Tired

I am seriously, deeply and utterly tired. Timing is never good, so naturally work would be insane right now. Hit the door (late home) and did not pass go. I changed clothes immediately, grabbed a water and the MP3 and headed to the gym. I'm off the calf so I did a marathon on the eliptical...oh joy :/. I suppose I should be more enthusiastic, at least it doesn't hurt my calf but I truly believe the machine itself was made by some kind of anti-elves whose intention was to create something that would "sap the joy and energy out of you." It doesn't feel like working out...it feels like drainage! Guess my testimonial won't be considered for the eliptical ad campaign.

I'm still moving forward...I'm just dragging the foundation of a demolished building along with me! Night all!

Reconfigure

Its time to re-structure the goals. There was once a time goal on this effort. Now, I just want to finish in one piece, ahead of the time limit, which may well be a stretch. I did 6 and 1/2 miles today. Tempratures were up to typical Florida standards for a change and I was eager to run in the more "sweltering" heat I'm used to. The heat felt strangely good; the calf, not so much. Pain the first quarter mile so it was a galloway run. Trying to decide whether or not this is the kind of pain you have to work through or if it needs to be heeded is the quandry. Midway I got "used" to it but I am not sure that is a good thing. Ice and heat are againg my best friends closely accompanied by disappointment. The overal time was quite embarrasing.

I'm going to have to stay off of it another week, time I can't afford to waste. Cross training (hated these days but necesary) will have to step up another notch while I continue to nurse the calf praying for the speed to finish. 15 minite mile minimum. This is possible in the immediate short distances, even considering the calf pain, however, I just won't know what to expect in later miles and I'm scared.

No sense denying. I'm off to lay out the plan for the week.

Bricks In The Wall

Dr. Ok'd me to run. I was so beside myself I could barely wait to get home and dress to hit the pavement. Adorned in my new fancy calf brace I hit it. I was conservative yesterday on that first run and although it was not totally pain free it was a small victory. 3 interval miles, with great bursts followed by restrained recovery walks. I felt like I'd been a stalled horse and in all honesty it was tremendously difficult not to abandon common sense and push the limits into the realm of utter stupidity.

Amazing how quick reality sets in and pisses all over your cheerios! Tonite was not so positive. I set a 5 slow mile goal. First mile was interval, 2 min run, 1 min walk. 2nd and 3rd miles were steady and slow but the "moo-ing" of my injured calf jerked me rudely back to reality and I ended up intervaling mile 4 and limping home. I could have cried. It was ridiculously slow and a drop in the bucket when facing a 26.2 mile event in less than a month. In spite of my momentary misery, I mounted the bike and logged another 10 miles. If I'm gonna be this slow I better start preparing myself for a lot more continuous hours of consecutive activity.

I gotta remind myself to the give the calf time to catch back up to the rest of my body. Nursing it along will be the hardest challenge yet no doubt! Sometimes the hardest thing is doing what you know you SHOULD do. This is true in all facets of life and a little restraint will go a long way in all things.

I'm praying for common sense :).

Tired

The calf muscles if flaring again after two days of zero pain so I'm suffering a little more frustration. I'm truly tired. Not sure if its due to the intensive cross training or the frustration factor but today I've felt as if I've run a thousand miles. There are, of course, complicating stress factors currently in day to day life but that is nothing new and will never change.

I've met so many people in the last year who site one reason or another why they cannot make life changes "at this time." Do people really believe that there will ever be a better time? That stress will just stop manifesting itself in one way or another? That it is ever going to be easy to incorporate a training plan into their lives? Its an understanding that I suppose only comes with experience,,,training is one way of managing all those stressors. Nope, its never easy. Often, it would be vastly easier to say "I don't feel like it today." In the end it is conquering the daily struggles that are the greatest pay off.

Yeah, I spent my fair share of kicking myself in the head with stupid questions like, "Was this all worth it if I have to toss the goal." Not to mention the defeatest statements like "why bother, or all for nothing." The big picture is that it was, is and always will be about the journey. I've traded nothing away but bad habits and a crappy life style. So what, stumbling block right now, like I haven't already overcome so much greater obstacles to get this far!

Someone needed to blow a little sunshine up my dress,,,guess I'm up for the job. I've a workout waiting for me. Getting stronger makes you less weak!

Training Plan

Last night was marked by a furious sweat-fest, in an effort to improve my mood. An hour and a half later, I'm not sure I can say I felt better but I did sleep well.

Last night:
30 min. hard upper body punching the bag. (everyone should have a punching bag,,,the world would be a better place)
30 min yoga
The rest of the time was spent circuit training arms and abs.

This am:
45 min yoga
15 min abs
Pm plan:
30-45 min on the bike.

The kinesio tape is still holding out. Can't say the calf feels any better or worse realistically. Going to need to get creative this weekend....