Running adventure begins again! In Phuket, Thailand.

So it really began again where it all started, in Penang, however I have not been able to get on the road in Penang as of yet, some treadmill runs have been all thus far. We did head off to Phuket, Thailand on Sunday 05/02, I thought about taking this opportunity to run on the beach, although a bit more difficult than your average road training, the sand would make the wear and tear less. I hit the sand and did about a mile, the incline on the beach made it tough...so I figured I would see what was around to get some time on the road. I talked to the security guard in front of the hotel, and he suggested a route around this small pond just across from the hotel. It seemed little used by anyone but local motorcycle traffic, and it covered about 2 miles, perfect!! The start was pretty rough, and I am finding that i favor my left leg a bit to much, if I increase my speed, i even out better, but I cant handle it stamina wise (yet!). Now 5K (3.2 miles) in 30 minuets would have pissed me off before the accident...now I could not be happier. so the combination of a mile or so on the beach and another 2.3 on the road gave me my first non-treadmill run since the accident in July 2011. It was great!
The next day I figured if I felt good physically, I would try it again and see what happened. So i woke up and felt good. i decided to hit the same route, the soreness kicked in for the first mile or so and then decreased. I really felt bad on this run, not physically,let me explain. As I was approaching the end of my run I caught up to another runner, now the morning before i saw no one out, so it was un expected. We had also seen many Russian tourists, who, no offense, are not often socially friendly (that has been our experience) with strangers. so i just passed her...well she said something as i passed so i slowed up and asked her to repeat it, she asked which hotel I was in, I told her, then she asked where I was from, i told her, she asked about the route around the pond up ahead, i told her about the route, and at that time i was done...i felt bad not asking her some of the same questions, i did tell her to "have a good run"...feel like my running conversation etiquette needs some work. Ok so this run was faster 9:16 pace compared to 9:34, and a bit longer 3.4 miles compared to 3.2 miles. I figured I would be sore, I was, so I decided to get a massage before we flew back to penang this afternoon. That was awesome, i needed the deep work done and it was just the ticket. however sitting in a cramped twin prop aeroplane seat for an hour after that, not the ticket! I am sitting here now, sore as hell, but happy, very happy. Loyal reader I appreciate you hanging in there...Run Happy!!

Tools of the trade.

So with my impending Doctor visit on Monday 30th January, I thought I would talk about my 2012 shoes selection, with the hope that my turn towards minimalist shoes will not be thwarted by my injury and recovery. I am not a very good reviewer, mostly because i like what i like and often don't have the ability to express that in a series of scientific explanations, so don't expect to find my insights on toe to heel drop and forefoot, mid-foot, heel strike relativity. I like the shoes i run in because they don't hurt my feet and are comfortable. I am however trying some new styles in 2012 and am excited to do so. I will begin with two shoes I would place in the "old reliable" category, although the Kinvara is now the Kinvara 2 (Saucony's "minimalist", offering). I did not find much in the way of changes thus far with the Kinvara 2, although it goes without saying that I have not run in the shoe yet, a few long walks and some time on the cross fit don't count, but I do have some insights based on those experiences. first, the toe box seems narrow in comparison to the Kinvara, and the lacing seems tighter across the upper. I found with the Kinvara i had a lot of room in the toe box and not so much with the Kinvara 2, although my Kinvaras have a bit of mileage on them and much more break in time. I also found it difficult on the Kinvara to get the shoe "tight" whereas in the 2, it does not seem as difficult. Either way this is a non Brooks shoe that I LOVE, and the color schemes for 2012 are really cool!

I have to talk about my Brooks Launch, this has and always will be my go too shoe, and I also like the color scheme change for 2012 (I think it was a 2011 color release though) There is a new orange color scheme being offered for pre-order by roadrunnersports.com. The Brooks guys have said it will be available sometime in February, but I am not a fan, it looks allot like the Kinvara 2 above, and i am happier with the blue (shown below). I have used the Launch as a training shoe as well as in anything from 5K to 1/2 Marathon. It is considered a neutral shoe, on the cusp of a minimalistic shoe, possibly more of a transitional shoe as it still offers some cushioning and the heal to toe drop is not that significant (ooooo, scientific). I will always run in this shoe and hope that Brooks never alters the design very much, it is a shoe in my opinion that needs no updating, it is perfect just the way it is, and the new white/blue color scheme is perfect, again in my opinion.

