Being Smart

I don't need two permanently swollen ankles, so despite feeling (knowing) like I could run tonight, I hit the elliptical again. I won't work out tomorrow night (festivities), so I'll run an easy 5 or something on the track Saturday. Responsibility...overrated.

Public Transportation

Blows. More than the elliptical, even. I was an hour late again tonight due to a train delay on my evening commute, second time in four days. Due to this, I could not muster the motivation to hop on the elliptical. Had I been healthy enough to run, I absolutely would have gotten out there, but I'm not. And I hate the elliptical, so I ordered a calzone and watch the Celtics/World Series while getting some work done on my computer.

Elliptical

Hit the elliptical for 20 minutes tonight after resting the ankle yesterday. It's swollen and bruising, but may be the mildest sprain I've had yet (as I theorized). I hate the elliptical so it'll be a tough week to get motivated to do much on it, but I'm gonna give it my best and try to get 20-30 minutes in each night for a few days before trying 4-5 miles.

That Didn't Take Long

Yesterday I got out after the Pats game for a longer run, wasn't sure how long but I wanted to go at least 10. I was really hoping for 12-14, so I headed out toward Hamilton-Wenham for my 14 mile loop. I was fairly conservative to start and was hitting around 6:50s for the first 5ish miles, slowest was 7:04 (2nd mile, uphill and always a tough mile on this run). Once I hit Hamilton-Wenham High I started to really roll, that's about 8.5 miles in, but I was just getting going. That mile was 6:45 and was followed by a 6:37, which is nothing special for me and a very standard pace on a long run, but the dip below 6:40 gave me the downward momentum that took me to the low-6's later on. I was really very comfortable as I started to take the pace down each mile as I came back into Ipswich down 1A.

My calves were cramping up because, again, I wasn't hydrated very well for this run (same reason as yesterday, but tack on a few more adult beverages and a wedding). My calves were tightening up so I didn't push myself under 6, but I definitely could have and contemplated it. Instead I headed for the track to get a half mile in to call it an even 15. The 800 on the track was right around 3 minutes and I was on my way home after a great run. My longest run in probably 10 months and it was pretty fast too.

I knew it was gonna be right around 15 and I was headed down Pineswamp Road really feeling strong...and then I rolled my ankle off the side of the road 0.3 miles from my door. It was a bad roll on a bad stretch where the road has begun to disintegrate break apart, and I almost ate pavement but caught myself, thankfully too because I was gonna smash my teeth on the road. I stopped immediately and hobbled around gingerly. Checked the watch. 14.77 miles. Four houses from my driveway. So. Damn. Close. I walked it off for about 90 seconds and realized it wasn't too bad, but it certainly wasn't good. I ran the last quarter-plus home and immediately got some ice on it, popped some ibuprofen, showered and threw on my brace. I'm way too accustomed to RICE, it's not something I'm proud to be good at.

Ankle Sprain #7. Second in the last 2 months. Last time was at Cornell with Kieran and I took about 2 days off, but I have permanent swelling in my right ankle from that stupid decision (although it's led to me being in great shape considering I've only got 8 weeks of training). This sprain isn't as bad as that, and may actually be the mildest sprain (like actual sprain that I'll take time off for) that I've had. I'm thinking maybe a week off and I'll be back at it. In the mean time I'll take today (Monday) completely off and get on the elliptical the rest of the week.

FINAL LINE ON THE RUN: 15.08 MILES, 1:39:33, 6:36 pace
http://www.strava.com/activities/212152834 

First Run Since Monday

On Saturday. Did 7.93 miles at 7:12 pace yesterday morning. I got out right when I got home from Merrimack and ran out to the woods behind Mile Lane and then back through town. The woods are not the safest right now, and it was slow going through the wet leaves that covered the roots and rocks. Some new trees went down during the storms this week past week as well. It was also slow going because I wasn't too hydrated after having a few (or 10) adult beverages, so I was cramping up in my stomach, but I did manage to put down some solid sub-7 miles on the way and finished up with a 6:35. I was pretty tired too, but chose to run over nap before heading out to my cousin's wedding.

I finished up with 3 runs on the week for about 25.5 miles. Most inconsistent week since August when I sprained my ankle out at Cornell running with Kieran. Also, my lowest mileage in nearly two months. Down weeks are fine and necessary, but this was a little too down for me.

Or Four

Sometimes life gets in the way. Friday night was on one of those times. The train in front of mine on my commute home broke down and caused my train to be 45 minutes late. On a Friday night when I'm not racing the next morning I'm pretty much always going to have plans. So I was going to run, but then I lost my window to get my run.

My hope is that four days off will have my legs refreshed and ready to roll this weekend. I'll try to get in a big week next week, although I don't plan to race.

Three Days

Off. Weird. Now that I'm a real person life can get in the way a lot easier. I'm housesitting for my parents (still my house, whatever), but damn, having a house is a lot of work. Especially when I basically just sleep in it and nothing else. Tuesday, I got home from the Bruins game at midnight and went straight to bed, Wednesday we lost power during the ridiculous storm at 8:15 (right after I finished dinner) and didn't get it back until 1:30am, so I just went to bed at 9. Thursday I got home at 11 from the Bruins game and did chores then went to bed (where I am writing this).

Tomorrow I'll get back out there, and probably shoot for 8-10 miles. It's been a needed 3 days off after some high-intensity training the last two weeks, but I decided against racing this weekend because I'd taken so much time off. I'd be fresh, no doubt, but I don't feel comfortable doing that. I'll look for something weekend. Maybe.

(So, yeah, maybe the whole two Bruins games in three days was a major contributor to me not running, but I was going to run Wednesday if it had been safe out. It wasn't. At all.)

Back At It

This is technically my third stint in the running blog community. The other two times I got injured (obviously), and just deleted the blog out of frustration. It's tough when you have layoffs that last several months at a time, and when you're addicted to the sport and the actual physical act of running the way I am, it becomes torture.

Here I am though, eight weeks back into training. I'm doing about 40 miles a week now. And I've already run two races (both W's). Currently, my training is focused on Gabe's Run in about five weeks, and defending the team title that we (myself, Pat Rich, Greg Krathwohl, Kieran Kinnare, John Stansel and David Melly) finally captured last year. From there, however, is TBD. We'll see.