Worry

I had a great run this morning, but I could not help thinking about a similar run three years ago. A day or two after that run, we were hit by Hurricane Katrina and I was out of commission for a couple months due to clogged roads and debris trucks.

Now, we are looking at Hurricane Gustav. The forecast tracks all have the storm going in to the west of us. But it is going to be way too close for me to be comfortable with. I have the tent/garage down, and the little British cars wrapped up with plastic sheeting. Tomorrow, I'll take down the canvas gazebos and finish the yard preparations to make sure there is nothing left out that can become airborne. If necessary, I'll board up the windows tomorrow afternoon. Anyway, here is a link to what we are dealing with for the next couple days....As of 8:00 pm, we have a 70% chance of tropical storm winds and A 15% chance of hurricane force winds by September 2.

It is good to able to run again....

After two weeks of having trouble walking reaching, bending, etc., I finally broke down and went to the chiropractor. The adjustment was last Thursday. I rested over the weekend and restarted my normal schedule on Monday. I had an easy run on Monday and laid it out a bit more today. I repeated the interval workout from three weeks ago, and did a bit better.

800m Interval times were 3:41, 3:39, 3:40, 3:39.

Warm up and cool down were miles at 10:30 and 10:52

400m rest times were 3:31, 3:28, 3:36

Overall the best interval session I can remember and a significant improvement over three weeks ago.

Mickey, Cody and family are on vacation, but Mickey is still posting on his blog so go over and leave him a nice word...

What a difference a week makes....

We are still having the same cruddy weather we had last week. But, it was clear at 5:00 this morning and I was able get out for an easy four miles. At least it should have been easy. It was a so nice to be out after taking almost a week off that I stretched out a bit. When I got back in, I found that I had taken almost a minute off of my normal easy run pace. I was able to work in a core routine with stretching last night, and I followed the run with stretching as well. My back is still right on the edge. The spasm has relaxed and have full motion, but it seems taht it is just waitng for me to made the wrong move before it knots up again. Tomorrow is a running SRD. I'll stretch tonight, and do the core routine with stretching tomorrow.

Mickey and Cody should be in New York by now. Go ahead and link over to "Days in the Life" in the list to the right and drop him a note.

Better, but still not good.

I was feeling well enough today to get out for the Team in Training group run. My stride was terrible on the side where I pulled my back. Lots of foot slap and tightness in the hip. Anyway, its done and I'm looking forward to next week. I'll get back to the core work and stretching and start working on some strengthening. We'll see if I can work my way through it and get it straightened out.

Ouch.....

No running for me so far this week. It is quite likely that I'll take the week off. During the Monday Morning staff meeting at the office, I had a muscle spasm in my lower back, and it is still painful to bend or reach. Walking and sitting are almost back to normal, but getting in and out of the chair is not. I did a short jog in place and decided to skip the interval session in the morning.

In different and better news, I answered a call to pray and fast tomorrow. (link) It seems right that a day that is normally reserved for intense training should be used for intense prayer.

Cody is doing better as are my Dad and Megan. So, prayers are being answered. Y'all have a blessed day.

The best run in a long time

I'm approaching the end of the summer base building phase and getting ready to start training for the Mississippi Blues Marathon. I have been having some ongoing issues with hip soreness and core strength. So, I have begun a 3x/week core routine with stretching for the problem areas. I'm into the second week of that and wanted to work on my running form at the track.

This morning I got up early and got out there. For the first time in a long time, EVERYTHING worked like it was supposed to. No soreness or tightness in the left hip and I did not drag me left heel in the approach to the footstrike. The walkers that were out there had great manners. They left the inside lane for me. I almost wish I could have gotten out there earlier so I could have run some more.

4 lap warm up in 10:02

4x800m with 400m rests 3:49, 3:13, 3:48, 3:13, 3:45, 3:32, 3:50

and 4 laps BAREFOOT in the infield grass 10:17

I felt like a kid again running barefoot in the grass. I can see myself doing that again.

Just another Hot Day

I considered taking the picture of the Bumblebees down, but I don't have anything better to show the heat besides the six bees furiously fanning the hive with their wings.

I missed by Saturday long run today because I needed to help with a fundraising yard sale for my oldest. A student ambassador group has invited her to the presidential inauguration, and she needs to raise about $2500 to pay for air fare, hotel, tuition, etc. She is doing very well, and with all her work today, she was able to clear enough for her second payment. I hope the work that she is putting into it will help the trip to be more meaningful. Anyway, I spent all day in the sun with temps in the 90s and humidity closes to 80%. Needless to say, but we were wrung out by the end of the day. I'm spending the evening hydrating and I'll try to get out for a long run before church in the morning.

Kinda ticked off right now. I talked to my Dad, and one of the neighbors went through is wallet when he was not looking and took $500 that he had just gotten from the bank. What kind of person steals from a 72 year old cancer patient? Anyway, he filed a police report, and we'll see where it goes from there.

On to other news. Cody has gotten through his chemo and stem cell rescue. I talked to his dad and his numbers and counts have bottomed out. That means that Cody will start feeling better from here. Please link over to Mickey's Blog (Days in the Life) and leave a kind word for him and Cody.

OK, time to go get some rest...