Training Log Archive: ebuckley

Drove to work hoping to get in a run at Rockwoods afterwards. Unfortunately, I got a production call at 2:55 and by the time it was resolved, it was time to head home. A rest day won't hurt; might be a good thing.

On the upside, the deserted, wet S-bend on the Market street exit at 6AM was the perfect testbed for the new tires. My assessment: if you get a chance to pick up a set of Nokian WR's with 9/32nds tread for $300, do it. Exit speed was 72, which is as good as the Little Red Rocket ever did in the rain.

I stepped out the door with enthusiasm usually reserved for dental work. Was surprised (shall I say, shocked?) to find a spring in my step that has been conspicuously absent for the past month. Experience has taught me that the first day of feeling well after an injury is an exceptionally dangerous time and any lifting of the pace falls into the category of really bad idea. Thus, I plodded along as planned, taking the power line to CC Lake and then cutting through Crystal Springs and finally taking the railroad tracks over to pick up the car. Sadly, there are no good opportunities to test handling between the Rock Road and home, so I'll just have to assume that the new tires are worthy of their reputation.

Event: Western States + Intercollegiate Championships
 

Dropped the car off at NTB on St. Charles Rock road to get the new tires put on and ran home.

With Mr. Platt in Arizona, I felt somebody had to be picking up the slack on the Yowsa front. Clearing a healthy sheet of ice from the driveway is probably not the best therapy for an injury to the lower back/upper leg, but Kate was having some freinds over, 2 of whom are pregnant and the other 2 were likely to leave a bit tipsy (since the pregnant girls were going to do the driving home), so something had to be done to raise the coefficient of friction to some number above zero. Resorted heavily to chemical warfare, but even with the salt (or whatever that "eco-freindly" ice melt stuff is made out of), there was still a fair bit of conventional chipping and shovelling.

In to work. Legs are a bit sore from running on such bad footing yesterday, but the good news is that the hamstrings feel OK. Still a bit of pain, but definitely better than early in the week. I think swapping my chair at work helped a lot (which gives more credence to the idea that the problem is with the sciatic rather than the hams).

Looking for something a bit more novel than my usual route on Old Bonhomme, I took the Shrewsbury train to Big Bend and then ran through U City, leaving footprints an a different set of million-dollar lawns. Wound up in Olivette, where I picked up one fully-functional Subaru WRX (new short block, clutch, oil pump, plugs, and rebuilt valve train) in exchange for $6,000. When I got home, Baby-O (who has turned into something of a car nut) was jumping up and down yelling, "Daddy's Blue Car is home!" So, since it needs new tires anyway, I took her out and we did some drift manuevers in an icy parking lot.

In to work cutting across from the 5AM bus to the Shrewsbury line again. Rather a tight transfer; I got to the platform just as the overhead speaker was saying, "The next... eastbound... train... will arrive in... 30... seconds." I'm not sure why they programmed in those wierd pauses.

Had the long run back in sleet to ponder the wisdom of cancelling a trip to Arizona. By the end I was thinking I should have just gone and hung out - we're supposed to have this crap coming down for the next few days.

Anyway, forward progress on any paved surface was pretty much impossible with an inch of sleet on top of sheer ice, so I ran through people's yards from Clayton station home. Probably didn't win me any friends in Clayton or Ladue, but nobody yelled at me.

The 5AM bus was a couple minutes early so I was able to do the sprint over to the other Metro line and get to work in less than an hour total. First time I've done that using public transportation.

C • Practice makes perfect 2

Back from work via Metro and bus.

In to work, taking the 5AM bus and the Metro.

Link and bus to Great Harvest where I sampled some of their granola and then ran home. Left hamstring is worse than the right although both are tolerable right now. I'm starting to think the problem isn't with the muscles at all. It feels a lot like sciatica. Strange to get it on both sides at once, though.

C • my standard 2 cents 3