I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaack!

Okay, though nobody reads this and I haven't told anybody about this, I do feel bad that I have not posted an update in days, okay weeks. I was going through a hard time with injuries. I had some aches and pains, a tender knee, problems with my soleus, first on one calf, then the other. I have had tenderness on the tops of my feet and due to all of this, I was seriously considering dropping out of Way Too Cool. Yesterday was the advertised 20 mile Western States training run. I figured that 3 weeks before WTC, this would be a good test of my ability to go 31 miles along trails in the same area. This run kicked my butt all over the place. I got to the first aid station at mile 14 feeling pretty good, thinking I could grind out another 6 miles without causing permanent damage to my body. I then foolishly asked a volunteer at the aid station why the trail markers indicated there was 8 miles to go when this obviously mile 14 of a 20 mile training run. Oh no, Green Gate (our starting point) is mile 78 (of the 100 mile Western States Trail), you still have another 8 miles to go! After leaving the aid station, it seemed like it was uphill for the next 3 miles, though a review of the trail map indicated it wasn't quite that long. Long story short, it took me 6 hours to finish this bad boy. As a 3 time marathon finisher (in well under 6 hours, I might add!), that was somewhat disconcerting, but I did take some solace in the fact that everyone I talked to during the run said that WTC was nowhere near as vertical as the "20" miles this trail covered. A day later I am feeling like I got hit by a truck, but in a good way! Despite a couple of trips over roots and one rolled ankle, I came out unscathed, just aching muscles and a bruised ego. I am going to see if I can do an easy 24 next week-end and if it works out, you'll see me at the starting line for WTC.

Noooooooooooo!

Okay, December 30th I tweaked my knee, this after straining my right calf. Being a runner, I could not resist the opportunity to get out during a break in the stormy weather we have been having here in Sacramento. A mile into my run, it started to pour and my left calf started to cramp. Since it felt like a cramp (which I never get while running), I stretched it out and soldiered on for another 5 miles. I am not sure, but by yesterday evening, I was thinking that might have been a huge mistake. While I have had cramps that left me limping for a couple of days, I fear this is some kind of muscle strain. So now, my left knee seems to be okay, my right calf is tight, but not too bad and my left calf is pretty much shot (showing little improvement from yesterday). I am pretty bummed, but what can you do? No matter what, I am not going to try to run today, I just want to get better as soon as possible. I am trying ice, an ace bandage, whatever might work, but realistically, it is going to take rest. If things feel better in the next few days, I may try to adapt a work out in the gym (elliptical, etc.) something without much strain on the injured muscles. What is really bummer is that my pace has been pretty good these last few runs and running at my weight 200+, if I don't run regularly, I gain weight pretty easily. I've got to be good and somehow keep the weight down or it just pounds on my joints that much more. I'll hope for the best.