(Not) Training Update

Well, not a lot has gone well since my last post at the end of July. The pool running didn't help. Within a day or two of getting back to running on dry land, the leg was the same. I found an odd lump on the inside of my tibia at the source of some of the pain, and went to a doctor to get it checked out. Fortunately, it turned out to be nothing serious, and is probably just inflammation related to the muscles and tendons that are giving me problems. I've been working with Mystery Coach on strategies to get back to running while continuing to heal the problem, but so far, there's a lot of pain and not much running.

I'm definitely losing some fitness at this point, and I'm definitely anxious about it, but I'm also seeing it as an opportunity to get freshened up after nearly three years of solid, consistent training. I've been thinking about Thomas lately, and how he came back from a long layoff in short order with great results. I'll hope to do the same once this problem fades into the background. For now, though, I wait.

Thanks for the continued support, and sorry for the lack of posts!

1:00:00 :: 0 miles (haha)

First day in the pool. Getting used to the different feeling--it's similar to beginning cycling, with the slight burn in the quads and calf. Calves cramped up a bit toward the end, but otherwise it was uneventful. Hacked together a 'waterproof' iPod with a ziplock, a Boston Red Sox hat, and some athletic tape. Most impressive, and even better, it works! No boredom today whatsoever.

5:00 :: .75 miles

I'm having some problems, very schizophrenic problems. I'm having some on again/off again pain from my big toe, through my ankle, and high up into my calf. It's been with me for some time since the 10K, and has really been bothering me since the 400s (last post). For example, the pain was the worst it has been on Saturday, then completely gone on Sunday, then moderate yesterday, and bad again today.

I've tried all kinds of different strategies--icing, taping, supportive shoes, bare feet, soft surfaces, strength exercises, running through it, time off...nothing seems to get me down the path consistently.

At this point, I've decided to try my old standby, pool running. A week or so of pool running has always cured my ailments, as well as given me a new appreciation of what boredom *really* is.

To the pool...

30:00 :: 4.3 miles

Easy run. Another sore day for the toe and ankle, as well as the foot(!). Not as bad as yesterday, so it's improving. Outside of right foot (initially hurt back around April on a windy 20 miler) is flaring up again. Ran in cutout Ohanas, which eliminated the pain completely. Did 30 minutes of running, mostly on grass, and fifteen minutes of easy (still not so easy) cycling. Cold bath for the entire lower leg, and more ibuprofen today.

Found a cool article...
Beating the Heat (this one's for Mike)

14:00 :: 1.8 miles

Easy run. Having some pain in the toe and ankle still, and it is increasing as the run goes on, so I stopped. Not worried about it at this point, as it barely hurts, but still want to get rid of the problem before it gets bigger.