Actual Miles

Saturday was the first of two sponsored training runs for the Brooklyn Half.  Seven miles, bar to a loop of Prospect Park and back.   I can't run the race this year because I'll be out of town, and I can't do the second run, because I'll be out of town then too, so I volunteered to lead the 10 minute pace group.  Last year, I was coming off of a long layoff, so I ran sweep, bringing up the rear, making sure that everybody made it back. This time I set the pace.  Pace setting is tricky business.  My body wants to run at a 9:30 pace these days, so backing it down was a bit of a challenge.  Also, the folks running at the front of the group tend to push the pace, so you have to let them go, or run the risk of descending into "half wheel hell."  I felt good.  My ankle is still a bit twingy, but better each run, and my form feels good, so I'm not complaining.  It was a good day, lot's of fun.

Airlines

At least they could stop charging for bags, and maybe hand out a few pretzels...

New Shoes

On another note, I'm in the market for some new shoes.  I've been rotating my NB 890s (medium heel displacement (7mm)) and Kinvara 4s (low heel displacement (4mm)) , both with Superfeet. I replaced the NBs a few weeks ago, but the Kinvaras are pretty much done.  I like to have three shoes in the rotation. I will probably replace the Kinvaras.  They have worked well for me pretty consistently, but I'm in the market for one more.  My current thought is to go to add in a more traditional cushioned neutral shoe, like my old pals the Asics Nimbus or Brooks Glycerin, but I'm open to suggestions.  I could also go to a zero drop shoe, or a low drop cushioned shoe like the Hokas, or get another low drop shoe like the Brooks Pure Flow that is similar to the Kinvara.  Thoughts??

Starting Over

I sprained my ankle in early February and have been struggling to keep my fitness together since.  It was not too bad a sprain, so I've been able to run on the elliptical, spin and swim, but the weather has been terrible, and, well, there's really no substitute for those 60-80 minute runs during the week.  On the other hand, I didn't want to prolong the injury, so I've been trying to be careful.  Last weeks I started to work short treadmill runs into the workout, and got up to about 45 minutes.  Tuesday I did 5 outside.  It felt okay, but I skipped Wednesday and Thursday with a head cold.  Friday I did plyo and 2 miles and my form felt good.  Yesterday I swam, and today I did 8 at a decent pace.  It felt good.  The ankle is not  100%, but it seems to be getting stronger.  I'm being very careful to keep my weight forward and my turnover at 160-180 steps per minute.  This keeps my footfall light and minimizes the jarring.  Here's to an injury free spring!!

And the Winner is . . .

Right now it seems like a long shot but this Fall is my best shot at running a Boston qualifying Marathon.  Times I run next Fall will be usable for Boston 2017, when I will turn 55 and get the essential time bonus.  So, the race of choice should be small, fast and not too far from home.  The winner is the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon.    I just registered.  Time to get to work.

Joiing Ted on the bike and in the pool (just not together at the same time)

Finally got into the sports med doctor who runs the clinic at UIC and used to be the medical director for the Chicago marathon to check out the patella and tibia tracking problem that has been driving me crazy for months.  On most long runs it pops out of the track, locks up and hurts like hell.  Somehow it didn't act up on the marathon itself in October or the New Orleans half last month but still required more than the chiro popping it back into place.

The short answer from the MD is that I probably have a partially torn left meniscus.  Probably been torn since my disastrous bandit Chicago marathon in 2012.  The MRI in early 2013 showed a small tear at that time and I am headed back for a new MRI in a week so see what has changed.  If nothing has changed then probably a brace and a lot of biking and pool running in my future.  If its worse or they see something else, then possibly a surgical consult.

It doesn't hurt that much but I clearly have to do something or one day I will plant funny or twist and then the ambulance comes to take me to the emergency room.  I will keep our loyal reader posted.

Winter Storm Sparta

Sitting in DC with a canceled flight back to work and Winter Storm Sparta bearing down, I ducked out for 10 miles on trails through Rock Creek Park.  Nebraska to Oregon where the road meets the trail and from there just wandering -- running would be a tad strong of a word -- over uneven snow and ice among the trees.  It started in sleet and moved into freezing rain. 

After a time I crossed East-West Highway and followed the Rock Creek trail north, then the Capital Crescent from Jones Mill Road to Wisconsin Road in Bethesda.  I wandered back to DC through neighborhoods of Bethesda and Chevy Chase.  By the time I got home the sheet of ice on my shirt and hat was approaching 1/8 of an inch.