about that long run...

So yesterday, I had a great 8 miles in the 57 degree sunshine.

Well, make that a great 5.68 miles and a so-so 2.22 miles.

Within 2 blocks of where I broke my foot in July 2008, I took a big spill. My lovely wife was riding her bike behind me - I'd picked her up at mile 4 and convinced her to enjoy the sunshine - and said I stepped on a rock. Which, apparently, I should have seen.  (But I'm glad she was there to make sure I was ok and talk me into finishing the run and not just walking the mile to home!) Obvious issues with this sight problem aside - my broken foot was a twig problem- I pretty much tucked and rolled and came to a stop on the curb.  I'd hit my knees pretty hard, but I'm not sure if the tears brought to my eyes were out of pain, fear, or embarrassment. Since this photo (about 30 min after), they've swollen slightly and are a little bruised. Every time I stand I feel like its post game, except its only my knees! I wasn't ready for this!

Somewhat ironically (perhaps), I've taken three pretty good spills running without major injury (this one, the one in December, and one when I was 18 that was clown-like and dramatic and yielded a pretty big scar on my right knee - you can sorta see it in the photo above my scrape (the kind of round slightly discolored area towards my shin)- not to mention a world of embarrassment at my huge knee bruise and massive scab).  Both of the times I've tripped and broken my foot, I didn't fall. Go figure.

On the upside, throwing myself across a sidewalk at a fairly good pace is a nice way to prep my body for the joys of our (run down public park) practice glorified rock and glass laden concrete field.

just call me grace

You know how I'm super coordinated and athletic and move with fluid, ballerina like motion?



Yeah.
Stop laughing.



Really.

When I was in high school, I once fell jogging on the sidewalk. I imagine it looked like something out of a movie, a full face forward SPLAT. I tore up one palm and my left knee, and must have thrown all my weight onto my right one because it was swollen like a softball for a week (not from twisting or anything, just a huge puffy bruise). My left knee was skinned so badly - hugely - I couldn't bend it for a week until the scab started to break up. I still have a sort of round scar from it.

Then there's July 08. And June 09. When I broke my foot. Ironically enough, without falling.

Between these events, there is a lot of laughing at my general gait, my throwing arm, and my dance moves.

So tonight, I took Bailey for a 2 mile jog. We do this a few days a week in the morning or evening on the days he doesn't have an opportunity to play/sprint/get out all that adolescent energy (so pretty much 4 days a week since he usually goes to doggie day care or my friend's house once a week, and we hit the dog park on the weekend).

And around mile 0.5, I fell.

And all I did this time was give myself a little nic in my palm and a skinned my elbow (I had on a sweatshirt, so that could have been a bit worse). And I probably scared the woman who saw me fall (and was nice enough to pull over to check on me. Her 7 yr old son had his jaw on the car floor. I guess adults don't fall?).

Two points here:
1) Does anyone else find it ironic I actually fell this time and didn't actually HURT myself?
2) I am going to attribute my injury level from this graceful sidewalk experience compared to that of over a decade ago to 9 years of rugby. I might not be a particularly high level player, but at least I've learned how to fall without bodily harm (fyi, tighten your core and try to hit knees-hips-shoulders).

maybe it'll be ok?

I ran 8 miles today - 3 this morning and 5 tonight. And I feel good. It is unfortunate I had a couple of lazy weeks, and then the weird back/hip thing... my hip is still tight, but I feel good.

My plan this week is to get my other 3 in (this week is supposed to be 3, 5, 3, 12), do 10 miles on Wed (probably 5 & 5 - AM and midday or AM/PM), take Thurs/Fri off and do 10-12 on Saturday morning. I know its a LOT considering my record this last month or so, but I really just need to do 2 10 milers to feel ok about this race (splitting it up isn't ideal...but at least it will be done, right?)

