The sun is breaking through the clouds

  I attempted a run yesterday (monday) after 4 days consecutively off.  I actually only consider it three days because i was yearning for a day off anyway.  I only went 2 miles yesterday and it was nothing but a struggle.  I was light-headed, my lungs were on fire and i continued to cough up discusting junk from my chest through the 15 minute run.  Today however, I woke up and felt my lungs were to the point i could barely feel any congestion.  The antibiotics i feel must really be kicking in.  I still have the sinus infection that went along with this flu but I can deal with that.  Today after a nice day at work i was antsy to run again.  Though reflecting on yesterdays run, i was not having any high expectations.  I started out seeing how i felt 2 miles out and if i was dieing, i would just turn around.  I got two miles out and felt really good.  I then said ok, lets go one more... I did and continued to feel solid.  Besides my nose and chest continuing to clear itself on the run, i had no issues.  I certainly felt a big wobbley out there in the legs from being in bed for 3 days but that will pass fast.  I ended up going 8 miles today and besides being more tired than a usual healthy 8 miler, i feel like i have almost climbed out of the sick hole.  Now on to the next step.  Getting race ready and fine tuning all that work i put in over the last 2 months for a week from saturday in san diego.  I feel if i can be 100% cleared up in the next 10 days, I have a good shot at a big race.  Top 30 at the USA championships has been my goal and continues to be my goal. 

Check out the video from the 2008 USA championships at the link below.  They were held on the same course in Mission Bay.  I already have some plans made for the weekend.  Arriving friday at 11:30am PST with Coach Jerry.  Chilling out around Mission Bay with Jerry until my cousin and his fiance come pick me up (my cousin lives 6 blocks from the course and 1 block from the Beach). Saturday morning shake out run on the beach (race is not until 2pm!)  Hopefully by this time i will be somewhat adjusted to the time change.  Race 12 kilometers, cool down, grab a bite and a nap.  Then head out for some nightlife fun with Jerry, his buddy and all the other runners.  Sunday i plan to do some sightseeing for the entire day with my cousin and his fiance.  Monday i have a flight leaving at 7am.

http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/USAXCChampionships/video/

California Dreaming

  Well, I have not posted since the first run of the new year.  I have had a great start to the new year with my training.  I have posted 3 weeks in a row at 80-84 miles.  My intervals have been right on and none had felt too difficult.  I ran my first tempo in sometime two weeks ago and knocked it out of the water (5:13 pace over rolly grass for 6.7 miles).  That was completely haulted however by a bout of bronchitis along with flu-like symptoms.  I worked out on wednesday night and "got through" the workout.  I hit all of my splits but it did not feel smooth like it should have.  I had a constant burning in my chest and it hurt to breath in the cool air.  I woke up on thursday and felt terrible.  I forced myself to go to work and got through the day.  I went to bed early thursday night (did not run).  I woke at 3am on friday morning and felt like death.  I knew then that this was going to be a battle similar to the one i encountered over spring break last year.  I took off work to sleep all of friday.  I woke up saturday morning at 9:00am after a 12 hour slumber.  I literally have been borderline hibernated for the last two days.  I took another nap from noon until 4pm.  I have a big appetite and have been drinking so much water I am peeing every 30 minutes.  I do the right things when i get these bronchial bouts... I just want to find out one helpful tip:  How do i avoid them all together and what causes them???  I am seeing a new allergist for one because my current one sucks something awful...  I am also going to see a respiratory doctor as well as a nutritionist. There is a link between frequent bronchial infections and acid reflux (which runs in my family).  If I can pin point that as a problem and get that fixed, who knows! 
   Bottomline, I don't have time for these unwanted barriers in my training.  I am out to get something that takes time out on the roads, trails and track.  Not in bed.
   My next race is February 5th in Mission Bay Park, San Diego California.  The USA Cross Country Championships/World team trials has been the race I have been focusing on since Christmas.  Throughout my long naps, i have been dreaming of california.  Racing through the bright green grass, sharp turns around palm trees, the distant noise of waves breaking and 70 degree sunny weather.  A top 30 finish would be nice and doable, however i have a small mountain to climb to get healthy from this without relapse.

Happy New Year!!! first post of the New Year!

Sunday January 2, 2011:
     16 miles at Rileys Lock

   I met a group of GRCers at Rileys this morning for a long run.  The temperatures were unusually mild for a sunday morning in january.  Many wore shorts which made me feel like winter came through and left immediately.  I certainly was not complaining after having to navigate snowy, icy streets in the philadelphia area over christmas break last week.  The run started out with not feeling great... I felt out of it.  However, as the run progressed, i felt better and better.  The final few miles felt real nice. 
   I am coming off my highest week since mid summer (80 miles in singles last week).  I will keep things consistent around the 80 mark for the next few weeks before dipping down some for the USA Cross Country Championships on February 5th in San Diego, CA.  This is not a huge focus for me but a race I want to run well at. 
  Heres to hard work =  success in 2011 !