Todays training -Not just a workout

3.5-3.8 miles easy on a variety of flats and hills- Getting up and doing a workout can be , IS, fun but doing it as part of a plan for performance TRAINING PROGRAM makes it more enjoyable, exciting and motivating. It is also helpful as an impetus to get going on those SLOW days. But the big key is putting it together with ALL factors involved. I am building a base of solid mileage as my leg heals and will transfer to a marathon training plan. What kind of training program should I follow? The vast majority or programs published in magazines are For and By Olympic caliber runners but less then 2% of us can or should train that way. We aren't built properly for it, we don't have the time to train like that AND recover/rest properly . Now I train easily 5-7 days a week but only 1 day in 14 do I go harder or longer. It allows for better recovery and rest and is sufficient to complete the race and distance. I trained professionally as a football player and basketball player but now I am a Big Guy running....

Smoothies- Great for Summer Workouts and Recovery

I harvested a collection of tasty greens and made a great Green Smoothie to fuel up after a Hot, sweaty summer workout. Love the feeling of all that great vegetable energy entering my body and filling me up. 2 quarts of Dark green drink contain a couple hundred calories But are loaded with protein, Omega oils, vitamins and minerals. Unlike tablets or capsules the vitamins are all complete and loaded with the micronutrients /phytonutrients so popular in the health press. The greens are a collection or beet, collards,kale ,mustard and radish.

Where have I been ????

I just realized I have not written in several weeks- not a good way to keep the blog alive and current. I have been doing a lot of reading about writing and blogging- now I get off the pot and write something. The leg is recovering and getting stronger- may start full time running soon. Will add some more short (100-300 yards) intervals as it continues to gain strength. The garden is coming together- been harvesting and enjoying some greens and cabbage goodies ( spinach and bok choi gone recently) Some garden updates: Milk thistle- The milk thistle was looking good a few weeks ago but looks great a it is reaching 3-4 feet tall and the great flowers are out. Blackberries are filling the plants and getting ready to ripen- now to keep the birds away- And some melons growing vigorously in a pile that is mostly (85-90%) used coffee grounds - not sure how the fruit will be but the plants looks great. Now to keep up with this and publish more tomorrow.

Today's Smoothie-75% My Garden

Harvested some chard, collards, turnip and radish greens . I gave them a quick rinse and put in blender with 2 cups of filtered water. Blended until smooth and green.
Added some chia seeds , 2 clementines and 2 Valencia oranges and a scoop of wheatgrass powder. Finished blending and put into 2 bottles. With some ice cubes to drink all morning .
Tastes great today.

Back on the road- a NOT EXACTLY Training Log

Hit the road and did 4- almost 5 miles and did so with no pain in the leg- at least in the area near the repair and screws.

Knees were a little tender but felt better later in the day.

How long until I can run half to 3/4 of a workout?

Running is Good for the legs,knees- Ignore the nay-sayers (Part 1 of 4)

Many doctors- even those that run and work with runners- believe that running is bad for the knees....

Personal trainers- many in an effort to gain clients/ and from their training- preach against running and for intervals with short bursts as well as resistance training and cross training.....

Running magazines include monthly articles as well as regular social media posts about how to deal with running injuries....


Running is not the problem- HOW we run is the problem.



How do we run? How do we get hurt?

Most of us have real lives and jobs and are NOT OLYMPIANS and this means many/most runners that watch their time and PR's end up with some kind of pain and injury.

What Olympians and Professional athletes have is the time to rest and recover and properly cross-train. This total training package limits/prevents injuries because they run daily on "well rested and recovered" muscles and bones.

We who have jobs and lives end up under-rested and over-trained and have down time in a regular series of down time and ice time.

If more people worked out - NOT trained- properly there would be less injuries and less need for good sites like http://www.runninginjuryoracle.com/.

There will be at least 3 more parts in this series....

Good Luck and stay pain free.

Cross Training in the Garden ??

I love to plant my veggies and fruit and enjoy the harvest as summer comes. This year I am still recovering from the leg fracture in November and it is very tiring to work in the garden- Doesn't cool my enjoyment ....

I have beans and greens and onions planted and moving nicely- Cabbage and cauliflower are coming up now:

The brussels sprouts should do well again this year- looking forward to fresh gooddies.

My blackberries and figs are growing nicely and should produce some sweet treats in a few months.

I have a bunch of seedlings yet to plant and will get them in soon. Okra is next and then all the squash varieties.

With the work for the marathon finishing I will have more time to workout and recover from the break and surgery and also play in the garden.