Training Summary: 8/24 - 8/30

Mon - 6.5 miles
Tue - 0, started and bailed
Wed - 3 miles
Thu - 0
Fri - 4 miles
Sat - 5.5 miles with some on trails
Sun - 7.5 miles with some on trails
Total: 26.5 miles

This was the second week in a row that didn’t go exactly as planned, but I’ve committed all along to being patient, and that’s required a few days off here and there to keep the aches and pains at bay. Fortunately, I think my patience and persistence may finally be paying off. The last few runs of this past week were basically pain free and I seem to be feeling more like my normal self every day. When I was still unable to run during the middle part of this month, my goal became to get to a point where I could train full bore by the first of September, and it’s beginning to look like I just might meet that deadline.

Anyway, there’s not much to report on the specifics of this week. Monday was a struggle, so when I felt the same at the start of Tuesday’s run I turned around after just a quarter of a mile and called it a day. I could have pushed through it, but that’s where the patience factor and knowing when to back off comes into play. I felt better on Wednesday, but had enough lingering problems that I cut that run short as well and took another day off on Thursday. Friday was the best run of this “comeback” so far and Saturday was even better. Sunday I managed to run almost a whole hour (55 min!), and aside from the effects of the hills of WV on my out-of-shape lungs and legs, I felt good.

Hopefully this latest trend will continue and this week will go as planned. Right now I’m thinking what I need to do is spend September getting my legs under me and getting to a point where I can do some legitimate work. From there I can start a nice Lydiard-style base phase of at least 8 weeks and possibly 12 and maybe finally get some consistency to work off of going into the winter. I’m frustrated that I’ve lost so much time and fitness and have so far to go, but I’m thankful to be headed in the right direction and optimistic that I’ve learned a few things that will pay dividends down the road. I’ve always said that overcoming my injury problems (as well as training in general for that matter) is a big puzzle, and all I have to do is collect and assemble all the right pieces. It’s been a much bigger project than I ever would have thought, but I’m at least a couple pieces closer, and for now I’ll take it! Hope everyone has a good week!