Updates!

Check out the Race Recap page for the latest.

I did the Lace up with Team Diabetes race over the weekend, while it wasn't pretty, I feel happy that I didn't have to miss yet another race.  I'm also back to my gym routine as well (I had to take a month off to let my knee heal up).  I did 34 minutes on the treadmill, followed by squats (135lbs, including barbell weight) and pec work (chest press machine).  Boy was I sore the next day.

Next up is the Terry Fox Run in a few weeks, and that will be the likely end of my racing for 2014. Since I can't do the Queen City Marathon as planned in early September, I'm aiming for a half marathon in early 2015 followed by a full marathon in the spring.

Finally! 5K on a late summer afternoon.

To be perfectly frank, I didn't think I would be running 5K today when I set out.  I was hoping to last at least 4K before my IT band became an aggravated mess as usual, but it never happened.  With some well-timed stretch breaks, I was able to cover 5K in just under 34:00 (this *includes* several minutes of stretching).  That may sound like a terrible time, but this was my best run since the half marathon in Winnipeg.

The road to recovery has been extraordinarily long thanks to my decision to gun it at the end of the half marathon after my IT Band had decided to tighten up.  Truth-be-told I am truly lucky I didn't make things even worse.

But all that aside, I found that rest, foam rolling, heat (hot water bottle / heating pad) did wonders for my recovery.  Additionally the ice/Advil combination proved to be helpful as well.

Of course I've learned more than I ever thought I would about Illiotibial Band Syndrome (namely how to pronounce and spell this damned thing).  The most important lesson I learned is what caused my particular version of the syndrome.  In my case it was an habitually tight TFL muscle brought on because of a twisted pelvis (now fixed).

I stretched my right TFL several times during my run, and it paid off.  So I'm back!  But now I need to make up for all the conditioning I lost.

3k in 30 Degrees

It sure feels good to complete a legitimate run without pain.  I pushed the envelope quite a lot, and stopped when it seemed like my IT band was on the verge of stopping me.

The trick it seems was thirty minutes of stretching and ... My old Saucony running shoes.

It was a bit warm, at 30 Celsius.  

My previous false starts were attempted in either my Brooks Pure Performance or Mazuno Waves.  (These shoes have less support than Saucony Guide 6.)