C'mon, somebody must be running!

[OakLeaf]

Yikes BikeDutchess, you really do have the bug, don't you? It does look like a beautiful place to run.

Crankin, glad you had a good session! Hope you get lasting relief.

I did another local 5K this morning. Just one second slower than the night race three weeks ago, so I guess maybe that wasn't a fluke.

I just realized, I must be handling my brush with burnout right, because I'm having fun again.

[Crankin]

Oak, so I was totally sore in my shoulder yesterday, and, interestingly, on the opposite side of my back, from where the big issue is. I almost felt like I was in a spasm. I had told the LMT I was going to be riding 80-100 miles over 2 days and she said it was OK. So, I rode 41 miles yesterday and then came home and used the neck/shoulder shaped heating pad which totally did the trick. Woke up this morning with just mild stiffness in the spot that is the problem in my lumbar area and did my stretches and now using heat on my back before my hilly ride today. I will start with the self massage tomorrow, as per instructions.
I wish I could stand up at work, but I can't stand and look down at my clients!

[solobiker]

Zoom-Zoom, I hope your ankle heals fast. I was sorry to have read this.

Oak, good for you on the running and having fun again. Yeah!

I went on run #3 since breaking my toe. It still hurts a bit and today during my run my legs felt so heavy/dead and my HR was higher then usual. I did managed to get in 3 miles. I figure the fatigue could be related to my recent lack of running and I have been having fewer carbs recently.

Hope everyone is doing well.

[zoom-zoom]

Zoom-Zoom, I hope your ankle heals fast. I was sorry to have read this.

It's healing fast, but it was still in no shape for the race on Sat. Pretty sure I need to stop running trails altogether. I'm even wondering if snowshoe running is such a good idea (you know, <1 year after investing in running snowshoes, ha!) this Winter.

Awesome to see so many Fall races. Had I not just sprained my ankle I'd likely do a 5k in a couple of weeks. It's part of the same race event that holds my favorite half marathon of all I've run. It ends with live music on a deck with BBQ at a nearby brewpub.

[OakLeaf]

Aw, Zoom, keep healing ... and all the time you would've been racing, spend it on rehabbing the ankle y'know?

I found out yesterday that the 5K I did on Saturday was sponsored by a LRS and it was so small that I finished third overall and won a $15 gift card! Hahahaha ... last time I finished a race in the money was a looooooong time ago. I know perfectly well that it's all in who shows up, but I'm pretty glad now I ran it hard even though I had no real competition among the women, and the two men who beat me were far enough ahead that I wasn't racing them, either. I would've been embarrassed to collect a gift card if I'd just cruised. But the whole idea of entering was that it's my speedwork, so I gave it what I had.

So yesterday I reprised the crazy hills I did last Friday. They haven't gotten any less steep, I lost count of the >20% grades on that route, but it was 20 degrees cooler and what a difference that made. I was still flagging pretty good toward the end, until the thought went through my head that it's SUPPOSED to hurt, and so I thought, "Oh right, okay then" and picked up the pace again.

There's a little local half marathon on Saturday that I can't decide if I want to do or not. I probably should, but it's too hilly for me to really want to. It's a benefit for renovating the local high school/middle school track which desperately needs it, and which I'd probably use occasionally if it were in better shape. Of course I could just send them a donation and not run.

[OakLeaf]

So, I ran that little half this morning. It got to last night and I didn't really want to run, but I knew if I didn't, I'd wish I had. It wasn't as hilly as I'd been afraid of, they changed the course from prior years, so there were only a couple of short climbs over 15%, one steep gravel descent that I just picked my way down, and on the average right around 50 feet per mile elevation gain. I ran a 2:01 something, which I'm plenty happy with considering the terrain, my (lack of) training and my intention for the day. It was a chance to try out my new Altras on a tempo run, too, and they're still great, I'm sure now I'll be wearing the other pair for the marathon. Plus, it's a beautiful day. I probably wouldn't have run if it had rained!

[zoom-zoom]

I may have to try Altras at some point. A friend swears by them and they look like they'd fit a wider foot pretty well.

Managed my first CX race yesterday. Ankle was fine, but I was very careful going into dismounts (remounts still suck and I have to come to a complete stop to get back on the bike, ha). Didn't push the pace hard, either. But a couple of noob racers who should have been racing Bs lapped me 3/4 of the way through my 3rd lap. Had I known I'd only get 3 laps I would have pushed harder. After lap 2 I was told I had 2 more, so paced myself appropriately.

Today the ankle is a little stiff, but not really any worse for wear. Next CX race isn't for another 2 weeks, so by then I expect I'll be fully healed.