Training day 5 towards the Rock -n- Roll marathon. I continue to follow the prescribed plan of West Coast Roadrunner Marine Corps training group, sub 10min/mi. By the numbers the run was good avg pace 10:08, avg Heart rate 169, total run time 35:18 and 3.48 mi. That is only half the story.

As I mentioned before, my right calf has been causing me pain. I believed it to be a mild case of shin splints but, now I believe I strained my right Soleus. About half way into the run the pain became localized and sharp. I stopped to stretch for a minute then stopped and started my run for another .25 miles before I felt like giving up. Then I remenbered my training from Chi Running and focused on my form. Placing my feet with focus each time. Relaxing my entire body to allow gravity to help body move forward. As I ran the muscle relaxed and I completed the run without pain. I’ll be focusing on form for the next few runs. Keeping exertion down to a minimum.

Read the book. It will change the way you run too.