Fourteen Miles

Needed to do a long run on Sunday. Unfortunately my friend Dan was unavailable to run with me. So, I just showed up at RunningWild and see who else would go for such a distance.  There was a new route, the Penn Route. Hanna R wanted to do fourteen, so I decided to try to run by her for six miles and go back. But, of course, at mile six, I decided I could go one more mile, and I did. My stress fracture has recovered 100%. Now, my left knee started hurting. It had never hurt before. I normally wear my sandals, but this time, I decided to use my Newton running shoes for the long run. 

This morning I went for three miles, EZ pace. I call it my recovery run. Of course, I ran them in the sandals.  I will use the sandals for every run this week, and see if I can do a long run on the sandals on Sunday. 

Several ladies ran the Grandma's Marathon in Duluth last Saturday.  They all qualified for Boston!  Congrats to all of them. 

Colette Gnade: 3:19:54

Natalee Thompson: 3:27:34

Lauren Hill: 3:33:16

Jodi Graff: 3:44:15

Jennifer Fish: 3:45:30 

MRI

The sports doctor called me yesterday and asked how my foot was. He suggested me to get an MRI. They called me at home and told me I could get the MRI this morning, so I went. Not sure what the docs will see, but I am afraid they will tell me I need to rest or some special plastic on my foot.
I have been adding steps to my barefoot-running program. I have noticed my right foot is not straight. I don't think this was an issue before the stress fracture. I hope things improve.

The last lecture

Watched a great video of Randy Pausch's last lecture.  It is so inspiring! 

Strengthening Foot Muscles

Thought that I need to walk to strengthen the foot muscles. Injuries appear because of weak muscles. Wearing foot does not allow all your foot muscles to work naturally. As soon as weather allows, walking (and hopefully running) will be on sandals or barefoot. 

UI rec Center

Another track day. Ran with the ladies again. They are getting faster. When running the 16 hundred, I stopped one lap before. I ran again to catch the group, but I turned off the timer in the wrong lap, so I didn't get that time. No big deal. Chronos are faster this week compared to last week. Jody really pushes the group. Last 400 m was led by Rebecca. 

1	400 m	1:36.2
2	800 m	3:24.0
3	1200 m	5:09.0
4	1600 m	error
5	1200 m	5:07.7
6	800 m	3:22.6
7	400 m	1:29.8

 I hope to be able to run with Karen during Spring Break. 

UI Rec Center

Tried to stay with the "not-so-slow-group" tonight.  These ladies are pretty good. Foot still feels weird.  Let's see how I feel tomorrow.  I plan to do some bicycle and elliptical machine tomorrow night.

1	400 m	1:56.3
2	800 m	3:24.6
3	1200 m	5:27.3
4	1600 m	7:04.2
5	1200 m	5:21.3
6	800 m	3:24.7
7	400 m	1:31.3

Running @ the Field House

Too cold to run outside. Part of my brain tells me it's better to take a short break for running to heal the stress fracture. While Assen was swimming, my legs exercised for 15 min in each machine at the fitness loft. Started in the elliptical to get the warms warmed up. Then, moved to the treadmill and ran 15 min @ around 12 MM pace. Jumped on the bike and rode for 15 min, and finished up back running in the treadmill for 15 min more. Foot does not hurt while I am exercising, but some parts of the foot hurt afterwards. My current goal is to be able to run continuously for about four to five miles, and be able to keep up with my wife. I think that by doing that, I will be able to regain my endurance. 

Assen had a good time swimming. He told me, her coach took him out of the water and congratulated him for a very good workout. He felt accomplished and was glad.
Still reading Leonora, a book written recently by Elena Poniatowska. The book deals with the life of a surrealist writer and artist, Leonora Carrington, daughter of a british magnate. 

No Track Day

Thought about going to the track this evening, but decided not to. Better to rest my foot one more week.  The foot is slowly getting better, but I am not so sure if it can resist a few laps on the track. Gave it another week of rest. 

