Well my shin was slightly sore. I didn’t want to push it what so ever. There are two weeks till Marathon Weekend so no sence being and idiot and hurting myself. Did 1.5 hrs on elliptical tonight at a very intence pace. This is the last hard one as I’m in full blown taper now. Do lots of pool running this week and some elliptical but nothing over Level 1. I’m so burned out at the moment. I can’t seem to get any energy. Just making some Enchilita Lasagna  so that will give me a good boost! Maybe I should start having some recipies on this site. There are lots of great healthy things I enjoy cooking and maybe it’s time to start sharing!!!

Well I did 15 min on treadmill today. We’ll have to see how the shins feel later this evening and tomorrow. I’m going to ice them that’s for sure. I did 15 min on the treadmill followed by 40 min on elliptical. It’s taper time and I’m very excited. I’m pretty sure that the shins (primarily the left one) will be fine.  The nice weather always helps mood wise. I’ll lay off it tomorrow and just do elliptical and pool and then try treadmill again the following day.

Well I did one hour elliptical and tried to run after. The problem with tring to run was that my quads got a real workout from elliptical tonight as I maintained a more forceful pace tonight. I should have tried the run before the elliptical, that is what I’m going to try and do tomorrow. I’m on my taper now and really need to make sure that I don’t let the shin splints return or get worse. I’ll write more detail tomorrow following my attempt to run on treadmill.

Well I’m confronted with a real decision. I’m doing the Goofy Challenge this year as anyone who follows my blog would know. I’ve suffered from major shin splints due to a leg discrepencie which has been resolved with an insert but regardless the leg had to heal. Last year prior to the marathon I had also suffered shin splints and one month out stopped running and kept up cardio on an elliptical. I’ve done the same this year. My shin feels pretty good at the moment and there are three weeks to go (taper time). The big question to myself is do I do what I did last year and hold out till marathon (well half marathon) day and then run or do I do the taper and see what happens to the shin??? I’m going to the gym today, if I do run it will be on a treadmill to avoid the impact of the road.
Well you’ll have to read later on today to see what I decided.

Well tonight did one hour elliptical and 30 min in pool aquajoggin. Got a teather strap to tie myself off in the deep end, what a difference. Was very intense workout. Went to get drink of water after 30 min running and my calf cramped right up. Had to get out. Will try and do 3.5 hour session next week, 1.5 hrs elliptical and 1.5 hours in pool. Then I’ll start the taper. Went to a Buffalo Sabers game last night and had half dozen beers between the game and the Perl Street Grill & Brewery. Also consumed some pizza, nachos and wings. Need I say more. That is surely the cause of the muscle cramps tonight, the dehydration from the beer. I really like the AquaJogging and will make sure that it becomes a regular part of my routine. Really helps me work on my gate and concentrate on brining up my legs and allows me the opportunity to think about how I’m running without the impact of striking the ground while you tweak your style.

Well 1h25 min on elliptical tonight. Just a bit shy of my half marathon time. Will do a one hour session tomorrow, rest up a day and then go for 2 hrs – 2.5 hrs. Have to start the taper at the end of next week. I’m getting pretty excited now. I have the cardio, the question will be whether or not the legs hold up!

Well I did 1 hour elliptical training which felt very good. Tomorrow we’ll do 1.5 hours, then 1 hour next day and then try for 2.5 hrs on weekend. Did a 25 min water run as well. I’m going to have to make a rope to tie me off at the deep end so I don’t have to keep going in circles. I works very well, I actually quite surprised. My shin splints fell like they are just about gone. I don’t think I will do any running though before the marathon. I don’t want to take a chance that they return as there wouldn’t be enough time to heal. I’m right back to where I was last year and I finished the marathon ok. Just need to kee doing deep tissue massages and then ice them up.

Well I’ve taken a few days off. Try and get some recovery in. This will surly be a difficult marathon, let alone the fact I’m doing the goofy. My shin splints are just about gone but I’ve only got 4 weeks till the marathon and the taper should be starting next week. This week I’ll do pool running again, plus eliptical. I just have to try and keep the cardio up. Had a party this weekend and ate and drank in excess. Have to recover from that. As well we have had a major snow storm today as you can see from the picture.

Well I tried it tonight. Did 30 min running in the pool with the aquajogger. Have to say I was very surprised. It is an incredible workout. I was shocked at how difficult it was. I was in the pool for 30 min. The pool unfortunatly is at Premier Fitness and it not maintained well at all so I had very sore lungs after from the chlorine levels. But regardless what a run. Even when I’m back to 100% I’m going to make this a part of my weekly routine, crosstrain day maybe. Will try and go longer this evening and get back on the elliptical as well.

Well I just picked up the Aquajogger (http://aquajogger.com) at the running room. You can read about it on their site. I’ll be trying it out after my Elleptical training this evening. I hope this is something that I can enjoy. I read about it also in Hal Higdons marathong training book. Everything I have read is positive.