Training: Weeks of April 18, April 25, and May 2, 2010

Week of April 18

Total mileage: 50 1/2
Races: none

Sun - Lunch 9m @7.30   Total - 9

Mon - Evening 11 1/2m at FRP trails - 5 x 5 min./2 min. Fartlek   Total - 11 1/2

Tue - Evening 12m @7.55 with strides   Total - 12

Wed - Morning 11m @~8.00 at Tanglewood Park; Evening 1m - Right popliteus hurt   Total - 12

Thu - Lunch 3m - Sprained ankle running down Pilot Mtn.  Total - 3

Fri - Off  Ankle is sore.

Sat - Evening 3m @7.53   Ankle okay, but weak  Total - 3

Week of April 25

Total mileage: 30
Races: Owl's Roost Trail Half-Marathon  3rd  1:25.

Sun - Morning 17m - Owl's Roost Trail Half-Marathon - 2m warmup and cooldown   Total - 17

Mon - Off

Tue - Off

Wed - Morning 3m at Kerr Scott Dam trails - Turned right ankle again, laid on ground 

            and howled, limped out of woods.   Total - 12

Thu - Afternoon  Bike 8m @18.9 mph  

Fri - Lunch 5m with work up and down mountains   Total - 5

Sat - Lunch 5m with work up and down mountains   Total - 5

Week of May 2

Total mileage: 44 1/2
Races: none

Sun - Morning 14+m at Stone Mtn. working plus some really tough hiking   Total - 14

Mon - Evening  Bike 10m @20.1 mph   Total - Bike 10

Tue - Morning 1m;  Evening  Bike 16m @20.1 mph   Total - Run 1, Bike 16

Wed - Lunch 8m with work, more big climbs and descents   Total - 8

Thu - Morning 10m at Basin Creek trails - 5 x 5 min. Fartlek with small backpack 

          while working   Total - 10

Fri - Lunch 11 1/2m with work at Buffalo Cove, more harsh climbs

Sat - Off

Just as you can see, my running has been a mess lately.  Oh well.  My training log is filled with more notes on injuries and aches than running notes.  My back has been quite bothersome of late and has been screwing up my right leg.  Maybe that's why I turned my right ankle.  Or maybe if you run technical, rocky trails enough, sprained ankles will happen.  Regardless, my right leg and low back are hurting often.  I keep saying the pain in my right leg is not real.  It appears and disappears, day to day.  I think the back is the problem, but then again I am not a doctor.  But like many runners, I like to think I'm as qualified as a doctor to diagnose myself.  Real pain or not, the hurting is getting old, so I have not been forcing the running.

My gypsy moth trapping job has kept me running.  I have taken on a huge load of working with that this year and am working 7 days a week most weeks.  I am working some new areas and it has been tougher than I had estimated it would be.  I have done a lot of running, bushwhacking, and hiking in some tough mountains.  I do see some beautiful places and places few people go.  I found about a 60 foot waterfall on the side of mountain with no trails anywhere near it.  I've done some nice runs on some great trails.  I've done some runs just straight through the woods, no trails.  I've taken 10-15 minutes to climb/bushwhack/hike 1/4 mile.  The folks I spoke with about going on the property doubted I could make it up the mountain.  They were impressed how quickly I made it in and out.  Some climbs/descents have been 40% grades or more.  I ran straight off the side of a mountain forest last Sunday.  I would guess it was 1/4 mile at ~20%, no trail but strangely wide open and clear.  That was fun.  It made me think of fell running in England.  I have been burning my legs up on all the harsh climbs and descent.   So hopefully work is helping keep me fit.  I try to get permission before roaming off onto someone's  property and have gotten lots of warnings of snakes, bear, coyotes, terrain, and gun carrying landowners.  I often can't locate the property owner, thus I say I am part professional trespasser.  Work my be tough, but at least it's interesting.  Hopefully running will get back to normal sometime.