the bone collector

what do you do about blisters? i've been having a blister/small tumor growing on my right pinky toe for probably a little over a week now. it won't harden and it won't go away on it's own. of course it hurts near the end/after a run so obviously i know why it's there, but i don't know how to fix it.


i bought some "blister" band-aids and tape today to try, but i'm open to other suggestions. it hurts (kind of like a burning/stinging feeling) when i quit running, but isn't too bad while running so, of course, i continue to run. it's enormous so i really don't see myself voluntarily opening it...

last night after work i did a t-pace/interval-y run: 20 minutes easy, 5x6minutes @ "t-pace" (7:02/mile) with 1 minute rest, 10 minutes easy. it went alright, nothing exciting. i got in about 0.85 miles in each 6 minute set.

friday (4/17) pm run: 8.2 miles, 1:04:11 (avg pace 7:49), avg hr (169)

today, saturday, i woke up and my right arch was a little achy. i figure it's from favoring that foot and trying to not aggravate the blister more than i already am, but i know that's still not a good excuse. it's supposed to rain tomorrow so i wanted to run outside today in case i get stuck on the treadmill/not running tomorrow.

i headed over to one of kentucky's state parks a few miles from the hotel because their website says "4.5 mile mountain biking trail, hikers welcome". the trails are supposed to be open april-september but there were still "trails closed" signs up. i ignored them. not safe, i know, but i took my mace with me.

these trails were tough. some of the climbs were really steep and i had to stop and walk them. my time/average pace were slower than normal but it was a tough run with all the hills. it was a beautiful morning - mid-50s* and sunny - and i tried to soak it all in. of course, i forgot my camera. less than a mile into the run i literally ran into some deer! i'm sure they startled me more than i did them, and i stopped to watch them for a minute (like 15 feet away from me). one was snuffing at me and stomping one of her (no horns) hoofs on the ground. i said ohh crap i hope you are not about to charge at me. she took off across the mountainside and i couldn't help but admire her ability to not trip and fall over the roots or uneven terrain. i totally would have.

shortly after seeing the first few deer i spotted this... (my arm for size comparison)


of course i'm gonna pick it up and run with it for 4 miles. i need something to throw at whatever animal ate it.

mace in one hand, bone in the other, i picked up the pace because i did not want to suffer the same fate as whatever this creature was. (joy, please tell me it is not a human bone.) when the climbs made me tired, all i had to do was look down at my left hand for motivation to keep moving. i saw a few more deer and thankfully, no bears or wolves or mountain lions, etc. there were some gorgeous views as the trail wound through the mountain-y area and through the openness of a former ski-resort. everytime i exited the woods to cross the deserted ski slopes i felt like a wild animal about to be hunted by man in the open field. ok, maybe the bone was getting to my head.

it was a scenic run and i wish i had brought a camera. i'm not entirely sure how it's a "mountain biking" trail as it's a single-track trail with huge drop offs to the left or right and some squeezing between trees, and i don't know how anyone would haul a bike up some of those hills. originally i thought i might run the trail twice for a 9-miler but it wore me out (plus there was the whole bone and who ate the animal that it belonged to factor) so i cut it short. i'm sure my legs/right foot could use a shorter, lighter day anyway.

saturday (4/18) am trail run: 5 miles, 48:02 (avg pace 9:36), avg hr (168)