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.

Bernard Lagat Strikes Again

One of the greatest indoor miler of all time strikes again setting a record for 40 and over runners.  Bernard Lagat was lured back to compete in the MIllrose Games in NYC.  He finished fourth, but in the process obliterated Eamonn Couglan's record for a mile by a 40 year plus runner with a time of 3:54.91.  Details here.  Ten of the 13 runners broke 4 minutes.  Sigh.

Gear Check

Decided to emulate Matt S. and get some serious winter tech running gear.  He went Lululemon but I went North Face.  Obviously not known for their running gear but they have a performance line which includes the Animaji jacket pictured below.  Nice down for the core and traditional heavy long sleeve running shirt material with thumb holes on the arms.  Took it for a spin yesterday when it was 34, sunny and not too windy.  Wore it over a thin long sleeve running shirt and had no problems.  If the base layer had been thicker it would probably work down into the 20s without anything over it.  Could easily a wind breaker on top for the blustery days that are coming.  All in all very happy with it in place of the sloppy running hoodys and the like which are my usual fare.

Ice, Rice Baby . . .

Just when you're feeling invulnerable, you step funny to avoid some sidewalk ice and you roll your ankle.  I caught it before the dreaded "POP!", but after the place where you could just walk it off . . .

Went home and am icing and elevating.  There's some swelling, but not too bad.  Grr!!!!

It looks like I'm in for a few weeks on the bike, elliptical and in the pool . . .  

Grumble, grumble, grumble . . .