The Mother of All Tailgates

This weekend was certainly busy, most notably on Saturday.  I started off very early.  Woke up pre-dawn to get a 10 miler in where I saw 2 deer and a family of raccoons.  The deer looked at me as if I was nuts and the raccoons scurried back into the bushes rather quickly.  

After my run and after the typical weekend to-do lists, I headed down to Lincoln for the NU/Virginia Tech game.  It was a great night for football, but more importantly a great night for tailgating.  My family and friends tailgate for every Husker game and Mom RazZDoodle (a.k.a. - MomADoodle?) outdoes herself for every tailgate, but this one was exceptional.  From what I can remember (there may have been some libations served/consumed), here was the menu.  The theme was barbecue:

• Ribs
• Smoked Turkey Breast
• Tequila Lime Chicken
• Smoked Brisket
• Homemade BBQ sauce
• Beans with bacon and peaches
• Macaroni Salad
• Smoked Corn Salsa
• Pico de Gallo
• An assortment of desserts
• Homemade chocolate chip cookies
• Combos, M&Ms, etc.
• Beer, and quite possibly any type of mixed drink imaginable.  Viper would tear up.

The Huskers may be rebuilding, but the celebrations keep getting better!  The only drawback (besides the loss) was the fact that we didn't get home until about 1:30am.  I'm too old for night games, I guess.  Next week is an 8pm start.  Ugh.  Poor me, right?

Hope everyone had a safe and happy weekend.

College Picks - Week 4

First off, since most of you will probably skim over this post, good luck to Viper and Laura this week in Akron and to all the other runners lacin 'em up in a race! 

Secondly, I take great delight in the fact that "the best USC team in 10 years and potentially one of the greatest teams of all time"* got beat last night.  In this blogger's opinion, if you're going to have rankings this early in the season (which you shouldn't), Oklahoma deserves to be in the #1 slot.  On to the picks:

Virginia Tech vs. NEBRASKA
OK, kids. Play time is over. The next 3 games will tell us where my Beloved Huskers are at. After feasting for 3 weeks on spread offenses, the Blackshirts will get to line up and play smashmouth. I hope they're ready for it. Thank God our offense is serviceable and getting better each game. This game will be ugly.
NU 20 Va. Tech 17

Northwestern vs. IOWA
This week's QB? Let's see...eeny meeny miny mo. Stanzi! You're up. I hate it when coaches can't decide on a quarterback. Especially after 4 games. Fortunately, NW is in town. Stanzi should get some good reps in.
Iowa 27 NW 10

Colorado at FLORIDA STATE
What the hell happened to Florida State? Does anyone feel confident about a coach named Jimbo? Their offense is worse off than when Bowden was in charge....and he didn't even wear a headset! Meanwhile, the Buffaloes are getting better.
CU 24 FSU 10

BYU vs. Utah State (Oct. 3)
I should have known better to pick Skippy Neuheisel in a big game. Nice to know some things don't change. BYU looks pretty decent and I don't think the Aggies will pose much of a test.
BYU 49 Utah State 20

Maryland vs. CLEMSON
Who lit a fire under Maryland 2 weeks ago? I'm going to give myself credit that my snarky comment about the Terps was bulletin board material. Meanwhile, Clemson continues to underwhelm.
Maryland 28 Clemson 27

MICHIGAN vs. Wisconsin
Michigan is not good. They might be in a few years, but right now, they are NOT a good football team. Wisconsin is. Even though some people have warned me about the Badgers saying they're overrated, I say they could be the team to beat in the Big 10.
Wisconsin 30 UM 10

OHIO STATE vs. Minnesota
Hey look everyone! Beanie is back! And just in time for them to dominate the Big 10, go to the Rose Bowl and play USC again and get worked over. Ladies and gentlemen, the cream of the Big 10 crop The Gophers could scare the crap out of The Ohio State University.
OSU 34 Gophers 28

Fresno State vs. UCLA
I would hate to be a UCLA fan. First, your coach is a retread (not retard, but close) who has never really won anything at any place that he's been (back me up, Vanilla). USC is the glamorous school in your city. Your fan base has way too many other important things to do. And your school colors involve baby blue. Fresno looks good and UCLA needs more work.
FSU 45 UCLA 10

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

*source - espn.com

T-Shirt! Got Your T-Shirt Here!

Anyone want one of my t-shirts?  It's got about 500 miles on it and I wash it at the beginning of the month no matter what.  

Actually, I was reading Frayed Laces latest post and she had a great idea:  A race shirt exchange. Frayed explains it better than I could, so I'm going to paraphrase:

The whole idea is that if you run a race you had done in prior years, you send your race shirt to your running buddy across the country, and vice-versa. There is a discussion on this in the forums of Steve Runner's Phedippidations website as well.  A site that runners should all visit at least once.  Oh, and RazZDoodle is my running idol.

