SPRING BREAK…IT’S DAY & NIGHT

Ah…Spring Break.  It’s a time to reflect on what’s really important in life.  No school…No studying…  Going to the beach every day…Watching (or participating) in wet tee shirt competitions.  For me, Spring Break means only one thing: more time to run!

Although FIU was officially open during spring break, I took a few days off to spend time with Rachel (and to run…of course).  Having the opportunity to go out and run during the week, either early in the morning or in the middle of the afternoon, was a great way to catch up on all of those extra miles I missed while I was waiting for the swelling in my foot to go down.  In total, I was able to run a little more than 36 miles. 

The key here is running during the day.  I have always had a very difficult time motivating myself to run at night.  I’m not talking about running in the dark…I’m talking about running after I get home from work.  I don’t mind getting up über early to run.  In fact, I have been known to roll out of bed at 4am on weekends during the summer to beat the heat.  Since I typically get up at 5:30 to go to work, the morning run is virtually a no go.  I’m usually home by 5pm, so the time to complete a leisurely 8 mile run is not an issue.  I simply cannot embrace the run at the end of the day.

I run in the morning because I look forward to it; I run at night because I’m obligated to do it.  I would have hoped my mindset would have changed after all of these years.  Any and all suggestions are welcome here. 

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

 

TOO MUCH REST FOR THE WEARY

The healing process is going slower than I anticipated.  After my visit to the doctor (the day after the 5 Points of Life Marathon), I figured there would be no recovery run during the week.  I was planning to put in 10 to 12 miles on Saturday, but I wasn’t getting my hopes up.

When Saturday rolled around, my foot was still pretty swollen.  Rather than prolong this injury, I decided not to run.  I FELT LIKE A CAGED ANIMAL!!!  No running for an entire week…right off the heels of back-to-back marathons!  I didn’t know what to do with myself.  The plan at this point was to put in a run or two during the next week.  I figured a couple of three to five mile runs would be a good start to get back into the swing of things.

As the week went on, the foot was still pretty sore, and I didn't get to run at all.  It was getting better, but not at any kind of acceptable rate for me.  My brother came by on Friday night and took a look at the foot.  He was pretty sure that it was just bruised, but did not rule out the possibility of a stress fracture.  If I were still experiencing pain in the upcoming weeks, the game plan was to get an x-ray on the foot.  I told him that I was planning on running tomorrow (Saturday), and that I would call him with an update.

My goal on Saturday morning was to do anywhere from 14 to 17 miles, although I knew it would probably be closer to 14.  It’s amazing just how much not running after two weeks can set you back in your training.  The foot felt good while I was running, but it hurt whenever I had to stop (crossing the street, going to the little boys’ room, etc.).  It felt great to be back out there pounding the pavement, but 14 miles was a good distance for my first day back.  I iced down for a long time after the run and was limping a little bit for the rest of the day.

The good news is that my foot has been getting progressively better during the week, but of course not fast enough for me.  I’m thankful that my run on Saturday did not set me back, but I decided not to push myself.  I took off the rest of the week, and will look to put in a 17 mile run on Saturday.

Next week is Spring Break for both FIU and for my daughter.  I’m planning on taking a few days off, and I’ll resume a full running schedule during the week (translated…making up for lost time).

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

 

PHOTOS FROM 5 POINTS OF LIFE MARATHON

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON