May 24th Tuesday 2 p.m.

A very positive Tuesday morning…..

I spent an hour in the pool, 30 minutes of solid swimming and 30 minutes of running in the deep end, no impact.  I have an appointment with the doctor at the Rothman Institute next Thursday. Until then I have decided to do only non weight-bearing activities but with as much intensity as I can manage.  So today I did just swimming and water running with no impact. I omitted cycling and the elliptical machine because they require placing some pressure on my foot. I feel strong enough to do some hard work in the aquatic areas, and an hour of work today felt really good!

So goes the new 10 day plan.

STATS –

I-MAD –   2

AmHR – 52BPM

Weight – 151#   after workout

Workout – 60 minutes in pool   30 swim, 30 run

May 23rd,  Monday, 10pm

Watching the Mets beat the Nationals.

Nothing to report today about running.  Foot still sore.  No workout.  My foot was aggravated I guess by  my workout at the club yesterday. There was no impacts involved in the workout, but the results seem to be increased tenderness in the foot. So today I took off.

I am only blogging today for my own personal record so that I don’t  get out of the habit that I have developed over the last two months.

I did make an appointment today with the Rothman Institute to have them look at my sore foot because there has been no noticeable progress.  Next Thursday.

16 days without running!  Exasperating!

Stats – All my stats are stable with nothing special to report.

May 22nd,   Sunday at 8 p.m.

Today we planted our Spring Salad Garden. As members of our Community  Garden Club we have a 10′ by 10′ plot.   Whoops!   I forgot, I’m not allowed to say “plot” in an adult community.  Here we plant in a “bed”.

It’s only a start but it has all the ingredients for a perfect salad;  lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers and cucumbers

There is also some summer squash and zucchini and a rose bush in the corner. There will be additional posts and pictures as our salad comes to life.

Also adding spring touches around the house.

On the training front things are a little less promising.  My left foot continues to be sore and tender to the touch.  I am making an appointment tomorrow to see another doc at the Rothman Institute. I have worked with this group before very successfully.  It’s not that I doubt the diagnosis of Dr. Greg, but I’m very impatient.  It’s been two weeks and I don’t feel as though  there has been any progress in healing.  I am pretty certain that they will suggested an MRI to check for any bone damage.

• Stats –

• I-Mad – 1.5
• AmHR – 54BPM
• Weight – 151 #
• Sleep – 9 hours
• Workout – Planting…..

May 21st, Saturday,  7 p.m.

As I sit rolling……..

Spent this rainy day painting before I went to the clubhouse for a workout.  It was only a closet but has just as many corners as a full room.   LOL  But I did get in 40 minutes of pretty good work; ten on the elliptical, 10 on the bike, 10 swimming in the pool and 10 running in the pool.

Stats –

I-Mad – 2

AmHR – 54BPM

Weight – 152#

Sleep – 7.5

Workout – 40 minutes     10 minutes each; elliptical, bike ,swim, pool run,  + roll, roll, roll

On this beautiful May afternoon I had my first bike ride of the spring outdoors.  I pedaled for 30 minutes on the local roads in Jackson. Didn’t want to overdo it on the first time out.

My (Rob’s!) one speeder.

I have been rolling my calves quite frequently during this time off with my foam roller.  I am pretty amazed at how many hot spots I have found.  The literature on rolling procedures says to concentrate on those hot spots by keeping pressure on for from 30 to 90 seconds until the pain dissipates.  I’ve been trying that, and it seems to be working pretty well.  It’s possible there ware a lot more knots in my calf muscles than I ever realized.  What I’ve been reading suggests that these knots may be a contributing factor to problems with Achilles and further on down into the foot.  Maybe I can alleviate some of my nagging problems with more consistent rolling.  I will update.

Stats –

I-Mad – 2

AmHR – 54BPM

Sleep – 7 hours

Workout – 30 minutes  on the bike

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“Start Me Up ”    Rolling Stones   1981

As per my last post, I am considering this the start of my new training season.  After 10 days off it was time to get my body in motion again.  My sore foot is not ready to put pressure on yet, so I spent an hour-and-a-half in the clubhouse doing a full body workout.  First I did 30 minutes on the elliptical machine.  Then I did 20 minutes of free weights.  Next I went in the pool for a 15 minute swim and 10 minutes running in the deep water. My body feels well rested.  Let’s hope that there is no negative impact on the left foot tomorrow.

Stats-

I-Mad – 2

AmHR – 51BPM        Well rested.

Weight-  153#

Workout – 80 mins full body

May 17th, Tuesday, 7 o’clock

” We were on a break!”  ROSS GELLER

Doing a lot of reading about running these days.  Found an interesting article from Runner’s World in my inbox this morning.  It was about what to do between training seasons.  It was directed at people who run longer races, half marathons and marathons, but I think it has a bearing on my situation right now also.  I believe I can treat my hiatus for injury as a between training season event.  I just came off a very difficult race.  My body does need rest.  It will be a slow and gradual return to full training for my next goal.  I will most likely run the 5K at Jason’s Memorial this summer or early fall.  I also plan to qualify in the 1500m and 800m again at the New Jersey Senior Games in September.  Somewhere along the way I may travel to another state to run a 5K in a state Senior Games because New Jersey does not have a 5K event.

So that article gave me some perspective and some goals for the next month and a half.

May 16th, Monday,  After midnight, so really Tuesday!

My sore left foot is healing slowly and steadily.  I have accepted the reality that my foot is going to take two, three, maybe even four weeks to totally heal.  I don’t like it, but I have accepted it.  What I didn’t expect was that it would create a blogging crisis.  I reasoned that I would be able to find interesting and exciting things to wow my loyal readers.  What I have realized, however, is that all I want to write about his running.  I have also realized what a prominent role running and blogging has been playing in my total existence for the last two months.  Planning  workouts, and carrying them out, and then talking to myself and anyone else who chooses to read about the effects, the joys and the problems of those workouts has been exhilarating.  I have also realized how lucky I am at age 73 to be able to function physically and mentally in a sport that I  so enjoy.

Wednesday I will be back in the pool, on the bike and in the weight room for sure.

I will mention two running related items.  The first is that I’m planning to attend the Somerset County championships tomorrow afternoon at Hillsborough to watch some very talented  athletes compete.  I look forward to an enjoyable afternoon meeting old friends and watching some good races.

The second is the reports I am getting from Liberty High School about the distance athletes I became so close to in Cross Country.  They are having a very nice season and I’m  looking forward to reconnecting with them for The Fall season .  The most prominent among them is a fine sophomore, Matt Duffy, who had a special  meet  on Thursday and Friday at the Ocean County championships.  Matt ran a 4:22 fot 1600 meters and a 1:57 in the 800 meters, two extraordinary PR’s.  I’m excited for Matt and for the upcoming cross-country season.

Stats –

I-Mad – 2

AmHR – 54BPM

Weight – 154#

Sleep – 8.5 hours

Workout – healing, rolling, blooging, housework, blah! !

Restless on a Sunday

Now it’s all about the wrap.

May 14th, Saturday,  2 p.m.

• This tape job has been on for about 24 hours now.
• The constant ache has disappeared.
• Walking has become much more comfortable.
• The area is still  Point tender

Will maintain for 24 hours more.

I will be heading to Princeton soon to check out a new pair of Kayano 22.  My friend and former athlete Brian Harris is the manager at Pacers Princeton running store.  I expect that he can hook me up. @pacersprinceton.com

Stats-

• I-Mad-   2.5
• amHR-  54B PM
• Weight-   154. 6 #    ( not running for a week = plus 3#)
• Sleep-  9 hours
• Workout-   resting, healing