I officially fell off the wagon

The timing of my Achilles injury and the short nature of XC season has meant my short term goals have officially died in a heap of shame. What I thought might be a week or so off has now hit almost a month. Trying to get ready to race might normally work if it was simply say an IT band injury or something that was more predictable, but I've learned that the ol Achilles is a nasty piece of work.

So I am hopefully going to try running tomorrow for 20 mins and actually get some motivation back. My goals are now to try and have a short peak in Feb and if that goes as planned then try Ottawa again. We'll see.....

The one positive in all this has been my re-introduction into coaching. I've moved up to the HS level (North Surrey...the great Marty 'the party' Cluff's alma mater). We have a small and young team (we are a big soccer school so we lose some of those kids who we might get at other schools), but both myself and Scott Svelander (yes a name from the past for some) have tried to build upon what Jenn Schuts got going last year (and she'll be back later in the school year and back full time for XC next yr). We've got some pretty decent gr 8-9 girls, but XC being as I say a 'different' sport we lack some full teams in the other grades.

We're trying to get some other gr 8s involved but so many are playing other sports. Unfortunately, they have a minimum race (2 races)qualification standard for Fraser Valley championships, and therefore BCHS XCs, so my fear is that we get some kids late in the season but they won't be allowed to run. At the very least we seem to have the basis for a team that may grow over the next few years.

well lordy lordy....

....it's been a long time...and well that's not an entirely good thing for my running. The old Achilles flared up (actually it was never 100% after the season ended) in mid/late August in my build (a big surprise) and I haven't run for two weeks til Wed afternoon. It isn't that bad , but I decided to take the time off, get some treatment and reload. I've dealt with this one too many times to know that I can't run through it

That in itself is bad, but my general motivation has been worse. It's been the winter of 2004 since I've been out more than a week or 2 and when things have gone bad I was in good shape and motivated so it was easy to come back. This time I have been pathetic. Probably the biggest reason (that has some sort of pragmatic rationale besides my brain) has been work. I am starting at a new school this year and have moved up to high school. New lessons, new environment, etc.. has destroyed my energy levels.

If I was running I would simply get out the door for an hour or so, but with the gym it's preparation to go there, drive, etc....and in all honesty my mind has been elsewhere. There's just a lot (both good and bad) that's been going on and it means that (I seldom say this) that running has had to take a back seat for the last 3-4 weeks. Hopefully the minimal x training I've done will help me get back on board at a decent rate....Oh and I am coaching at my HS...more about that later...