BACK at it – literally and figuratively

The past few days consisted mainly of R&R.  My back going out was my body’s way of telling me I needed a break.  It seems like the past 6 weekends have been nothing but go, go, go.  The past 4 days, I laid around the house on the heating pad, read 2 books, studied for my AU 66 test, watched the Olympics and felt like a lazy bum.  But guess what – it worked because this morning I feel GREAT!  Completely refreshed.  I did get some stuff done like cutting the lawn and a bit of working out.

Thursday and Friday I did 2 miles.  Thursday all I could do was walk.  I always see the neighbor out when I run my 0.40 loop.  He was heckling me for walking instead of running.  Friday I walked the first mile and then ‘jogged’ the second mile.  I use the term jog loosely because I felt it was the same pace as my walk.  I wanted to see how the back would hold with a little bounce in my step.

Sunday I had the Summer Bath Run 15K.  I thought about dropping down the 5K, but decided to stick with the 15K.  I have a half marathon next weekend and wanted to get in the mileage.  I figured I would walk when need be.  I started off in the back of the pack and very tentatively.  I believe my first 5 miles were right in the 8:45-9:10 range – which is perfect.  It was a flat and somewhat shaded course, however there were parts of the trail that were not in the best shape - cracked and uneven.  Not the best place to try and run with a bad back.  At about mile 6 my back and legs had enough.  I did a run/walk the rest of the called it a day. 

Time: 1:28:40 (2^nd out of 4 in my age group) – 9:30 pace

I left right after I was done, but I guess I should have stuck around for my trophy.  Didn’t think there was any way I would have placed with that crappy time.  It is over a minute per mile slower than my PR.  Wow, didn’t realize the race was that small.  Oh well – everyone in the 15K got a finisher medal, so that works for me.  I prefer medals over plaques and trophies

August 12^th is the Hottest Half – My original goal was to be under 2:00, then I changed it to 1:55.  A guy I went to high school with runs halfs and I saw him at the RNR – Dallas last year.  He is currently overseas (Afghanistan) and just ran a half in 1:55.  I revised the goal to 1:55.  Now with the back I am aiming for under 2:10.  I should be able to do that.  The heading straight to the beer garden!