Foot-Strong

I'm not one to give up on my projects easily. At any one time I have multiple projects going, some that have laid dormant for years. I prefer it that way I guess. Like some of the rest of my professional and hobbyist goals lagging behind, running has ended up in that boiling pot. Big time! That pot only gets larger as more years tick away on my body. I postpone a lot these days and resort to my favorite hobby: endlessly reading anything! Over the years I've contemplated giving up running in exchange for different forms of cardio workouts such as, more biking and air boxing, but I just can't seem to kick the running habit just yet. I ran my worst times this year and ended this season for good on just that. I ran the 4 mile Peoria Turkey Trot at 53:30 and the FOLEPI 4 miler at 49:50. FOLEPI was a mostly downhill race and was expected to be an easy and out for Wendy and I. She didn't fare well either with similar, but better times then me at both showings. All my plans to get my knee and back injuries back to 100% when it comes to training on foot has not worked out very well. 2019 will bring the same sporadic runs until something gives, one way or another. #Trailing

My race updates are as follows: I finished the four mile Steamboat race in June with my personal worst for a 4 mile race, coming in at 54:01. This was due to a lack of training blamed on a medial right knee meniscus tear. I received a 38:09 at the Fallen Heroes 3 mile race the following month, also ran in Peoria, with the usual "gateway route". My knee issues have all but went away as we have not been running much since Steamboat, and I received aggressive Kenalog shot therapy. This year is panning out to be a record indoor biking year depending on how my "Hell weeks" in November and December turn out as I plan to ramp up indoor biking and running to numbers I've never attempted. I'm sitting at only 200 biking miles for the year and only 44 logged running miles! I don't log hiking miles. Yet! Usually I ramp up pre season training in January, but this year I plan to change it up for earlier hits to get a good "test period" in to see if I can even think of half marathon training for March ish 2019. That is always the unwritten plan each year!, so I want to take a different approach from an injury prevention and cardio demand standpoint. Hopefully on the next post I will update what I'm using for supplementation these days and the hardware I like to use, from biking, running, and gps tracking. On a side note, I finally graduated SIU in may! Happy running. 

Spring:2018

Wendy and I ran the Blarney 5k back on March 10th. I did it in 35:54 and she did it in 36:xx. Our times have dropped these last 3 years, and are remaining fairly slow. For this year we are hoping to finish the races we have committed to and then I can hopefully have another knee surgery and crank out a half next year. I almost have to rule it out at this point, as I've been hiking, biking and running only to have the pain and swelling on most days. I received a cortisone shot right after that Blarney 5k race, but it seems to be wearing off. There is arthritis in both of my knees now along with an untreated meniscus tear in my right one.

We also have been running on Wednesdays with the IVS running group and are looking to add in a Sunday longer run ahead of the Steamboat 4 miler. These routes are in downtown Peoria and extend to Komatsu, Glenn Oak, and Springdale. Training seems to be going well overall. We are looking forward to getting the non stationary bicycles out soon and hitting some more local trails to add to the fun! Thank God we finally have great weather!

Still Kicking

Wendy and I are signed up for the Blarney 5k for our first run of 2018. We have no active injuries to report and our training is going well. Wendy is logging quite a few miles on the treadmill every week and I am on a cardio restriction until February 1st to help with healing and strength training in my legs. We look forward to developing a plan for 2018, but nothing else is on the radar as of yet. I logged 170 miles last year, which isn't to bad given the circumstances and hopefully we get get something rolling this year! Happy trails.