I have one race t-shirt that I can part with and it hasn't even been worn.  I'll keep the 500 miler t-shirt.  It has a mind of it's own.  It almost ate the dog.  Long story.

Give me a shout if you're interested and, if you are, post something about it and keep this alive!

My 1979 Grand Prix, Veggie Quesadillas, etc.

In last week's TIART about favorite blogs, Laura over at Absolut(ly) Fit mentioned my blog as one of her favorites. And, really, why wouldn't I be listed as a favorite blog for all of you?  I noticed some glaring omissions in some blogs, but I digress.  

Laura had intentionally called me out mentioning that I used bullet points in my posts.  Are you questioning my humble beginnings Laura?  Really?  I take that as a challenge!

Ramblings of a short run:

• Run #2 with the new shoes.  They're too damn white.  I have to find some puddles this morning.
• It's too damn early to be doing this s**t.
• What do you suppose people think when they pass me while I'm stretching?  Am I a really bad burglar (white shirt, reflective ankle bands)?  Insane?  Lost?  All of the above?
• 4 miler today in foggy, but cool weather.
• First .7 miles suck.  First .7 miles suck.  Turn the corner and you'll be fine.  Turn the corner and you'll be fine.
• Ahhh, the corner.  Feeling better.
• The fog is impressive.  I can see about 1/4 mile ahead of me.  It lends itself to some pretty cool views with the street lamps and headlights.
• *stomach gurgles*
• I need to fiddle around with my Garmin some more and use some of the bells and whistles on it.  I wonder if that running buddy thing would keep me on pace.  Maybe I'll try it tomorrow before I try it out on my long run.  For my long run, I may have it to actually slow me down.
• Saturday is going to be a lonnnnnngggggg day.  10 mile run, soccer game, 7pm kickoff down in Lincoln.  Ugh.  At least I'm not driving down to the game.
• *stomach gurgles*
• What did I have for lunch and dinner yesterday?
• *lower intestines gurgle*
• Ah yes, leftover chicken fried chicken for lunch and a veggie quesadilla for dinner.  Healthy!
• *more gurgling*
• I feel like my very first car this morning, a 1979 Pontiac Grand Prix.  It said it was a V-6, but it ran like about a V-5 1/2.  
• I'm kicking around a new little Web 2.0/New Media somethin' somethin'.  Stay tuned, fellow runners!
• *more "urgent" gurgling*
• Um....we're going to have to cut this run short.  It's not so urgent that I have to pee in a sink or anything, but it's going to be close.
• Stop Garmin at 3.79 miles.  
• Tend to business not soon thereafter.

Whew!  That feels better!  The bullet points, I mean.  Get your head out of the toilet.

Weekend Notes

-It was the "race that never happened".  Our daughter woke up Saturday night crying saying that she had a really bad headache.  Since she had a big day, no real rest time (a.k.a. - nap) and her first soccer game, I thought she was just drained.  We gave her some ibuprofen and she went back to sleep.  She woke up early Sunday morning with the headache and a fever.  Mrs. RazZDoodle called the nurse, the nurse told us to get her to the emergency room, race cancelled, no biggie.  Thankfully, it was "just" strep.  Whew!  Later, my wife noted that there have been 3 occasions when someone has been sick on a race day.  2 of those resulted in ER trips.  Yikes.  I'll be lucky to race again. 

-It didn't help things that we attended a pancake feed earlier that was a fundraiser for a little boy that was battling a cancerous brain tumor.  His name is Jonah and he's a member of our parish.  He's a cute kid and their family's story is just heartwrenching, but the family is incredibly positive and strong.  It was uplifting to see the entire community come together and volunteer, donate, etc.  I'd be remiss if I didn't link to the family's website/blog.  

-I may have done something that was potentially, boneheaded at the fundraiser.  I bid on a one month couples membership to a mega-gym here in town....and I think I won.  Do I go to the gym?  No.  In fact, the last time I even set foot in a gym - save for our school's fitness center - was about 10 years ago.  Were there things there that I could've bid on for Christmas gifts for our kids?  Yup.  Quite honestly, if it weren't for the fact that this was a fundraiser for a good cause, I wouldn't have bid anything.  Of course, my wife was not with me at the time of my bidding.  D'oh! 

-My wife is slowly becoming intrigued about this blog. After I opted out of my race, she said, "You're putting this in the blog, aren't you?" I told her that I would. After a little more discussion, she asked if I knew how many people read my blog. I ballparked it, told her exactly how many subscribers I had, and she seemed pretty stunned and impressed at the same time. She knows how dedicated (i.e. - addicted) to running I am, but I think this put it into a different perspective.

