Trying to get started again.
My right achilles tendon is just not cooperating with me. It seems that each week my training, figuratively, goes two feet forward, one foot back.
I've tried taking it easy, and I've tried ignoring it, but nothing seems to work.
It's also easy to get down on myself when I'm not doing my best. I seem to have this switch in my brain that wants to quit when I can't do something the way, I feel, it should be done. But, I'm not about to quit! No way!!
There are lessons here to be learned, and I'm going to keep hitting the wall until I've learned what I'm supposed to learn.
One of these lessons is, I must take proper care of myself. That means stretching and icing after runs. I almost never do that. Stupid, I know, but I got into some bad habits.
So, I'll start with that.
I haven't given up on the marathon at the end of May, yet. But, I've got a long, long way to go!

Ouch!

Well, remember the goals I set for myself, just about a week ago? Let's just say I haven't really begun to implement them, yet. Good intentions, yes. Good execution, not so much.
Not all of it is my fault. My achilles tendon has been a huge issue for me, and I don't know if it's going to resolve itself without me shutting down my running for a good six weeks or so. I don't know if I can run, and heal at the same time.
And, let me be honest about how this injury came about, because I have been a big proponent of the product that helped facilitate this injury. And, that is the Vibram 5 Finger barefoot running "shoes".
The problem is, you can't just go out and run ten miles in the Vibrams' You have to build up mileage very slowly because our bodies are no longer conditioned to run as they were meant to run.
Of course, after reading, "Born to Run" I got very excited about running barefoot, and I didn't hear from anyone (especially the author) that one should take this kind of running slowly. So I paid the price. And, it might ruin my running year.
Now, I still believe in the concept and would love to just run with naked feet someday, but it's not going to happen for me, for quite some time.
So, I recommend the Vibrams', but just take it slowly!!

Some of the other goals have nothing to do with running, so I'll tell you how those goals are going next time.

Looking Good Running

The ankle feels a little bit better today, so I don't think this injury is going to last very long. Thank goodness, goddess, whatever! In fact, by the end of the day I was walking normally. Well, normally for me. On a side note, people who have distinctive walks, do you think they practice that? I've always kind of wondered. It reminds me of a Richard Pryor joke. He said that he couldn't fight so he developed a cool run. The joke goes something like this: " Oh, there's Richard running away from that guy who wants to give him a beating...but he looks cool".

Running fast can come in handy like that. I remember, my sophomore year in high school, my friend Danny told one of the biggest kids in our school (as a practical joke) that I was flirting with his girl friend. So, this huge kid finds me, and then begins to tell me that he's going to kick my ass all over the place. In my mind I'm thinking: "Can I take him in a fight? Probably not. But, can he catch me if I run? Definitely not!" Pride aside, I saved myself from some pain that day!!

There are cool runners. Very fast cool runners, in fact. Usain Bolt, can't be any cooler, could he, Fellow mountain racer Jim Johnson, I think, has a cool run. So does Tim Van Orden. Me, I don't know. I don't think I have any videos of me, running. Which is probably a good thing.

Anyway, if I can get a run in after this weekend, I'll be a very happy boy!

Well, I tried to run yesterday, and hurt my achilles even more. This really sucks because on top of not running for myself, I can't run with the dogs either. I had to tell my clients (dogs) human companions that I have to take a week off from running. At least I'm hopeful that it will only be a week, but realistically it could be more.

I saw on facebook that Siobhan Archey and Berkshires Nautilus has started a running group, of sorts. I'm not sure what it will look like, but I really like the idea. If we can promote running from a strong running community, it will help motivate people to get moving. Hopefully, I can contribute something to this cause.

So, here's a beautiful picture from our beautiful Berkshires. I'm going to be praying that I can get back on those trails again real soon.

Rough start

Well, I'm certainly off to a rough start. My right Achilles tendon has been bothering me a bit, and now it feels like it was set on fire, after yesterdays snowshoe run. And, I jinxed myself badly yesterday, as well. Ginger asked me whether I have ever had hamstring problems from running, and I said, "Never!" Now, what do you think hurts right now?

As Ray from Car Talk would say, "Boy oh boy"!

Well, I'm taking today off because I have two runs tomorrow. I've got a run with Boise dog, and then a run with Magic and Arrow (their owner must be a fantasy novel fan) right afterward.

Had four bananas, an apple, a green smoothie, three slices of raw pizza, an orange, and a coconut Lara bar, so far today.

Yeah, so a two hour run tomorrow with fast dogs. Maybe, because of the rain, the trails will be cleared of snow. Which is not necessarily a good thing, because when I take a spill while running two dogs quickly; it's nice to land on the soft snow.

Thanks to Marie-Lies for that pizza crust recipe, again! Yum!

Goal Setting

All right, here we go. I'm going to set down some goals here that will apply for the rest of the year; nothing out of range, just goals I can achieve if everything lines up correctly. But, of course, you know as well as I do, that nothing lines up "correctly" in this world. So, I'll be excited to see what transpires out of these goals, but I'll be open minded and open hearted enough to know that they will not come about the way I have planned.

1) 99% raw vegan, and get down to 145 pounds, by the summer. No promises about coffee.

2) Plant a garden. (Have never done it, believe it or not.)

3) Blog everyday to stay accountable.

4) Qualify for the Boston Marathon.

5) Run under 17 minutes for a 5K.

6) No wine or beer. Going to be drinking a lot of herbal tea, and green smoothies!!

7) Do push ups every day. (That would be a first).

8) Do the little things to make Berkshires Dog Runner a success.

9) Live life as an activist.

10) Live in the moment filled with gratitude.

As, Jean-Luc Picard said, "Make it so". Hahaha! :)

Scary & Exciting

Well, this past month has been both exciting and scary. Scary because I haven't had a job since October 9th, and I am rapidly running out of money. I have applied for unemployment, but they are in such a back log that it might take a month and a half to receive any money. I have never been without a job as an adult, but I find being in this position a blessing because I now have the opportunity to try something I would never have tried if I had a job. And, that is to start my own business. That is the exciting part.
I have launched Berkshires Dog Runner! It is a dog running service, much like dog walking, only faster.
Nothing would make me happier than to make a living, running. And, maybe if I can get in really great shape over the winter, I can supplement my income by winning a lot of races in the spring!
My diet has been about 50% raw these days. Not anywhere near where I would like it to be. But, stress, as you all know, will make you consider unhealthier options just so you can feel better in the moment.
I think my next race will have to be the Adams, Turkey Trot coming up in a couple of weeks. I ran it last year, and came in third. So, we'll see how I do this year. I know I'm faster than last year, but I'm also about ten pounds overweight.
Anyway, I'll compete as best I can.