<p>Lots to chat about here.</p>
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<p>x: I don't know, man. First off, I am a huge proponent of not putting a lot of stock into one training run because, after all, it is only a training run. But yours is slightly different a case because it's that you have a pointed problem (cramping) rather than some arbitrary "how come I can't maintain pace?" which is almost always an issue of not being trained properly. I also am not one to count ounces of fluid consumed and things like that. You know me. I'm not much the number junkie. But I do have a few questions: how many hours after finishing up the run did you wee? And when was the second time you went? First should have been within an hour. Second not long after that. And by the second your wee should have been pretty darn clear. If not, you were likely dehydrated, and maybe for you it is a chronic issue. I would say a solid majority of people I know do not drink nearly enough in training or racing. Another idea for you is that if it is the same body part cramping, perhaps you have a lot of built up scar tissue in there or something like that.</p>
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<p>hobey: You know, by the sounds of it, being that you said once you made this realization it was like a weight lifted off your back. That right there tells me that you knew for a while that this might not be right. But you know what, I think you're right, only because it was something that came to you, and I know you've thought this or something like it before. But the part I'd like to stress is that it doesn't have to be forever. That's the beauty of this sport we do. Revisit it another time, if the time ever strikes again, and in the meantime, figure out what is fun and challenging and makes you smile and feel good about yourself, and go tackle that. TransRockies?
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<p>Interesting day for me...</p>
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<p>Was nearly all but certain that I would have to pass on Boston this year due to the calf injury, and I even mentally prepared myself to let it go, but was holding out until last minute to make official call because, well, I can being that I live nearby to the race. All week my runs were short and slow and uneasy with the calf pinching and giving no connection between road and body for propulsion because, well, I just couldn't land the right way. Then yesterday I had a run were I was painfully slow as usual -- though I haven't been pushing anything (really, I can't) -- but what I noticed was that I was actually able to transfer energy from the road, through the calf, and into the body to push, or spring, me forward. I didn't push it. But I noticed the new found connection back again. So then today, today was the Doyle's Road Race, a race I do almost every year with my sister in law (they live less than a mile from Doyle's pub) and wife. They wanted to run, and since I knew I could slug through 5 miles, I too did it. I started way, way in the back, went easy for the first mile (7:12) and was already surprised that the calf felt pretty good. Seond mile was faster, third faster, and I steadily picked up to race pace for a last mile at 5:41. Finished horrible for a 5 miler for me (31:30 watch time / 31:5x clock - no chip) but the point was that I ran, and I ran honestly after the first mile. And the calf responded, yeilding spring from the road to the body, something I couldn't do even two days earlier. So now I'm feeling hopeful, a glimmer of hope, that Boston might be a go!</p>