-I did manage to get an 8 miler in this weekend, though.  Is there anything better than a fall morning run?  That's rhetorical, so no need to answer.  Everyone was sleeping early Sunday morning and I had determined that I wasn't going to run the race so I headed out with my new "date".  We met at the store Saturday morning.  It's my old girlfriend's hotter sister, the Asics Nimbus 10s.  She did nothing for me.  In fact, she gave me blisters.  NOT necessarily something you want from a date.  Later that day, I dumped her for my old girlfriend's twin, the Gel-Landreth 4.  The only difference between the two (the ex being the Asics 2100 series) is this one is built for more of a neutral gait.  I have a date with her tomorrow morning.  Wish me luck.  I'm cautiously optimistic.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Game On!

I was considering "Game F***ing On!" for the title, but that's inappropriate. However, the f-bomb would've signified how excited I am!

Doctor says it's just tendinitis and not a stress fracture. Let me repeat that:

I do not have a stress fracture.

Here's what the good doc said, in old school bullet points, of course:

• X-Rays revealed that I have bones in my feet. No fracture, not even a bone bruise.
• The reason I have tendinitis is because "this happens when you turn 36." Ha ha. Thanks doc.
• He's not crazy about my shoes. Not a fan of the Izumis. Didn't recommend a specific shoe, but he did say that maybe I should consider more of a cushioned shoe.

I celebrated the good news by cranking out a 4.5 miler this morning. Top of the foot is a little sore and I felt my IT band on the downhill parts, but I can deal with that.

So for the rest of the year, here's what's on the docket:

• The 2008 Omaha Corporate Cup Run. This was the first race (a 10K) that I ever ran, so there's a fondness for this race, plus you get a free coffee mug! Woo hoo! It's this weekend, so I'll be writing a race report. It's been awhile since I've done that.
• The Des Moines HALF Marathon. The doctor agreed that going the half was the way to go. There are other marathons. That leads me to the last bullet point......
• The 2009 P.F. Chang's Arizona Rock n' Roll Marathon. Funny story on this one: as I'm reading Vanilla's post about how he has finally decided to run a marathon, my email flag pops up. It's my sister. The title of the email? "A Crazy Idea". She suggests that I should come out to Phoenix and run the PFCARNRM. She's training for the half and I could run the marathon at the same time. Kismet? Vanilla stalking potential? Abso-friggin-lutely! This sets up perfectly:

1. I'll get to visit my sister and her new house, something I haven't done since she moved down there.
2. It's in Phoenix. I don't care what type of elevation map you give me, Phoenix is F-L-A-T flat!
3. It'll be beautiful running weather in mid-January! Dry and cool.
4. A band and cheerleaders located on every mile of the course.
5. It's in Phoenix.
6. The day after the race is MLK day, a day off from school. No getting on a plane immediately after running the race.
7. I'll be able to celebrate both my first marathon and my sister's first half marathon.
8. The prospect of completing my Vanilla Shrine (I just need one more picture and a lock of hair) intrigues me.
9. It's Phoenix.

Nothing is a done deal for Phoenix (i.e. - plane tickets, registration, etc.), but it's close. Just need to figure out some logistics. I'm training for it, though! In fact, training started last week and I'm already behind. Uh oh. Actually, I'm giving consideration to Galloway training versus my Hal "The Hammer" Higdon training. If anyone's done this, let me know what you thought.

Editor's Note:  Since the 'skers are taking the week off, so will I.  I'll bring back my picks next week.  

Might As Well Face It...

The following is a contribution to Runner's Lounge Take It and Run Thursday:  Bring Your Favorite Blogs.  

Blogs are a runner's best friend.  I truly believe that.  Writing my blog is a release for me.  It may be short, long, funny, nonsensical, etc., I just want to get it out there.  When I started writing, it was just so I could record how my running went.  "0 Comments" was fine and I was OK with that. Then, I started hunting around for some decent blogs about running.  I was expecting more technical blogs (pacing, nutrition, etc.).  What I found was that there were people out there that were just like me.  Frightening thought!  I commented to them, they commented to me and now I'm entangled in this addictive, but extremely rewarding web of people's lives.  As of this posting, I have about 50 blogs that I stalk.  When I say "stalk", I mean "follow with intense adoration".  Now, on to just some (not all) of my favorites.  Apologies to those that I've missed.  I don't love you any less.  I'm just too damn lazy to copy allllll of those links.  For those that I do mention, there's no need to call the police for a restraining order.....yet.

Half Fast - One of the first blogs I started reading.  Very funny, very well-written.  I even overlook the fact that he's a CU Buffs fan.  That's how good the blog is. 

Feet Meet Street - He has the uncanny ability to write down what a lot of us are thinking.  At least what I'm thinking...sometimes.  Very funny and his Photoshop skills are second to none.

