You ever get that panicky feeling that your toenail is about to fall off as you walk across the supermarket parking lot carrying a chainsaw because it is rubbing all weird on your flipflop? The toenail rubbing, not the chainsaw.
Me neither.
~stubert.
I did it like this. I did it like that. ~ Beastie Boys
Yesterday: Drive, Work, Repeat
Today: Run – Zoo Loop, 1 hour 45 minutes
Tomorrow: Drive, Golf
So three weeks out and I couldn’t take it anymore. Had to go for a serious run to test the machine. It is still weary but doing pretty well.
I drove up to the Park and ran down Raccoon Trail then up to Elk. Really a gorgeous day: Sunny, a little wind, cool. Great weather for a run. Once I got up to Elk, I headed down valley through the conifers up top and then gradually turning into stands of aspen and open meadows. The last time I was up here, the wildflowers were going nuts. Today saw hints of autumn creeping into the flora. One thing I have really enjoyed over the course of the past year is being able to visit the same territory during the various seasons. Really neat to be able to run through fall colors, winter snow, spring green, summer flowers and eventual baked terrain and back again to fall.
Once I reached the valley floor and passed the old homestead, I stopped to stretch and take a few shots. I then headed over the ridge to Mule Deer Trail where I began to climb up the back side of the ridge separating Gap Road and Golden Gate Canyon. I was able to run most of this and only walked the steepest sections. I was really feeling okay. Not super, a bit tired, but decent. I focused on my form and on keeping steady upward progress. Not too shabby for the first run post-race.
I quickly made it to the top of the ridge where I stretched again, removed some boulders from my shoe and ran on through the aspens up to the second homestead on this loop. There used to be a lot of bootlegging in this area during Prohibition and several sites still exist where enterprising outlaws made hooch for delivery to Golden, Denver and the mining towns of Central City and Blackhawk. On Coyote Trail, there is even an old car that was left to rust from that era. Pretty cool.
After about an hour, things started to hurt a little bit but I carried on, ignoring the aches and pains that still remind me of the Leadville effort. Nothing serious, just some creaky joints and still-tender toes. My right knee gave me a little grief as I made my way along Mule Deer back toward Gap Road but I was able to push more than in a long time on the downhills which was fun. Now that the race is over, I need to focus my attention on getting into skiing shape and there is nothing better than downhill trail running to get the spring back in your legs.
Running along the last mile, I came across a large group of schoolkids being chaperoned by several adults. I am guessing they were all in kindergarten or first grade but I am a lousy judge of ages so who knows. There were about a zillion of them and they were everywhere. It was horrible. Actually, it was pretty cute. Several were carrying packs in which it appeared they themselves could have fit and several were talking non-stop in an effort to show how much they knew about the area. Basically, they kept saying the same thing over and over, torturing their poor guide.
I finished up fairly strong and overall felt like I wasn’t damaging myself further by getting out there. Hoping to do something with Luke later this weekend.
Tomorrow, I am heading to Gunnison to visit the parental units. It has been quite awhile since I have made it over that way and it will be good to see them. Hoping to get in a round of golf with my pops and help out around the house with winterizing stuff and whatnot.
Ok, back to work. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
~stubert.
The moments of the past do not remain still; they retain in our memory the motion which drew them towards the future, towards a future which has itself become the past, and draw us on in their train. ~ Marcel Proust
Yesterday: Swim – Gilpin County Community Center, 30 minutes
Today: Walk
Tomorrow: Ride or swim
This time last week, I was tromping through Aspen groves somewhere between Half Moon and Twin Lakes. If memory serves, I was trying to time my arrival in Twin Lakes to be somewhere around 12:15 (race report says 12:21, sweet!) and I was starting to experience some strange goings on in the physical realm. I remember that my skin had become sore to the touch, my nerves would fire if shaken or tapped (not unlike hitting your funny bone but requiring far less trauma to initiate) and blisters on my right foot had begun to create enough problems that I was unconsciously adjusting my gate to the point that I was over-pronating. This would be the first step to my overall downfall at Leadville.
Despite all of these problems, I was somehow calm and relatively collected as I alternated running with walking on the beautiful singletrack just north of Twin Lakes. I felt at peace. I had a task on which to focus and I kept moving – steadily making my way to mile 40 and beyond. As I approached uncharted territory (+8 hours and +35 miles), I felt a certain satisfaction in that which I had achieved and knew I had more in me. Many of you have heard me talk about the Horrible/Wonderful. I was certainly in it 7 days ago. And you know what? I loved it.
