Mon = 4, road: easy
Tue = 5K, road and grass, medium
Wed = 5K, trail, 575 foot climb/w 8X ~ 200 meter hill bursts: hard
Thr = rest
Fri = Standing around for work event.
Sat = 5K progression on track: 8:47, 7:40, 7:03: medium hard
Sun = 5K mountain/gravel/trail, 304 feet of climbing: medium hard
Total Miles = ~16
Another good week. Two events did tweak the Plantar Fasciitis this week however: 1) Monday's 4 miler, and 2) Standing around in dress shoes all day Friday.
Monday I discovered that I just can't go 4 miles yet. Friday was spent moving tables and standing around for an open house event. The local NBC affiliate interviewed me demonstrating assistive technology for visually impaired folks.....but of course none of it aired :-)
Two OTHER events were really good this week: 1) utilizing the precision and smoothness of the track to really monitor my foot and only move faster when it was ready, and 2) The ensuing progression run. I know progression runs have been around for a long time but, for myself, it felt like I had invented the wheel.
That progression was almost the perfect solution to getting a good workout safely. I was paying close attention to the foot and to my heart rate and I just very gradually sped up. I worked hard on keeping my stride length shorter as I know I over-stride and that puts stress on the foot. Increasing the leg turnover took some concentration but felt good. How the hell have I not figured this out before? I guess I still can learn something new.
I salute the progression run!
As to goals for the future I say: "Just run man, just run..."
There is more to this than some glib retort. More than a few times in the past when faced with injury I would NOT run. I quit; several times. I learned the very valuable lesson that I can, in fact, have a happy and fulfilling life without running. This is an important lesson to learn. However: that was then, and this is now: The playing field has changed. The finish line, and please pardon my onerous metaphor, is game over. We have also learned that running is unique in sport, that it literally and figurative GIVES life.
There is no quitting now.