I'll Run For Donuts - Dude's motivation is donuts.  Can't be any cooler than that, huh?  I'm pretty sure we run at the same pace and we were going to run our first marathon on the same weekend, but he challenged me to a long run duel and I lost.  And I got injured.  Deep down, I'm blaming him for my own idiocy.

Diggin' It - Xenia has no fear.  None.  Most of the time, she gives you a heads up when there's TMI.  A fantastic writer with a great imagination.  Here's proof.

I Signed Up For This?!?! - Marcy amazes me how she can write a great blog just by using emoticons.  OMG!!!!

21 Days - I just read this one for the drunken post-bowling posts.  

The Booze Hounds Inc. Running Team - Gotta go with the guy that actually appreciates a good libation now and then, and then, and then.  He's the only one that I know that can comment about the fine merits of Tullamore Dew.  

Gymnotes - I admire V tremendously.  She's a tough teacher that wants to reach her kids.  That, and she has an iPhone.  

Runners Lounge - Last but never least is Runners Lounge.  I always get sage advice from both Tom and Nancy.  They're both exceptionally generous with their time, advice, and insight.  I'm a shoe-in for the next drawing, right?  Right?  I'm greedy that way.

 

Editor's Note:  A big "thanks" to either Amy or Tom for this week's TIART idea.  I didn't realize it was possible for me to be less productive at work and at home.  More blogs?  Really????  Congratulations for lowering my bar.  I guess the students will have to learn themselves!

Hittin' the Scene

Remember how I blathered on and on about finding the perfect shoe a few months ago?  Well, neither do I.  I'm conveniently blocking that out.  I thought these shoes were so perfect, that I bought 2 more pair a month ago just to be safe.  You know, rotate them around and enjoy their cushiony goodness. Unfortunately, I think my new shoes got me where I am today....on a brief respite from training.  

Depending on the doc appointment, my hunch is is that he'll say I need to find a better shoe. Actually, what I hope he'll say is that I need to find a better shoe.  I really hope he'll be able to determine, once and for all, what type of shoe I need.  It seems to be the missing piece of my running puzzle.  

Finding the perfect shoe is like dating.  Granted, I'm not hip to the current dating scene, so I'll just have to refer to the mid to late nineties where tight shorts and tank tops were NOT the norm for the ladies.  Damn you Soundgarden, Nirvana, et. al.!

I hit the scene (a.k.a. - the local running store) to see all of the possibilities.  Some are attractive, some aren't, and some look like they have potential.  It's just a matter of the right combination.  At this point in my "dating" career, looks is going to take a backseat to comfort.  Unless, of course, the shoe is bright neon yellow or has Dora the Explorer on the sides.  I just can't be seen on the roads with that.  

I start hitting on some shoes.  I start with what I'm comfortable with....Asics.  Asics and I were great together.  We were young and impetuous.  After 3 pairs, we had a troublesome breakup. We were going in different directions.  I  tried the Asics on for old times sake and I remembered why we broke up.  

Then, I tried on a pair of Brooks.  Brooks and I had a one-week stand and, bnow I'll occasionally pull out my Trance 7s for some walking.  I consider that a "booty call" shoe.  

Mizunos were up next.  One night stand.  It never worked between us, BUT when I took this new pair on a short lap around the track, they felt really good.  Hmm....maybe there's more to Mizunos then I originally thought. I thought that about a year ago and, after one run, I had a bad case of shin splints.  

Nikes?  Eh.  Sauconys weren't in the building nor were New Balance.  I was told they were at another one of their stores.  I was pretty tired, so I decided to call it a night.  I won't go to the shoes, they'll come to me.

The search continues.  Maybe I just stick with what I have.  The Pearl Izumis have been good to me.  I can maybe get another 50 - 75 miles out of them.  That is, of course unless the doctor tells me it's OK to get out there and date again.

Runner, Heal Thyself

Symptoms of Inflammation of the Extensor tendons* (my comments in bold italic):

-Pain on the top of the foot (check).
-Diffuse swelling on the top of the foot (don't know what "diffuse" means and I'm too lazy to research it.  Damn you, public education!)
-Pain along the top of the foot which is worse during running (Amen!  It still hurts a little when I walk around.  Nothing that alters how I walk, though)
-Pain when the tendons are passively stretched (I can't remember when I've ever passively stretched something, but sure).

The cause of it?

-Overuse (well documented)

-Badly fitting shoes (wouldn't be surprised)

The article goes on to say that it may be a stress fracture, but you'd feel sharp pain if you pull out on the toes.  That doesn't happen, so that's leading me to hope for the Best Case Scenario.

