The Little Peak

 0700 trail run Saturday
 I turned off the beaten path to explore a little peak I had been eyeing over the last few months. I have run the same quad trails, gas line and horse trails for about a year and some how always found something new but recently the little peak looming off in the distance was calling. I had half heartily searched trail off shoots, and deer trails trying to get closer to the little peak only to find myself in someones back yard or at a pond with the little peak still too far off in the distance.
 This morning as I stopped at the edge of an expansive hay field to take in the view the little peak seemed closer than it had ever been. I thought for sure I had run through this field before, but now I wondered, had I? Instead of skirting the field and heading back into the woods I headed out across the sea of emerald green toward the little peak. Deer scattered in all directions, the morning doo soaking me to the waist as I bound through the hay.
 At the edge of the field was a beautifully constructed stone wall, out of place in the middle of no where I thought and the little peak. I found an opening in the wall and stepped into the woods on the other side. It was like enterning Narnia, cool and peaceful with the biggest trees I had seen in the area. A trail headed off into the woods away from the field, I actually looked back and wondered if I should be doing this.
 I did say this was a little peak and in less than 10 minuets I burst back into the sunshine at it's top, it was the most beautiful view of the valley I had ever seen. Rejuvenated I turned towards home reluctant to look back, afraid that the little peak may not be there next Saturdays.

On the road again......

 It was disappointing to find my self sidelined with a stress fracture in my foot. It was however important to take the suggested time off and allow my foot to heal properly so that I could get back out on the trail sooner rather than later. Not running for a couple weeks was nothing in the grand scheme of things, the 50 day hiatus allowed me to focus on my core, upper body and leg strength often neglected by runners. I was eventualy able to ride my bike and use the elyptical but not running did drive me crazy.
 Enitially I found focusing on my core and strength an exciting change to my routine. Twenty push ups turned into fifty and 30 second planks turned in 1 minute planks, I was getting stronger. Eventually, however this exicitement waivered. Staying active in this manner became dull, a daily test of will and patience, even a chore. I had to go to the gym and going to the gym always seemed to have to fit in between something else.  It became easy to neglect and I often did. I missed more days than I should have and was much relieved to start riding my bike, at least I could get out side again. The weather was getting quite nice and I longed for a run.
 Before this forced hiatus I could not answer: Why is running your exercise of choice? I have learned there is more than on answer, that running is not one thing it is multiple things. It gives me time alone, time to ponder. Some days I push hard some days I just lumber along. I can go for a quick run or be gone for hours in all weather. Some times I'll zone out and snap to when the terrain changes forcing me to alter my pace. Running just works for me in that way, it makes my day.
 I ran today for the first time in 50 days. It was the best run ever. Now I only have to take it slow, hiatus not allowed.

Houston we have a problem~ another running injury

A mere week from my next race and I suspect I have broken, hopefully just fractured my right foot. I have no recollection of injuring my foot. I just know it hurts. I ran 30K last weekend but it was at work a few days later when I first noticed a sharp pain in my forefoot (at first I thought I had tied my laces too tight) but upon further inspection I discovered pin-point tenderness and noticeable swelling at the top of my foot. The pain was not enough to keep me from getting around but it was nagging and it could not be good.

When I got home I perused the Internet for information on running related foot injuries in an effort to confirm nay disprove what I had already suspected. One site stated that common symptoms of a stress fracture included but were not limited to; foot pain which comes on gradually, pain located towards the mid/front of the foot, pain aggravated by weight bearing activities such as walking, running or dancing, pain to touch, swelling, pain may persist at rest and may even be severe enough to effect sleep. Even an x-ray will often not show the fracture until two or three weeks after it has started to head. The similarities of my symptoms mirrored those of a "Metatarsal Stress Fracture".
Crap just what I thought, now what do I do? I continued reading; re-reading and searching. I needed information on what to do if a stress fracture is suspected. That is just what I found; one site had it broken down like this;

