Winning Back What I Lost

830PM:  Easy run; comfortable w/ temps in the low 50's; I think I'm nearly fully recovered now; no leg soreness to speak of but still some soreness in my left ankle and heel; I may need to get an MRI on this ankle eventually b/c it has been nearly a year since my high ankle sprain but unfortunately BC of Idaho contributes almost nothing for an MRI. 

845PM:  Easy run tonight; I'm home alone for the past couple of days so I'm under no time constraints w/ my runs; its been nice to run in the evening now that the mornings have gotten really cool; today I learned that my bro-in-law's brother died of a massive heart attack during his nightly run; just collapsed on the side of the road and never got up; he was only 40 yoa and seemed very fit; he left behind 4 kids between the ages of 7 and 16, very sad. 

145PM: Short run @ just under marathon pace; needed to get home to do some errands before the wife and kids return from OR; very windy and looking like it wants to rain; not what I was hoping for BSU's homecoming game v UC Davis this evening.

645AM: 4M easy; Woke up this morning to a pretty steady rain so I opted for the TM at the Idaho Athletic Club.  It's nice to have that as an option but I was hoping to put off the indoor running until November. 

630AM:  A very slow 5.4M run on a chilly morning. My legs felt really heavy- which I guess is not at all surprising given the cold weather.  Still, I'd much prefer battling the cold temps v. running on a treadmill.  I think the balance tips in favor of TM running once the temp hits the teens.  Thankfully, we're not there yet.  Need to get in a couple of two-a-days because I'm headed to Eastern Idaho on Wed evening for my annual October sojourn to my buddy's cabin on Henry's Lake.  We usually try to fish the Park but this year we're changing things up and floating the So Fork Snake and the Madison. 

945PM: 3M quick and easy on the TM.  My running has been hit and miss lately, mostly miss.  Returned home from my fishing trip on Sunday to a house full of H1N1 infected zombies.  I've remained unscathed thus far.  I got a flu shot during my lunch hour knowing that it would not be effective v. H1N1 but it couldn't hurt, right?  I'll try to get away for some TM running after BSU v. Tulsa on ESPN tomorrow and putting my sick kids and wife to bed.  I absolutely must get some solid training and eat better from now on, if for no other reason then to ward off any disease.  I've been extremely lax since TOU but its time to get it going again.  Running Barber to Boise 10k on Saturday which under normal circumstances should lead to a PR given the fast course.  I'm not nearly as optimistic of that outcome given my poor training over the last month.

945AM: 7.2M easy on the TM after watching BSU escape Tulsa on ESPN.  It felt good to stretch the legs a little.  This was my longest run in about a month.  I'm still H1N1 free, which is nice. 

945PM: 6.3M super slow. Almost didn't make it out the door.  Started feeling nauseous this afternoon and my mind keeps thinking that because all of my family has the flu then I must be about to get it.  Gotta change my mindset and ward off the sickness w/ the power of my mind. :)

9PM: I probably should have taken the evening off given that I'm running a 10k in the morning.  I mulled it over a little but in the end I decided to go ahead and log some miles.  I'm dangerously close to being seriously out of shape and if I don't get back into my old routine I can really see myself sliding the other way and just taking the winter off.  So if it means that I run 30 seconds or a couple of minutes slower than I would otherwise than so be it.  Didn't push it real hard but I got a few faster strides in there.  My form is pretty solid but I can definitely notice the extra 7-8 lbs I've gained during the last month.

I had zero expectations going into this race.  I've been rather inconsistent in my training since TOU on 9/19.  The highlight for me was just getting out of my house after being cooped up inside all week taking care of a sick wife and kids.

The day started at 8am when I picked up fellow FRBer Court and headed to the shuttle parking lot outside Bronco Stadium taking us to the starting line near Barber Park along the Boise River east of town.  Weather was perfect w/ a temp in the 50's and no wind for a 930am start.  The gun went off rather unceremoniously and we were forced to weave our way through a massive throng, approx 900 runners for the 10k.  That was probably my only complaint about this race.  It funnels all of the runners onto the greenbelt along the Boise River from Barber Park all the way to the finish line inside Bronco Stadium.  That would be ok for a smaller and/or longer race.  If you're not up front then its pretty difficult to make your way through.  Overall, it's a fast course though- mostly flat w/ some slight downhill. It was enough for me to set a 10k PR but I'm curious what sort of time I could have put up had I not slacked off the last month.

In summary, I had a great time running w/ Court, setting that PR, goofing around on the "blue turf" and eating a pretty good post-race pancake breakfast.  Good times.

9PM: Slow, easy run on a nice cool evening.  My legs are still a little sore and heavy from Saturday's race but nothing too extraordinary.  I can't believe I've only logged 60 miles this month.  I was doing that in one week not too long ago.  Started listening to "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell.  Its all about the "adaptive unconscience" and how snap decisions can often be more effective than long, deliberative ones.  The irony is that Gladwell's conclusions make very little intuitive sense- but then again neither does electing to run long distances for fun. 

930PM: A little faster, but still easy.  My legs are fully recovered now.  Not planning on running any races until Christmas.  This will test my dedication.  Its always easier for me to log the miles when I now I have a race on the horizon. 

12PM: Easy run on the Boise R. Greenbelt during lunch hour.  Perfect weather this time of year w/ temps in the 50's, overcast, and a slight breeze.  Beautiful fall colors along the river.  I give it another 7-10 days before the leaves start disappearing in earnest.  Spied a pod of rising trout at the 3M turnaround and watched as they took midge larvae just under the surface.  Nothing really big, just a bunch of 10-12 inch spring stockers.  I may have to return on Saturday afternoon w/ my flyrod if time allows. 

845PM:  Very slow and easy.  I just wasn't feeling it at all.  Got in and got out as quickly as possible. 

1230PM:  5M easy and 1M sub 8 min/mi pace on the GB between Municipal Park and Barber Park during lunch.  Ran past a baby rattler sunning itself on the GB.  He didn't rattle at me or anything but I nearly wet myself anyway.  I thought those things would be holed up by now? 

10PM:  Weather was nasty this evening w/ gusty wind and rain so I headed over to IAC for a slow an easy run on the TM. Finished up w/ the last 1/4M @ 6:30/mi pace. 

930PM: Short run @ MP.  I ran outside but I underestimated how cold the wind would be.  I had gloves and a beanie but no sweats.  My legs were really cold by the time I returned home.  I got a little lost in Thousand Springs when I tried to cut away from the canal and head through the neighborhood. 

1230PM: Easy run at lunch on the GB from Municipal Park to Barber and back.  Didn't have a watch so I was flying blind sorta speak.  It was nice.  By the time I returned to my car the elm leaves were falling and a light snow had developed- absolutely beautiful.

1030AM: 5 quick TM miles to get over 100M for the month.  Nothing special.