Peaks and Valleys

 Monday started promising enough, with a solid speed workout during a beautiful early morning run.  The rest of the week was laid out ahead of me and with some time off from work Tuesday and Friday, I was prepared to put some miles on the new bike, balancing it with the week's scheduled runs.

Tuesday started with a little extra sleep since my planned bike ride was in the afternoon.  The afternoon ride was great fun as I put the first long ride on the wheels.  Cruising around the neighborhood and beyond on two wheels made for a nice way to spend a sunny afternoon.

After having dinner with friends that night, something peculiar happened -- my lower back tightened up.  What's that all about?  I figured it would go away and I would be ready to go again on Wednesday.

Unfortunately, I literally rolled out of bed Wednesday in pain. Then the pain had the audacity hung on all week and has prevented me from putting any additional miles this week.  I've been doing everything I can think of to recover quickly (ice, heat, stretching, exercises).  I  realize time heals all wounds, I just hope that this wound can heal with less time.

I don't know if I am getting smarter or more mature, but in the past I would have tried to push through the pain setting back the recovery.  This time, I am attempting to be patient until I am well into recovery when I start running again.  The waiting isn't easy.  I am targeting Monday for my first return run.  This too shall pass and I will peaking again soon!

Moving under my own power

Floating on a Cloud

I have really grown to love running.

The reasons I run are many and change on an almost daily basis.  Some days I run to feel the wind through my hair.  Other times I run because I need to move.  But each time I am reminded every time how luck I am to be able to move, under my own power, in any direction my feet feel like taking me.  That feeling of my legs underneath me, rolling along almost by themselves -- like floating on a cloud. You runners out there know what I am talking about when I say you forget your legs are moving along and get lost in your thoughts and soak in the surroundings.

I know and enjoy the runner's high, but just as satisfying to me is achieving the zone where the pace feels easy, my body feels light, and I feel less and more.  I know those are opposite ends of the spectrum so let met explain.

When I start a run the small aches and pains in my foot, achilles, knee, calf, or quad conspire to convince me to stop. Why, my body asks, are we doing this when you could be snuggled in bed? I gauge the pain realize it is temperary and continue to run.  As the muscles and tendons loosen, I feel better and better.  I get stronger the longer I run.  Soon, I am floating along without a care and enjoying the moment. 

Less discomfort and pain and more feeling free and easy.  I try to cherish every run, but these moments are particularly sweet. 

Who Knew?

Who knew I had so much to say?

Looking back upon my four part trail running story, I am  amazed that I found so much to say.  Now, full disclosure, I found been accused of being a talker and storyteller, so I guess this revelation shouldn't come as a great surprise. But, I have never tried my hand at writing consistently about my own experiences.  Maybe this blogging thing will turn out just fine . . .

Changing the subject slightly here, this weather continues to baffle me.  Yesterday the temperature were in the low 80 F with a humidity to match the near summer like temps and a stiff breeze out of the north.  Typically, a wind out of the north in March should usher in colder temps, but not this year.  My body was not prepared for the warmth and humidity yesterday, which made my long run a challenge (I am sure the late night watching college basketball didn't contribute to the heavy legs).  However, I do love running in shorts and a t shirt!

As I covered the miles yesterday, I continued to marvel at the mild winter and early spring.  Plants turning green and trees budding make for a pretty sight and a pretty unusual sight this early in March.  The 10 day forecast call for more warmth and a little rain, looks like just enough to encourage the growth.  Very soon I expect to see the flowers blooming and spring to arrive in full force.  I can't wait as the renewal of spring is one of my favorite times to of the year!

Recovery

Rescued by a Professional

In this, the final installment of my trail running series, I explore my own attempts to recover from my injury before seeking professional help. Who knew it would take me four installments to cover my story?  Honestly, almost anyone who knows me.  I am known as a bit of a talker who enjoys listening to and telling a good story.  Anyhoo, on with the show!

After returning home from the race, I tried to do everything right. I iced the ankle, took ibuprofen, kept the foot elevated, and got a brace. I kept at it for nearly two weeks and worse yet, did not run even one mile. 

Although the swelling was not completing gone, I improved enough after the two weeks that I tried to resume running. I took it easy and kept the mileage low with no speed (relatively speaking -- think Clydesdale, built for power, not speed), yet the ankle continued to be painful and lacked the full range of motion. As any reasonable person in my predicament would do, I scoured the internet for miracle cures, ointments, and exercises.  After a month of trying this or that surefire cure without success or improvement, I broke down and made a appointment to see a physical therapist.  Hindsight tells me this call should have come sooner.

My therapist was terrific. She ran me through a battery of tests during the initial appointment and immediately concluded that a couple of key joints were locked.  She showed me how the heel and ankle joints "glided" in the healthy leg and compared that to the distinct lack of gliding in my injured leg.  She worked on the joints during the appointment (and subsequent visits) to loosen the joints while directing me to complete a set of assigned exercises meant to build strength and improve flexability. The recovery was slower than I would have liked, but we worked together over several weeks and the pain subsided while the range of motion returned.

I am now back to running, again preparing for the Lincoln 1/2 marathon in May and I am again confronted with the desire to run trails while trying to balance the fear of getting hurt running said trails.

What do you think, am I ready to hit the trails again? Could I endure the heartache of another injury? Better yes, can I avoid injury? Where do I start to ensure success?

Sad End to 2011

Part 3 in my 2011 trial, tribulations, and trail running series.

