Mr. Sun’s Dreaded Return

We in Bethlehem seem to have done something remarkable; we’ve eliminated spring from our calendar. We had about 6 months of winter, and then we shot forward into summer. It brings to mind the start of a roller coaster ride, when you’re being jerked around by the sudden movement.

The result is about as jarring- at least, for a runner. Spring usually introduces us slowly to the heat, helping us adapt. But instead I’m finding myself very suddenly extra-dehydrated and fatigued on runs. My worst foe, Mr. Sun, has come back to wreak havoc on my body. Combined with my odd injury, I had pretty low hopes for Broad Street.

But, as luck would have it, today’s post is all about the good news regarding my new obsession. And here it is:

It seems as though we’ll have a brief respite from this heat. Broad Street is usually quite cool in the beginning, since it starts out early and in the shadows of the city. But the seventh-through-tenth miles span an open stretch of road. You definitely feel the sun for those last few miles. And if my old nemesis is hidden behind some rain clouds, well, that just might be all the help I need to have a great race.

On the Rebound (Again)

Ever since that bad 10 mile run on Monday, I’ve been nursing my poor right leg back to health. I’ve been doing low mileage, and running slow on some days. And after I run, I’ve been taking advantage of the trainer’s ice bath (what a wonderful machine). This close to my Big Race, it’s important to rest any possible injuries. In fact, it should help my eventual time much more than hurt it.

After all, not resting could have disastrous results. I would hate to keep training at the same intensity, only to end up sitting on the side of Broad Street with a pulled hamstring. I think that’s the worst case scenario.

And the lower mileage is appropriate for where I am in my training for the race. I should have begun tapering on Monday (two weeks is a good amount of time before a 10-mile race), and cutting my miles back to about 60-70% of the norm. Even with my possible injury, 60% is easily achievable. And I shouldn’t have enough time to lose actual fitness- my base training will last longer than a couple of weeks.

Does it sound like I’m trying to convince myself as well as you? That’s because I am. Like most runners, I have a pretty narrow idea of how the world works. Diligence leads to fitness, laziness leads to weakness. So, as these runners often have to do, I’m trying to swallow my indomitable spirit before it further harms me.

The Two Week Jitters

This past weekend’s meet officially marks the end of my Spring track season. Now I can just focus on training for the Broad Street Run in two weeks. Normally I would be thrilled to return my attention to long distance racing. Broad Street, on top of being a lot of fun, is the race that means the most to me right now.

There was a slight hitch on Monday, however, when I went on my long run for the week. My right leg, ever the problem, spent most of the ten-and-a-half miles twitching oddly. My hamstring was sore and a little weak, but there was this entirely new feeling in it. The best way to describe it is to compare it to the rusty/fuzzy taste of a dead battery. Only it was darting up and down my leg, and causing spasms. Ugh, it’s definitely a running injury-It just refuses to go away for good.

So I’m a little worried about Broad Street. This was supposed to be the year that I’d go sub-60 in the 10-miler; I’d been sure of it since cross country season in the fall. But if my leg can’t hold up to a long, slow run without falling apart, I don’t see how my goal’s ever going to happen.