I'm back, Company Mill PR

Wednesday 2/22 Company Mill run

Ran Company Mill for the 2nd time since my return today, just Gary and I, rainy cloudy day. I love the Company Mill loop, it really presents interesting challenges and the continued running of this loop brings a new level of strategy into the run. The trail also brings tons of memories into my head, first and foremost the memory of running (really walking) this trail the first time I tried it. I remember thinking I would never be able to run that entire loop. It also has several sections that really allow me to become one with the trail and escape from everything but the current moment. The turn at the end by the river brings back memories of Boone for some reason, I think it's the smell, it smells just like the old Cottonwood Brewery used to. We've started adding splits, here's where I came in today, first time under 50 minutes.

Bridge 1 @ 7:02
Reedy Trail 1 @ 9:02
Reedy Trail 2 @14:02
Bridge 2 @ 12:19
Finish Leg @ 7:17
total 49:48
PR Company Mill

Week of 2/13 (3rd week back from knee)

Keeping myself busy trying to maintain a couple of days a week of swimming, 2/11 I returned for my first Trailhead run since 12/31, it felt really nice. The knee seems to be healing nicely. I ran for abougt 50 minutes on Saturday.

Sunday 2/12 went out for a swim, am now up to 1250 meters, working towards a mile.

Monday 2/13 new Nike Air Zoom Steens, went out for 45 minute run, shoes felt new but pretty good.

Tuesday 2/14 first spin class in several weeks, also lifted aftewards

Wednesday 2/15 first company mill run, Gary, Chuck and Jim Pullen. Felt so good to be back out at Umstead. I have definitely lost a step or three, finished the loop, including one bio break and 30 seconds of walking in 53 minutes.

Thursday 2/16 swim and mtb 45 minutes, broke spoke (again)

Friday 2/17 swim

Saturday 2/18 Trailhead run, 1 hour

Sunday and Monday, much deserved rest

2/10 Thursday Ride

Went for a nice lunch time ride today, rode almost 8 miles, little over one hour. I'm starting to really push myself more on the bike as I realize I have a tendency to coast, very easy to do on the more technical trails. Suggestions, start timing some nice 7-9 mile loops and riding them for time, really forcing myself to push it. Great trails for cranking, spyder hole, parts of Thirsty Thursday loop, parts of reverse Thirsty Thursday, 2nd half of Dagger, worm hole either way has some nice speed sections as well. Trails for hills, reverse Thirsty Thursday, Never Land, Reverse Banshee (either way), reverse Dagger (actually never done this),

Second Week Back

2/6/06 Monday
Ran 35 minutes back on the trail, for the most part the knee feels pretty good, it still has moments, typically while not running, when it hurts.

2/8/06 Wednesday
40 minute run, knee hurt the most it has in awhile after the run, feels better today after a swim, we'll see.

First week back

Thursday 2/2
First real mountain bike in over two weeks, went out about 4:30, met Squonk at 5:00, biked until my chain broke. My knee and everything else felt really strong. Good to be back out on the bike.

Friday 2/3
45 minute swim

Saturday 2/4
15 minute walk, followed by 30 minute run, knee felt nice while running, hurts a bit after walking up and down the stairs during the circus.

Best 15 minutes of the year

Monday 1/30 I put the montrails back on and returned to the much missed Pumpkin Trail for my first run in over 4 weeks. My knee doesn't feel normal, but boy did that run feel GREAT. I think I smiled the entire run. It felt so good to be back in the woods, back in the sunshine, and yes, back to running. I've never, until Monday, considered myself a runner, yes I've run 2 marathons and 5 1/2 marathons, yes I've been running regularly now for 5 years, but it wasn't until I returned Monday that I realized NO other excercise, not biking, not swimming, nothing, feels like running.

It's hard to believe but other than mile 19-20 (when I realized I was going to finish and finish strong) and the moment my wife passed me in the car around mile 24 during the Mount Desert Island Marathon, the 15 minutes was the best running experience of my life.

Wednesday 2/1 Back out again and I still feel like a kid in the candy store out there, this time I actually ran the entire pumpkin loop and a portion of Witchlands, knee actually felt/feels great. Saturday I'll run 25, next Monday 30, Wednesday 35 and Saturday 40.

Only problem, I'm kinda diggin swimming, so now need to work this into running and mtn biking. Boy is it good to be back!