After I go to the doctor (yes, I'm going), I may be selling some "gently used" Pearl Izumis.  I'm also hoping that the doctor (an ortho, not a podiatrist**) can suggest a shoe type that would fit me best.  If that's the case, it's back to trying out the best shoe for me.  Ugh.  That can be fun and annoying at the same time.  

I may have another potential race lined up after Des Moines, but I don't want to jinx it.  If the ortho gives me a green light to train again ASAP, I'll fill you guys in.  

*source - Sports Injury Clinic

**I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

Dropping Down

Over the weekend, I came to the realization that, even if the doctor gives me a Best Case Scenario, ramping my miles up to run a marathon probably isn't the smartest thing for me to do.  So, I emailed the Des Moines marathon people and told them to set me up for the HM.  I was pretty bummed, but then I realized I'll get to run a race that's completely new to me, I've heard it's a very well-run race, and I'll hopefully put some faces with bloggers while I'm there. Now why would I be bummed about that?

As of this posting, I've still got the doc appointment, but I'm considering not going.  As I've said, I'm not really a doctor kind of guy (but I play one on the Internet).  Since the pain has subsided to the point where it's hardly noticeable, the only reason I would go now is for him to determine if I'm in the right shoes or not.  That's a lot of money to shell out for him to tell me to switch to another type of shoe.  A couple of friends have gone to this and have had their gait analyzed.  I'm giving it some thought.  They give you a full orthopedic exam, analyze your gait (both walking and running), they give you a "shoe prescription", and it benefits their research.  Hmmm......

Thanks for everyone who voted this weekend. I'd like to say that I heeded the majority opinion and I kinda did. I didn't run this weekend, but I was itching to get out this morning, so that's what I did. The weather was beautiful. A brisk 40 degrees, full harvest moon and - thankfully - no breeze whatsoever. I had a fantastic run, too. The top of my foot was a little sore, but it didn't hurt (if that makes sense). No discernible pain on the side/bottom of my foot. I re-laced my shoes thanks to Runner's World and there was a noticeable difference in comfort! Not only that, but I posted one of my best 5K times.  

And on my birthday, no less.

I'm Going Insane!

OK...I'm on Day 2 of absolutely no running and it's driving me crazy.  Of course, now that I've made the doctor's appointment (for next Thursday), my foot feels fine.  A little sore on the top, but runnable nonetheless.  Part of me wants to get an easy 10 miler in this weekend and the other part of me thinks that I should rest until the appointment.  Thing is, if I rest I miss yet another weekend for me to get a long run in and the marathon looms.  This is frustrating.  

College Football Picks - WEEK 3

Did you know that Ohio State and USC play this weekend?  ESPN might have mentioned it on one of their 50,000 episodes of Sportscenter. ESPN has their tongue up the (fill in blank) for 4 teams/people:

USC
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Brett Favre

If you're not a fan of any of those four, you're lucky to crack the first 25 minutes of Sportscenter.  I don't understand it.  LSU wins the National Championship last year and they barely get a mention, but Mark Chavez drops Underwater Basket Weaving 202 and it warrants Breaking News on Sportscenter, the Colin Cowherd Show, ESPN.com, Around the Horn, PTI, ESPN Deportes, etc.  Gimme a freakin' break.  Yet another reason I don't watch ESPN that much anymore.  I miss Olberman and Patrick and, yes, I know they're now on NBC Sunday Night Football, but it's not the same and you know it.

New Mexico State vs. NU
I remember when the Huskers would put in their third string running back early in the third quarter. Well, they did that last week and the Big Red amassed 99 yards on the ground...for the whole game....using 3 running backs to do it....against San Jose State. I don't know what to think of this year's team. My expectations are quickly being tempered, though.

NU - 21 NMSU - 13

ISU vs. Iowa
This rivalry means everything....to Iowa State. They're so cute at this age. They grow up so fast. It'll actually be a pretty good game with 3 young quarterbacks to watch. I say the Hawks win only because they're at home.
Hawks - 35 'Clones - 30

CU vs. West Virginia (Thursday, 9/18)
Who woulda thunk I should've put money on the Eags last week? The hell? Kudos to the Buffs putting the Mountaineers on the schedule. WVU forgot that they have to play all of their games before they get to the title game. I don't think the Buffs can keep up with 'em though.
WVU - 30 Buffs - 13

BYU vs. UCLA
Boy, did BYU dodge a bullet or what? Is the ref a member of The Church? There's no way that call should've been made at the end of the game. I don't like to pick a Skippy Neuheisel team against a ranked team on the road, but BYU?
UCLA - 24 BYU - 17

MARYLAND vs. Cal
Holy crap, I just looked at the teams that the Terps have been playing. Delaware? Really? You can't take the Blue Hens to the woodshed? What happened out there? Weren't you guys in the Orange Bowl a few years ago? Cal rolls.

