Not Repeating Last Week's Mistake.

So last week the plan was that the day after the 9 mile run (i.e. Wednesday) I was to go to the gym to do the elliptical (i.e. Cybex) for 30 minutes or so to work out the lactic acid, followed by weights.  Wednesday night I was feeling decently but just didn't have the energy to go to the gym --- so I didn't.  BIG MISTAKE.  Come late Wednesday night and Thursday morning, I was definitely feeling the 9 mile run.

I have to admit, I felt pretty good today.  I was even chatting via email with my friend Evan who completed an 11 mile training run yesterday for a half marathon that he is running in 2 weeks; we both said that we actually felt decently today.  My only muscles that felt a little tight were my hip flexors.  I am swamped work wise, but made myself go to the gym.  I feel great now --- sometimes the hardest thing to do is just get to the gym.  But I digress.....

30 minutes on the elliptical (i.e. Cybex) --- the intensity level stayed the same but I took the elevation up every 10 minutes.  I stretched really well, and then followed that with something that I truly haven't done in a while.  I dedicated 60 minutes to weights and core without cardio.  I really feel energized now (which is a good thing as it is going to be a really long night work wise).  Tomorrow I am taking the day off and will get into the gym on Wednesday before my trip to Milwaukee this weekend.

I'm going to Milwaukee for my little sister's (as opposed to my younger sister, who is 2 years younger) bat-mitzvah.  I am a little worried about the trip on several fronts.  First, I have so much to do with this upcoming trial that being away from the office right now is not ideal.  Second, I have to get an 11 mile training run in sometime over the weekend --- and my time is pretty much accounted for with family related activities.  Third, my younger sister, brother-in-law, and niece (the most important person) are going to be there from the other LA (i.e. Los Angeles) and I am obviously going to want to spend some quality time with them (in addition to my younger brother and his fiance, parents, etc.).  Somehow I am going to have to find a way to fit it all in --- which as we all know by this point is not my biggest strength.  I'll do my best to figure it all out.

More information will be coming out shortly about the non-profit that I am raising money for through my participation in the Chicago Marathon ---- Atticus Circle (http://www.atticuscircle.org/).  Please stay tuned for that and please think about making a donation to this amazing organization.

Is it Wednesday Yet?

My feet and achilles tendons are so frozen that I can't feel them.  Twice today I have have submerged them --- for twenty minutes at a time --- in an ice bath.  Despite that, I am in a great mood and actually feel like I am on the road to recovery.  I can't start running again until later this week, but I spent 60 minutes on the Cybex Arc Trainer ( http://www.cybexintl.com/products/cardio/750%20A/intro.aspx )today.  I didn't do it at the level I would have before I hurt myself, but it still felt good to sweat.  I followed that with 1,000 sit ups.  Five hundred "typical" crunches and five hundred oblique crunches.  Tomorrow night I start back with Liberdy.

Kind of funny that I can start running again while I am in Chicago for work this week.  I am going to try to run the actual Shamrock Shuffle route while I am there.  Next Sunday I signed up for a 5k in New Orleans to get me running outside.

My doctor, who we have established is a runner, said that if I was in the market for shoes that I should think about trying the Adidas adiSTAR Ride 3 ( http://www.shopadidas.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4477648&cp=2039726.2039728.2020250&cid=U44214&shopGroup=R ).  I did my research, and it seems they might be a good fit for me.  To go along with the whole "starting anew" mentality when I can start running again on Wednesday, I ordered a pair (unfortunately, Varsity Sports doesn't carry Adidas).  They will be here by Tuesday so I will be able to try them out in Chicago.  Anyone out there ever run in Adidas shoes before?

As ironic as this might sound, the NCAA Basketball tournament has given me a new sense of life in terms of my running.  In reality, four teams that very few people thought had a chance have made it to the Final Four next weekend.  If you can tell me that you honestly picked either Butler and/or VCU as a Final Four team then I will be shocked and amazed.  No one saw it coming.  They aren't teams you would expect to be there because they don't necessarily fit the mold or what the you imagine when you imagine a basketball team going to the Final Four.  (OK, I am still a bit pissed at Butler for beating my beloved Badgers, but let's face it, the Badgers didn't come to play last week.) 

I'm starting to think of myself along the lines of Butler and VCU.  Both of those teams believed that they could do it despite what everyone told them.  It didn't matter that every sports writer in America told them they weren't good enough or didn't look like an elite basketball team.  They believed in themselves and what they were capable of.  OK, I get it.  I don't look like a runner (yet).  I am slower than most runner.  My achilles tendons are shorter than most peoples.  Who cares?  I don't.

When I was in high school there was a Nike add.  I don't remember all of it, but in essence it was about someone telling you that you would never be able to do something and then you proved them wrong by doing it.  The add ended with the words, "they will tell you no, and you will tell them yes."  On Wednesday my running starts anew.  People may tell me no, but I will tell them yes. 

Until Wednesday in Chicago.