One Mile at a Time

Tuesday, Aug 7:

Another mile, jogging, in 9:50. But it’s a victory! No pain in the plantar-fasciitis foot at all, just a little soreness in the area of the hip flexors. What’s that about? From Sunday’s 1-mile run, or from Sunday’s hard bike ride? Can a runner lose his fitness in seven weeks? Curious minds want to know. Anyway today’s run was on pavement, with the new orthotics. Maybe the next run will be a bit longer, Thursday on blacktop trails. Or maybe I’ll try the middle-school track again.

After that short jog, we three trucked ourselves up to the Gateway Trail, where Sunshine and Sweet Pea ran, and I rode 20 miles in 1:19, as fast as I could. If it were a race I would have lost, because a young woman passed me with apparent ease, sitting down, but I went as fast as my ancient muscles could be re-supplied with glycogen, breathing hard throughout, and made a speed averaging over 15 mph for the 20 miles. The portion of the Gateway Trail that we used is relatively flat, and with only a modest number of dangerous (slowing) road crossings. Further, the wind today was light, so this effort probably does indicate the best that I can do right now on my hybrid bike and a flat surface. It’s OK.

Can’t resist measuring myself. Is that a character flaw, or an advantage over others who can resist, or both, or neither? Who cares.

Thursday, August 9:

Another mile, blacktop and boardwalk, 9:58. No problems. Maybe 1.5 miles on Saturday?



Organic whole spelt rollup, roast local no-hormone no-antibiotic lamb, organic romaine, tzatziki sauce (organic yogurt, minced cucumber, organic lemon juice, minced garlic, dill, Jim's parsley), cooked sweet onion. Estimated Weight Watcher points = 6.


Homemade sweet potato pie (organic sweet potato, organic pumpkin, organic eggs, local honey, molasses, organic skim milk, pecans), organic grapes, kiwi, mango, Dove dark chocolate. The sweet potato pie is the main course (vegetables and nuts), not really the dessert, as the honey and molasses are minimized. A post-workout lunch doesn't get much better than this! Estimated Weight Watcher points = 7.


Dinner salad on the road. Organic baby spinach, organic strawberries, organic black seedless grapes, organic apple, organic nectarine, avocado, artichoke hearts in brine, salad vinegar. Estimated Weight Watcher points = 5. Would have liked some blue cheese with this. But it took quite a while to eat it!