It is interesting how different parts of me hurt on different days. I must admit, I actually feel remarkably well considering what I put my body through last week. I wasn’t nearly as sore as I thought and expected fairly extreme localized pain coupled with more general soreness. Frankly, I was more sore on a general level after several training runs. I am not sure if this is a good sign or a bad sign. Either it means I didn’t push hard enough, or I conditioned and trained my body to accept the beating and therefore, I didn’t suffer as much after the fact. I’ll go with the latter.
My feet definitely took the brunt of it. I still expect to lose a couple of toenails (they are going through some interesting color-shifts currently) and the outside of my right foot is still giving me troubles. Yesterday, my right shin was the worst of it but today things seem to have settled back down in my foot and the toes of my right foot. Good times. It is just interesting to watch and feel how I am healing up.
Yesterday was spent getting paperwork organized and work completed for the new business. Luke and I have started Forty105, a consulting/design/development firm specializing in internet/electronic marketing solutions. At least that’s what our letterhead says. Exciting times, to be sure. Currently, it seems that everyone wants their job completed by October 1. So September is going to be a bit hectic. I was able to make it over to the Rec Center to swim for a bit. As a kid, I used to swim all the time but haven’t been in a pool in a non-recreational way since about ’95. Needless to say, I am a bit out of practice. I really don’t enjoy pool swimming. I have problems with the chemicals – but it is a great workout. I had forgotten how difficult it is. Especially when you tend to sink.
So today I am hoping to go see Superbad. Gotta rally here and see if we can go catch out George Michael in that goodness. Also have some errands to run and other general stuff to take care of. Today is as good as any for that type of stuff.
Hope everyone is having a fun, relaxing weekend.
~stubert.
That was not my cocaine, nor were those my pants. ~ Lindsay Lohan (paraphrased)
I will forgo the “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” action until I actually have something going on “Yesterday, Today or Tomorrow”. Soon, I hope.
Things have been super busy with work and client management stuff over the past few days. This is a good thing though I occasionally want to just settle down and get some work done. Met with a couple of clients today and there are some exciting things on the horizon. Great stuff.
I walked a bit more today than perhaps advised (15 blocks, maybe?) and my right shin is really sore. Same problem I had before with the left one. Fortunately I know how to nurse this one and don’t have a hundred mile race staring me in the face only 4 weeks or so away. So significantly less stress this time around. I’ll probably give it a week or so and then go see Dr. Dave if it doesn’t seem to be improving.
My buddy Nat Ross is a pro cyclist who specializes in 24-hour solo mountain bike racing. He is a super-stud and wins races on a regular basis. I think he has had podium finishes for the last three years at least in the World Championships and won last year’s US National title. He recently sent me an email letting me know that it takes him about 5 weeks to recover from a bike event so I am not really planning any long runs in the foreseeable future. I’ll keep trying to get to the pool and will probably break out the bike soon but am really planning to take it easy for some time to come. Rest is the key word and I will make it my bitch. Wait… that doesn’t really work, does it?
So tomorrow I’ll be up early, cranking out some work stuff and getting a couple of bids out the door to prospective clients. If you know any good developers who also can build Facebook apps, send them my direction.
Peace, geese and chicken grease.
~stubert.
Pain don’t hurt. ~ James Dalton
Yesterday: Walk – various, about 2 blocks
Today: Walk – 16th Street Mall, about 6 blocks
Tomorrow: Swim (maybe) – Gilpin County Rec Center, ~ 30 minutes
So I actually think I am recovering fairly well. Mostly thanks to Rach rubbing my toes and whatnot every chance she gets. And feeding me amazing food. She is a savior.
So my bruises are starting to fade a bit and my feet only occasionally have that intense pins and needles feeling they were getting over the past few days. Now I seem to only get the occasional dull ache in my toes. My right foot is actually still quite painful and I walked a little far today on it. The outside, mostly. And, of course, the toes. I have not yet lost any nails but think that is probably coming soon.
My legs, though a little sore, are doing surprisingly well. My right knee is popping a little but it is less persistent today than the past two so I think this is returning to normal as well. Yesterday, I was just fatigued but fell sharper today. I was able to attend client meetings both yesterday and today without too much trouble. I am still eating like a horse but I expected this to be the case.
The interesting thing is I am already thinking about running again and hoping I can get back out there soon. I know I need to wait but there are some runs I didn’t get to do in training that I would really like to do now that I have some more time. I promised myself to take a solid month off before doing anything with too much impact so I guess it will be mid-September before I can run again wisely. If there is such a thing as wise running.
Movie stuff:
I watched Hot Fuzz the other night and was pleasantly surprised. Actually a lot funnier than I expected and even more so upon subsequent viewings. The DVD also has a FUZZ FACTS feature that popped up information about the movie while you watch. Showed influences, other films they were spoofing, filming locations, and other interesting tidbits. Good stuff. I recommend this one for sure.
Okay… off to bed. My feet need their beauty rest.
~stubert.