It's a brutal winter this year, which has made not running easier to tolerate, but cabin fever has hit a peak. I need to start running soon, if only to drop the few pounds I've gained since the recent ice age began.
I've had extra reasons not to be running. I broke two toenails and trimmed them badly and they became ingrowing, and then infected. They're healing, but especially sensitive to cold. Did I mention it's cold here?
The few times I've managed to get out the door, I've had problems with exercise-induced asthma. I'm hoping that that will end when the temperatures improve. Did I mention it's cold?
As usually happens, my thoughts as to what I want to do with regards to running seesaw between long races and short. I want to do something that means something to me; just plodding through a race to say I did it has no appeal. According to age-graded calculators, I'm not going to be making a mark; for example, I might just barely break 5:00 for a mile, if everything went perfectly, but that puts me about 12th for my age. A sub-3:00 marathon would be the very limit for me and that's not going to get much notice, except among close friends. That brings me to looking at races where I could set an age-class record - all road races of note are unlikely, as are track records, leaving me looking at small races (which generally don't have an over-50 age class) or trail races. The few trail races that have an over-50 record have pretty solid times.
I've picked my race. It's time to start training again.
Because I haven't been able to do much, I've been working on fixing some long-standing injury issues. I pulled my right hamstring last March 13 and it STILL isn't right, but the work I've done over the past month has improved it to about 90%, so I'm hopeful. Muscle issues (piriformis, TFL, gluteus medius, erector spinae) seem to be getting better and I think I just have to keep vigilant at working on them. The Achilles tendon problems aren't fixable, but I've found a way to make them tolerable again.
I might have one more race left in me.
Never ending rain
4 days ago
6 comments:
If you were like me, there is always biking... I find that more rewarding right now as apposed to running...
It is freaking cold. Good time to be healing toenails. Obviously you have at least one more in you. Obviously. I guess there's nothing else we can do except see what the groundhog does tomorrow.
Interested to hear what race you've picked; best of luck getting back into the running groove. It's got to start warming up soon, doesn't it?
It's cold even in Texas.
I don't mind running in snow, but it would be really great if we could occasionally make it past two-layers-of-long-underwear-and-a-balaclava here.
On the other hand, all is forgiven as long as it's gone by Zumbro.
Love this post. Hopeful.
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