On the Trail Again

I've been given the go-ahead by my physical therapist to start some light running again.  Finally. Four weeks off because of some annoying Achilles tendinitis had me a little stir crazy.  

In the last week, I've been on five easy runs ranging from two miles to ten miles.  The painful burning (tendinitis) is gone, but there is still some lingering tightness. 

I'm told that more massage and more light running with help loosen up the tightness.  So my fingers are crossed that I'll be up to full speed before I head off to Germany in a month. My catchphrase over the past week has been "cautiously optimistic." 

Here are a few photos from my Sunday run with Buzz and Sadie.

Keep running!

-Scott

Kamiak Butte Trail Series

Spring is here. Snow is melting.  The Kamiak Butte Trail Series starts this week!

I scouted the trail yesterday to make sure it was in decent post-winter shape -- and everything looks to be in great shape.

It was a nice day to capture some photos of the course.

Keep running!

Scott

Views From The Palouse

Three photos from above the Palouse River near Colfax, WA. Steptoe Butte is seen in the background.  Still no running this last week, but I was able to get my bike out for a few miles to get these shots.

Keep running!

Scott

Needed: Rest

I hit a bump in the road after a couple of nice weeks of training as I eased back into things after a rest-filled February.

Achilles tendinitis.  My guess is that I still hadn't fully recovered from the 100-miler.

Hells Canyon Adventure Run last weekend? Out. Badger Mt. 50k this weekend? Out.  WSU 100k next month? Probably out too since I'm missing all my long training runs.  

The plan right now is to take two weeks completely off before I test it out, then I'll go from there. We're headed to Germany in May, so my main goal now is to get ready for that race. I went for a short walk this past Sunday, and it was clear that running is not an option right now.

I've felt really lucky during my short running career to have gone mostly injury free. Some runner's knee in 2008 kept me off my feet for a month or so. Achilles tendinitis (in my other leg) back in 2010 left me limping through Chile. Torn calf last summer kept me out for five or six weeks. That's about it. Not too bad.

Of course it's no fun not being able to run, but I understand that part of the risk of running big ultras is that destroying your body sometimes means long layoffs. Risk vs Reward.

Sadie loves running as much as I do, but she'll have to be okay with ball fetch for a couple weeks.  I think she'll cope. 

On a walk by the river with Sadie

-Scott

Trail Running Southeastern WA

Here are a few photos from the gorgeous run I had over the weekend with Buzz and Sadie on the Asotin Creek Trail near Asotin, WA.  This trail offers a 17 or 22-mile loop option and has quickly become on of my favorites since I discovered it a little over a year ago.

Other than the short snow/sleet shower when we were on top of the ridge, the weather was just about perfect. 

Running with Sadie and Buzz
along Asotin Creek deep in the canyon

Trail snakes along the ridge after we climbed out of the canyon

Sadie

Buzz and Sadie running along the ridge

Meadow on the ridge

Last meadow before we head back down into the canyon