One Week To Go And A Very Sore Ankle

Big Sur is next week. However, for the last couple weeks I have been dealing with a very sore ankle.

The big problem is that I'm not sure what caused it.  I think I can pinpoint the general time frame.  It was raining in the bay area recently and I went for a trail run out in Rancho San Antonio twice when it was pouring rain - which meant the footing was horrible and I lost my balance a couple of times.  Though there was not a moment when a felt an ankle sprain occur.  However, soon after the second run, I started feeling ankle pain - just above the ankle on the exterior.  It was still sore the weekend of my long run to prep for big sur.  I pushed through and ran 20 miles on it.  Since then it has been sore every day.  I took three days off running this week, but after a 5 mile run - very sore.

I do have an appointment with a chiropractor on Monday morning - hoping for some magic!

So not only am I under trained, but now I have to find a way to get my ankle healthy enough so I can run 26.2 miles on Sunday.

I have every intention to still run Big Sur unless it gets significantly worse.  At least I have to give it a shot.  But, this is a disappointment.  I don't have the best of luck when it comes to marathons.  Mostly though it is getting sick and not injuries - though I have had my share of injuries. Very frustrating. My mind is negative right now - so I know I need to start focusing on positive thoughts and even if it is sore the morning of Big Sur I need to believe that it will be okay for 26.2 miles.

Other than that - things have been great.  I took my daughter to the beach two weeks ago.  She had a blast and flew a kite for the first time.  It was so special to see her enjoy some of the little things in life:

flying a kite

Hunting for eggs

Big Sur Marathon - my 9th???

Many moons ago I signed up for the Big Sur marathon.  Mostly because it sells out fast and it was on my "to do" marathon list.

Yet - I have been slacking. Mostly do to the same old song:  work, teaching, daughter, travel.

I've been running.  Pacing/coaching with the SF marathon South Bay training group, leading a run at a local running store and running 3-5 times a week.  But, I have not been training . . . for a marathon.  So, I have had my doubts about running Big Sur.

However, I have started to build up my long runs the last 5-6 weeks.  I did a 16 mile run and two 18 mile run.  Next weekend will be my 20 mile run.  So, I think I'm going to go for it.  I have a few running friends running it, so it will be great to see them in the race.

As long as I can get my 20 mile run in, then I'll give it a shot.  The plan will be to not "race" it, but to just go out there and run a solid pace (not sure what a solid pace will be yet).  I would like to have got in 1 or 2 more 20 mile runs, but not enough weeks left.

The big issue is that I need to find a hotel.

Caballo Blanco Thoughts

I was find it a bit strange when someone dies that I do not really know.  I've lost people that have been close to me (like my dad and recently my grandmother) so I try to keep it in perspective.

With that said, I was sad when I heard Caballo Blanco was dead.  I did not know him.  I only read of him.  But, he was an inspiration.  I was already running marathons before I read born to run, but reading of him gave me inspiration to one day run ultras.  More importantly, reading of him (and people like him) helps me stay in touch with my love for running.

I wish I could have met him. But, through born to run and all of the blogs and articles about him, I feel that I sort of have met him.