100/100 update #1 (quarterly report)

I am now 1/4th of the way through the 100/100 ST challenge. I must so, thus far I have faired pretty well with my stretegy to go easy and try to get consistency before mileage. Aside from the break while we were in Maine, I have been running every day for at least 30 minutes, with my average being about 3.2-3.5 miles. Right now, I am at 17/25, and if I keep this pace I will easily get to the "bronze" level. However, I do not plan on losing 9 days in the next quarter, so I hope to get up to the "silver" level (80/100) by the end of the challenge. I am combining this with my new swim routine, which will be more aggressive than last year as we are now training with a masters coach who is pretty driven towards nationals in the spring. Cycling will have to wait until I have completed the ST challenge, and the weather gets better. Thats it for now!

0909090909!

Back from Maine, and MD, and gearing up for school/classes/the January slog. Had a blast in Maine this xmas, skiing with the kids. They did a great job for their second time on skiis. By the end of the 2nd day, Duncan was off skiing intermediate trails by himself. The girls were sticking to the green dots, but they were throwing down some hell-acious power wedge action as they hummed down the slopes. All in all, the were great troopers and really progressed alot. I was able to get my legs back under me, and by the end of the 2nd day, I was banging some strong arcs, but not pushing it too much so as to blow out a knee- not like last year's hernia debacle. I am progressing on the 100/100, and am currently at 12/20 (I took basically a week off while in Maine, so I am behind). You could say I need to htfu since that is 8 days of sloth, but the weather, snow, wind, and temp were all working against me up there. I'll check back in a few with updates!

100/100 looming

Just keep running, just keep running, just keep running, Just keep running, just keep running, just keep running, Just keep running, just keep running, just keep running....

Gearing up for the ST 100/100 challenge, loggin miles and time in sweet expectation of rocking these bad boys at my first race and finally having the base to race my run rather than survive it! I doubt I will get close to gold, or silver, but I am shooting for bronze (70 runs in 100 days) and I think I can do that so long as I can run a few times over the christmas holidays when we are in the wilds of the western Maine mountains...a challenge for sure!

Back in the GAME again!

After what seemed like an incredibly long running layoff while my heel pain subsided, I have now gone for three runs in the past five days. First was an easy 2 miler, minor twinges of pain, not bad afterwards. Then, two days ago I did another two miler, moderate to easy pace, and again felt no pain. Yesterday, I ran with my soccer team, did about 3 miles with some faster intervals, and there was no pain while running or afterwards. Finally! Feeling good! Now, I can start building back up again. Pool workouts start in two weeks. Can't wait to get back to training!

Mudmudmudmud...

Here are some older DQ Tri photos from July!

Snotty September

Since the last post, I have been on IR for about a week. I went out and scrimmaged with the kids on my soccer team last Monday, and the next morning, could barely walk with pain in my left heel. Otherwise sore in legs as well. No worries, felt better on Tuesday and even better on Wednesday, so much so that I went for a short run to try out my new Pearl Izumi Streak race shoes (very excited and very RED!). My heel started bothering me again, so I cut the run short at 2 miles. Went to practice, was scrimmaging again, and came down hard on my heel. Instant pain. Stopped, massaged, took advil at home, and next morning I could barely walk. So I was thinking PF. CRAP! Saw our trainer, and he thought it might be a combination of a heel bruise and some associated PF. I have been resting it, icing at night, massaging, stretching, and today it feels much better, but it is still there. I have the time to rest now since my racing is done and I was planning on maintainance this fall anyway, so I am eating poptarts and getting fat as I rest and relax. Also, lusting after a new bike, but that is nothing new!

Back in Jersey

Made the migration back to New Jersey, and we are now bracing for the start of school (Kids, us). My training has dropped off to maintainance now that my racing is done for the year. I flirted with doing the Endless Summer tri on LBI, but I will be helping run a local race that same weekend instead. My plan is to keep up with my running, add some more base miles this fall, maybe do a half marry in Novemer (Philly). Ride when I can on the weekends. Maybe swim once or twice a week in the fall. More as the plan unfolds, but I am thinking of ramping up for the Timberman 70.3 next summer, so I am thinking of the long(er) strategy.