Each time there is something new....

Each time I think about running these days I dread the next one... It's getting harder and harder to get motivated as I get towards the end of my 18 week training schedule (which was preceded by something like 12 weeks of half marathon training if you remember..).

That said, each time I drag my sore muscles and bones onto the nearest road or trail something new happens.

Generally I see something that stops me nearly in my tracks (like the beautiful afterglow of the sunset in the west over the Rockies tonight - very orange and black :). Other times I run faster than I expected up some hills I used to think were tough and gnarly - again just like tonight.

Mostly, the outcome of each run (that only seems like something new) is the stress relief or balancing effect it has.

For instance, I sat in a meeting at work today that just went on and on and generally frustrated me to no end because it seemed very much pointless. Add to this the fact that the stock market dropped another 500 points today and you have the makings of a distracted father of 2 (soon to be 3!) - at the very least.

Tonight I ran a 6 mile loop starting at home and figured I would suffer dramatically from border-line intense soreness (lactic acid build-up) in my calves. Umm, not so much really... I ran something like a 9:30 minute mile throughout.. (my race pace is a 9 minute mile)... weird, but very good. Also, I noticed that I'm running the hills faster and with less effort even. Then there was the sunset.

Problems solved for the day really. All the stress melted away on the run honestly.

And yes, the sunset literally stopped me in my tracks at the end of my run as I was cooling down :)

Ever dread going out to run? From runners I generally hear that 99% of the times they dreaded it and still found a way to go out and run, it was worth it when they came back with more energy and less stress.

just when I thought it would get boring...

If you didn't know already... I'm a BIG fan of switching jobs every 5 months or so to keep things lively and, well, crawl up the income ladder as fast as I can while still having fun... Some of you know exactly what I mean while I'm sure others think I'm crazy...

Weird thing is.. my job isn't getting boring...

Usually after 3 months or so.. I'm convinced I can train a domesticated monkey to do my job. By this time I generally feel as though I could take over the group and steer it towards ("align it with") my own ideas on how to do stuff ("strategic objectives"). So I generally leave and do just that.

This time around though, I must candidly admit that I am really and truly shocked on a regular basis. Now, this doesn't always mean that I'm shocked by something bad. Some would jump to that conclusion and assume I'm sticking around as audience for any comedic event that occurs on a daily basis (and it does) but, they'd be wrong. I quite often learn new things that I never thought I would care about. It, of course, is hard to give examples. In most cases I learn a ton from the way others approach problems - there are endless ways of doing this. Most cases also involve different interpersonal approaches really - which is truly interesting to see unfold.

It feels very strange but, well, I'm enjoying my job right now. Wow, I almost had to spit the words out there...

I think I have to lay down... I'm getting dizzy..

and the training keeps going... and going... and..

That's right, the training never ends.

I think I'm on a 19 week training plan and have a little bit more than 5 weeks left...oy.

Trying to find ways to get to motivated. I ran a half marathon yesterday in the hopes of getting motivated. The boulder half marathon to be exact. http://www.boulderbackroads.com

I didn't do as well as I would have liked but i was extremely disciplined in the race so hopefully that translates to a strong marathon in nyc. Motivating? not really... but was nice to run somewhere different.

I've logged more than 300 miles as of today (as part of this training plan)- on my way to 500 by the marathon....

That segways nicely to an injury update!

Knee problems are gone - hallelujah!

Hip pain/soreness is here... and camping out it seems...

Latest issue is overworked Gluteus Medius. Yeah, it only hurts when I... well, when i do anything requiring forward motion. The good news is that I have a great massage therapist, who should be paying me quite honestly - she inflicts pain on a regular basis (read: cleaves muscle from bone) but, like a good masochist... I suck it up and say - "if i were just in better shape this wouldn't hurt"... pfft. It would still hurt.

Other than that, the training continues. I'm up around 40 miles a week or so - which is about all the beating I can take until my next training plan begins.. which I'm targeting for December.

It isn't all doom and gloom honestly. I'm looking forward to the big race in NYC and being VERY healed up for that. I have my last long run happening this Saturday (22 miles) and am looking forward to winding down the miles after that and prior to the race.

Check out the older blog postings!

If it's been a while - check out the old postings!

Some even have information about how you can be semi-altruistic and donate to my favorite cause in the hopes that children with IBD or Crohn's can get treatment and research done on the disease!

The window for donations is closing so, please do what you can to give to this worthy cause and prevent me from making the biggest donation of my LIFE in order to reach the 3k requirement :P

-jason

Doctor Doctor

Got to see the doctor finally regarding my wonderfully mysterious knee pain.

He diagnosed me quickly as having a "pronation whip" as my foot left the ground. This means that, from the knee down on my right leg, when my foot leaves the ground my lower leg whips around like a propeller.

He prescribed a running coach for the longer-term but, in the short-term he recommended a full-length insole that has some cushioning and arch support which somehow keeps my leg from whipping so much.

So far so good. I did my first 20 miler last weekend and, aside from back pain due to all the hills encountered, knees felt great!

down but not out...nevah!!!!!

After my last post, for those who care, I was really hoping for a week of no injuries from over-training. AND I GOT IT!

Then I the stomach flu for a week... eesh..

Today I got back to running again.

I ran 7 miles at race pace or better (9 minute miles) which i was shocked about. It was not super easy but it felt great to push.. and not get injured. Well, there was the massive endorphin rush afterwards which was incredible...

Another update is that I'm going to see an actual M.D. (Sports Medicine doc at the University of Colorado Sports Medicine) on Thursday to have "biomechanical analysis" to analyze gait, shoes and body mechanics. Hopefully this will give me some pointers on how to stay injury free...