The first weekend in November always welcomes the annual Beer and Bagel trail race. I attended my first Beer and Bagel in 2010 and had more fun that should be allowed.  Not too often you can get in a nice 4 mile run and drink beer with old and new friends, all before 10 AM.  Well, at least without having folks talk about you. 

I was really looking forward to the 2011 edition. The training cycle had been strong with lots of miles.  The week prior to race week I covered the most mileage in a single week (40+) than I had in a very long time, if ever, and felt great. I took it easy race week and my legs responded nicely.  I was sure the race was going to be great with intentions to ramp up training again the week following the run.

The race morning was cool and cloudy, but nice for early November in the upper Midwest.  Perfect weather for a PR, I thought. I met up with friends and we made it to the race course in plenty of time. The race started and I ran a pleasant first mile chatting with a new friend at a comfortable pace when IT happened. Going uphill, of all places. How could IT happen going uphill? 

My foot hit a branch and twisted underneath itself.  I heard a sharp POP and felt shooting pain run up my leg. I hobbled to a slow walk and encouraged my friend to go on and that I would catch up. I thought positive thoughts and tried to walk off the pain. As I walked and my pain did no subside, my disappointment and anger grew. This felt like being sick on your birthday. Slowly I realized that the pain was not going to away, that IT was a sprained ankle, and that I was only half way to the finish on a loop course. If I was going to make it to the finish I needed to do so under my own power. And before my ankle seized up or gave out completely. So I did the only thing I could, I resumed running.

I finished in a respectable time (amazingly, I was faster than the year before, even with the bum ankle and walk break). I did partake in the finish line beer and revelry, after all I earned and thought the beer might dull the pain.   But, all the while I felt subdued since I knew my ankle was not right and the injury was bound to cause me to missing running. If I only knew.

In the upcoming final episode of this series I recover, begin running again, and ponder my trail running career. 

To Trail (Run) or Not Part 2

Who, me?

So where did I leave off?  Oh, right . . . I started 2011 out strong, with the mantra of running smart, taking days off as necessary, and with the goal of "runnin' till the wheels fall off or I finish, whichever comes first".  Even with cold and snow of the early months in the northern Midwest, I was putting the miles in regularly.  Call me crazy, and I don't have any idea how many outdoor, cold weather, runners there are, but count me among the Team Outdoor when it comes to running.  I am one of those people who enjoy the solitude of running outside in the cold, winter months.

The training schedule to the spring race progressed nicely through January, February, and March and as winter turned to spring, I prepared for, and completed, my second ever trail run. I really enjoyed the April AZACK trail run,  even if the hilly course was incredibly difficult and force me to walk on a number of occasions up hills that never seemed to end.  At the finish I thought "maybe I should do this trail running thing more often for training and to get back to nature".  As usually, these fleeting thoughts came and went as I returned to my normal, oh-so-familiar,  running routine.  The Lincoln 1/2 marathon and summer came and went and yet, no trail running.

Summer turned to fall and after a great M2M Relay, I was running my highest mile weeks for the year (40+ mi a week), loving running more than ever, and preparing for another winter of running. I was nearly to my goal of making it though the year relatively injury free.

That all changed at the beginning of November. To be continued...

To Trail . . .

Or not to Trail? Trail running. That is the question. Or at least the question I am wrestling with today. You see, my last trail run did not go as planned and derailed my ability to run for many months. Grand plans gone awry.

In December 2010, while surfing around the Runners World Forums, I stumbled upon and joined an online running group, 2011in2011. This group succeeded in encouraging me to run more miles, have more fun, and make  new friends along the way. After I signed up, I made up my mind to redouble my running efforts in 2011.  I was focused on staying healthy and building miles throughout the year.

Training for training's sake is fine, but I need a goal.  I set two primary race goals.  Complete the spring 1/2 marathon in Lincoln, NE and the fall Market to Market (M2M) relay with improved times from the year before. I threw in the AAZK trail race in April and the Boys Town Memorial Day run as family events, for good measure. Then the plan was to wrap up the race year with the Beer and Bagel trail run, take a couple weeks off, and begin building miles (and maybe even a little speed) for 2012.

The  stage was set for an epic year as far as I was concerned.  What I found out was that my overall goal was not to be, that was the answer.  To be continued...

New Toy

Just like a kid with a new toy, I have been trying to figure out what I am going to do with this new blog thing.  I have had a few fleeting ideas to focus on areas of interest . . . everything from running to organizational development and parts in between.  I have a lot of surface interests.

I'm just not sure I am interested in focusing in on just one topic.  So many things intrigue me and I enjoy learning from others.  This blog may evolve and as I write a direction may emerge, but at this time I want to keep my options open and write about whatever strikes my fancy at that particular time.  Might that cost me readership?  Potentially, but up to this point I have not broadcast this to even my friends.  I am doing this for me.

Don't get me wrong, I want to be popular.  I would love to see my visit count grow and to be a part of a community.  However, I see this more as an opportunity to develop as a writer, an outlet for my interests and creativity, the chance to explore topics, and hopefully learn from others as they read and comment on this blog. 

Or, I might find out I am not that interesting, so there is always that!

First Post

Here is my first, tepid post into the blog-o-sphere. Not really sure what the focus of this blog may be . . . sports? probably. Running? Certainly. Current events? Maybe. Family? Absolutely. Book reports? On occasions. Other things may come up as I move down this path.

No running today after my long (relative) yesterday. Today was spent with family enjoying our time together. Also, I can't but be happy with the start of spring training yesterday and the fact that my beloved Colorado Rockies are still undefeated. Hope springs eternal!

I hope to update this regularly, to create a habit. Will it stick? Only time will tell. Until I write again . . .