The occasional blogger

I have come to the realization that I am an occasional blogger...very occasional.  But I guess that's how it is. 

Running has been up and down for the last few months.  With the sports hernia on hiatus, running has been OK, but the jury is still out on how it will react to an increase in mileage.  It seems that 25-30 miles a week works pretty well at this point.

Planning for 2011 is getting me excited about all the event opportunities.  The problem is choosing which ones and what distances.  Jumping into the Zumbro 100 first thing last spring may have been the wrong direction considering the injury.  The event was great and I would love another crack at it and maybe with some reasonable goals it could be doable.  Of course Superior 100 is always on the radar and if healthy, I would like to go back.

I would also like to thank a my friends at Brooks and PowerBar for sticking with me through the past year and into 2011.  I really appreciate the support!

Have a happy and healthy new year!

Limbo

Looks like my only updates are due to injuries...not much of a blog anymore.  After having a good training buildup over the winter and arriving at the Zumbro 100 feeling ready to run, I find myself in limbo again due to another running injury.  About 28 miles into the race I decided to pull the plug due to lower abdominal discomfort.  I had been containing the problem that began around the end of February and presented as a lower abdominal strain. I "trained through" it and convinced myself that it was getting better.  Although dropping from the race was disappointing, it was the right call.

After a visit with my sports medicine doc and a consultation with a surgeon, it looks like I have an athletic (sports) hernia.  Even doctors argue about what it is exactly but it usually does not involve the classic bulge through the abdominal muscles. Sounds like I have two options...surgery or rehab.  Both require a down period of running and both are not absolute in the resolution of the problem.

I am going to choose the rehab option with a hard look at the possibility of an imbalance in my pelvic/hip/lower abdominal region.  I think this is a bigger problem in the running community than anyone is willing to admit.  Check out the article on Meb Keflezighi in the current RW...amazing story!  Most runners are not like Meb but most runners can relate in some ways to his struggles with injury.

I am hoping to save some of my season but who knows what the future will bring.  At this point I just want to get healthy, stay healthy and run some trails.

One last thought:
In 25 years of  cross-country ski racing I can't ever remember being injured and unable to ski...hmm...

Just cut the toe off and throw it away

Just a quick update for the one or two people who still check in on this blog...I decided to have surgery on my toe, the greater joint of the big toe to be exact.

Back in March as I was preparing for the Zumbro 100 I was having some ankle and toe problems that became painful enough to be seen. Long story short...I have osteoarthritis in the greater joint of my big toe on my right foot. Bone spurs have created almost no space in the joint and little flexibility as well. Any time I bring my running miles up above about 25-30/wk it gets a little uncomfortable.

I am looking forward to being able to run more and walk around in bare feet on the beach (or in my house) with no pain. Looks like about 6-8 weeks back to running and back to work.

This season is a wash for me but if all goes well...I will be enjoying some late summer running and thoughts of planning for next year.

Good luck to all the runners heading to KM and FANS...looks like perfect weather!