If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say...

...then don't blog about it.

When we last left our hero, I was bemoaning my lack of racing due to various accidents and infections. Well, I did indeed get a second round of antibiotics. Unfortunately, like a horror movie villian, the sinus infection just wouldn't die, and I needed a third round of antibiotics to kill it. However, even before I got to round three, I strained a calf muscle on an easy run. That led to another 8 days without any running. Since April 3, that makes a total of only 39 out of 86 days with a run and only two weeks with more that 35 miles total. In short, if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't blog about it. Oh, and I was sick the last three days (one day with an 102° fever), so that just added to the zeros.

All that being said, I'm doing my absolute best to be positive about things. I had no real setbacks and all good races from November through March culminating with a good day at the Gator Trail 50k. (It's obvious I'm recovered from that now!) So, I'm tying to rationalize that three months down was worth it. But, it still sucks. The Bradbury Shuffle...er Scuffle is coming up (Registration now open!), and it will indeed be a shuffle. I won't even be able to spell "race shape" at this point, so I'll be training with a number on. Oh well, larger pieces of meat to skewer and barbecue are coming up in the fall. (Yes, I said, "pieces." Plural. And, I like barbecued meat better than fish, and it's my blog, so I can mix metaphors any way I choose.)

Despite still not feeling 100%, I did get out for a run this evening. Groovy spin on the trails around Mt. A. and one edge of the Cathance Preserve. Might become a regular loop. A pileated woodpecker flew right in front of me along the Heath Trail, giving me a real up close viewing. Of course, this was in my head the entire way...



See, even when I try to run, it sucks.

2 Broken Ribs + 1 Sinus Infection = 3 x DNS

In short, April and May weren't very good to me. First, the ribs and the pneumothorax, and then just when I was feeling good about my training again, I got hit with a wicked cold which turned into an even worse sinus infection. It all added up to three missed races: Merrimack River 10 Mile, Seven Sisters and, this past weekend, Pineland Farms Trail Challenge. At least one person has made it clear that he's tired of my whining, but aside from my misfortunes, I don't have much else to talk about with regards to my training. I think I'm on the road to recovery, but I only have one more day of antibiotics, and the sinus pressure has yet to dissipate. It appears I may need another round to kill this sucker, but I'm hoping to be able to start running through it. Headed out for an easy 5 miles today, and while my legs felt great, my head was killing me and my breathing was labored. Not ideal.

MDI Marathon training begins in 9 days. I need to get this sorted out. I have big plans for the summer and fall. Luckily, the planning and scheming part of my brain is still fully functional.