 Seek professional help as soon as soon as possible
 Keep weight off the foot, a removable cast is ideal
 Ice the top surface of the forefoot for about 20 minutes every hour. To reduce swelling, wrap the foot in  a tensor bandage with moderate compression
 Wear running shoe with stiffer sole or sports insole
 You may need x-rays or a bone scan to confirm fracture
 A sports podiatrist may apply orthopedic taping and padding to relieve stress from the metatarsals
 Silicone padding can be used to enable pain free walking and running during the healing process
 Occasionally a plaster cast is necessary
 Nutritional and hormonal deficiencies or irregularities must be addressed

A bone scan? Sports podiatrist? Hormonal deficiencies oh my! YA, YA, YA.... how long, how long? What can I do? I had suspected a stress fracture. I had already decided I should see our doctor, even though I had discovered that an x-ray often does not show a fracture until it starts to heal. What I was really looking for were concrete answers, something in writing, an idea of how long it may be until I could resume training?

I uncovered an article from Runners World addressing rehabilitation after a stress fracture of the metatarsal, also referred to as marcher’s foot; because so many new recruits suffer them during boot camp. The article stated that a stress fracture requiring only a reduction in weight bearing for 2-4 weeks can begin rehabilitation once full weight bearing and the exercises involved are pain free. However, before returning to sporting activities, ensure that full mobility, strength and balance are regained. It stung to read that if not addressed properly that I could be away from running for 2-8 weeks or longer. After a roller coaster hour of emotional research it was exciting to find that activities such as swimming and biking could be considered if they did not aggravate the fracture site. Now I was getting somewhere.

As disappointing as it is to find my self sidelined again…. with an injury I realize the importance of taking the time to allow my foot to heal properly so that I can get back out on the trail sooner rather than later. Not running for a couple weeks is nothing in the grand scheme of things, a little time off isn’t going to stop my progress; it is just going to drive me crazy!

Celebrated Life with a personal best

 When on a long run and dark thoughts of quitting begin to creep into my mind because I am sore, tired and thirsty. I remind myself that I chose to run. Nobody made me get up, pull on the shoes and run.  When I feel I can not go any further, I think of those who have passed in my life that will never run again and those fighting for my freedom who may not run again. I think of those who have suffered and tell myself I have no right to quit, I can run. It is a humble kick in the ass that keeps me pressing on.
 Running has become a celbration of life on many levels. Running has helped me get fit, loose weight, clear my head and reach goals I never considered reaching. Like life running is full of ups and downs, positives and negatives, joy and pain. To keep going, pressing on, is to live and celebrate life and ones ability to choose to run.
 My most recent 1/2 marathon had an insperational mile between miles 11 and 12. This mile lined with signs baring names of those who passed before us; husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, parents, sons, daughters, soliders. As I passed them I thought of those who have passed in my life. I thought of the inspiration I get from them and the fact I can run. As I ran I said every name from those signes and considered the impact that person had in someones life. It was amazing to realize how lucky I really am.
 At the finish I posted my fastest 1/2 marathon time yet. Like in life, hard work pays off. If you do not keep going you will never reach your goals. So I run and I live and I celebrate just being alive!

Training in February.....54~9~27

 We have had snow on the ground since the day after Christmas and it has been cold. Winter as it should be but not your typical New York winter with snow, rain, heat wave and bitter cold. The weather has been pretty consistent this winter and we've done a fair bit of shoveling. Good for skiers as they say.

 I have been able to stay true to my training plan and have run through it all. Other than the daily battle of nailing down the perfect clothing combination I have enjoyed myself. A run or bike ride six days a week this time a year is quite an accomplishment for this guy. For the first time I am not flipping through the calender longing for the warmer months of the year to get out side. I admit however that I am looking forward to spring.

 Recently Mother Nature returned tossing us a sample of the yo-yo weather we had been missing, confusing everyone.