One of the new shoes i will be trying is the Brooks Green Silence, this shoe has been around for a while, but i had heard some negatives about it in the past and recently have heard more people sing its praises, so i decided to give it a shot...and of course in my usual fashion, "giving it a shot" meant buying two pair, actually to be honest I won a pair in a Brook Fanatics contest and then when the new color scheme was released, I got the blue (of course). I don't know much about the Green silence, except that it is a recycled materials shoe and a true minimalist shoe. I have again only used the shoe for walking and some time on the cross fit in the gym, but I am impressed, it is light enough to be a race shoe (although I am not sure if it will replace my T7 as my go to race shoe, LOVE the T7!!), and cushioned enough to be a good trainer as well. this is the shoe I have questions about. Especially using it coming off this injury. I am again impressed though by the level of cushioning it seems to provide, while not giving up weight (7.2oz for a size 9). It remains to be seen how it performs as a trainer and if I can handle the minimal design coming back from my injury. more to come on this new edition to my running shoe quiver.

The last of the "newbies" is from Brook's new "Pure Project"line. The Pure Connect. Again a minimalist shoe, lightweight, that offers some cushioning, and seems to be designed along the same lines as the Saucony Kinvara 2. This is new ground for me with this shoe and the one thing thus far i have noticed is the heel seems a bit high, and with a low-cut sock, it rubs. I have worn them with a "higher" low-cut sock and it seemed to be better, but I have read where others have said the same about the connects, that the heel is stiff and causes rubbing, so those people have shifted to the "Pure flow" and found that resolved the issue. I also got some feedback from a Brooks Fanatic friend who said not to blame the shoe for the sock, and he is right. Until I have a chance to put the Connect through its paces on a good run. I really don't feel like i can comment on if it is a good shoe or not. Thus far the jury is still out on it as well as the Green Silence. so my comments are preliminary judgements of what I have experienced thus far. This shoe has gone through a color update as well, which I like (blue, of course) and the Pure Flow has been updated in its color as well.

My Quiver will still include the T7, although again a racing flat may not be the best thing to use while I enter this recovery/rehab phase of my running, but you never know, a minimalist shoe may be the best thing as I get back in the swing of things. Either way I look forward to being back on the road and continuing my adventure, and this is the equipment that I will be using on that adventure. To you loyal reader, thanks for hanging in there, regular blog posts will be norm in the coming weeks and hopefully I will be able to, just like you, RUN HAPPY!!

Re-Beginnings

Well here we are and there are 10 days till i officially find out if i can run again. I really feel it is a moot point as I feel i am back to normal, my stride is no longer compromised, the soreness in my tibial tendon is gone, and i feel really good and strong, i still have about 10 pounds to lose, but once I start running again that is no problem. With that being said i have begun  to plan for my race season...it looks like my first 5K (good way to start back again) will be in march, during the brooks half marathon event, to be held 11 march in KL. I think a 5k is a good way to start off, especially since there is no real pressure in a 5K and after a month of good solid run training, i should be ready for that. I am also looking at the rest of the year and there are lots of cool things coming up, The Standard Chartered KL marathon, the sundowner in Singapore, the Taiping race i missed last year, and of course the Penang Bridge, as well as some local races. the one that i have been planning though is this one, which for me looks awesome!!

Winery Running Festival

I mean wine and running!! what could be better!! It is located just outside of Newcastle NSW Australia, i plan to fly in to Sydney, take the train to Newcastle, stay, race, have fun, then take the trin back to Sydney for a half a day, stay and fly out the next day...AWESOME!! I really miss running and when you see events like this, it makes me love it and miss it even more!!
So hopefully the news is good on Monday the 30th, and the adventure will contiue again!! loyal reader, thanks for hanging in there and as always, Run Happy!!

Christmas x3....and lots of shoes!

