The Darkness is coming

Beautiful day out. Biked around, acquired some text, and got a swim in.
I feel like I should have gone to the Half, but that's in the past, probably better for my foot.

Loving this cold weather. I need more calcium...

Sacrifice

Not attending the Washington Half. This stress fracture is killing me.

Some other reasons I stuck around town this weekend...not quite sure what they are though.

Thoroughly disappointing and annoying. Totally confusing and befuddling.

I am going to kill my roommates cat, why is it making god awful noises?

Stress Fracture

Got a metatarsal stress fracture wed night on a run. Out for at least 4 weeks.

Will attempt the swim and bike legs on my half iron next weekend, bib is non transferable/non refundable, gotta get some of my monies worth.

Richmond marathon is pretty much out of the picture.

Real setback, extreme disappointment. Will come back as a stronger swimmer and cyclist, ready to dominate 2011 season. Planning to try pe chang jan 16 marathon instead. We'll see.

Detour Dave

Ran with Back on My Feet this morning, afterward they handed out "awards" for the running festival.

I got one that has "Detour Dave", due to my wrong turn in the 5k, nice.

Hitting up some Pennsylvania action soon, heading up for some training and family time.

I have had some ideas instilled recently in regards to race organization and business (major...)...think I'll move forward with those.

Still behind on my bike legs, but my patellar ligament problem seems to be healing, so I should get one or two long rides in before the half.

Running festival.

Got in 50 miles since Wednesday on the bike, good deal with the ligament problem.

Have been driving out to Pretty Boy for the bikes, cut out the 5 to ten miles of city traffic to muddle through.

Surprisingly enough, I also managed to get my swims in as well as my running. Someone is giving me a free bib for the running festival 5k. Lots of Back on My Feet people are doing the half and full marathons tomorrow, I need to run 24 total so, 3.2 will be the start. Should be able to do 5:40 splits, but lots of elite runners will be there so....

Things are relatively hopeful, injury is healing, moving forward with the training schedule for half iron and richmond. Still looking at that 3:10 finish.... 

Then there was...

It's pretty much like manifesting destiny and getting fucked at the same time.

Several experiences have occurred recently that are driving home the strange nature of our existence. Terrible things joined with huge victories of the human spirit. I guess it's par for course.

You often begin to wonder if you have some "control" over the things that you don't control. Will?

So, recovering from a patellar ligament problem gives rise to these things. Taking it easy, swimming some more...
replacing carpets...

Should be able to do 60 on Wednesday.

Short run, proportions...

Ran about 13 this morning with back on my feet. splits still aren't low enough to run a boston qualifier in richmond. At 7:45...still need 20 sec off each mile and the intensity to hold it for every.single.mile.

Next Saturday will be 23 miles, it will be great.

I also noticed that this week my proportions are all messed up. I knew it would be a low mileage bike week. It broke down like this 40% swim/ 80% run / 20% bike....140%....that's right.

Assimilating all the results I receive, those who are the strongest cyclists win the race. Thus, I have to ride more this week. Too much machinery in my opinion, but it has it's moments (like the ones when you go blazing down a hill at 48.7 mph)....

New Skill = Patina.

Tuesday, I learned how to patina bronze. This is done by heating the bronze with a torch and applying a solution with acids. Their can be various "colors" or tints applied with different chemicals such as sulfate (green) or ferric nitrate (orange).

These patinas often accentuate their colors through the oxidation process, but can be made to look "aged" from their initial patina. The discipline of patina takes a tuned technical touch, and can take a lifetime to master.

Rain and train

Was out in the rain on Thursday for about 4 hours. Biked 50 and a good pace, average speed was up from last time. Got back, changed, and ran about 7. Good brick workout.

I've been going out falls to greenspring valley then greenspring ave through the farm country to butler road. It's a sweet route, but it definitely gets tight on falls. Thinking of trying some new routes, Butler is less populated and gorgeous. Might start driving out somewhere for a start position.

Ran 18 yesterday at approx 7:45 splits. Feeling like I am getting faster, but Boston Qualifier is 3:10 for my age group. That's 7:25 splits for my first marathon...hmmm...we will see.

Definitely hungry for more intensity, working hard on my running technique. This week should be a big swim week, will cut the rides and up the intensity. Long run next Sat will be about 23 miles. Then comes the taper.