My left knee and hamstring are very bad. I honestly should not be running at all and I am seriously considering retiring from this sport. It has brought me a lot of success but the fact that I have to continually battle injury is very frustrating. Goodbye.

Monday 3/7/11

AM 30 minutes on the bike. I put it in the small ring for first 17 minutes then climbed for the next 3 minutes then back to the small ring for 10 minutes. This is a good eye-opener workout the morning after a race. I am currently icing my left hammy.

20 easy minute jog. My left leg is not very good. Icing it again. If there is no improvement, then New Bedford is doubtful.

PM 60 minutes on the bike. Very solid, steady and intense spinning on the small ring with a couple of solid climbs (3 minutes after 20 min and 4 minutes after 40). Icing leg. I have located the pain to under the left butt. Got to work it out. I am in good condition and I am not going on the DL.

Sunday 3/6/11

AM 20 minute warmup with MQ, Kevin Alliette, Andie Colon, Pat and Joe Morasse and Joe from MVS.

4 mile race in 23:13.6 (won masters by 1/10th of a second) 7th overall 554/611/526/543 ugly

20 minute warmdown with MQ (1st overall 21:08) the kid is a beast

10 miles/ 60 mile week

left leg is tight

Saturday 3/5/11

AM 1:00:32. 8.5 miles. Light rain. After 44 minutes, I took a nasty fall on some ice while running downhill. I landed pretty hard on my left buttocks and must of done something to my left shoulder because that is the only sore spot. Ran the last 2.3 miles in 15:58.

Friday 3/4/11

AM 39 minutes (5.5 miles) / 50 minutes (6.5 miles) Very slow running...something is wrong with my left leg specifically the knee and hammy. Trying to work it out. 12 miles.

Wednesday 3/2/11

AM Beautiful sunny and breezy morning. I was a bit overdressed but felt pretty good as I ran for 70 minutes. Went out to Island Pond Rd and got as far as Berry Rd where I turned around at 36 minutes and made it back in 34. Still hampered a bit by the left leg. 10 miles.

3/1/11

AM 72:47. Same course as yesterday except reverse loop for miles 3-10. 10 miles. Icy in spots but I was going slow due to a sore left hammy/knee. Going to lay off the cycling and concentrate on slow, longer runs until the leg improves.