I really want to hit 2 hours, but it is SO unlikely seeing as my runs have been around 9:40s, and that is a 9:09 pace! Oh well. Maybe if I get on the ball with training I can still aim for my PR in Austin in Jan (which would be a 1:52)...

any encouragement? has anyone done a successful (in your eyes) race with screwy training?

sigh

My hip is still having problems. My back is pretty much ok now, but my hip is so tight I stopped my run tonight at the 1.5 mile mark and rode the bike for 30. I really hope I can fix this by starting to stretch (I never stretch. It is a problem). Not only do I want to run Philly in two weeks - and need at least two long runs between now and then since I missed two! - I want to be WELL trained for Austin in Jan... :(

getting nervous

My half marathon is in three weeks. This was supposed to be my race "back," my uninjured half marathon I could actually train for and actually "race"(for whatever racing means when your half PR is about an 8:20 mile and the only person you're really trying to beat is the 50 year old overweight guy who looks like he might keel over with every step).

I have run once in 2 weeks. For 27 minutes. 9x400 intervals.
My hip/what I imagine to be sciatica has had some issues for the last few weeks, and last weekend during a disastrous 20 minutes playing loose head prop, I tweaked something in my back. It was feeling better till my run Thursday...I popped a couple Advil and reffing a college game went ok on Saturday. I was technically supposed to run 8-10 miles today, but didn't get to that.

On the upside, I am seeing the doctor about this tomorrow. And I know I can still finish the half. And I think if I get all my mileage in the next 2.5 weeks, I can still come in around 2 hours. But probably not UNDER 2 hours like I wanted.

But it is time, now that rugby is (half, coaching isn't) over, to get back on track! I have 13 weeks to the Austin half and WILL PR there!
Do all three midweek runs!
Run 9-11 miles on Sunday no matter how long it takes or if I have to do run/walk intervals!

ing distance run

I picked up my packet today. I last ran the Philly Distance Run in Sept. 07, and it is still my favorite of the half marathons I've run. Its a great course through Center City and around the river (which is a path I used to train on all the time when we lived there). My race packet even included a snazzy - and very orange - tech tee.

But sadly, no run for me in the morning. The tiny fracture from late June impeded my training, and I'm looking at a long run (prep for my Nov half) of 5 miles tomorrow, not 13.1. Since I can't run, I'm glad I had a coupon for the race fee, but its still an expensive tee shirt...though I got lovely new cranberry running shoes on sale at the expo too, so I guess its a wash! I often search high and low for a decent sale! Good, supportive running shoes are just never sold at places like Kohls that discount all their merchandise 50% every other weekend!

Instead of a nice run with 16,000 friends in beautiful weather and getting a new medal for my coatrack, I am spending the day at a rugby fundraiser. There is truly no way I'd rather spend my Sunday than inside Stand 134 of the Linc serving $4 popcorn that is delivered to us in trash bags and trying to pour $6 Coors Light drafts and get a cup full of foam. In fact, I think these fundraisers are so amazing, I wish I could work them every weekend. And, my teammates will join me for a broken pretzel and (that weird never solid) cheese (that no one in their right mind would every eat anyplace but a sporting event). Sadly I only have one more to work this year to fulfill my requirements - the Army-Navy game in December!

(shh, but I did kind of enjoy the Army-Navy game last year. Our stand is in the middle of the cadets, so it was entertaining.)

and off we go

This past week I ran 5 miles and participated in two (relatively low contact) practices. On Saturday, I played 60 minutes (second half of our first 30, the second 30, and the second half of the 3rd 30 - "friendly" games can be so complicated for selections and playing time!) and almost died in incredible humidity.

And the famed foot is doing ok! I'm picking up my super-cool Bone Stimulator from the doctor this week, so that should help with the ongoing "un-union" (the very scientific term my doctor used) at the original break site.

So, Monday I'm kicking off training for the Philadelphia Half Marathon. I'm using Hal Higdon's Novice plan, so the first week is 3, 2, 3 and 4 miles. Easy enough...in theory anyway...I haven't broken ten miles in a week since...um....its been a while.

see that??

Look at my widget. 2.15 miles today. 20:15 minutes.

Today was my first run since the doctor told me my sprain was really a small fracture. 10 days ago she told me two more weeks, but close enough. She was wishy washy about it anyway, and I'm not going back (per her saying I didn't need to), so I decided to see how it went.

1 mile in 9 minutes.
4 400s at an 8 min pace (2 min per 400) with 1 min walks between them.
AND I didn't feel like dying.

Felt good. Sweated. Am now continually looking at my foot to see if it is swelling. So far so good.

