- Current plan: Not sure right now…looking at options for a run in July
- Today’s session: Rest
- Comments: Rest. So glad to be home from 8 days of travel…
Last day in Chicago. Heading home…WooHoo!
I have an afternoon flight today, so I decided to do another longer run. When I ran to the Kwanusila totem pole the other day, I noticed that Wrigley Field was just West of there. So, this morning, I headed up that way along the same route. The weather was perfect this morning and there were TONS of runners out on the return trip, so that was pretty cool.
It’s been nice to run while in Chicago. I’ve had some great workouts, seem to have settled on a 3:1 run/walk ratio with my current knee issues, and put a total of 61.62 miles on the new Hoka Bondi Speeds (6.01 walking (1 session) and 55.25 running (4 sessions.)) Whoa – I didn’t realize how much I’d run while I was here until now! Add to that six days of attending/working at this conference (i.e., sitting on my butt for hours, standing for some too, and walking to/from sessions/my room), and I am ready to go home and rest!
Anyway, have a great weekend!
Training Journal – 6/28/13:
- Current plan: Not sure right now…looking at options for a run in July
- Today’s session: Long, slow run
- Comments: Ended up doing 14.18 miles @ a 10:21 min/mile pace. The 3:1 ratio seems to be a good one, though my knee tweaked at about mile 6 running down a ramp to cross under Lake Shore Drive. After that, I slowed the pace considerably (I had been doing about a 9:20 pace.) My MRI is next week – I’m hoping to know better what to do for my knee…or to at least know that this is the new “normal” for me and running – which I am starting to accept.
- Current plan: Not sure right now…looking at options for a run in July
- Today’s session: ???
- Comments: Rested today. After my 10-mile run yesterday morning, standing/sitting/walking around this conference, and then walking to/from the restaurant last night, my knee was pretty stiff this morning. Back on the run tomorrow…
Snapped these on the walk home from dinner at The Original Gino’s East:
Training Journal – 6/26/13:
- Current plan: Not sure right now…looking at options for a run in July
- Today’s session: ?-mile run
- Comments: I did 10.43 miles @ a 9:32 min/mile pace, the final 4.43 miles were in a nice downpour!
- Current plan: Not sure right now…looking at options for a run in July
- Today’s session: ???
- Comments: Last night I thought about taking a walk today; but, when the alarm went off this morning, I decided to rest. I’m sure my knee appreciated it. Back on the run tomorrow…
This was at mile six of my 12-mile, out and back run this morning…
Training Journal – 6/24/13:
- Current plan: Not sure right now…looking at options for a run in July
- Today’s session: ?-mile run
- Comments: Since I’m in between plans right now, I’m just focusing on running lengths of time vs. specific mileage. So, I went for a 2-hour run this morning, which ended up being 12.13 miles @ a 9:48 min/mile pace for a time of 1:58:57. I kept the 3:1 ratio except at around mile 7 I walked the 5 minute interval to rest my knee. SF 2nd half race report tomorrow…hopefully…I’ve been busy!
Very nice sunrise over Lake Michigan this morning…
Training Journal – 6/23/13:
- Current plan: Not sure right now…looking at options for a run in July
- Today’s session: TBD
- Comments: I didn’t really have anything on the plan (or lack thereof) today and definitely didn’t want to run so I could rest my knee. Still, I decided to at least take a walk, knowing I’d be sitting in a meeting all day… So, I went for a brisk 6 miler @ 16:44 min/mile pace.
So today was my 48th birthday…aaaaand I’m on a business trip.
My being gone on my day happens occasionally because of one particular conference, the last time was two years ago. It’s weird and usually a bummer of a day none the less. I’m not big on getting attention, so I usually don’t let anyone know it’s my birthday…
Thankfully, with technology, I did get a bunch of b-day wishes today through Facebook and texts…which was nice to see throughout the day.