• Late Friday night the wind howled, trees and power lines fell and in the morning the thermometer read 54 degrees: I ran in shorts for the first time in months it was so exciting I felt strong, free and fast. No gloves, hat, gators or jacket. it was wonderful.
• That afternoon the wind picked up again, they were calling for snow the temperature plummeted over night and in the morning the thermometer read 9 degrees: It hadn't snowed but I had to wear everything I had on a 10 mile run even stopped home at mile 4 to change gloves, my hands were numb. It was a brilliant blue day without a cloud in the sky as the sun slowly warmed things up. 
• That night it snowed, sneaking in while everyone slept laying a clean white eight inch blanket over everything, that morning it was 27degrees: A heat wave. I was up early, dressed, pulled my gators over my shoes and got 8 miles in before the plows got out. First tracks!

 This past week has been pretty consistent as yo-yo weather goes. It rained for two days as the temperature hovered just above freezing. It was 50 degrees one day a 30 the next only small dirty piles of snow remain.  Mother Nature is back to her old tricks, New York winter is here as March approaches. When is Spring?

Breakfast Smells

 They had been saying it was supposed to be cold, possibly single digits. It was -11 degrees when I stepped off the porch. My nose hairs froze immediately, the taste buds in the middle of my tongue seemed to have frozen just as fast. I quickly changed my planned route in case the cold forced me to turn to home sooner than anticipated.

 The only sound was my feet on the frozen pavement everything was still, in deep freeze. I wondered if I would ever warm up? I made it through the first few miles and chose to push on past the warmth of the house I felt strong and surprisingly comfortable.

 My eyes teared and froze on my cheeks. A frost developed on my vest and collar of my jacket as the heat from my body escaped into the bitter cold air. Ice formed in the folds of the fabric of my jacket at the crook of my elbow and would periodically pop off as I moved my arms flying into the air.

 Wood smoke, diesel fumes and cow manure are standard run odor's this time of year some might say the smell of winter but that is hard to explain. As I climbed the last hill towards home an odd warm breeze hit me in my frozen face and on that breeze was breakfast: eggs, sausage, bacon and coffee. At first I thought my frozen brain was playing tricks on me but as I continued I noticed an door propped open while the resident loaded wood into the house. Oh..... sausage! It took everything I had not to turn and bound up those porch steps and into the kitchen for breakfast with the family. My pace quickened significantly, I focused on the top of the hill with a new vigor, breakfast was a mile away.

It's a new year, what do I do now?

 In 2010 I ran a handful of 5k's, a couple of 1/2 marathons and my first marathon. My daughter and I ran in her first 5k on Turkey Day, what a joy. I registered for an early December 7 miler but when race day arrived the whole family was stuck in bed with the flu, on less t-shirt didn't hurt.

 Since the October marathon it has been a challenge for me to maintain my 4 day a week run schedule even with reduce millage. As it started getting darker earlier and morning run temps dipped below 30 degrees I began abusing the snooze button regularly. Rainy days where out of the question. I had to almost force myself through droll 5 miles on the treadmill. When I did get outside I ran with less vigor and purpose. My head was cloudy, lacking direction.

 My first run of 2011 was actually in 40 degree, foggy, misty, dreary weather. I left in the dark and returned in the dark after running for an hour with out seeing a sole; perfect. This run reminded me how much I enjoy running, setting a goal, developing a training plan and reaching that goal. I need to find another race! I felt better already!

 The world wide web reviled a multitude of race opportunities: New England, south of the Mason Dixon Line, along the shores of the Great Lakes, high in the Rockies and Big Sur which a friend of mine has decided to tackle. Big races advertised in Runners World types, local running club and heard through the grape vine races and some sort of mudder thing. A perverbial stew of running events, no hurry.

 I have not found my next event but I will. In preperation I will work diligently to maintain my weight below 200lbs, I will run 4 days a week, cross train two, rest a day and try to ski with my kids as often as possible. I will find an event eventually...... Probably the first resolution I will keep! It will be a great 2011.