Back in NYC

I recently arrived back here in Yonkers about 5 days ago and so far so good. It is still taking me a little bit to get over that crap that I went through for the past like 5 weeks. The flu, knee pains, calf pains, fevers and finally I am getting over a sinus infection and ear infection which was caused by the fever. The past couple of days have been good training, fairly consistent with one or 2 harder days in there, but nothing really intense enough to consider a hard workout. My second day back I went with Stephen Chemlany, Richard Kiplagat and Beau Bettinger on a 10 mile run up at the Rockies which started real easy and finished the last 3-4 miles at about 5:45 pace...Stephen and Richard estimated. I didn't feel bad, but not great either. It is just getting used to running faster again. I felt as though I was in strong form when I was in Maine early in the winter, but then lately just feel sluggish and slow getting used to workouts again. Workouts were spread out and inconsistent during the last 5-6 weeks but I do not feel as though I am in bad shape, just not good shape. I think it will only take a few weeks before I am fairly good shape again. Running with this group can always get you into good shape quickly.

The next day after that run was a hill workout at the Rockies. The workout didn't go that well for me, but it was still a good start. 3x2 min hills and then a couple 75 second hills. My legs were just tired and not used to the hills, but like I said, it will take a few weeks. Then ran 14 miles with Beau the next evening and felt fairly solid, so I need to take the good with the bad. I did a good amount of mileage this winter and I know that once workouts start clicking, I will have a good outdoor season.

I am also working on finishing my beer brewing equipment collection....Only a few more things to go and then I will be ready to make the first batch. So friggin pumped.

Dangit

So the past 3 - 4 weeks have been a nice up and down for me with sickness and injuries. First, I started with the flu and was unable to run for about 5-6 days...it was one of those knock you on your ass flu. Then after that, it took a few days or so to get back into running cause I felt terrible. Then once I got rolling again, I decided to get a new pair of Saucony Guide's...Ran in them for about 3 days and everyday my toes or feet would kind of go numb. Then on the 3rd day I went for an easy 9 miles with Riley and my left foot went numb then I felt a click in my knee and that hurts (mentioned this is the previous post). Then I went out to California with the Maine team for a week of training and a meet at Cal State Northridge. On Thursday I did workout with Riley where I used spikes for the first time in about 4-6 months. Then we did some fast 200's and 100's...and I strained both my calves and have been having a REAL hard time running this past week. Then today after trying to take it easy by cross training, I come home after the teams practice and I start feeling like poop again...yep, Definitely have a 102 degree fever....My awesome past month just continues...so this hopefully will be kicked shortly....Big cup of NYquil can always help too

Still up at Maine...but with a twist

So today my coach at Maine called me and told me that I will be helping escort the Maine team to a meet out at Cal State Northridge next week. SWEEEEEEET! So this weekend we go down to Boston for ECAC's and IC4A's and then we fly out on Monday and come back on Sunday from Cali. Not a bad deal. I may even get a race in out of this whole deal, but we'll see.

So for the past couple weeks my training has been struggling quite a bit. I believe that it is still due to the flu that I had about 2 weeks ago. I could not tell you the last time that I had the flu and I really don't know how long it takes my body to get over it completely. I took 5 days off from everything because I could barely even function with the flu. Then I slowly got back into running the next week maybe getting like 45-50 miles. I think I should have waited a few extra days, but what runner waits the whole time...ridiculous. So now I have just been playing catch-up with my body and it has been tough some days. Even normal everyday runs are sometimes difficult and workouts are quite rough as well. To add to the whole illness and lack of recovering, I believe there could be another small tear in my left meniscus. Same pain that I have had a number of times in the past and in the exact same spot....But I am just saying screw it and I am gonna soldier on cause there is either goin to the doctor and chance of surgery or run through/lift alot and hopefully it recovers on its own. I did the 2nd option my 5th year and it worked in the other knee, so lets see how it works. Since I have been soldiering on, I am back to my normal mileage and trying to get back to full workouts again. I think I am roughly back to 70-80 miles a week...roughly

Last Saturday I ran with Jeff a couple of times...1 hour on Friday and then a workout on Saturday morning...which sucked (if you didn't read the previous paragraph). We did 6 x 4min on 1 min off. My body just did not feel that great. No runner always feels great, so I just suck it up and am thankful I am still running. Jeff and I always have great convo's about running and normal life crap and how we are sick of it all and want to end it...just kidding about the normal convo's.

What I know is that I am getting excited for outdoor track and have some good thoughts about what I am gonna do.