Four More

Knee a little sore, but ran four at the Rose Bowl. I should stop referring to my pace as 'modest.' It's actually blazing fast when I no longer compare it to my speed at age 19 or even age 56. Whatever I did in those eras is gone like the time itself. So today was just fine.

Nearing the conclusion of running for the summer. My shoulder operation takes place toward the end of May, marking Fin to a successful winter and spring—slow, consistent progress and no major injuries.

Looking forward to the 5k in two weeks. Whatever I run will be my new pr for 2011.

4 Again

Ran four miles for the first time since May 28, 2009, the day before my knee surgery. Ran a modest 1x2 but the terrain was steep as I used part of the TNT course around Devil's Gate Reservoir and up into the Angeles National Forest. A cool morning without much sun—great running weather. Did my Chi Running focuses at a 1x2 run/walk. Not many runners out but a fair amount of families and dogs and kids on bikes.

Damage was visible from this year's storms, with hill trails littered with stones deposited from runoff. But great to be back on the old trails, even at a reduced pace.

Perfect Day

Just about. 70 degrees and a beautiful blue sky at Griffith Park as I ran two miles at 1x2 run/walk; 60 bpm. Knee felt fine as I cruised around the perimeter of Wilson Golf Course.

Congrats to all who ran the 115th Boston Marathon yesterday. Ryan Hall set an American record of 2:04:58.

Also Grete Waitz died of cancer. Over an eleven year period, she owned the New York City Marathon winning nine times. Waitz also won a silver medal in the 1984 Women's Marathon. Run well across the stars, Grete.

Easing Back

Ran two miles yesterday at 1x2 run/walk and 60 beats per minutes for the first run in 12 days. Iced in the evening and feel pretty good today save for some minor soreness. I've got about 5 weeks of running left before shoulder surgery and a three-month lay-off. At least I'll avoid the bulk of the summer heat and all the fun that comes with that.

Speaking of Stupidly Overtraining...

...I believe I'm guilty of such a crime—again. Looking forward to that 5k in May I started pushing harder than I should have. My knee's been sore for the last week, but I've decided, come what may, to walk the 5k. This tamps down my urge to run fast since I'll be far in the back cruising in under 40 minutes. But in the meantime I can stretch, cycle, do yoga, practice chi running warm-ups and loads of other things. The most important is to keep losing weight. And I am.

A Modest Three

Back around the bridal trails at Griffith Park. Some soreness in the knee, so ice today. Looking at last year's logs, I saw I ran for six weeks, increasing speed, mileage and distance in my zeal to run a 5k. Then I took seven weeks off with a sore knee and remorse at stupidly over training. Now I'm roughly back up to where I was when I quit, but it took me six months to reach this point.

Slow is the only way I have left.

No Weighting

On Feb. 26 I weighed 248 pounds.

Yesterday I weighed myself for the first time in five weeks—235.

I exercised slightly less than normal but changed my eating habits, cutting starches and carbs way down and upping my fat and protein. This has worked especially well for breakfast. Instead of eating a bowl of "healthy" cereal, then snacking all morning, I eat an egg or two, some sausage, a waffle and feel full well into afternoon.

With shoulder surgery coming up in May, I've been feeling the pressure to check my weight via diet since cardio will be off the table during recovery.

No celebrating with pizza, though.

Dawn Good Run

Three miles this morning just before dawn on the Griffith Park trails. I love transition times as dawn slowly bleeds into day. Good soft ground, easy on the knee, and nobody about until I'd finished up my post-run stretches—then they arrived in large groups, training for this or that event; felt energized afterwards and ready to rock.

I should devote a little time later today to the old foam roller and some Downward Dog to loosen up my hamstrings. Very tight.

Signed up for the 5k at the Pasadena Marathon on May 15. I'll probably have to run/walk some of it, but I'll be happy to finish injury free. The rest of that day I can spend cheering on friends running the half and full marathon.

Fat Man Running

That's me. My weight at the beginning of March was 248. It's a few pounds less now, but the old days when I could control my weight via running are as gone as The Rosie O'Donnell Show. My knee says three days a week at low, slow mileage and that's the way it goes.

I'm currently training with a hybrid Chi Running/Galloway run-walks. I use Chi Running to avoid over-striding and ease the impact on my knee by quickly lifting feet off the ground. Run-walks serve to check over training—which I sustained during my brief running period last year.

A partially torn shoulder muscle means more surgery in May. I hope to squeeze in a 5k run at the Pasadena Marathon before my three-month post-operation lay off.

