The Daily Log 1/9/09

Distance: 4.24 miles
Time: 42:05
Pace: 9:55/mile
Weight: 193lbs
Terrain: Gently up and down
Temperature: Warm; intermittently breezy
Gear: Hospital Hill Tech Shirt, Adidas running shorts, Gobbler Grind Running Cap, iPod Shuffle, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right Shin
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 10.45 miles
Days until Marathon: 9

I've talked on and off about how the right shin has been the devil I know, and from my tone, I'm sure you've taken that to mean that it doesn't concern me as much as possibly it should. I said in the last long that barring a broken leg I'm doing this race, and that still holds, but it's somewhat frustrating that I'm having this pain this late in the day after many weeks of next to none.

All that being whined_I mean said, despite the fact that my shin has been rather sore all week, I made a last minute decision to head out onto the roads and log a few more miles on the new shoes. Partly this was because the alternative was the exercise bike, which has been great for warming up for my runs, but is one of the most boring contraptions known to man when it's the centerpiece of a cardio workout. Partly this was because it was in the mid-50s outside - it's been an extraordinarily mild January so far - and I have a hard time resisting short-sleeved shirt and shorts weather. Partly it was simply because I'm stubborn.

So was it a bad decision? Well, early signs are that no, it wasn't. I was conscious of the injury throughout, but I can't honestly say it was painful. I ran slow, careful mile loops figuring I could easily stop at any time and still be able to tell exactly how far I'd run, and as the pain never escalated, I managed to complete all 4 scheduled miles. I finished a few hours ago and if anything my leg feels a little better now than it did this morning, but this could be the ice and Aleve kicking in.

I really hope that everything holds up for the planned 8 miler on Sunday evening. While it's probably not imperative that I complete it in terms of fitness, it will be an important gauge of how the new shoes are breaking in, and if I don't feel entirely confident, I'm going to switch back to the old ones for the last week of short runs and the race.

Less than a week till my Arizona adventure begins, and only 9 days until the race. It almost looks like a misprint to me to read that. Seems like only yesterday it was still 80-something days away. Doesn't time fly when you're having fun?

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