Cal - 42 Maryland - 7

Michigan vs. NOTRE DAME
ND barely got past San Diego State and Michigan looks below average. When has this game meant something to fans outside of these 2 schools?
Michigan - 10 ND - 3
*note - This game will be the 2nd most overhyped game on the ticket this weekend. The most overhyped will be.....wait for it........

Ohio State vs. USC
USC is very tough at home and, unfortunately, they look like they're on their way to yet another date in the BCS title game. I love how each year, ESPN and other major media say that the PAC 10 is one of the toughest conferences in the country. Really? Go down the list of teams in the SEC and Big 12 and pick out more than one gimme. I dare ya.
USC - 38 OSU - 10

FRESNO STATE vs. Wisconsin
Wisconsin is my sleeper team this year. They're sneaky-good. Fresno State is not. The Badgers go to Fresno and get a quality win on the road.
Badgers - 21 Bulldogs - 14

CRAPola

CRAPola with a capital "C-R-A-P".  My foot started swelling last night and this morning both my foot and my knee hurt.  Last night, I came to the decision that I'm going to have to call a doctor.  That's a big step for me.  I'm not a doctor kind of guy.  That's what the Internets is for, right?  

I told myself that if my foot swells or gets so bad I can't do day-to-day stuff, I'm going to call the doctor.  Well, it swelled up a little bit and carrying around my little one last night was very painful.  

What does this mean?  Who the heck knows?  I can't imagine that this doctor - who, apparently, is an avid runner by the way - will suggest that I run through the pain and ignore it. 

I'm not a doctor but here are the scenarios as I see it: 

Best Case Scenario - 2 weeks of RICE with stretches and massages that I can do at home.  The DM marathon is out, but the half marathon might be attainable. 

Good Case Scenario - No damage to ligaments or joints.  4 weeks off of running.  Minimal to no physical therapy.  Both the marathon and HM are out, but I can at least keep running.

Worst Case Scenario - Damage to ligaments, joints, or stress fracture.  Serious PT, maybe even a walking boot.  No running in the foreseeable future.  Kids eat snack ramen for 3 months.

I'm trying to stay positive about this.  Maybe the doctor will tell me what type of shoes I should be running in.  Maybe he can tell me how to avoid this in the future.  

The thing is, I've been training for a marathon for this long and 2 weeks ago, I did something really stupid.  I went out too much, too soon for my long run.  If I hadn't been lazy and done my long runs in the previous weeks like I was supposed to, this probably could  have been avoided. I'm bummed.  I'm pissed.  And there's not a damn thing I can do about it.

Geet off a' mah land!

I ran from the cops today.  At least, I think I did.  Let me explain:

My run started off like any other.  I thought I'd test out the foot* a little further and extend my route into the neighborhood where I grew up.  A beautiful morning for a run, I was able to catch up on some podcasts, etc. 

I embarked into the old 'hood.  About 1/2 mile into it, I opt to run on the sidewalk.  It's pretty hilly and I'm not crazy about dealing with someone who's driving at me at 5am.  As I veer from street to sidewalk, I notice a little yip dog barking like crazy at me.  Nothing unusual there save for the fact that I felt bad for the neighbors that had to listen to that crap this early in the morning.  I mean, I could hear this little shit** yapping even with my headphones on.  All of a sudden, this denim-clad lady comes shooting out of her backyard, waving her arms like mad and she's yelling at me,

"Get off of my driveway!" 

"What?", I ask, still running.  Just then, I trip over something on her driveway.  They have blocked off their driveway by tying fishing wire from their mailbox to a free-standing trash can.

"We're caulking the driveway and you just ruined it!",  she screeched.

"It's fucking 5 o'clock in the morning!  How the hell am I going to notice that?" I retort, still running away from her.

"You did this last week, too!"

"Oh, I was not and if you'd read my training log and blog you'd realize that I took the week off to nurse a suspect foot."  Actually, it sounded more like this:

"I was not.  Just relax!"

So I continued my route, completely dwelling on this confrontation that just happened and knowing that she'll probably be there when I make my return.  

And she was.

"I'm going to call the cops!  This is ridiculous!  You're gonna pay for this mess!  See the sign?"  

On the trash can was piece of paper that had something written in pencil on it.  "What?  How the hell am I going to read that when it's dark out?  And there's no mess!  Go ahead and call the cops!"  

And then we parted ways.  I went back to my house to continue my day and she probably went back to her rocking chair to polish her shotgun. 

