A Brand New Plan

No this is not a reference to the alternative country classic Copperhead Road (check it out here). I'm referring to my ongoing frustrations with running injuries. Specifically, I tried to run on Sunday and made it through 23 minutes before debilitating hamstring pain and tightness. This after a 2.5 week lay-off. I'll try to run for 30 minutess tomorrow. I'll run on the track, hills seem to trigger the symptoms.

In the meantime, I need to acknowledge that I need a brand new plan to stay fit: running, despite its simplicity, is just too injury inducing to be my primary source of fitness. So, I'm back on the rower, and into the gym for stretching and strengthening.

On The Shelf

I tried to run again this morning, after having not run since Saturday. I had to stop after 8 and a half minutes. The pain and tightness returned. I won't try to run again for two weeks. I'll walk instead (walking doesn't seem to aggravate my hamstring). The walking takes a long time, and it doesn't build my aerobic fitness but it's meaningful for leg strength and it's a calorie burner. We'll see how it goes.

Damn!

Yesterday's scheduled longish run was interuppted by a sharp right hamstring pain after 4K. I stopped immediately, walked home, and iced it. I'll walk again today. This is disappointing, I was just starting to make some progress. Oh well, I'll run if I can and walk if I can't.

The Seadog Mother's Day 5K Race

I finished in 22:14, compared to 21:39 a year ago. Oddly, I feel pretty good about the race. I'm still base building after the long winter, and have hardly been to the track. I'm still chubby (13 pounds heavier than a year ago) but will take off the weight. It's great running weather, I have no disruptive travel plans and should be able to train consistently.

The Doc's Tavern race in a month will be a much better test.

I ran in to work this morning, and I'll run in tomorrow and Thursday. On Wednesday, I'll run to/from the track and do a quality track session. I'm going to walk to work on Friday. Then I hope to do my normal Saturday long run and a moderate 10K on Sunday. I need to manage my weekly mileage uptick despite the fact that I feel good and I'm impatient with my weight loss (lack there of).

5 for 5.....

......Commuting this week. The race Sunday should be interesting. I'm still quite chubby. I'll report back after the race.

The Road Ahead

Today starts my commute by running process. We'll see how it goes. In theory, I quite like it.

I had a good weekend of running (25.4K total) despite cold and rainy conditions. I'm feeling better while running, as a direct result of some consistency.

This week will include 5 commutes, a modified track workout on Wednesday, a rest day Saturday, and the Seadog race on Sunday.

Time To Man Up

Put on my big girl panties. Find my cojones. Pull myself up by my huevos.

I read yesterday, here, that it is not possible to be both fit and fat. Given that choice, I'm going to opt for fit. Running is my path to weight reduction. Starting next week, I'm going to commute to work by running. I'll get a ride home. I need to be careful to limit the mileage increase, but I need to increase, steadily, until I get my weight back to where I want it to be.

My race schedule:

May 11 5K Seadog
June 13 3 mile Doc's Tavern
July 4 5K Goose Rock
August 2(?) 10K BtB

I'll figure it out from there.