Christmas Recap

Christmas was busy this year - in many ways more than usual. We had some driving to do such as picking up and dropping off Steph's grandmother so she could spend Christmas at our house. We also hosted Christmas for Steph's immediate family this year - long story short, her parent's kitchen is in the middle of a renovation. We drove down to spend Christmas Eve with my parents and my youngest sister and her three adorable girls... stay tuned for photos. And finally, I drove 6 hours out and 6 hours back to Ohio yesterday to see my grandmother and have an un-official family reunion of sorts, minus one sister and two nephews. Whew!

I did get some nice stuff this year - not the "all running" Christmas theme as last year, but still great stuff - stuff I wanted and needed. Some of the things I received were: new headphones for my mp3 player, a new hat to wear while I run when it's cold (underarmor), some ice/snow cleats for running outside in bad conditions (I wonder if I'll even be able to try these out?), a "marathon freak" sticker for my truck, a "26.2" coffee mug, money - gotta get new shoes (trail and regular)! Oh... I also got some dress shirts, a sweater, a cool long-sleeve t-shirt and some coffee from my favorite coffee roaster on the planet! I L-O-V-E the Hemingway's Hair of the Dog® roast - it is so smooth... the high caffeine doesn't hurt either...

The bad news is that I have not run in almost three weeks, but my reading is going well. I am freaking out on the inside, but remaining calm on the outside. The knee feels good and I have had no pain in a few days - not in the slightest. So, I am planning a run on Saturday. Hopefully I can finish a very easy 3 miles with no pain. If that is the case I will slowly get my base back up to where I was and get ready for training for my spring marathon - The Flying Pig.

As the days of 2006 tick down, I will be spending it designing my remaining plans for 2007. I believe I had hinted at this before, but not only am I planning on the Flying Pig in May, but also the Marine Corp Marathon in October. I'll need to work out the details ahead of time so it is feasible, but these are the big picture items for the year.

I wish you all a safe and Happy New Year!

merry christmas

holiday interlude

'Twas the week before Christmas and there was the sun, The weather was perfect but Dave didn’t run.

His knee was still sore but better each day, Yet he still couldn’t run, not yet anyway.

He took a week off from running is what I hear, In hopes that he’d heal and have nothing to fear.

His knee didn’t hurt all weekend long, But Monday morning came and it was the same old song

So another week off is what he’ll heed, And try this weekend to run like a steed.

I hope you all are enjoying the holiday season, And that maybe you find my poem somewhat pleasin’

I’ll post more about running on my blog, But for now I am going to drink egg nog.

I wish you all the best and hope you have fun, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good run!

the 7 year itch

A sort of non-running related post today... Today is my and my wife's 7th wedding anniversary. Though, back on December 7th was our 10 year anniversary of our first date. In the past 7 years, we have had our ups an downs, just like any relationship I imagine, but we get through it all. Not too unlike running a marathon, or running in general - where there are good runs and bad and times during a marathon when things look bleak, but yet somehow one perseveres. I think running really has helped give me the perspective in all things, not just marriage, to deal with the bad and get through it, so you get get to the good again. Here's to many more years of 'the good'...

Tonight we celebrate with a nice dinner at Agio's - a great Italian Restaurant in downtown Indy, followed by a relaxing stroll through downtown...

patellar tendinitis

" Patellar tendinitis is inflammation of one of the knee-joint tendons. Tendinitis occurs when tissue breakdown outpaces regrowth, and is caused by increased mileage, hills (especially downhills), and pace. Running through tendinitis will make it worse and prolong your recovery, says Davis. But treated early, it can heal in a few weeks. Here's how: cross-train, ice, wear a patella strap, take anti-inflammatories, stretch, and do exercises to strengthen the joint and quadriceps, such as leg extensions."

This is my diagnosis of what is wrong with my knee. It makes sense based on my running leading up to the point when the pain started. The knee is feeling marginally better, so I am thinking it is healing itself, but I do not see any running for me for the rest of the year... at least not until the pain is altogether gone. This will force me into stretches and cross training - both of which I have needed to focus on better anyway... I have until the beginning of January until I will need to start training for the Flying Pig Marathon, so I will determine then if I will definitely be running it or not...

I have also decided to spend some time catching up on my reading. I stopped by the library on the way home last night and picked up this:

I am hoping to distract myself from my non-running with a good book...