During this summer's lay off I could work on strengthening my core, hips and glutes and loosening my cement-like ankles. And watching my diet so I don't once again become the Billowy Man.

OPEN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

After almost two years, I decided to resume my separate running blog. Gradually, I'll transfer over everything running/tri/sport related from Write Enough. My schizo blogging insured I'd never get a steady readership at either WE or here. But now officially this is a sporty place, perfect for anecdotes, race reports, injury updates—that'll be me mostly—motivation and general all-round running stuff with an emphasis on marathons and some tri events.

NPR posted an article on how running won't hurt your knees. Oh, bwa ha, ha, ha, ha, heeeee! My knee issues aside, it's an encouraging read for the older or returning runner.
(Image: Buzzle.com)

CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Not enough variety in my running life as well as too many backlogged projects to justify a second blog.

Nothing lasts forever, not even blog closings.

Until then, I'll be back where I started: Write Enough.

Thanks for stopping by, Kiley.

Good Luck Kiley and Kate!

This Monday is Patriot's Day, hence another Boston Marathon. I don't know anyone running this year, but wish all participants well.

Ran a modest three miles today at 1x2 run/walk ratio. No pain, but there's nothing to strengthen or improve. My injury is such that the knee can only deteriorate. If I want to run again, train, race, I'm going to need a procedure.

Tomorrow, Kiley and Kate Freeman tackle a fifty-mile race, winding through the Angeles National Forest. Train, train, train and finally the day comes and you can hardly sleep the night before. Off with you both! Tear it up, guys!

Door Number Two

Today's orthopedist was a young, upbeat guy, totally down with my running. He was confident I could marathon again. My regular ortho had recommended three fixes:

A. Stick a bone plug in the pothole.

B. Bleed a nearby bone in order to grow new cartlidge.

C. Replace the knee.

Today's ortho felt B held the best chance. Pro athletes have utilized this procedure and returned to action. Of course, my age remains a factor, but I feel it's worth a go. My knee would remain immobile for six weeks, then perhaps three months of physical therapy, then three months of light running. I'd be looking at late '09, early '10 before I could train - provided everything worked.

I shall explore further.

Perspective

Skipped my pool workout due to all-encompassing fatigue. Seeing another orthopedist tomorrow. Even if he's a gung-ho guy with a red hot procedure that will get me running in two months, I'd still have to acquire new health care to pay for it.

Saw my friend Dale yesterday. His cancer has spread from the colon to the hip. Right now, he's fighting over whether or not to keep fighting. His intestines have been operated on so many times that his stomach muscles have lost their snap, leaving him a sagging pot belly cross-hatched with scars. I think he'd swap all that for a bum knee any time.

So on to ortho #3.

Two Approaches

Last week Emil ran five back-to-back 5Ks in Carlsbad. He's out running 12 today. That's the spirit! I'll be inside drinking coffee and working with My Darling Wife on switching our health care coverage. (Now that I've finally gotten my MRI.)

On the subject of "spirits," a most Happy Easter!

Just a Reminder

Here's where I want to be:

Headline News

As Kiley tapers for his 50-mile race next week, the local press gave him a shout-out.

Oops

Overdid it yesterday. My knee's been sore all afternoon. Did some core work today. I'll probably chill training-wise over Easter weekend and start back swimming on Monday. 

I downloaded a 5K training schedule. I'm going to convert the workouts into aqua runs and see if that makes aqua running more interesting. I ran "ladders" in the pool the other day and it made the time fly. Maybe there's a maritime marathon I can sign up for.   

This guy has some good aqua running scoop.

Doc Smith Weighs In

Called Dr. Smith about my knee. He recommended an ortho who happens to run. That might help. Doc Smith said there's a procedure that injects fluid into "potholes" much like Dap seals wall cracks. I'll give the new guy a try next week and see what he thinks about Dap. 

Swam today, then ran three miles. A wee bit of tenderness in the knee, but no pain. I ran, then walked whenever I felt, going by feel. It's nice to run even a little.

Not to Brag, But...

According to an article, triathlons lead marathons in sudden deaths. Neither sport is turning into a Killing Field, but triathlons loose a few more, mostly in the swimming department. Marathons, however, lead in slow, painful deaths, mostly after 20 miles. 

Saw Katie, F.J., and Andy over at the Rose Bowl last Saturday. They ran the Pasadena Marathon with all the wind and rain. F.J. thought it a cursed race. At one point, the wind blew down two huge palm fronds that just missed Andy. I told him he had his Palm Sunday a week early. Andy gave a weak laugh and went away.

At least he was safe and didn't add to any statistics.