TEXAS Paul - Out to Pasture - Healing

Sat, Dec 06, 2008

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 07:00:00

Met Karen F. and Karen H. at Austin HS track at 6:30 AM. Nice cool morning with temps in the mid 30's. We did a warm-up mile and a quarter and then did 4 speed interval miles with a 1/4 mile recovery between each. Actually I only got in 3 and a half speed interval miles because my right heel pain made me call it quits during the last speed interval mile.

Then we headed for the Town Lake trail for a few easy miles. I pulled off at the People Bridge loop and only got in 3.1 miles on this one. The right foot pain was getting ugly.

Lynn and I headed for home. It has been almost 4 months since the Pikes Peak Marathon where I injured the right heel. I thought it was a bruise. The doctor says it is plantar fasciitis which is why I got an orthotic two weeks ago.

Big decision. I have decided to take a month off from running to try to get real deep healing on the right foot. This will be the first time in years that I have taken a month off from running. I'll have to figure out what to do to get in my aerobic training without the pounding of running.

Sat, Nov 29, 2008

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:00:00

Joined Tom and Karen F. and Karen H at 6:00 AM. Ran the 5 mile Congress Avenue loop and took a side run out past Zilker Park and up in the hills on the southwest end of Austin. We ran up Wilke hill twice during this run and ran up past the Gus Farah entrance to the Greenbelt. A nice run.

I was wearing my new orthotics on this run and by the time we were finished the pain in my right heel was quite bad. I'm going to add cushion on top of the orthotic.

Mon, Nov 24, 2008

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:00:00

What a beautiful evening in Austin, TX, with temps feeling cool in the low 60's, clear sky wtih stars. I was late leaving work so I only got in 1 mile warm-up. Then we did drills and accellerations. We had about 60 of us there tonight, another nice big group.

Donnie had us do "Circuits" tonight. Run 100M and do pushups, run 100M and do lunges, run 100M and do crunches, run 100M and do jumps. Repeat for a total of 4 times. Then Tom and I did a cool-down mile and then we joined the group for the stretches. Not a lot of distance but it all took about an hour, just a nice quick evening.

Sat, Nov 22, 2008

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:00:00

A nice cool morning in Austin, TX, about 51 degrees at 6:00 start time. We ran 15 miles including the Turkey Trot 5 mile course that will be run on Thanksgiving Day.

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:00:00

I untaped the right foot and was on my way to the foot doctor after work tonight to get retaped for the plantar fasciitis but they said they were closing early so I didn't get it taped back up. I'll do it myself.

Cold front blowing in this evening. Lynn and I went over to Florence HS track and I did 3 miles, just to give me some time on my feet running. Anyway, it felt good just to get out for a little run tonight. With the wind blowing and getting cold I felt sorry for Lynn and decided to cut my run short.

Mon, Nov 17, 2008

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:00:00

A nice night at McNeil HS track. I got there early and got in 6 miles warm-up before the running group showed up. Temps were in the high 60's or low 70's, just right. We had about 55 of us in the group tonight. Lots of great marathon and half marathon stories from Sunday's San Antonio races. After the drills and accellerations, Donnie had us do 4 each 300 meters ladder and then some 700 meter loops as well. Tom and I did the 4 each 300 meter runs with times of 1:21; 1:16; 1:11; and 1:00 (a 5:20 mile pace). Tom had to go to work and I had enough after getting the 6 warm-up miles as well, so we just did a cool down 1/4 mile and we were on our way.

The right heel is still some painful (plantar fasciitis) as I wait for my orthotics in a week (next Tuesday). A great night of running, though.

Sat, Nov 15, 2008

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:00:00

Nice 13 mile run with Karen H. and Tom H. We did the 10 mile Mt. Bonnell loop and then the People Bridge loop on Town Lake. Lynn did her walk and found some nice flint rocks. Then we all went to Maudie's for breakfast tacos. Karen F. and lots of other runners from our circle are in San Antonio to run the marathon or half marathon on Sunday.

Wed, Nov 12, 2008

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:00:00

Full moon. Temps in the 70's. Brushy Creek. 3 miles warmup. Drills. Then we ran the boat ramp hill and over into the parking lot and circle back to the top of the hill. We did this run 6 times. The loop we ran was just short of a half mile. Tom ran with me the first 3 loops and then he had to leave to go to work. My times were 3:21; 3:21; 3:05; 3:00; 3:04; 3:04. A nice workout.

I went to the foot doctor and told him about what I thought was a bruised right heel. He X-Rayed the foot and declared a bone spur / plantar plantar fasciitis. He had orthotics ordered that should be here in a little over a week. He said I have one of the highest arched feet that he has seen and that the orthotic will really help.

Sat, Nov 08, 2008

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 07:00:00

What a nice morning in Austin, TX. 45 degrees at 6:00 as we met down at Town Lake and Mopac. Just the 3 of us this morning, Karen F., Karen H. and me. Lynn did her walk while we went for our 15 mile run up to Mt. Bonnell, then up to 2222, over to Shoal Creek, down to 24th, up behind the State Capital, down Congress to the Town Lake trail and then back up to Mopac to finish. A really nice run. Then of course over to Maudie's for breakfast tacos.