Surf or Run?

Thanks Bill! When you only get a dozen days of good surf a year and 11 of those days take place when it is snowing and the water temp is 38 degrees. Well, I just couldn't pass up warm water, good swell, a hot summer day, and it was a Sunday. Reminded me of living and surfing in North Carolina. So I passed on the long run and hit the surf for 2 hours on Sunday. So the weekly mileage is a measley 32, but given the great surf I don't regret it one bit. Picture to the left taken by someone in Florida when Bill hit down there/the water in Nahant looked an awful lot like FL.

My wife got a promotional card for 40% off Karhu shoes, so I ordered up a pair of Fluid Fulcrum Ride's, hate to buy something without trying it on, but for $65 I figured it is worth a try. My Nike Vomero 3's are pushing 430 miles so I need to start breaking in another pair in. We'll see how they work out, the Vomero's tended to be awfully soft and cushioned, I am looking for something a little less squishy.

Lynn Woods XC

Another great Lynn Woods XC run, I love the spirit behind these informal races. What could be purer than a bunch of people lining up and seeing who can run through the woods the fastest. The guys that put these on are really devoted to the sport; timing, refreshements, results posted online, pictures, numbers, couldn't be any better. This was my 4th Lynn Woods this summer and I liked this one the best. I decided early on to push on the uphills and go easy on the downhills, I am still concerned about injuring my left foot. This made for a great run as some of the younger guys would scream by me on the downhills and then I'd plod by them on the uphills. Lots of single track running which was a good change from pounding it out on the fire roads,this also made for a more controlled pace and a chance to just file in with a bunch of other runners. According to the time/distance which is always a bit iffy the splits came in just under 7min/mile. The wife and kids came to cheer on dad which is always the icing on the cake. I've complimented my running this week with biking to work, with the heat it just makes it difficult to get runs over 7 miles in, so I figured the extra hour on the bike each day wouldn't be a bad thing.

Couple Hot runs down

Thanks to Jim Rhoades for the Yankee Homecoming Photo to the left. Hadn't run that race since 1995 and it was a hot one then too. Left foot still feels a little tender. Ran about 5 miles on Monday w/ a quick 800 meters on the Swampscott High track. Really just want to get myself accustomed to running on a track as I begin incorporating a few track workouts into my running. The track is real nice, rubberized, shaded in the afternoon, so every couple weeks I'll try and head over to do some work. The heat has been tough, ran to a friend's pool and met the family after work on Tuesday, about 100 degrees and 100% humidity, good 7 miler. The pool felt great w/ the kids. I'm planning on making it to the Lynn Woods CC running tonight, I will NOT push the pace as I think hammering down the hills three weeks ago is what really did my foot in. Looking to get a good 8 miles or so in on softer terrain.

Hot, Hot, Hot

I can only get afternoon runs in on the weekends and with the heat, saturday was a 6.5 miler. Sunday was a wash, no running, spent the day at the pool w/ the kids. Off to a slow start but looking to up the mileage this week. On a better note, my foot is feeling better and I think I've "healed" adequately and can start posting some bigger days.

Couple runs under the belt

Got an easy 7 miler in on thursday, felt ok. My left foot is still acting a little weird. Ache is on the inside of my arch forward and only hurts when I heal strike on hard surfaces. Feels fine going up hill, running on my toes, and running on the beach or grass. But plodding along on the pavement doesn't feel great. Did a quick 3 miler in the woods yesterday, felt good although it was rediculously humid, did some bounding through high grass orchards near the trail head. Feeling like I'll plod out a 10 miler this afternoon in the heat to see how I hold up after two weeks off.

One more day

Thursday will be exactly two weeks off. I plan on getting a quick 5miler in thursday early afternoon. Looking to take thursday and friday off from work to get some time with my kids and wife, 3 weeks without a day off (oh yeah the afternoon of my vesectomy). On another note the weather in Bangor Me has been perfect for running, dry and unseasonably cool. Drove from Bangor to Searsport today for work and drooled at the side roads. While the lack of running is pissing me off, my work has been beyond hectic and at least I have a legitimate "medical" reason not to run. If I was missing runs right now because of work it would really piss me off. So I am in the right mind frame for this long break. I think the next blog will be sometime after I've gotten some miles under my belt and have something to write about.

Vasectomy down time

Coming up on two weeks off from from running to get my ballsack back in shape after a vasectomy. Prior to the operation I was planning on 5 days off, as the doctor said "take it easy for 5 days" now I know that means sit on the couch. Having gone back to work the next day, spent saturday at the beach w/ my kids and headed to Maine for a few days of hot sweaty work- I realized that I wouldn't be running that week. So I'm basically laying low until I know I've "healed" adequately-My plans are Thursday for my first run back. This will start a 3 month segment to prep for the Manchester, NH marathon. Would've done Baystate but w/ this setback I think I'll get better results from a full 3 month segment. Had some issues with with the arch on my left foot after the Yankee Homecoming 10 miler two weeks ago, so all in all I think a little bit of time off is not a bad thing.