Back at It

After briefly falling off the face of the earth (I was without technology for several days; it was pretty nice!), I’m happy to report that I’ve made some pretty good strides toward the big run on Saturday. And for my triathloning future as well.

It all started last Friday when I swam 2,200 yards that included some greater distances and intervals, and maybe just a few hundred yards racing Flipper. No matter what time I go swimming that man is always at the pool. I think he waits for me outside my office (but I never recognize him because he’s not wearing flippers) until I go swimming. It doesn’t hurt, however, to have a nemesis, does it?

Swimming Friday gave me a nice day o’leg rest, which segued nicely into my first “brick” workout on Saturday. Neil and I hit the bike path in the afternoon to warm up our legs for the season. We rode for about 30-40 minutes, when we came home and I ran 4.16 miles. It was a fast and comfortable run—my legs felt warmed up rather than tired out, which is totally not what I had expected. I have always feared that I would get off my bike with jell-o legs and need a nap before hit the next leg of the race. So, three cheers for me!

And then came Sunday. I made my usual Sunday-morning Trader Joe’s trek to buy a couple of things (including a really good flaxseed raisin bran that I mix with dried cranberries: dee-lish!) to fuel my week. It was all without incident until I came home and twisted my knee! Neil and I tried to think of a much better war-wound story I could tell people about my injured knee, but I cannot tell a lie: I twisted it getting out of the car. And it’s not the first time it has happened.

My knee was a little sore for most of the day, but loosened up and felt better by the time I went running. But it was a strange day for running. Yesterday was my first distance run in warmer weather (and it was such a relief to be able to run without wheezing and wishing I had an oxygen mask… I love improvement!), and I felt myself feeling dry-mouthed and way-thirsty about 30 seconds into my run. As I left my Gatorade in the car behind me, I figured I would warm up to my run and chill out. Not so.

My thirst became more of a distraction than anything else. I wasn’t feeling any other ill effects of being thirsty (so I don’t think I was dehydrated), so I continued to run. In my head, I had planned to run toward an ice cream shop in Stow where I would get something to drink. But as I wound through the ill-planned streets around here (parallel streets should never intersect!), I didn’t quite end up where I had planned.

Lucky for me I ended up across the street from a) a Walgreens and b) Eddy’s Bike Shop. I took a quick pit stop to buy and chug a medium-sized Gatorade—it was the Glacier Frost flavor, which does not contain any of the grossities that Joe once outlined—and then stopped at Eddy’s to buy some GU gel to carry with me on my next run. It ended up being about a 10-minute break, and I felt like a total cheater.

Total miles for Sunday’s run: 5.58 miles there and 5.34 miles back. Total of 10.92 miles for Sunday, 15.08 miles for the weekend, and 35.67 miles for the week.

All was well until 2-3 hours later when my knee got stiff again. It felt fine for the entire run and I hope a day of rest will help it heal today. I would really hate to be down and out because I don’t know how to get out of the car without injuring myself. But, like I said, it wouldn’t be the first time that happened. I think I need to get swivel-toed shoes.