Trail Running Again

Wow I'd have to look back in my '08 log to see the last time I ran in Chuckanut Mountain ... okay I just did and it was about ten days after the actual race last March. That was the last time so I haven't been to my favourite training grounds in over ten months. Way too long. I would have done more there in prep for the many trail races last season but I did Diez Vista in the beginning of Apri,l then the Sun Run, then the shin splints caught up with me. After that it was mostly riding with some races
thrown in for running training.

Today I ventured to Chuckanut and although my legs feel good now, they felt like crap during the steep hills and I'm sure I'll be walking funny tomorrow. I think my heart is in better shape than my legs but they can't admit it. A couple more weeks and I'll be ready for the race but too bad it's my only real trail race this year. The views were as far as the horizon, Mt. Baker loomed large, and the ocean was spectacular. Although I was doing a run by heart rate, I had to stop several times in my favourite spots to absorb the views and the total lack of man-made sounds. I only fell one time!! Amazing. No injuries. I didn't even injure my injured finger after my fight with the table saw (the saw always wins). This time I was cutting baseboards and near the end of a long cut the board kicked out and whacked my finger resulting in an avulsion of the tip and what felt like a broken middle knuckle.



This is what it looks like under the bandage (picture from google pictures, you can find anything there). It cut my nail nicely too. X-rays were negative for fractures of the knuckle which I figured because it feels better today and there's more mobility in it. Geez I've had more exciting injury stories than I have running stories. Good thing the house is almost done. It's amazing how fast I've learned to type with my third finger for the middle finger.

I got a DVD from Spartathlon yesterday that I'll try and load on the site. It's cool if you have an hour to kill to watch it.