The damage done

 I have come to the realization that lining up and finishing the Ice Age 50 mile in 2022 is going to be a real challenge.  As it stands now, there is a no way I can train properly with a bum Achilles.  There is no major pain as I walk about 6.5 miles daily, but the small distances I try and shuffle are slow and awkward.  They also leave the area tender.  It quickly goes away after a day, but I am gun shy to try begin jogging again.  I can’t walk Ice Age in under 12 hours.

 My problem is me of course.  I know What I should be doing.  I also know what other cross training could be considered.  It is hard not to go out daily for an effort and many times twice a day.  We are all told when we can’t do this anymore.  Maybe my time is here.  I have a few ideas to make this work.  Of course I do.  It is not the way I want to go about preparing, but I still want to lick the mustard out of the jar one more time.

The 306 acre woods

 I discovered in early November the Boys and Girls Club by me has passes to use the trails and roads on the property.  I had the whole thing staked out in a week.  It opens up a whole new variety of runs.  The camp has much mature woodland and a marsh area with a boardwalk through it.  It also borders Lake Keesus and is full of unpressurized wildlife.  There are a few rolling hills, but no major climbs.

 In particular there are two areas (outside of the paved entrances on both sides) one can sneak out to the rural roads in the area.  It is fairly easy to cobble together a variety of routes of the 3-5 mile range and mostly stay in the camp.  I’ve been out there about 20 times and have not seen one other person using the grounds.  I’ve only seen the occasional maintenance gentleman on the golf cart.  It also appears someone drives the back areas daily just to check on the cabins.

 The beauty of it for me is the solitude.  Unless you are one which seeks out this type of endeavor it is difficult to explain the airing out of other solid waste which can accumulate.  Sometimes I don’t want to quite go back yet, but I still answer to the man.  After awhile the answering and yes sir, yes sir, three bags full stuff gets old.  And I’m just not talking about work.

Any way the text have come in about getting in an effort with the boys around lunch.  Always happy to steal another one.  

A buck eighty-eight

 That is big for me.  When I went on this medication it called out this would probably happen.  It did and along with the Achilles problem the miles are way down.  I primarily put in a fair amount of miles for two reasons. First is so I can occasionally participate in an ultra of 50k to 50 miles.  Second so I can hoist down whatever I feel like.  Seems these days are over.

 We looked at homes in Florida last week and are making steps on moving there.  People remind me of some of the challenges.  I know.  I lived there 1984-1997.  It certainly is no where near South Florida.  

 Can’t wait to be capable of shuffling along again.  Had actually looked at a flat 100 miler.  I need something to consider.  Getting out has never been a problem for me.  When I slog or run it’s all about the movement.  When only walking it’s more cerebral.  Never was a cerebral runner.  It was about the task at hand and still is as I analyze the metrics of time, speed, and distance.  Mile to mile.  It keeps me occupied.  Now I’m currently at a point of adding steps per day.  You either accept it, move on to other activities, or surrender.  Time moves for no man.