My First Race

by Bill C.
(Lancaster PA)

So, let me catch you up to speed,

After all the snow and having lost a week or two of constant training, I was feeling pretty good on my 3 mile runs, so I upped my weekend run from a 5 to a 6 mile run. Big mistake. those dang shin things keep resurfacing.

So another week of light runs and a crap load of ice. Actually, I have included a picture of my latest invention. In it's crude form you take two bags of whatever your wife has in the freezer, in my case it was frozen green beans and frozen blue berry's, you Saran wrap them to your shins and you are set. I posted the pic on the internet and asked my facebook friends to give my new invention a name, "ShinWow" was the winner. Last week they felt pretty good.

These past two weeks I have been researching running mechanics. Remember when you first started running, it's the same story everywhere. you may have gotten coached by a friend or someone you knew, but they never talked about proper running mechanics, they may have told you to walk first, run/walk, etc... but nobody ever told me about forefoot running or heel striking. And know I understand where my shin splints are coming from.

So I started to consciously change how I run. but nobody told me that it would be hard on my calves.

So I was signed up for a St. Patty's day run, which was actually on Saturday in Lancaster. PA the run4luck 4 miler. As I was heading out the door to the race, I noticed my one calf had an acute pain in it, I thought nothing of it and went on my way. I ran the 4 mile race with a family friend. When I got to the race start, it was over 25 mph gusts and pelting cold rain, I looked in my rear view mirror before I hopped out of my comfortable truck and said "We Are Spartans"

I ran the relatively hilly race at about a 9:40 mile pace, not bad for a big Fat Greek.

I think I am back on track as of this week. Oh and on another note. I just registered for the Marathon, so no turning back now.

Bill