DOG DAYS OF SUMMER.


Can you say hot? I know you can. (That's me, by the way, after work, with my "air conditioning" at home.) But you won't hear me complain--not much that is. I have always loved summer and have learned to deal with the heat and humidity. With our short season of good weather, it beats the alternative, that nasty S word we deal with almost 6 months of the year it seems.


One problem I am encountering with rehab-ing the ankle though is I am forced to do more workouts inside. Its not so bad a deal on days like this, but I need to get back out in the real world! After all, you can't control the weather come race day.


And going to the gym every morning has its usual drawbacks. For some reason, the regulars have abandoned their routine, and now its some of the occasionals who come in, disrupting the flow of the rest of us, changing the music channels to news of all things, and walking slowly on the treadmills gaping at the tv news or pedaling maybe 2 mph on the Schwinn airdynes. I don't know, maybe they are trying to escape the heat too? The gym is cooler, there's no doubt, but these people have to have air conditioning at home, unlike some of us!

Tomorrow will be 4 weeks since the ankle fiasco. It seems like 8! I am supposed to be waiting one more week to run, but I am to the point where I can't stand it much longer. Rather than do something really stupid, I will attempt ONLY a 2 mile run tomorrow, on the treadmill if I have to, and then go back to the elliptical. I think its time I see what still hurts, if anything, and how things are coming along. The ankle itself isn't too bad, just around the bone and front of the ankle, and on some downstairs, or if I happen to twist or turn it, just normal range of motion you know, but the knee is still a mystery. It isn't swollen, hot, or even bruised outwardly anymore, but I still can't put any weight on it if I kneel and its still sore if I bump against something.

I have fallen into a not-so-bad routine though: Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays 3 miles on the elliptical and a 1/2 mile or more swim; Tuesdays and Thursdays weight training, 2 miles on the elliptical, and biking. I think I have managed to keep up my cardio fairly well, other than not having the long run buildup. I'm still trying to decide when and which races to do next. I feel like I need to take advantage of the only season we have and don't want to lose out like last year. There are a couple of races I won't be able to do because I'll be in Louisville for IM, so I want to find a half IM yet this year to do. I'm taking suggestions!

My daughter also wants me to visit her in NYC again at the end of September to see, of all things, Wheel of Fortune live, which she has gotten tickets for. Now if it was Jeopardy, I might be more inclined!