Tai Chi

If you have ever been to the Boulevard, then you must know Tai Chi. While you may not refer to him as Tai Chi, you should. Because clearly I am talking about the gentleman who does Tai Chi...All. Day. Long.  I have talked to several people about him. I am sure it is only a matter of time before I find someone who knows his story. Russ and I like to believe he is there by choice. How sweet would that be? Actually, no matter what, he IS there by choice. And I am sure he understands The Now better than anyone I know. The man is actually pretty hot. For an older guy. Perfect tan from being outside all day every day. And ripped. Because he is doing Tai Chi all day. Plus I have seen him running a couple of times and his stride is perfection.

Last summer Christine started the formal acknowledgment of Tai Chi. By exchanging a smile with him. Russ was next. While marathon training this past fall and winter, he put in miles and miles and miles at the Boulevard. He and Tai Chi started waving to each other. When Russ pops in for a run now, Tai Chi waves as soon as Russ comes into view.

Tai Chi does not acknowledge everyone. I am not saying that if someone initiated a wave, that he wouldn't wave back--but he most certainly does not wave to every person (that would be tedious after all and would hinder his Tai Chi practice).

Today I hit the Boulevard for an 11 mile long run. With one goal in mind. To finally connect with Tai Chi. First loop around we saw each other, I gave a half smile. (I have to note here that at the time he was in an amazingly perfect up-dog. Like text book. But then he started doing lower body push ups i the position. Like kind of humping the ground. It muse be a killer move for your tris but it did scare me a bit).  Second lap around, he wasn't there. I was heart broken. But at the same time knew that it might take more than two loops to catch his full attention.

As I rounded the bend of my final loop, I could see he was at his station. I strode by...he gave me a huge smile and a wave. And a boost of energy. It had been a good run, I was feeling great throughout and was averaging a comfortable 9:30. But that last mile was a 9:05. Thanks to Tai Chi.

If you know anything about Tai Chi (the person, not the art)--please share with me.

Good News!

If I can mantain my current running abilities and pacing...in 21 years, I may just place 3rd in my age group!!!!! I think it is very likely this will happen. (yes, I noticed when perusing overall winners the 3rd place finisher in the 55-59 division ran a couple of seconds slower than me).

Race went well--similiar to B2B I did hit my training program projected time (training for 8:12s, ran 8:10s) but I wanted to do better.

Lesson learned: when people say "don't go out too fast"...they really mean "don't go out too fast". But man, that first mile felt good. I was flying!

First week of May!

Followed the program closely this week. It was a light week.

Tues: 3 mile easy run. Did it at the blvd. The highlight was passing by a PHS Girls Lacrosse player...she was rounding up the rear of her team..she gasped to her friend, "I am so slow. But I can sprint. I just run slow." 

Wed: Supposed to be a 3 mile easy but I did 2.5...and a Jillian Michaels Shredder workout--it was crazy good. Nice and short--only 25 minutes. But intense. And I am SORE today. This may be what I am looking for to supplement my running.

Thurs: 3 mile speed work with warm up; 2x800s at 3:56 with 400 jog; cool down.

I went into the 800s deciding to run what felt fast but comfortable rather than going all out and feeling like I was going to die. I finished the first one at a 7:26 pace. Walked the 400. Ran the second one at a 7:50 pace. Not sure what that means in terms of actual pacing for Sunday. The program had me training for 8:12s (I think). We'll see what Sunday brings!

Run run run

Friday: 3 mile easy run; perfect weather.

Saturday: 9 mile long run; stayed right at target pace (think I ran (9:45ish pace--target was 10:0...oops just checked it was 10:23. Whatevs, close enough. And felt good.). Weather was pretty darn nice. Saturday morning though not the best time to run the loop I did--too much traffic. I spent a lot of my time basically trail running as much of the loop does not have paved shoulders. Also I realize that probably 70% of this route is uphill (Russ, do you agree with that estimate?). Obviously not all big hills or anything. But some hills. And lots of incline.

Tomorrow will be an off day--maybe some type of cross training, though it is a very busy weekend, so not sure what I will squeeze in

Still scared of the 5k.

Wait just looked and this plan has me running T, W, Th this week. T, W easy 3. Th. short speed work out.

Thursday

Didn't run today. Was up in the air about it and then had a meeting after school that ran "late" (I won't tell you what time "late" is for me). Will probably do 3 easy tomorrow, heck my bag is already packed!

Wednesday Speed Work

After a cross training day yesterday, I ran again today. Leg feels perfect. Still tender to the touch and at one point while running I felt a sharp pain, but I am also aware that I am hyper focused on my shin...there are always weird twinges and pains when running. And for all I know, it has been sensitive to the touch for months on end. I don't normally sit around pressing on my shin. So let's just hope for the best and move forward. If anyone did send me positive running vibes, I love you forever. And if you didn't--that is ok, I still love you.

Today's speed work out was 5 miles with warm up, 4x800s @ 3:57 with 400 jogs, and a cool down. I did 1 1/4 mile warm up. First 800 was 3:32. I of course walked the 400. Second 800 was 3:26. Walked. Third was ? I don't know. Probably around 3:30. And the last one was 3:40.  All four of them were torture. Sheer torture. With every single one I wanted to quit at the quarter mile point. But somehow convinced myself to continue. With every single one I told myself that I was just going to call it for the day and screw the rest of the work out. But funny thing is, that with those 400 walks, by the end of the walk, I was ready to go again. I did a mile cool down at a comfortable 10:40 pace. And for the first time ever my calf muscle CRAMPED on me. I never had that happen before.

Tomorrow should be a 3 mile easy run...as long as no aching starts tonight...I will be good to go.

Still scared of the Mother's Day 5k. Russ asked me what the worst possible outcome could be. I thought about it and said it would be going out way, way, way too fast and hitting a wall of sorts and not being able to finish without walking or slowing down to a very slow jog. Which made me realize--well, who cares if that happens?

Shinny Shin Shin

My shin has been twitchy. Aching. And then tender to the touch. But I actually ended up bruising it via the touch test.  You have to push around on the shin to try to pinpoint if there is an area tender. But too much pushing obviously leads to some bruising. And bruising is tender to the touch so...it is hard for me to gauge what the heck is going (but all of this is right where my fracture was). I do know that it does not hurt when I run. Does not hurt on stairs. Both very good things.
I will not run more than 4 days for a few weeks. And when I do start running 5 days, I will be smart enough to only increase my mileage by 10%.

I will not run back to back days other than an easy run day after my speed work out day.

I will not add extra mileage to my easy runs (this one is the hardest for me to type).

I will not road run for my long runs for a month or so...

Send some positive running vibes to my shin please!