Anyway, I started my day early (0500) so I could get a long slow run in before my meetings started this afternoon. I usually do my long runs on Sunday, but there is a Women’s half marathon here in Chicago tomorrow and I knew it would be a madhouse along the Lakefront Trail…
I headed North out on Chicago’s Lakefront Trail and went to the northern end and back – 18.5 miles total, door-to-door. It felt pretty good. I modified my run-walk ratio to 3:1 today and that seemed to be better on my knee. I managed a 10:45 pace, obeying my doctor’s counsel about keeping it slow and ran on crushed rock paths when I could. There were tons of runners out later in the morning – I think prep training for the B of A Chicago Marathon kicked off today for a lot of clubs in the area.
The weather was excellent! Here are a few pictures from the run:
Wonderful running weather!
da Bean!
I could get used to this trail… [though the humidity would be tough!0
My card from my wonderful wife!
space
My friend Denise sent me a birthday text while I was on my run.
Since I was running, I asked SIRI to read me the text. Here is the epic SIRI transcript:
Happy [birthday cake][birthday cake][birthday cake][birthday cake][birthday cake]
Birthday [short cake][short cake][short cake][short cake][short cake]!!!!
Treating yourself to something fun? [hamburger][hamburger][french fries][french fries][slice of pizza][slice of pizza]
Assuming you’re working today? [computer][computer][computer][mobile phone][mobile phone][mobile phone]
I totally started cracking up when it was read…!
The rest of the day was spent either in my room chilling or in my meeting this afternoon. I hit a local burger place for dinner (by myself) and then headed to a mixer for the conference.
It was a bit of a different birthday…
Training Journal – 6/22/13:
- Current plan: Not sure right now…since I am cleared to run, I want to find a run/race for July
- Today’s session: 18 mile long run
- Comments: I did 18.51 @ 10:45 min/mile pace. Felt good to run and the 3:1 run:walk ratio worked better than the 4:1. I’m still working on the race report for last week’s Half Marathon…hopefully I’ll finish it tomorrow evening.
Tomorrow is my birthday.
I will be two score and eight years…
Not old, but aging…
Not AARP-eligible, but some “grays” are showing…
Not wise, but I have some experience…
Not ready for the HurryCane, but I do occasionally use something to “assist” when I sit or stand…just occasionally.
Not as fast as I used to be, but still faster than some…
Today, I got the results from my visit to the doctor regarding my knee:
- No fracture of or fluid on the knee. 🙂
- There is some spurring. 😦
- The other bones are “unremarkable.” 🙂
- I do have ‘mild osteoarthritis” 😦
- I am scheduled to have an MRI on July 1 for further evaluation. 😐
So, I am happy that I heard back from him and have some idea about what is going on… Still, the future seems unsure – but I will press on…
I did ask the all important, “what can I do as far as exercise?” question. My doctor, who is a cyclist and knows how I feel about not running/cycling, said that I can still run and cycle [We were talking by phone and I was in a airport shuttle, so I was doing the “happy dance” in my mind!]; HOWEVER, with light effort, at a slower-than-usual pace, and to STOP when the knee flares up and follow the R.I.C.E. plan. [full disclosure, which I think I forgot to write in my post about my doctor visit: I did fess up and tell him that I ran the SF Marathon – 2nd half the day before…which garnered a look, a grin, a halt of writing, and then a continuation of the appointment. He knows…identifies.]
Side note: I’m on a biz trip and my first flight today was to Seattle, where a Rock and Roll Marathon event is taking place on Sunday. I could pick out the “comrades” in the waiting area and on the plane – runner’s build, tech shirts, running shoes, past race chatter,… I’ll admit it, I was jealous.
Training Journal – 6/21/13:
- Current plan: Not sure right now…
- Today’s session: Rest/travel day
- Comments: See above…
- Current plan: Not sure right now…
- Today’s session: 5-mile easy run
- Comments: I did 5.64 at a 12:12 min/mi pace. Knee status: meh…I walked the last 2.64. Basically, I’m not happy right now (I was pretty grouchy most of the day) and just want to know what’s going on with my knee. I haven’t heard from my doctor yet, which is maddening, and plan to call him tomorrow. Grrrrr.
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