Now tomorrow, we'll see how practice goes (assuming its not swollen tomorrow, which would prevent playing this weekend...)! I have a feeling short sprints will be harder having only trained with the elliptical and pool the last month +.

rugby camp

camp + small fracture from 7 weeks ago = lots of time sweating in the sun but not doing a damn thing.

Its really bizarre to spend two full, long days in rugby land and not be sore. (Actually, my shoulders are a tad tight, as I got to participate in lineouts yesterday, but I am nowhere near as tired as I should be).

12 more days till I'm cleared to run again. But can I "take it easy" as Dr. W told me to? Did she really believe me when I told her I still wanted to do the Philly Half in November AND play this fall? Did she realize I was serious when I told her I wanted to play in at least a couple of games? I'm not sure, and not 100% sure I want to know :)

Not related to me, about 8 of my college kids came to camp and did fabulously with all the senior side players, so I'm really excited about their season (and their impending D4 "national" championship).

suspense

Well, for me.

Next Friday morning is my follow up with the podiatrist about the sprain-that-wasn't (CT scan revealed a fracture in the old break and a lot of "ununion"...thanks low blood flow area)

So...can I play rugby this fall? Am I flying to Orlando for 1 day just to hang out and experience Air Tran? Should I be saving to go to FL and CA for playoffs? Should I be figuring out how I'm going to draft three dissertation chapters, take a second class, go to work, coach, and go to rugby AND feed the dog and shower without losing my mind? Can I run the Philly Distance Run? 9/16...unlikely, seeing as that's 4 weeks from next weekend and 2-3 days of elliptical isn't exactly the 20ish miles/week I'd like to have under my belt for a half, besides that is it a good idea to run a half 12 weeks after a fracture? Can I run the Philly Half Marathon in November? That would be 12 weeks from next weekend, perfect time to ramp up from 12ish miles/week to 20ish (Hal Higdon Novice!)...I could do it.

But, alas, planning for all of these things, figuring out how much travel (rugby) the fall can hold amid school etc., and allowing myself to obsess over athletic training of some sort is all on hold. Dr. W, your verdict next week about what I am permitted to do and when I am permitted to do so (I HAVE to listen since even if this fall is a wash, I'd like to not be out of commission for the rest of eternity) holds more weight than you know.

things that are hard

getting to the gym when you can't do any valuable cardio.

eating well when there's no workout to be mindful of.

making a souffle.

up and down

The summer semester will be over in less than 12 hours since I've opted out of class summer session II. I kind of love summer school, because the classes are a little lower maintenance...the final project for this class is a poster presentation (I am clearly not that artistically inclined and much prefer powerpoint...). Quite a bit less work than the 20 pagers I typically write. Maybe I should have taken more classes from the counseling department...Regardless, I'm pretty excited about my 8 school-free weeks. Maybe I can tackle my inbox at work now...

In the down...
About 2 weeks ago I stepped off a curb and twisted my foot again. Its still swollen. I am getting worried. Its not a trick of lighting that there's visible veins on my left foot and not on my right... I'm getting tired of the elliptical, but every time I try to run, the swelling gets worse.

arghhhh

I finally located some motivation. Headed out for a run after work, planning on doing 3, picking up the puppy for 2 more, popping by the dog park for 20 min, lifting, then going to intermediate doggy class.

And then I stepped funny on the edge of grass/sidewalk. Audible pop. Walked the mile home. Let the dog out. Spent 30 minutes obsessing over swelling, trying to remember what the break did (pain & time wise) 11 months ago, and mentally planning what I would do about work if I ended up on crutches again.

4 hours later, I'm still mobile, so I have pretty good confidence I just sprained some little ligament like I did in January. Apparently I really weakened something when I broke that 5th metatarsal. Its still sore to walk on though, so while we did go to the dog park & puppy class, I missed that other 2 miles and the lifting. Maybe tomorrow. Heck, maybe Saturday, since if it doesn't feel 90% better by tomorrow, I'm not driving 3+ hrs each way for the 7s tournament.

Sigh....

It was a good run too, 2 miles under 9 minutes despite the humidity. Another 0.25 mi. Then a hobble home. Sigh.