El Burro Blanco

Still recovering from the one of my worst performances in a race from Saturday (2:55, I guess you have to have bad days every once in a while.  I will use it as a learning experience).  My quads and shins are pretty sore and doing a lot of stretching to try and stay loose.  I am really excited to use this blog to learn how to train better from such great runners.  Real excited to be a part of this.   

Still stretching out and drinking lots of fluids to get ready to start training again.  My ankle is still a bit sore as well.

I have done a lot of core exercises to try and strengthen my mid-section.  I am not looking to be chiseled but I know that making my abdominal muscles stronger will help out a lot.  My wife, who is a personal trainer, says that I need to take the entire week off to give my body the rest that I need.  My right ankle is still bothering me so I might do that.  I don't think it is worth hurting myself so early in the season over a couple extra days of rest.  I also get to myself ready mentally.  I am looking forward to the summer for all of my training that I want to do.  I listen to my wife "all the time," but I will most likely go running Friday if the ankle is feeling better!

It felt good to get out and run again.  I did the 7 miles at a slow pace (7:36).  The wind was blowing quite a bit but it felt nice.  The wind usually blows running along Highway 89 near Harrisville.  It makes me focus and push myself a little more.  My ankle felt great and I did not have any problems with it.  

My ankle is feeling much better so I wanted to run a few more miles today.  Once again, the wind was blowing quite a bit but it sures pushes me along.  I got out there and it felt great.  I pushed it a little faster than yesterday.  My pace for the entire run was 6:36.  I thought I was going a little slower than that though.  Looking forward to a nice easy 13 miles tomorrow.

I don't want to sound like I am complaining but the wind has been blowing like crazy in Harrisville.  This course was an out and back.  Head wind going out and head wind coming back.  Just my luck!  I didn't want to push too hard since the wind was blowing and I am still bringing my mileage back up.  6:54 pace for the entire race.  It felt really good.  I have family coming in from Georgia for the holiday weekend.  Need to make sure I get my miles in during the first of next week with all of the activities planned.  Looking to do about 70 miles next week.

It was a nice run to start the week out.  I went out towards Plain City where their would not be a lot of traffic.  Since their was a lot of posts along the road, I decided to do some fartleks today.  They felt really good.  My wife came and met me while she was doing her bike ride.  She did the last 4 miles with me and really pushed me.  Pace for the entire run was 6:33.  I am going to break my runs into two a day.  I have never tried it before and I hope that it will be less wear and tear on my body. 

6.15 in the morning.

6.00 in the afternoon.

I am going to really like breaking my runs into two-a-day.  Both runs were at a fairly fast pace.  I really tested the ankle today and things are good with it.  Hopefully it holds up and I can build my mileage up over the summer.  I need to remember to slow the second run down though.

My family from Georgia left yesterday morning.  The stomach flu was going around and 10 people got sick in my family!  I was one of the unfortunate ones.  I was throwing up last night and did not feel good this morning.  I was very weak today but went and ran 6 miles at a slow pace (7:40).  I wasn't able to eat much today.  Hopefully I get feeling better soon.

I woke up this morning and felt a little bit better.  I wasn't as weak as yesterday but still feeling some of the effects.  My run was about the same pace as yesterday.  I will have to get moving the next two days to make this week worthwhile.  I really do hate getting sick.