Couple this incident with the one where, as I was starting my long run a couple of weeks ago, a deputy cruiser kept following me in my neighborhood.  I walked up to my "starting line", stretched out and set my Garmin.  All the while, he's creeping along at a smooth 3-5 mph.  I waved to him to indicate that I'm not some sort of psycho with a fuel belt.  He just sped off in the other direction when I started running.  A friend of mine, who's a deputy sheriff told me that he probably thought I was suspicious.  Really?  What's suspicious about someone wearing a fuel belt and standing at a street corner at 4:45am on Labor Day?  

So there's one or two more drawbacks to running in the morning.

*Foot Update - This is Day 2 running on my sore foot.  When I run, it's kind of sore, but it's more of an annoyance than painful.  It was only a 5 mile run today, but I ran with my other new pair of shoes and that seemed to help a bit.

**Can you tell I'm not a small dog fan?  Anything you can put in a backpack or purse is not a dog.  It's a rodent with a panting problem.

Hallelujah!

Interior Wide Shot of St. John the Evangelist Church in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.  A contrite RazZDoodle has come to confess his sins.  He enters the confessional.

RazZDoodle:  Forgive me father, for I have not run.  It has been one week since my last run.

Priest:  I see.  Well, my child, I don't see any harm in th-.  

RazZDoodle:  I'm training for my first marathon.

Priest:  Oh......well......were you injured?

RazZDoodle:  I am, father.  I think I may have Plantar Fasciitis.

Priest:  Ah.  Well, I'm assuming that since you're a devout runner, you managed to maintain by doing some cross training.

RazZDoodle:  (nervously)  Uh....well......does walking count?

Priest:  A brisk walk is always good.  How many times did you walk last week, my child?

RazZDoodle:  I walked from a Husker tailgate to the stadium.

Priest:  (silence)

RazZDoodle:  Father?

Priest:  And at this tailgate, did you partake in any sinful foods or libations?

RazZDoodle:  This isn't being taped, right?  I mean, Tom and Amy aren't going to see this, are they?

Priest:  No, they did away with cameras when the feds came down on the whole pedophilia "situation".

RazZDoodle:  Ah.  Well, I may have enjoyed some pancakes and coffee.

Priest:  Not a mortal sin, my son.

RazZDoodle:  4 pancakes, 2 with chocolate chips, 1 with raspberries and 1 with chocolate chips and raspberries.  Oh, and the coffee may have had some Tullamore Dew in there.  Call it an ode to another runner.  

Priest:  Hmmm.  Well, with no cross training and no healthy eating, you are going to have to repent, son.

RazZDoodle:  I know father.  Lay it on me.  

Priest:  I want you to recite Page 31 of the new Runners World 15 times and you must run Monday morning no matter what the conditions.

RazZDoodle:  It's supposed to rain tomorrow, father.

Priest:  Do you think the holy trinity of Rodgers, Salazar or Beardsley cared about rain? 

RazZDoodle:  No father.  Will this help my injury? 

Priest: I'm not a healer, my child.  You'll need to go to a doctor for that.  

And with that, I'm back on the road.......

College Pick 'Em - Week 2

Remember when WWF was at its absolute apex? I'm talking about wrestlers like The Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan, Randy Macho Man Savage, Junkyard Dog, etc. I'd sit down on a Saturday morning and watch them take on Joe Schmoe from Podunk, Wyoming. You knew they'd win, but you watched anyway. Well, that's what this weekend for college football is like. Lots of smaller teams padding their athletic budgets by taking on the big dogs. Onto the picks (home team in CAPS - like it matters):

San Jose St. vs. NEBRASKA - NU looked average in their home home opener. Defense looks fired up, but they still missed some big assignments. NU should still roll in this one.

NU 54 SJSU 20

IOWA STATE vs. Kent State - ISU's defense looked frisky in their first game although a middle school's reserve defense would look good against South Dakota State. Enjoy the wins while you can. The only thing I know about Kent State is that you do NOT want to protest there.

ISU 21 Kent St. 13

IOWA vs. Florida International - I've already made the one joke about Florida International. I'm tapped out. It's a home game for the Hawks, but they might have some trouble.

Hawks 28 Fla. International 13

KANSAS vs. Louisiana Tech

KU took it to the Internationals (I'm too lazy to look up the actual nickname) last week. Now Louisiana Tech comes to town. Does Terry Bradshaw have any eligibility left? KU rolls.

KU 60 La. Tech 13

COLORADO vs. Eastern Washington

What the hell? Eastern Washington? The first thing that pops up when I go to their website?

"Welcome to 'go eags dot com!'"

CU 59 Eags 6

Brigham Young vs. WASHINGTON

Brigham Young is ranked this year. Huh. I didn't know that. University of Washington used to be good....they play tough at home....uh.....yeah....
I'll try to a better job next week. Might even check out the stats and the final score on the Cougs.

