Is It Spring Yet?

The Stats: January, 2013
1/7/13: 2.05 mi; 15'52"; 7'44" avg. pace
1/12/13: 2.00 mi; 15'09"; 7'33" avg. pace

The past three months have been the most depressing of my running life. Since 2007 I have not run so little as I did this winter. The ligament in my right leg has been slowly healing. But I have been getting nagging little injuries all over my body during the hiatus: a frozen shoulder, an aching knee, etc. Is my body really that old? At this time a year ago I was jogging through cold weather without a second thought. Now it's a miracle if I manage to slip on the Nike's after work.
The transition to minimalist running technique has been put on hold while I try to get back in shape. I want to remember what a pain free run feels like before trying to change my entire running mindset. I did try the zero drop Merrell shoes out on the second run in January. However, I was so afraid of blowing out my calf muscles that I ran on my entire foot and not specifically on the forefront.
February will likely see only a few runs, much like January. Skiing and midweek volleyball games have been filling this fitness hole, but it is a small substitute at best. Still, hope remains for 2013, and 10k races await. Here's looking forward to a sun filled spring season and a healthier body. Come on March.

Winter Holidays - A Fat Kid's Worst Friend (Mike)

You remember the 10 pounds I lost in October and the record setting cycling climbs and race results that accompanied said weight loss...well, the weight is back but its stay is expected to be short lived.

January has just been frustrating.  I set out with the initial goal of surpassing my mileage totals recorded in any previous January in each event category.

Swimming (A-)
My swimming workouts have been totally irratic.  I go in with an idea of what I'd like to do but end up altering my goals while in the water based on how I feel after my first 100 yards.  Ugh...you try thinking and reevaluating plans while feeling like you're being water boarded.  Despite my frustration, this January recorded my longest ever swim of a mile!  I also set personal bests in my quarter mile time as well as my 100 yard and 50 yard sprint times.

January 2012 - 0.26 miles
January 2013 - 3.27 miles

Cycling (C)
I got a bunch of cold weather gear this year with the intent of riding during winter weather...that didn't happen.  But, some freakishly warm weather did get me out on 1 January ride and I did log some miles on my indoor trainer.

January 2012 - 44.97 miles
January 2013 - 49.60 miles

Running (F)
Zero motivation when it came to running this month.  I ventured out a few times and only once even managed to complete the short course I had planned.

January 2011 - 19.00 miles
January 2013 -   4.42 miles

Flexibility (F)
I haven't been stretching hardly at all and haven't made it back to Yoga this year.  My sleep schedule has been all over the place and my back has been killing me this month...even more reason I should be stretching.  But, I'm not.  Why do I have a mental block on stretching and taking care of my back?  I have used my inversion table some which seems to help.

At least surpassing my February 2012 totals should be a very easy challenge as I hit a major funk this time last year and pretty much did nothing the entire month.  Hopefully, I'll shed the Holiday weight and get back on pace running and biking without sacrificing my swimming efforts.

I hope everyone has gotten off to a good start this year.