The Sunday Ritual on Vacation & The End of an Affair

It's Sunday again.  Normally I'd be lacing up my shoes right now and heading out for my long run but, I haven't been given a go ahead by my PT to do that just yet.  Even though I feel totally fine, I want to make sure that any residual issues are worked out before I actually start pounding the pavement again.  That being said, I will probably go for a very short very easy jaunt in my new kicks.  Yes folks, the Newton love affair is over.  I have found another lover and his name is Mizuno.  He may not be as flashy as Newton but I think he'll be better for me in the long run; more stability and less stress on my calves and achilles.  After 2 + years in the Newton's and this weird little calf issue I've been having, I felt it was time for a change.   The guy that sold these to me said he wasn't surprised to hear about the calf issues.  That seems to be a big problem with a lot of these minimalist shoes.  More load on your forefoot is going to stress your calf and achilles more than they're used to and for a lot of people that results in an injury.  Even in the Newton's I was still a heel striker and yet I was still able to run fast.  As my sports doctor so aptly put it, your body is going to do whatever it's going to do, changing your foot strike doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get faster.  I used to think it was the shoes that made me faster and I'm sure that they probably helped a bit, but I think I can safely say it was a combination of the 15 pound weight loss, the speed work and weight lifting that has gotten me to where I am today. 

Much more tame than I'm used to!

I had big training plans for this week, especially since we're off on vacation.  I'm mentally raring to go and despite being off for two weeks, I'm feeling really good physically as well.  Nothing like some forced rest to make you feel like a million bucks.  I'm totally chomping at the bit to get back to it so hopefully my PT gives me the green light tomorrow.  We're heading up to our friends cottage on Wednesday for three days so I'll be bringing my wetsuit and my bike for sure.  I'm actually really looking forward to getting in to the water.   I know right???  Me the big 'fraidy cat!  I can't believe I just wrote that.  But it's true.   I think I'm starting to turn the corner.  I guess we'll see what happens when I toe the line at the sprint triathlon next weekend.

Since we're on vacation this week, I haven't done any menu planning.  I am going to finally make those energy bars from the No Meat Athlete that I talked about a couple of weeks ago.  I didn't end up making them because that was the weekend I injured my calf so I spent that afternoon sprawled on the couch with my leg elevated.  But, if I'm going to be riding my bike this week, I'm going to need something so I'll make those and bring them with me to the cottage.   I've also got a bunch of tomatillos that need to be used so I'm going to make some salsa verde.  I'm thinking that might be mighty tasty on some grilled chicken.  Other than that, we're just going to wing it for the next couple of days.   That's what being on vacation is all about.

Have you got a vacation coming up?  If so what have you got planned?