Running in mud

or sand... or whatever thick, gloppy substance you want.  That's what it felt like while I was running yesterday.  Maybe it was due to all of the Thanksgiving turkey I ate over the weekend.  Maybe it was the 6+ hours I spent driving the day before.  Whatever the case, yesterday was the worst I've felt since I started back running "for real."  Oh well, those days are bound to happen, and anything is better than not being able to run at all.

Let the training begin

So I was able to do my weekend workouts in the cold.  It was sunny, so not as bad as it could have been.  After spending 75 minutes on my bike (2 x 12 @ Z4, 1 x 15@ Z3), I headed out for my 20 minute brick run.  Even though it had been 5 months since I ran off the bike, it didn't feel all that terrible.  But I still have a ways to go.  Thankfully, Wildflower is 6 months away.  On Sunday, I decided that I was too lazy to run in the Fort Steilacoom Turkey Trot.  Too bad since we've gotten a turkey the past two years, but since David was out of commission, I helped the boys first, then went out on a run in the gloaming.  2 x 1 mile at 6:30, which was faster than I was supposed to go, but I actually didn't think I was going that fast; I'm hoping that's a good sign.

And I'm now up to 6 pull-ups and 25 push-ups in a set.

I'm healed!

I had my follow up visit and x-rays today.  My clavicle is continuing to heal, and I've been given the okay to start swimming and lifting and pretty much doing anything short of football, skiing, or anything that is going to result in slamming my clavicle into things.  Guess that means that crashing on a bike is out.  I'm pretty excited!  I think that means I get to learn how to swim all over again.  To celebrate, I did 10 push-ups and 2 pull-ups.

At least I was running

I ran a 5K today.  At least I'm calling it "running."  Now, when I compare it to my PR or even my times from a couple of years ago, I should be disappointed.  But compared to where I was four months ago, I'll take it.  I ran a 20:53 in cold, sunny conditions in Fircrest; I left right after the race, so I didn't see how I did, but there were a lot of people in front of me... a lot of old people in front of me.  My PR is nearly 5 mintues faster than that.  Oh well, it's somewhere to start.  I'm going to work on foot speed this winter instead of putting in the long mileage, so maybe I'll regain some speed.

Suffering... but a good suffering

I started training for real today.  Threshold test on the bike.  Really, it was the first time I've gone hard since June, and it showed.  I couldn't get my heart rate up nearly as high as I wanted, and my power went down the tubes during the second interval.  But overall, I'm only down 5%, so I'll take it.  2 x 20' (2') and the numbers were:
Total:  NP 227 HR 144
1st 20:  NP 236 HR 144
2nd 20:  NP 223 HR 145 (whoops)

AND... I signed up for Wildflower today, too.  No more hiding. 

It's Fall and I'm trying to get back into shape

Here's a photo I shot yesterday morning of the mountain. As I was driving in to work, I saw this and was absolutely amazed. I tried to find a good location to get a picture and was able to find an unobstructed view from the front of the hospital. I have never seen the shadow of Rainier projected across the sky like that. 

Kind of strange that I'm starting to train when the weather is getting cooler, the days are getting shorter, and the leaves are turning color. Well, have to start somewhere. I was able to run 5 today; each day, it feels like I'm getting better, which is a good thing. My legs are actually feeling bouncy. There's no better way to explain it. So, although I am out of shape, I feel good (well, except for the out of breath part). 

Yee-ha!

I started running again.  It has been nearly 8 weeks since my surgery.  I started running last week.  Although I am slow and out of shape, I definitely feel better now that everything is back in place again.  On Monday, I was able to run 4 miles at 7:30 pace, which is the fastest I've run since my accident.  Although it felt a bit strange, it didn't feel all that bad, so I am encouraged by this. 

I was also given the okay to start increasing my range of motion.  After nearly four months of not moving my arm much, it is a bit stiff.  There is definitely a difference between the range of motion on my left and my right.

My Cervelo is back on my trainer now, and I even spent some time on the aerobars last weekend.  It was a bit uncomfortable, but it actually helped to stretch out my shoulder a bit.  Of course, last weekend, I was trying to recover from a not-so-intelligent decision to move some cinder blocks in my backyard.  Long story short, I used some cinder blocks to weight down a couple of buckets that are covering mole traps.  Although I tried to use mostly my left arm, I did have to support part of it with my right, since the blocks are probably around 30 lbs.  My right clavicle started hurting immediately, there was some redness over the scar, and I was a bit freaked out.  Thankfully, it has calmed down and is back to "normal."  Stupid moles.