Packed and ready to OUCH!

Stupid foot. It's still bugging me. I ran 4 miles off the bike yesterday and it was bugging me the whole time. This is with 5 days rest. Ugh...I can't believe it when I started my 7 mile tempo session last week that I would aggravate this thing. Everything was really going well too. I'm totally bummed that I'll have to contend with this pain during the half.

I found that it only hurts if I flex my foot to push off running/walking or standing on my tippy-toes. I don't think it's a stress fracture because one of the signs is that pressure on the actual spot will hurt. I pressed all over the top of my foot with no pain at all. This is good because it's probably soft tissue injury. Like my foot muscles are worn out compensating for not enough push from calf maybe.

I might have to take an Alleve somewhere on the bike to mask the pain during the run. I've raced in the past with 2 Alleve. It was another actual race where I was traveling. I had gotten a super nasty shin splint the week of the race just on an easy training run. The shin splint was so painful I was reduced to walking and almost tears. I iced like a maniac and rested. I flew down to the Bay area to run this killer 10 mile point to point race that goes up the foothills of Mt. Diablo. The first 5 miles are straight up and the last 5 miles are straight down almost entirely on fire roads. I was able to perform with a fast time and without pain. I might be using again this weekend.

I packed up the Cervelo yesterday. I rented a Trico Iron Case and man what an interesting case. At least it has 2 wheels but a lame handle to pull it. It's going to be a real pain to take up and down stairs because it doesn't have a "true" handle on the side. I'll be lugging this on the Metro in order to save $50 in parking at the airport and still have to lug it on/off a shuttle. The only real problem is the steps down in the metro stop next to where I live. It'll be fine going down to the stop but come home will be a bear coming home. Oh well, I'm stubborn. I'll just go easy on the walk over to the stop.

I got all my nutrition as well packed in my luggage. My nice white Infinit powder in a ziploc baggy should look great to the security guards. I'm hoping to check this piece of luggage but we'll see with all the new luggage procedures at the airlines who charge for everything these days. At least I got a free bike certificate for booking my flight on US Airlines.

My swim taper is working well though and my legs felt great during the bike and run. I feel like this taper should really set me up for a good race on Sunday.

4 days...