PDR pic

here's a pic from either PDR in September, or Rothman in November. which one? Looks like I'm working very hard, eh? I hate these pics, who pays huge money for these prints???

thursday turd's day

I am officially in a funk as of today. I don't know why, but this seems to happen for a week or two after a good race. Perhaps the body is really tired and trying to recover? Usually the first few days I'm up on a buzz from good race, and then BAM! No motivation. I feel just 'blah'. Today the weather isn't helping as the mid day temp is 45 and there's been a steady rain all day.

I planned to have today off and then a scheduled 10 or 15 miler tomorrow. But my knee has been huring me for the last few days. It's a new pain... not one of the aches that I know so well that they are like an old friend when they re-appear. I don't need any new pains at this point. But I'll give it a few days and then hopefully it's adios to my new pain.

Supposed to have a Cub Scout camping trip this weekend but rain forecast to keep going for several days. I'm already secretly hoping that trip is cancelled. Lame, i know. But I'm a fair weather camper for the most part.

Here's two photo's from last weekend's DDC 15k. I'm psyched these 'freebees' look so good. In the first I'm running side by side with Mary B (fast woman!). We ran most of the race together which really helped me to hold the pace when I was beginning to fatigue. In the end I kicked to the finish and was about 10 seconds in front of her.

Ham for Paparazzi

Managed to track down a pic of me just after last Saturday's 5k race. Still would like to see a photo while running, but this will have to do. Feeling like 21:11 not too bad in that outfit.

Today: rest day.

Yesterday: first bike ride of the year! Felt good to be on wheels. Nothing noteworthy during ride. 17.5 miles @ 14 mph. I'm writing this down on my mileage log as equivalent of 5 miles running. I'm on track for a decent week as long as I do that long run on Saturday.

Peace. Here's a couple of shout-out's to fellow bloggers:

1. Very funny post from Joy, RN in NJ
http://runjoy.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-need-life.html
I went back to read after she reported this week on a successful snot rocket !

2. Congrats to Lindsay... a comfortable 200 mile month...oh, and btw, engagement. http://www.chasingthekenyans.com/2009/07/june-2009.html

3. Denise could use your help fundraising for BackOnMyFeet. She's doing her first Ultra, only been running for like about two years. http://run-denise-run.blogspot.com/2009/07/246-for-june.html

Goat's Head Soup? Goat's Head Soap!

I don't know why, but at the marathon we rec'd a full sized bar of Goat's Head Soap with the packet pick-up. This stuff says they make it in France, Canada, and Vermont. Yikes, who wants to bathe with Goat's Head Soap?

I've wanted to post this pic & comment for like 2 weeks. I never seem to get totally caught up around here. Anyways, I'm also working on my autobiographical 'top ten ways to choke on your first marathon' which I will add to this posting sometime very soon (hopefully tonite while I'm watching the Phils play L.A. from West Coast).

Fall Season Coming into focus

I did 3 easy miles around the neighborhood. I told myself at the beginning that if my legs still feel 'dead' then I'd take a walk break in the middle. I walked. Gee, these walk breaks are addictive. You'd think that maybe I got enough walking during the last few miles of the marathon melt-down. But I walked for a minute (and didn't time the run at all anyway).

Didn't have time to hit the weights. Will try for the gym tomorrow. I've been eating slightly healthier post-marathon. That feels good. I look downright fat in some of the online pics compared to other runners around me. Oh, btw, online pics are up! Here's a photo montage in crappy low-resolution. I guess I should fork over the $55 to get the high-res images. Right click and open in 'new tab/new window' to see best. insertPingimagehere

I have a lingering muscle pain in the lower left abdominal region. This was hurting with the leg spasms during the race. Now it's the last remaining ache. Hard to exactly put my finger on it - literally. It's like a pulling/pinching pain when stretching, coughing, bending. I'm thinking hernia type issue, which I really hope it's not that. I had that surgery about 12 years ago and the area has always bothered me. Pretty sure the doc did a sub-par job and there's like scar tissue or just plain not done correctly. Will watch this for a week & hope it resolves on it's own.

I have signed up for the Philly Distance Run Half in Sept. This is a PR target as it will be my first flat 13.1 in many years. This is the focus of my early fall season. And another shot at the 26.2 distance will be the focus of the late fall season. Really torn between Philly Marathon (here) or the Rehobeth Beach marathon but Philly seems the logical choice. About a dozen runners from club are doing Rehobeth That would be fun...

ReCap

oh wow, what a crappy performance by me. And a really bad feeling knowing that I wasted the chance to do something better.

I know I can do much better than friggin 4:21 marathon. Now I have to regroup and recover and then plan for a fall marathon. Round Two will be different (better).

I finished. I got the medal. DNF was definitely a possibility as wiped out as I was feeling. All the muscles of my legs were in cramps/spasms.

I have some email & FB messages that I will copy & paste into the blog. For now here's a few photos:

Traffic jam on Cross Bronx Expressway. That pre-race smile wouldn't last...