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