February 2012 Summary

# of Runs - 19
# of Running Days - 21
Avg Miles per Running Day - 8.4
Vert - 6,000'
Weight Lifting Sessions- 7
Days Completely Off - 0
Injured - 4
The Bad: 

If You're Injured, Then You're Not Training - One step is all it took.  As I planted my left foot and began the push off/follow thru, I simply lost traction.  Every muscle, tendon, ligament braced itself in a attempt to stabilize the left leg. 

I didn't fall.  Thankfully.  But my left leg was feeling it.  By days end my left leg was feeling fine.  Except for the Soleus muscle.  No doubt in my mind I strained it.  So instead of resting it I tried running thru it.  Till it got worse forcing me to take a few days off.  Then tried running on it again.  Running to much to quickly.

I'm fine with being injured.  It happens.  However I'm pissed that I didn't take immediate time off.  I've strained/pulled enough muscles over my years of baseball and running to know that a week off at the first signs of muscle strains is the best thing to do. 

Since I didn't do that, I enter March gimpy.
The Good:

Running - The first 12 days of the month were productive even though limited due to the huge snow storm at the start of the month.  Had it not been for the slip, I could tell the body was ready to step up the level of training. 

Sticking with the positive theme, I'm glad my injury had nothing to do with over-training or not training smart.  I'm also glad it's a muscle that's hurt.  Not something stubborn like a tendon or ligament. 

Weight Lifting - The goal for the month was 6 trips to the gym.  Number 7 came on one of my injured days.  I couldn't be more happier with the progress I've made since I refocused my attention and energy to weight lifting shortly after Steamboat 50 last year.  I've pushed much more weight in the past but never have I worked this hard while running this much at the same time.  It's always been either or but never both.

Not sure how this will benefit me going forward but it can't hurt.  I'm going to miss the weight lifting as I focus my energy more to running as spring approaches.    

Focusing on other items while injured - Injured at home over the weekend allowed me to watch the little one while the wife escaped.  Escape to hang out with friends.  Escape to knock out that month long project which completes her last class allowing her to earn a Masters in Education. 

Getting my taxes (on my own) done in a timely manner even though they seem to get more complicated every year.

Looking at getting inked.
Celebrating the wife's birthday and one week later celebrating the little ones birthday.

Looking Forward:

Getting back to 100% health.

Starting the month by hanging it up for a week or so.  Something I should have 2 weeks ago. This also means I'll be a DNS at Salida in a few days.  Tough pill to swallow but I don't see the benefit of taking a week off and then running 26 to start my recovery.  My wife is more bummed out about this as she was looking forward to the weekend in Salida.

Early March has been slated as the start of my Leadville training.  The fitness I may have lost has been minimal so I still have huge expectations of myself once I get back into the swing of things.