Long-overdue update

A lot has changed since I last wrote. First of all, I have a new job. I am a teacher at a school about 1/6 the size of my old school. I am no longer teaching journalism or advising a newspaper. I am delving into an area I am just learning, Talented and Gifted students. I also am teaching seventh-graders, ninth-graders and a handful of upperclassmen in English classes.

I ran as consistently as I could into the summer. When I got the job, I also agreed to be a volunteer assistant on the fledgling cross country team. I teamed with the winningest basketball coach in Iowa high school history, who was returning to coach cross country for the first time in 40 years. We were an interesting pair: Me, a running purist who has loved the sport since he ran his first step 33 years ago, and him, an old-school coach who simply knows how to get a lot out of kids. We did very well, coaching the girls' team to 5th place in the district meet and advancing a girl to state. She finished 27th as a freshman, and we were very proud of her.

I have a knee problem. I run for a while, and it gets sore. I hurt it a few years ago, simply walking. I suddenly, unexpectedly, stepped off a curb and jarred my knee. It felt funny, like I had injured it. And it never went away. There was pain when I climbed steps, and it never really got better. Then, last summer, I was riding my bike. I was really pushing it in a high gear, and I felt more pain. Then it got very sore. It has been that way when I run more than 20 minutes.

I will be getting new shoes this week, and hopefully that solves some of it.

4 miles

Yesterday, I ran 4 miles (to Ceco and back) in 38:30. It was 20 minutes going (10 minutes a mile) and 18:30 coming back (9:15). My body is almost like clockwork. I am doing 9:15ish pace when I get good and warmed up, and these days, it takes me 15 minutes or so to get warmed up. Tomorrow, I think I will run on the track about a half-hour, then do some strides on the football field.

Overcoming handicaps

Yesterday, I ran about 37 minutes through Eastlake -- the soccer park, the grass trails. I did feel some pain early, but I run according to the pain. It backed off as I went on with the run and kept the pace slow. I believe this is allowing me to overcome Achilles tendinitis and minor stuff with my lower legs and left knee. It's funny that the title of this blog is "Riley goes for 5-minute mile." Someday, I think I can seriously launch an attempt at a 5-minute mile. But for now, I am simply running with little consideration of my speed. Consistency has been very important in my success. If I don't feel like running the full time, I cut it back to 15 or 20 minutes, then feel a little better the next time.

Gutting it out

I ran this morning, and it was real painful at first. My left knee hurts. Both lower legs near the Achilles hurt. But after about 10 minutes, I got in a rhythm and things started to feel better. I am getting the idea that I'll never run completely pain-free. I went a total of 33 minutes toward downtown and back. My conditioning is great, and if I could run a little faster, I would. This followed a bike ride to the track and 20-minute run Friday.
Saturday, June 7 -- 31 minutes (race)
Monday, June 9 -- 30 minutes easy.
Wednesday, June 11 -- 33 minutes steady.
Friday, June 13 -- 20 minutes plus bike.
Sunday, June 15 -- 33 minutes, with pain, but easing.

Smart run

After a couple of days of difficult outdoor yard work, and a real easy 30 minutes on MOnday as I recover from the Turkey Trot, I ran a beautiful run today. It rode my bike 8-9 minutes out to Eastlake, then ran 33 minutes on the soccer fields. It was real windy and I didn't try to push it at all. This was smart. My Achilles needed a solid, yet soft surface of grass. And I only needed to glide along. that's what I felt like I was doing -- gliding. No strain, just relaxed running. I didn't even care about the pace -- that's what I need to do. The pace is unimportant right now. Just go out and do it.

Brutal run

The Turkey Trot 5K was a brutal run. It was extremely hot and humid and it really was 3.3 miles over hills. I ran about 8 minute pace (26:38) and finished 4th overall, 1st in my age group. I started in great form and felt good for probably a mile and a half, but it was actually too fast and it was a struggle just to finish.

35 minutes

35 minutes this morning, with my usual achiness. But things go a lot better as I loosen up and the run goes on. I'm ready for the 5K downtown on Saturday. I have no idea what I'll run, but I plan to do pretty well. It would be great to break 24.

Tomorrow is the last day of school, and that makes me very happy. I need to write and run and read and turn the page on this year -- get ready for a new year.