BYU 21 Huskies 3

OHIO STATE vs. Ohio

Hey, here's an idea: let's leave our Heisman Trophy winner in the game in the second half to pad his stats. The game's in hand and we're pretty much a shoe-in for another shot at the national title. That is, of course, unless someone important gets hur....oops. OSU beats up on Frank Solich's Bearcats.

OSU 45 Ohio 3

MICHIGAN vs. Miami (OH)

New coach, he's arrogant, he's bringing in a new offensive philosophy, he doesn't have the players to run it, his current players aren't buying in, and you have a rabid fan base. Ladies and gentlemen, the 2004-2007 Nebraska Cornhuskers Version 2.0! I'll never claim to be a Michigan fan, but we feel your pain here in the cornfields. Good luck.

UM 27 Miami (OH) 26

**UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK**

Buffalo vs. PITTSBURGH

Think that Buffalo's head coach, former Husker great Turner Gill, doesn't have this on his radar? Pitt's AD, Steve Pedersen, screwed him over when he was an assistant at NU. Gill has built a nice program in upstate New York and this is the game where it allllll comes together. Besides, Pedersen just gave head coach Dave Wantsedt a vote of confidence after losing to Bowling Green at home. That's kinda like Michael Corleone giving Fredo a big smooch.

Buffalo 28 Pittsburgh 13

Need Your Help

First off, thanks to everyone for their advice and well-wishes about this whole foot problem.  I've been loyal to RICE, ibuprofen and stretching and I'm going to take a week off to recover.  My foot is slowly getting better.  I'm ruling out PF because my heel nor the bottom of my foot hurts at all, just the side of it.  

Here's where I need someone's advice:

As of right now, I only have 6 more long runs before the marathon.  According to my training plan, here are the distances:  12, 18, 16, 20, 12, 8, Marathon.  The 12 is out for this weekend, leaving me now with only 5 more long runs.  During the week, I'm running 3 times a week.  At max, I planned 15 miles total during the week.  With this setback, I'm going to need to tweak my schedule.  I'm aware of the importance of the 20 miler and tapering.  I'm determined to run this marathon, but I'm not so stubborn where I'm not ruling out running the Half.   

All pieces of advice are more than welcome at this point.

**Editor's Note: Here's a thought:   Could this injury be due to the fact that the shoes I ran in had a grand total of 12 miles on them before I ran the 15 miler?

Not Good. Not Good At All.

I was feeling pretty good after my run yesterday morning.  My IT band was a little sore, but I stretched it out, put some ice on it, and continued my day.  For lunch, we went down to the in-laws.  It's about a 30-minute drive and, when I got out of the car, the outside part of my left foot hurt like a mother.  I could barely put any weight on it.  I put my foot up and there was no pain whatsoever.  I put weight on it again, more pain.  No pain on my arches, just on the side of my foot.  This morning, it's a little better, but not by much.  There's no swelling and it doesn't hurt when I touch it.  

I'm praying that this isn't PF and I'm praying that I'm not sidelined for too long.  Of course, I mailed in my registration for the marathon on Saturday.  

With me deciding to be lazy the past few weekends and this mysterious injury, I'm very concerned that this messes up my training in a big way.  

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

**UPDATE** - After rest and some ibuprofen this morning, my foot is feeling a little better.  I'm going to the tennis coach and steal a tennis ball, even if it isn't PF.  I'm wondering if my IT band issue, which is also on my left leg, has something to do with it.

Uncle

Yep.  You read that right.  I didn't make it.  No excuses, just didn't have it in me.  If you must know...and I'll try not to reveal too much....there were some intestinal issues that almost did me in.  I tip my hat to my compadre and competitor, Topher.  He ran a great race.  More specifically, he ran and finished a great race.  It was a lot of fun, extremely motivating, and, before our marathons, there will - I repeat - will be a rematch!

Regardless of my loss, the positives of my 15.21 miles greatly outweighed the negatives:

POSITIVES

•  15.21 miles is the longest distance I have ever run in my life.
  
• I got to see the sunrise while running around a lake.
• My big toenail is bruised.  Not black, but it's pretty purple.  Initiation, right?

NEGATIVES

• I didn't run the full 16.
• I got beat.

Along my way this morning, I made some observations.  I had time.

• 15.21 miles is a lonnnnnnnngggggg way to run.  Right now, I can't imagine another 11 miles.
• Cliff's Chocolate Brownie energy bar is not the way to start out a run.
• I need to look at a fuel belt with 2 bottles or 4 smaller ones.
• Mr. IT band is back.  Not something I can't deal with/take care of.
• Start slower.  I got out to my normal mid-week pace.  Idiot.

So there you have it.  I go back to the drawing board and learn from all of this.  Hope everyone has a good week!

P.S. - Anyone know where I can get blue jelly belly's?  The only one's that I can find are red.