Solid weekend of training here. Got in a 14.25mi run yesterday morning followed by a 4.5 mile (2.5hr) hike at about 8,000ft elevation. I don't really see hiking as 'exercise' since you're basically just walking for hours up a hill. So I usually only count 1/2 the distance hiked as actual training 'mileage'. That 2.25mi added to my 14.25 made for a pretty solid 16.5 mile day.
Today was just an easy shake out run of 6 miles to round out the week at 70 miles and finish up Phase I of training. Tomorrow starts with a double including my first threshold work in weeks. 40min tempo run at 6:11 pace is the goal... I'll let you know how that goes! I'm really just hoping that the Achille's issue stays under control. If it flairs at all I will be putting the brakes on the workout!
And I guess the real big news is that the pain, which I thought was a pulled muscle in my back, has actually turned out to be Shingles. I had chicken Pox when I was 3 and apparently that virus remains with you throughout your entire life. It essentially lies dormant in your nerves and in times of stress, or when your immune system is down, it can result in Shingles. Shingles is essentially a terrible throbbing pain that runs the length of your ribs from your back to your front. It makes the skin tingle, feel numb and hurts all the way down in the nerve endings. In short, it sucks. I've separated my ribs multiple times growing up while snowboarding but Shingles has made it feel as if I had completely broken about 4 of my ribs. There's not really pain from deep breathing or twisting but any pressure on the skin can result in pain. Additionally it causes really severe pain/aching in the upper part of my abdomen than can feel like a horrible cramp. Now the bumps are also starting to appear in patches and apparently will turn into oozing blisters before this whole thing is over. Luckily, running is one of the only times when the pain goes unnoticed. So although this is a bit uncomfortable I'm hoping to be able to train right through this. Dr. says that it usually runs a 2-3 week course. Started Wednesday... so I guess I'm screwed for the next while at least. Whatever doesn't kill ya, right?
Looking forward to seeing if I have any speed left in my legs this week and lowering the mileage a bit for the week. Happy Training!
Good luck on your tempo run tonight. Too bad you're not here in Chicago, as we'll be doing 7 miles of tempo with a decent sized group. Have fun in Phase II.
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