Another polar vortex is coming to the Midwest. Schools were two-hour delayed this morning. It has been a very very cold winter. Thinking positively, this was a good winter to take a short break from running. 

Newton Energy

Bought a new pair of running shoes at RunningWild. Decided to try them out this morning. Because of my recent foot injury, decided to do a 3 min walk/1 min run intervals.  Foot was still hurting but in many different places. I also went hiking in the afternoon (wearing some old hiking boots). So, I have decided to take it easy tomorrow and take the day off (running). 

I will wait and see how I feel by Tuesday.

IFLY vs ACAC Dual Meet (2-9-14), University of Iowa CRWC

There was a swim meet this morning, IFLY vs ACAC Dual Meet (2-9-14). Assen competed in two events:
100 yd backstroke, 1:47 (previously 1:50.51)
50 yd breaststroke, 52.82 (previously 1:02.71)
Here's a link to the breastroke event.

Walking

Went for a two-mile walk this morning.  The stress fracture does not hurt when I walk, but the outside of my foot was hurting... --some tendons or something. Probably because of wearing the aircast boot. I think two miles was a little bit too much for the first day.  Maybe one mile should have been enough. I will do one mile tomorrow. Not sure if doing other exercises will help or will hurt the foot... 

Feel a bit frustrated for not being able to travel to Mexico and being with my siblings after my mother's dead. 

Visit to the Doctor

Paid a visit to the doctor this morning. He looked at my foot and pressed in all places. He found the stress fracture and it still hurt. Not as bad as two weeks ago when he recommended wearing the aircast boot. He told me I can start walking without the boot at night before I go to bed. I still need to wear the boot for one more week. Then, I can start running for 10 min and see how I feel. Can't wait to do that. 

Happy Birthday!

I turn 52 years old today. I have been enjoying running, but on January 7th I suffered a stress fracture on my right foot and I am currently wearing an aircast boot. It has been a very cold winter, so I guess it is ok to take a break from running for a few weeks. 

Superbowl game tonight, Denver Broncos against Seattle Seahawks.  Assen and I are cheering for the Broncos. 

One week after wearing the aircast boot

My foot feels a lot better.  Actually, both feet feel better after taking all this time off from exercise. No PF, no achiles tendonitis, no pain. I am not wearing the boot when I am at home. I am not convinced I need to use the boot all the time. I believe my foot needs to get stronger by walking normal, that is barefoot. 

It has been really cold these days. It is snowing right now. So, I feel it's not that bad to take some time off under this weather. 

Air-cast Boot

Went to the sports medicine clinic yesterday and talked to the doc to take care of the stress fracture. My foot is not getting any better. Of course, my foot was not bothering as much when I was visiting the doc. I was wearing a hiking boot and the foot was feeling better. The doc looked at my foot and started pressing on different areas. He found the spot where the pain is.... ouch! painful!

He recommended no exercise (no bicyclicng, no elliptical machine) and wearing an air-cast boot. But, I can swim as much as I want (without the boot, of course). 

I wore the boot all day long on Friday. My foot felt well rested at night when I removed the boot.  I hope it is working. I am supposed to wear the boot for two or three weeks. I wonder if my foot will be strong enough to run again.  I know I will have to start easy and build up endurance. 

Stress Fracture on January 7th

It's been more than ten days since my right foot injury. The top of my right foot started hurting while running on the track. I don't think I was running too hard when it happened. It was only mile 2. I noticed pain on top of the foot and decided to walk and see if the pain disappeared, but it didn't. I have been exercising in the elliptical machine since it does not put any impact on my feet. I am sure I am working some other leg muscles and I hope to be running better when I get back. Just not sure when this will happen. All my symptoms indicate 'stress fracture.' This happened to me about a year and a half ago on my left foot. I am glad this is not recurring on the same spot. This time is the other foot.