July 11, Tuesday

Let’s get started!

Tonight I headed to Lake CARASALJO to meet the Jackson Liberty cross country boys and coaches for the first summer practice session. We had 15 boys, the largest turnout since I began working with this team.  I ran my first 2 miles in a while with two of  the new guys with no foot discomfort.  It was a good workout for the whole team including drills and core work. The season looks most promising.  I won the “Cutest Towel” award tonight.

Stats – Been inconsistent like my training for a while. Generally ok.  Definitely must get back to regular stat recording.

  June 30 thru July 7th

Mostly avoiding running….

Tuesday, July 11th, will mark two running related moments.   It will be a month  since my 1500m race at Nationals and will be the start of cross-country practice with Jackson Liberty boys cross-country. I am excited to reconnect with the coaches and boys of the cross country team for a new and promising season.

The recovery month has been one of fits and starts. Each time I have attempted to begin running, my feet began to ache once again. So I would opt for swimming and biking to avoid foot strikes and allow for complete healing. My most recent workouts have been swimming, water running and weightlifting.  I have no idea the extent to which I am  conceding my fitness by taking so much time off.  But I have no intentions of competing for another two months at least.  So the plan is to avoid foot strikes until the 11th and see how that works out. That seems like an appropriate time to begin coaching and running simultaneously.

June 28th and 29th

Wednesday – Rest

Thursday  – 9 miles on the bike – Felt pretty good.?

Stats-

I-Mad = 3

I-Mid = 2

a.m.HR = 54BPM

Weight = #150

Sleep = 8 hours

Workout = 9 miles on bike

June 26th, Monday  & 27th, Tuesday

Is it time to try Orthotics?

Monday we spent at Holmdel Park where I walked about three miles.  I thought walking would be a wiser choice than running because my InStep and Achilles tendon  were feeling kind of sore. As it turned out there was not any soreness while I was walking, but later in the evening particularly my tendon tightened up considerably and was aching quite a bit.

So, on Tuesday I opted for a non-impact workout in the pool.  I swam for 20 minutes and ran for 20 minutes in the deep water. I concluded my visit with 20 minutes in the hot whirlpool with particular attention to my Achilles tendon and sore foot.? .

I violated my pledge to refrain from running until my feet were totally free of issues.  Now I have to reboot. Get a grip, O’Rourke!

Do any of my readers have positive or negative experiences with Orthotics?

I am considering an offer by my foot doctor from Rothman Institute to develop a pair of orthotics for my feet. She claims that her creations will totally relieve all my foot problems. Two years ago I declined the offer because she told me my insurance wouldn’t cover the cost. She suggested it again in May but recommended that I wait until after my races because it takes a few weeks to get adjusted to the new Orthotics.  It may be time to try out her suggestion. I am not very confident based upon the experiences of athletes that I have coached.

Stats – Stable

June 25th,  Sunday

20 on bike,  20 on weights, 40 in pool swimming and running.  TIRED..!

Stats- Stable

June 24th,  Saturday

“Mad Dogs and Englishmen (and I) go out in the midday Sun.”

‘Jonesing’ for an opportunity to get back on the track, I headed out today despite the heat for the cinders in the noon hour. It was 86* and a cloudless sky as I set out to test my legs. I ran a very comfortable 3 miles in 34 minutes. The right Achilles tendon would whine just a little every time I tried to increase my pace to better than 12 minutes.

Stats –

I-Mad = 2/3. IMPROVING

I- MID = 1/2. BETTER

SLEEP = 11 hours. ??

a.m.HR = 54 BPM  STEADY

WEIGHT  = #148 AFTER RUN

Workout = 3 miles in 34:00. HOT!

June 23, Friday

Another 65 minutes at fitness center and pool.  Solid work on bike (15), weights  (20) and water running for 30 minutes.

June 22, Thursday

Got out on the bike for the first time  in a while today for a 7 mile ride on Jackson roads.  It was defiantly hot, but  not too hot to get it done.  One more day of not running might get my foot pain to zero.  My I-MAD  and I-Mid have been declining steadily over the past few days with the aid of anti-inflammatory pills and rest.  I think a day of fitness room work and pool activity is in order.  Maybe get to the cinders on Saturday.

Stable stats….

June 21st, Wednesday. .. Summer!

Surprisingly tired today.  Dressed and packed for a workout at the fitness center, then fell asleep. I guess I needed the rest.

Stats –

I-Mad – 3

I-Mid – 2/3

SLEEP – 8 hours. Obviously not enough.

a.m.HR – 54BPM

Weight – #151

Workout – Nothing

June 20th,  Tuesday

How fast is too fast???

A day after my first easy run my muscles are fine, but left arch and right Achilles continue to complain.  So I began taking my anti-inflammatory pills again today. I have a month’s worth of the prescription left.  I plan to refrain from running again until my feet are pain-free. And I think the anti-inflammatory pills will help speed up that eventuality.  On reflection I have concluded that stopping these pills immediately after my races was not the best idea. It was probably a foregone conclusion that three maximum efforts would inflame the areas of chronic weakness.

So, I went to the clubhouse and rode the bike for 10 minutes, lifted weights for 20 minutes and spent 40 minutes in the pool running and swimming. Then I sat in the hot whirlpool for half hour to top off this lovely summer afternoon. The whole effort was pleasantly exhausting.

Stats –

I-Mad =4/5?

I- Mid  =3/4?

Sleep = 9 hours

a.m.HR = 54BPM

Weight =#150

Workout = 70 minutes cross training?