Something of Extremely Slight Substance (SOESS)

Keen observers may have noted that in spite of everything, I'm still putting in the miles. The thing about those miles is (and this may astound you), they've been slow. Very slow. Today would be different. Or would it?

It's Tuesday. Track Tuesday. That means the Claggett Middle School Track, bright and early at 5:00 AM. A couple of days ago, my friend Shannon Barnes asked what today's track workout would entail. I responded by asking which one she hated most. She replied, "A ladder." So of course, a ladder it would be: 200/400/800/1200/800/400/200. 

A few of us actually did it. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them. I did do most of it, but I wound up walking and talking and then I went home when the rain got harder. But. (You knew there would be a but.) When I got home, I got on the old mill and did a few more 400s.

Altogether, this was a decent amount of speedwork, enough to be considered... Something of Extremely Slight Substance.

I hate to be so callous about my callus

My previous post was somewhat on the negative side. I want to report that these reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated. Okay, maybe just a little exaggerated. We're gonna see.

The reason for the (very) guarded optimism is that I now believe that it could possibly be the callus itself that's the cause of the pain. I'm trying to take care of it. Without becoming too callous about the whole thing.

Not that I'm running all that great these days. But I AM running.,

Achilles Rides Again

Dear Diary,

I am aware that you don't like to hear bad news from me, your primary contributor. But whom else to say it to? Bad enough that I have to put with these slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, but it's that much worse when I have no one to tell about it. Therefore, you win. You get to hear the whole dang gaggle of bad vibes. Lucky you.

It all started ten years ago. I developed a pain in my Achilles Tendon. Didn't seem so bad at first, but then it got going more and more, and at some point, it became obvious that this condition was not going to improve on its own, But you know all this, don't you Diary? The Achilles surgery happened three years ago. You knew that too. You even knew about the long but (until now) successful recovery and comeback.

By now, Diary, you are probably just beginning to suspect that something might be slightly wrong in Dan-land. And you would be right. 

It started a couple of months ago, when I was running every day in Florida. I know. That's a clue right there. But hey, things had been going good at the time. Why not run to my heart's content? But then it  came on: a slight but unmistakable pain right along the incision scar. Just a little tenderness, I thought/hoped/wondered. Now, said pain has only gotten worse. So much so that I am now considering cutting my mileage, and that's a drastic step, especially with the Cleveland Marathon looming.

Could it be some sort of infection (since it's still right at the scar and now it's capped with a more-tender callus)? Or something even more sinister, like a return to the calcium buildup and mis-shaped heel bone? What to do, Diary?

Okay, I hear you. See the doc. Alright - that's what my friends and loved ones are saying as well. Okay, I suppose I will. And oh yes, you're a loved one too. 

Mileage first

Mileage first, then intensity. That's the formula that I usually employ to get myself in shape. And, it's happening again, now. After managing to somehow pull through last week's half-marathon, I now have to get somewhat more serious about training. Cleveland is looming; it's only a month away. And I do manage to get a long run on Lester Rail Trail today, with the help of my friends. It was only 18 miles, and it wasn't all that pretty, but at least it's done. 

Now, I've got to keep the mileage up and then work on some intensity. But you already knew that.

Boston 2.24 Race Report

Firstly, Boston 2.24 is not the race in Boston, MA, it's just the one in Fredericksburg, OH. That's near Wooster, and also well into Amish country. I like the course. It's out and back on the Holmes County Trail. There is a full marathon and a half, all with Boston MA themes, such as the sign for Heartbreak Hill, which is a small graded uphill section at about mile 21 and the Citco sign near mile 24. I realized a week ago that, after arriving home and being unwell for a time, a marathon was not a good idea for me. I was simply not ready. (I am now on antibiotics for the upper respiratory problem.) Thus secondly, I would not be running a marathon today. Just a half.

How would this old, not-so-well guy do at such a race? He's done this little race before. This year, it's even littler. Just a small, friendly run in Amish-land. The trail heads mostly South, towards Millersburg. At first, the headwind is strong and it begins to look like it will be a tough day. But then, as we approach a buggy with some Amish folks around it, the winds seem to calm down and it warms up a little. Speaking of buggies, we'd been warned to "avoid stepping in the mud, because it's not mud." I think I am able to keep my shoes mostly clean.

My pace is pretty close to nine minutes per mile. There are a few others that seem to be in the same boat. If I can keep this going, my time will be just a little under two hours. My time at the 6.55-mile turnaround point is 58:30 - just about right. Now, things ought to get easier, methinks. I'll have the wind at my back, and everything will be fine, methinks.

Am I able to unleash the beast, you ask? Put the peddle to the metal? Sprint to the finish? Not quite. It's all I can do to just barely maintain that nine-minute pace. Just barely. It even gets hot as the expected tailwind doesn't do its job. I cross the finish line in tenth place with a time of 1:57 and change. Just made it (under two hours and at 9-minutes-per-mile).

I love me these nice, tiny little races. The only thing is, it seemed much tougher than it should have been. I want to get back to running this pace for a full marathon, not just a half? Think I'll get there? Just wait and see.

Back but not back

Been back for ten days now. Wanted to hit the ground running, but instead, I just hit the ground.

What's wrong, you ask? Lots of stuff. Top of the list is that my Achilles Tendonitis appears to have made an ugly comeback. This has been brewing for a while, but it's back to the point of actually hurting. I'm not sure what to do about it, other than a few P.T. exercises and taking it easy. I'm also taking it easy due to a seemingly minor upper respiratory issue. It's not completely awful, but it won't go away. I've started taking an old dosage of Azithromycin for that.

I've asked the RD of this Sunday's Boston 2.24 race to switch me from the full to the half. A full isn't in me right now. I'll try to keep my eyes on the prize for Cleveland. I still have over a month for that.

Running from Sydney to Papeete

Yes it would be a little tough to run all that way, especially since there's an ocean in the middle, but I do manage to run on the cruise ship that's making such a journey. Here are some of the tales.

Sydney

We're staying an extra day here before embarking on the cruise journey. So I get to spend a couple hours enjoying the city by foot. I begin by heading over to White Bay Cruise Terminal to view the Oceania Regatta, the ship we will be traveling on. It's just a couple miles, including a run across the ANZAC Bridge. Naturally, I get lost coming back, but it would be tough to come up with a better place to be lost in than Sydney. It's wonderful.

Running along Darling Harbor

At the ANZAC Bridge

Eventually, I get back to the Darling Harbor area, close to the hotel. Then, I continue to the North and explore Barangaroo Park, where I hear the unmistakable call of a kookaburra. 

On Board the Good Ship Oceania Regatta

Run around in circles on deck. Get tired so try the treadmill for a while. Get tired of that, so run some more circles outside. Rinse, repeat.

Napier, New Zealand

After three consecutive sea days, it's nice to see land again. Lady Adventurer and I take a walk through town, then I go out later on for my run. After an early-morning run, followed by brekkie, followed by our walk, followed by a short nap, this short shuffle is not Dan running at his best. But it's not quite nothing.

On Board the Good Ship Oceania Regatta

Run around in circles on deck. Get tired so try the treadmill for a while. Get tired of that, so run some more circles outside. Rinse, repeat. Eventually, I graduate away from the mill and more onboard. It's nicer to watch the sunrises and entry into ports. I do manage to get one final land/in-port jog/walk - in Papeete on the island of Tahiti as we're awaiting transfer to the airport.

Tahiti

Surprisingly, I do manage to get my overall mileage in. Even for tempo runs and (barely) for long runs. The only day I miss is the day we leave. I'm reasonably happy with that. Too bad about all those extra pounds though.