Saturday September 13 2014

It's been one week after the injury. Foot is slowly getting better. Still a little bit inflamed and it still hurts a little bit when I walk. I rode the bike for almost five miles this morning. Temperatures are getting colder and it is harder to ride the bike in cold weather.
Rode the bike from Synergy to Tiffin (four miles each way) while Sophia was practicing gymnastics. 

Tuesday September 9th 2014

Did no exercise. Rest, rest, rest. I am able to put a little more pressure on the foot. It still hurts, but it is getting better. Being taking ibuprofen.

Monday September 8, 2014

Foot is slowly getting better. I can walk slowly as long as I just keep the pressure on the hill. Foot still looks inflamed. Taking ibuprofen.
Cycled on the bike for 2.73 miles around the neighborhood. 

Sunday September 7th 2014

Left foot looks very inflamed. Took a couple of ibuprofen in the morning. It is hard to walk. I can only put weight on my hill, otherwise the rest of the foot hurts.

When will I be able to walk without pain?

I was able to ride the bicycle to Trueblood Area. I did some kayaking there too. That was a total of 15 miles (two loops around the lake). 

Saturday September 6th 2014

Left foot stress fracture.

Most probably a stress fracture -left foot. Went running this morning after resting for two days. Had to catch up Karen who left just a few seconds before me.  After running for about a mile and a half, the top of the foot started hurting. I tried to ignore the pain thinking it would go away, but it didn't. It got worse and worse. Had to walk because it was impossible to run. By the time I got home, the pain was so intense I could not even walk. I am wearing the air-cast hoping it helps.

Dam to Backpocket 7 Miler

School buses took us to Coralville dam. Apparently, I rode one of the last buses.  There were buses for the 5K and buses for the 7 miler. The bus was 60% full. It arrived to the dam and took us to the top of the road. Saw some familiar faces, David and his daughter. Also saw Dan and Lauren, and decided to stay with them. 

Race started a few minutes after five PM and there was this downhill all within the first mile, so I took advantage of gravity. But then, we had to climb the road. This speedy lady in front of me was really struggling to run up the hill. I tried to keep up with her. Then, flat road. Stayed with a guy about my age.  Dan and Lauren were behind me. 

Debuque Road. Not far, had to change sides. Then, it was all familiar course. Saw the mile three post. Then, we got to the Water Park. Sun was hitting us badly, but we just kept going. There was a lot of room between runners at this time. Went through the I-80 tunnel and knew the Peninsula uphill was coming, but I made it. Peninsula Neighborhood. Hot. Dog park. I knew the end was coming. Last mile. A guy about my age in a blue shirt caught up with me.  I had to let him go. Although I tried to keep up with him.  It helped me to maintain the pace. Almost passed him, but he didn't let me. Crossed the finish line. We shook hands and he congratulated me for a good race! Amazingly, I shaved about 20 seconds off last year's. 

Time: 56:28 min.

Pace: 7:58 MM.

Garmin Connect: http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/572204330

Lauren Hill and me. 

Lauren Hill, Dan Beck and his son, Jordan. 

David Nelson and his daughter. 

Amana Colonies Backroads Half Marathon

Saturday, August 9, 2014. Amana Colonies Backroads Half Marathon. Dan, Cristie, and Dave met with me in my house early morning. I drove to Amana Colonies and we arrived with plenty of time before the start. Race started at 7:30 AM. The night before I picked up my bib and package, and also drove the 13 miles of the course to explore it and check out the hills we had to run. I knew what to expect more or less.

Race started and I ran close to Dave and Dan for a few miles. Pace was very close to 8:00 MM. There were a few young girls in front of us, and it was my desire to catch them. I thought they were going to slow down running up the hills, but they didn't. I was able to catch one or two, but they passed me again after a few miles. 

I remember running with a nice girl for the last few miles. She asked me which way to turn close to the last two miles. She said she was ready to have a beer or two. I wasn't able to keep up her pace and had to let her go. She finished like three or four places ahead of me. I slowed down for the last few miles. 

We got a pretty nice medal at the end of the race. We took some pics and got hydrated.