Well we have been back stateside now for almost 2 weeks.We have spent time with Roxanne's family which has been really nice. As for the running part, I was able to walk my favorite route in St. Pete, I really do love the "burg".

  I was also able to pick up all my shoes that had been shipped to the us. I do love the new Brooks pure line. My new pure connects will be my new favorites I can already tell.

I also was able to hit the gym once at the hotel and should be able to get there with my brother in-law today at some point. Then more walking at my parents house. I did find the steps at my father in-laws house. My gluteus are thanking them immensely. I got a massage from...well I guess she would be a colleague now. It was much needed and has been great for my arm and my wrist. I have eaten way too much junk and not enough workout time, so I am getting way to fat, so getting back to Penang and my routine with the gym is something I look forward to.It has been nice being home and seeing family and friends, we will continue our trek down south to see my parents, then it is back to St. Pete for Dr. appointments and then back on the plane on the 5th. It would have been nice to run in the cooler weather especially today when the temps are in the 60's (Fahrenheit). As for New Years resolutions, I don't tend to make them as a rule, I figure one day of the year should not make for changes in life, those changes should be constant throughout the year, anyway. I have resolved to run in 2012, and when I do to run with more joy and less competition, I do want to be healthier and to run better, however I think better might just be to enjoy the experience more. If anything this experience has taught me that I do love to run and I miss the fellowship and the pure joy of it. So I hope 2012 finds me running again and running happier! As for you loyal reader I hope Santa brought you everything you wanted and the joy of this season has filled your soul! I hope that 2012 finds you happy and healthy and as always running HAPPY!!

So I walked 5k twice now, once outside and once on the treadmill. It felt good but I still need to get stronger before I can run. So I continue to go to the gym, continue to attend my physio, ans keep my head up. I can't wait to run again. The Florida runner will be headed back to the burg, and I am looking forward to walking my old running route, hoping to grab some running buddies and getting them to slow down for just one day! Run happy loyal reader!

So the Florida runner is now the Florida walker, but it is far better than the Florida crutcher. I have been in the gym now for a month and things are improving a great deal in my opinion. It is not easy taking off the extra weight i have put on (about 5 lbs) but I am getting stronger for sure. So Penang Bridge Marathon has passed and i am disappointed but not that much, i am more hopeful for February to arrive and the opportunity to run again is just around the corner. Rox brought up an interesting point though and that is the minimalistic shoes i have run in from time to time. i mean the Saucony Kinvara is not a true minimal but its not that far away, I also have trained and raced in the Brooks T7 and i have just gotten some green silences and the new Pure Project connects from Brooks as well. i also continue to train regularly in my Brooks Launch, it has been my go to training shoe for a few years now. I think when I do go back it will be a slow transition and i may begin on some trail runs and something less of a pounding than a road run. I feel like I can still handle the shoes i have always trained in, again I just need to transition slowly. So I am happy to be nearing the end of this recovery and getting back to the original purpose for this blog, running in Penang. I cant wait!! Run Happy Loyal reader!!

So this past weekend was the "Rock to Rock" run, held at the Hard Rock Hotel here in Penang.The run was only 3.8 KM and I thought seriously about walking it and when my nfriend Hoay Jen handed me a bib #...I almost could not resist, but I was good and stayed on the sidlines. My photo skills sucked today, could not get one good shot and missed my friend Thuan Lin Goh finishing all together. Despite all that it was really good to see all my friends...I have felt very isolated as of late, as I dont do their normal LSD run on sunday andmore and I have missed a ton of races. Everyone ran really well and the big race for all of them is this weekend, at least for me it was going to be a big one, The Penang Bridge Marathon. This was one I was looking forward to for sure and it is dissapointing to be missing it, but next year is always there. The fun part about the race this past weekend was the costume contest...I guess it was a nod to Holloween, but there were seperate prizes for best costume, and I-Run represented in grand style, really added to the fun of the event....If they do it next year, I am going as Captain America, or Santa Claus. Anyway a fun day for sure, great to see everyone, and great to be on my feet without crutches...it was a hattrick Sunday for sure...Run Happy Loyal reader!