Training Summary: 8/2 - 8/8

Mon - 2 miles in 36 min (roads)
Tue - 2.5 miles in 44 min (Greenfield Trails)
Wed - 2.75 miles in 48 min (roads, some dirt)
Thu - 3 miles in 53 min (roads, some dirt)
Fri - 3 miles in 52 min (Greenfield Trails)
Sat - 3.5 miles in 56 min (fire road - lots of bear sign but no bear sightings)
Sun - 4 miles in 53 min (roads)
Total: 20.75 miles in 5 hrs, 41 min (16:26/mile avg)

Check it out, a training summary! Woohoo!!! It’s not much, but it’s a start. I think I accomplished everything I’d hoped to and then some, so I’m pleased. The goal right now is to build strength in my foot, ankle, and lower leg so I can start some real training in the not-too-distant future, and this past week was a good beginning to that.

The pace of my walks got a little faster each day as I grew more and more confident in the ability of my foot to handle the work. The first couple of days I had a little soreness in my arch, but it didn’t seem to be at all related to where the fracture was and by Thursday it was completely gone. I think it was a by-product of getting up on my toes for the first time in three months, and that’s precisely why I need to start out with some walking before trying to run.

On Saturday, I threw in a few short, impromptu jogs towards the end, and everything felt fine. Based on that, I decided to try a little more on Sunday. After walking the first 30 min, I alternated 30 seconds of jogging with 60 seconds of walking the rest of the way. I wound up doing a total of 15 30-second jogging segments and for the most part it was a success. I felt a few twinges in my foot while jogging, but nothing major and nothing consistent. On the last couple, however, I started to feel some soreness in my ankle, and afterward my ankle was really sore, almost like I’d sprained it. When I was talking to Reid Coolaset (the Canadian distance runner who helped me out with some advice) about his experiences with this same injury, he said his main problem coming back was his ankle. I guess that’s what happens when you don’t flex a joint for several months then suddenly start using it again.

Anyway, so far so good. The plan for this week is more of the same, lots of walking and a little bit of running, all as my body allows. I’m definitely planning on a very conservative approach and doing things right this time. I don’t think I’ll soon forget the past three months, and I NEVER want to be in that position again, even if it means doing a little less than what I feel is optimal. Speed is important; endurance is important; but right now I need consistency more than anything. On I roam......