Here We Go Again!

I think I am finally (finally!) completely recovered from Zion. While the physical aches and pains dimished very quickly, full recovery took quite a bit longer. I noticed on my runs that I would fatigue much faster than usual, especially if I attempted a hill or a quicker than my average pace. there has also been a tough mental element. I spent a lot of extra time in the saddle, having some fabulous rides by ourselves and with friends.

Bugsy's blog can be found here...

I found myself not having time for even a three mile run, when really the time was there but the desire wasn't. It was too easy to make excuses, plus a few genuine reasons. There have been some days where leaving Rocko home alone wasn't ideal. A couple of weeks ago he started limping inexplicably. We went for xrays the next day, and the conclusion was damage to his ACL, but more worrisome was the mass spotted on his spleen. Back a couple days later for an ultrasound and a discussion on next steps for him. He is J's dog (and has been for 9+ years) , so the decisions had to be his. He is going in on Thursday to have either the mass, or the spleen and mass removed. The vet is hopeful since he wasn't showing any symptoms, and so far it appears benign. Keeping him quiet and not bumping into things has been tricky. He's a big rowdy dog in small apartment who no longer has free range of his yard since he has to rest his injured knee as well. Poor guy has had so many issues lately, and was finally looking and feeling the best he has in years. Fingers and toes crossed for him please!

"But why can't I come running with you?"

After some good runs recently on my own, with new running buddy S, and with the FogDodgers I decided it was time to start ramping back up. I have a training plan to get myself ready for Rio del Lago in November. I also modified the middle eight weeks of a marathon plan to help me build back to the level I need to be at to handle the training volume. Today kicked that off with an easy four along the bluffs. Despite the damp, overcast, generally gloomy evening, the trail was still beautiful. 

I'm so lucky to have this only a mile from my house! While not much in the way of hill training, there are a few spots to test your footing, and it's safe to run alone at any time. It's also easy to get to on a time limit. I usually save this for days like today when I can't get to a forest trail (too late by the time I got off work - I don't want to be some critter's evening snack). Of course I could have just woken up on time and gone to Russian Gulch to meet other runners like I planned, but I turned off the alarm instead of hitting snooze (plus had a food hangover from yesterday's barbecue). I learned a lot from training for and finishing Zion, and the races leading up to it. I'm ready to put it all into practice, and show up at RdL stronger than ever.

164 days to go!