Thursday, September 30, 2010
Four Weeks to Go?
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Red Fox Blog Turns Two
FLASHBACK: Philly Distance Run Race Report 2008
Injury Update
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The Prison
I "ran" 6 hours in the pool this week. As much as I bitch, this is much better than nothing. Next week I hope I don't miss a day.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The Pool: Thursday & Friday
I hit the pool at 7am on the dot Thursday morning and then did my thing. I tried using a belt earlier in the week, but I didn't notice much of a difference other than being even more buoyant. Additionally, it was cutting into the skin on my back so I threw it off. I ventured back to the Y on Friday night but this time I shared the deep end with young tykes doing cannonballs and pathetic "flips". Countless fathers were teaching countless children the proper way to dive. No one seems to see me and kids coming crashing down all around. One woman asked what I was doing and when I replied she suggested I swim instead. I retorted how I don't enjoy swimming much and then she countered "how is that water running going for you? clearly making a reference to the monotony and insanity of it all. She was right, but this seems to be working. It's getting me back into the daily workout routine and taking my mind off my injury. At least I am doing SOMETHING now. My arms feel jacked, my stomach/core feels tighter and my leg muscles feel strong and sharp. Most of these workouts are really working my cardio. I just need to stick with it.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Struck Out
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Taking Flight
Monday, September 20, 2010
Back to Work?
I suppose I got to get back out there and do something. But, don't worry, I'm not running.
Over the weekend my upper leg felt stiff, like it does after I run. I try to keep off of it, but I got to live. Even a trip to the mall to buy some new clothes requires more walking than usual and causes the leg to ache a little. I told Sarah and she suggested I start water running again because my legs are use to running and the muscles are sore, or out of whack, because I haven't been running. And since I can't run, that means I head back to the stinkin pool. I had planned to start water running 2-4 weeks before I ran my first steps, but I guess I got to get out there earlier. My pool is unfortunately closed for the season, so I went for the first time to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase YMCA. I had a free day pass so I went in to see what it was all about. The water running area is about the same size as the space in my pool so I was in familiar territory. I had already eaten a full meal of roasted chicken, apple sauce and toast and I wasn't sure how this would play out. It was a tick after 8pm and there was a full moon that cast an interesting reflection in the pool below. I shrugged my shoulders and wiggled in. I had exactly an hour before the pool closed.
I received some workouts from Patrick Reaves (see below) who had been injured with a stress fracture in his foot a few years ago. Tonight I warmed up for 6:00, then did 6:30 on/1:30 off x 6, then cooled down for 6:00 = one hour. I averaged 5 laps for the first 5 "ons", but near the end I was just a tad slow. I would be lying to say I wasn't spent. It felt good for a change.
day 1: 6:30 on 90" off X 8
day 2 4'on 1' off, 3' on, 1'off, 2' on, 1' off X 6. You will see this as 4/3/2 with 1' in the future
day 3 3'/2'/1' with 1' off X 8
day 4 25x 1' on with 45 sec off
day 5 5x 8' on with 90 sec off, 6x 30 seconds on/off
day 6 6:30/90 x7, 1x 3 minutes all out
day 7 5x 1' on/off, 6x 4'on/1' off, 5x1' on/1'off
day 8 20x 90 sec on 1' off, 1x 6 min all out
day 9 4/3/2 X 6 1' revcovery btwn each
day 10 9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2/1 with 1 min recovery
day 11 4 on 1 off x 10
day 12 6/4/2 X 4 1' recovery
day 13 10' on 2 off X 5
day 14 24x 2 min on 1' off
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Something Different
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Doc: Run in 4 Weeks
Monday, September 13, 2010
UPDATE: Orthopedist Appt on Tuesday
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
FIRST REPORT: Out for 12-16 Weeks
MRI Report in Detail & Analysis
MRI CONCLUSION: "bilateral right greater than left stress fractures of the symphysis pubis both at the junction with the acetabulum and adjacent to the symphysis pubis explaining the patient's symptoms."
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Up In Them There Woods
I began the day parking my car in a dusty parking spot at the end of an old dusty road. I was somewhere close to the Pennsylvania border. I could smell it. Ye Olde signs pointed north, arrowing towards the Mason Dixon Line. I checked my map and looked around. There was no sign that mentioned this was parking lot 2A, but it must be. I heaved by giant pack upon my back, flipped open my compass and turned my head south. I took a healthy pull from by flask of bourbon and then I marched. South. The cool, late summer air made me feel alive. I soon realized I was, in fact, on the right trail. Landmarks that appeared in my map/book soon jumped out at me. This was a good thing since the park rangers at the station had no idea where I was aiming to go. I journeyed alongside a dry creek bed, which, according to the book, was supposed to be a raging stream...well, at least in the spring. In September, the creek was bone dry. I tapped one of my two Nalgene bottles with my fingernail and grinned. Hopefully there'll be water down yonder, I thought.
Back at my place of choosing, I whipped up a campsite and soon had a small fire going. I collected some water from my puddle and made a delicious freeze dry dinner of beef burgonya and noodles. I sipped bourbon out of my leather bound flask, got high on a Nicaraguan cigar and watched day turn into night. The cool air came in and wicked away my sweat. I fell asleep alone in the deep dark woods listening to the howl of a particularly lonesome coyote and the hoot of a barred owl.