Relentless

AM - 7 Rwix/Sunrise. Decided to just flip it the bird and go for a run. The left achilles has improved somewhat,but the right only saw improvement for the first few days (to where I could at least walk without significant pain and limping), but the last part of the week really didn't have any improvements. So laced 'em up and took the dog out - she was very happy to go for a bit. Then over to practice where I ran with the boys for 30 mins. It was super snowy when I started at home and the visibly was really only a few dozen feet. But down at practice there wasn't any snow. (Peg black 477.5)

AM - 7 Twix/Sunrise. Leg didn't really feel any worse or better than before. Ran with the girls this morning and it was pretty nice. (Peg blue 177.5)

afternoon - 5.5 Cottonwood wash. Wanted to hit the trail run today even though it would mean a double for the day. Nice run on a trail I hadn't ever run - from Cottonwood trailhead and instead of connecting to northern Prospector took it a wash (some absolutely breathtaking rock formations up there). The sand and miles didn't feel great on the leg. (Riders 546.5)

AM - 7 Twix/Sunrise. Same as the last few days for both run and pain. (Pace 265.75)

AM - 5.5 Parkway. No morning practice today, so Twix and I ran the Parkway. Still sticking with the singles, so I didn't run in the afternoon. (Peg 725.5)

afternoon - 5.5 Sand Hills. Ran over to the hill with the team and then just gave a little bit of cheer as they did the workout. (Adios 395.5)

morning - 11.25 Cholla Canyon. That's what I am calling this run now. Ran with some of the team from the LBMt. Trailhead out to the canyon Twix and I ran up a few weeks ago. Had a great run. Such a great group I get to work with - we really have a fun time and enjoy life. I will miss this group of seniors a lot - we have gone through a lot together (could maybe be my favorite class ever; top two or three for sure). Twix did a great job with everyone there. She didn't mad a at anybody and just cranked out the miles like the desert beast she is. (Peg blue 182)

Glad I ran this week. I don't know how long I would have to take off to get my leg fully healed, but I think I will just keep running what I can.

Goals for next week: keep being very focused on treatment.

AM - 8 Twix/Sunrise.  Up just a little earlier to get a little more in.  (Peg blue 188.75)

AM - 8 Twix/Sunrise.  Mornings are starting to get a bit warmer.  Gloves are optional by the end.  (Pace 266.75)

afternoon - 5.75 City Creek.  Nice trail run.  Too bad my achilles are so shot making it a bit unjoyable.  Afternoon temps are warming up.  (Riders 547.25)

AM - 8 DogTown/Sunrise.  Mixed it up a little in the morning with something different with the dog.  (Peg 733.5)

AM - 8 Twix/Sunrise.  Another painful morning run.  (Peg black 485.5)

afternoon - hit the weight room with the team.

AM - 8 DogTown/Sunrise.  Got a new pair of shoes last night.  Decided to go back to Asics.  They used to be my absolute only shoe and the Cumulus was the top of them (except when I hit up some nice Landreths).  The drop is a little higher than the Pegs and maybe that will help my life a little.  (Cumulus 8)

update* - got called out as a racist today by some punk kid at school.  I nearly lost it on him.  Yes, I am racist; that is why you failed your test.  Not that you have only been to class 4 times this year and have no assignments in (I mean, that takes a lot of work to literally have a 0 - I haven't had that happen many times in my now 17 years of teaching).  So the story has grown at school that I physically threw him out of class and chased him down the hall screaming!

DogTown 1/2 Marathon 1:15:22

Took Twix out for a little over 2 miles up on the Dirt Mile before heading over to the race. Plan was to try and just survive. I haven't run many miles at all lately and the achilles hasn't improved any, so I wondered if I could stay with my boys who were running and help pace them at all.

Race started off and one guy took off - he ended up winning with a mid 1:12 (good run, nothing off the wall though). The group of four boys and me chased down some quick starters in the first few miles and then started ticking off 5:45's. At times I felt good and wanted to push harder; at other times that pace was plenty. We caught 2nd at about mile 6, but he responded well and stayed with us and then pushed ahead again. The boys wanted to chase him, but I told them to be patient and we would catch him again. Up Nicholls' hill I started to fall off a bit (a couple of the boys had slipped off a little by here). I tried to regroup, but couldn't quite catch back up to Preston (who was a few feet up) and Mitch who was working toward 2 again. Up Majestic I really struggled. I bet my split was over 7:00 here for sure. Mitch was long gone and turning it into a foot race for 2nd (which he caught and then got outkicked for), but Preston struggled up the hill as much as I did. I slowly caught back up to him in the last mile and a half and the last 200 meters pulled even. Thought about if it would make me a dill to pass him, then I realized I couldn't go any faster and he got me by 2 seconds.

Cooled a little to go back and cheer for the girls. They did awesome. Rylee came in around 6th or so and got a 1:33 in her first half - in fact I think it was her first time over 10 miles. (Cumulus 10)((Adios 410.5)

Pretty fine with the run. Comsidering everything, I wasn't expecting a 1:10 like I've hit twice here. Just happy to finish. Got home and watched the Oly Marathon Trials and was inspired by that.

Goals for next week: really wouldn't mind seeing my leg improve. So I'll keep rolling, icing, eccentric heel drops and compressing, Strausburg socking and all that stuff.

morning - 8.5 Sidewinder. Ran out on the Santa Clara trails today with the team. My right achilles was just rotten at first this morning and I fell way back of the main group of guys. Was also getting some go pro pics along the way. As they dropped down the switchback to Suicidal Tendencies, I bumped into Riley Cook and his bro. Good to catch up with him, he is such a good guy. By then the girls had caught up, so I ran most of the way back down the trail with them. Then noticing that the guys were still way up on ST, I flipped and went back up toward them and waited at the top of Sidewinder for them to climb back up and watched all sorts of mt. Bikers fail at climbing the switchbacks. Beautiful start of the day. (Cumulus 18.5)

0 - Well, I decided I had better get my achilles better for real.  I am tired of this pain and of trying to pretend that I feel okay and limp through a run, when I actually hurt a lot and running isn't any fun.  I had a dream last night that I was at a pt and she worked on my foot and then told me that the only thing that was really going to get me better was rest.  So that convinced me.  The two big problems with resting for me (other than the rare "I just need a break") is that I feel very lazy - I need to be out doing something (I'll have to come to terms with that) - and that Twix will be extra anxious without getting out and running to burn off some energy (I'll have to figure out some way to get her her exercise).  

So... see you later for a couple weeks, months, whatever?

afternoon - weights and core (in the morning).

Just checking in... Haven't run for the past two weeks.  Have done core exercises each day and tried to lift twice a week and hit yoga once a week.  A couple Saturday's ago, I rode a bike with Twix while the team ran up the marathon course trail.  That was interesting - first the dog, second trying to ride a bike!

I don't know how to judge how much progress the achilles has had.  The left one pretty much feels all the way healed up.  But the right still has a lot of pain.  Have continued wearing the sock every night.  Also, to try and get better compression, I found an achilles compression sock online.  It isn't a full sock - more of an ankle brace style - but it has some silicone inserts on the both sides of the lower achilles to kind of put pressure on it and massage it a bit.  Seems to help.  Sometimes there is no pain at all.  Then a few minutes later, I can barely walk again.  Bummed that I will be missing the Red Mountain 30K this weekend, but I've decided that I need at least 2 more weeks off - don't want to start going and have the pain come right back.