Second Wind

Rest

Slow run today and probably slow for the rest of the week.  Felt pretty good once I got going and was able to increase the pace a bit each mile.  Still, average time was a bit slow but I'll take it.  Slower runs will be to try and shake this nagging shin issue.  I really think it is just a very tight muscle and I have been massaging every day and icing after runs.  Hopefully I will see some improvement this week with these less intense runs.

Time: 8:42/mile

The wife and I finally got our mountain bikes tuned up after years of sitting in the garage.  We got talked into doing a sprint distance triathalon on June 16 so we decided to start going for a ride each evening.  Bike riding is a nice change from running but you've got to go a long way to get the same benefits.  We went on a 9 mile ride over a level course and it felt pretty good.  I think we will be going out each night at least for a short ride.  I'm a little worried about the swimming portion of the triathalon.  I hope I don't drown.  Havn't gone swimming in years.  Will try to do some laps somewhere before the big day.

Another day of relatively slow miles.  Still trying to go easy to let the right shin and calf heal a bit.  Didn't take as long today for the pain in the calf/shin to go away at the start of the run.  Maybe that's a sign that things are on the mend, maybe it's just dumb luck.  Whatever it is, I'll take what I can get.  It was pretty windy today but it didn't seem to affect my stride or speed.  I must have been pushing a bit harder into the wind.  Temperatures were a little cooler this morning too and that is always a pleasant change down here in the desert.  Overall a nice comfortable run.

Time: 8:36/mile

Did not run today due to gusty winds 25-35 MPH.  Probably not such a bad thing considering I'm still getting over this minor injury.  Will pick it up again tomorrow when the winds are supposed to be calm again.

Great run today!  The wife and I really went out strong today and after the first half mile or so it started to feel effortless.  Our pace increased each mile and by mile 5 I felt so good I decided to go for a sub 7 minute mile.  Ended up running a 6:56.  Felt good to run fast again and get the oxygen flowing hard.  Still working on the calf injury but again today it felt pretty good.  Spent some time last night really massaging the area and it seems to help.  With Fontana coming up in a week I want to be at my peak for the big race so I will try to go easy from now until then.  Sometimes, though, you just feel like going faster.

Time - 8:03/mile

Nice easy run today.  Felt a little worn out and tired.  Maintained a pretty steady pace for the entire run.  Will have one more long run tomorrow before the Fontana half-marathon and then a mini taper next week to get well rested for the big day.

Time: 8:43/mile

Good run today.  Ran the first 8 miles at about an 8:52 pace then stepped it up a bit for the final 4 miles to drop the pace to 8:41 overall.  Trying harder to work on the mental aspect of running and trying to relax and run smooth even when exhaustion is setting in.  Final four miles were 8:21, 8:10, 8:22, 8:31.  After Fontana next week there will be 18 weeks until the SGM and it will be time to start piling on the miles and the intensity.

Time - 8:41/mile