Running behind

Donation level achieved. $1000. Goal - $3000 by the end of September. Total donation goal $4000.

I want to thank all of you who have donated to the cause. Your donations have helped fund promising research to find a cure. And helped give dignity to those living with AIDS. This last week has been hard on everyone. Hurricane Katrina is a horrible tragedy. My own heart goes out to everyone in from Alabama to Louisiana who have been affected by nature's tempest. (Prospero, are you behind this?)

I got back from Burning Man a week ago and I am still trying to recuperate from it. Needless to say,I had an amazing time camping in the desert with friends. Drop me a line and I'll tell you more about my week. Or to get a general flavor of the place go to www.burningman.com.
I actually had big plans for the playa. I brought out my running stuff. I go tsome new shoes a couple weeks before . Not the Nikes but some Saucony hurricane 7s. Great shoes. They gave me the most support and comfort of all the different pairs I tried. (brooks, Asics. Saucony and someone else) my last pair of shoes were some $45 Asics. They were good for while but recently they felt like I was pounding on the concrete bare foot.
So, as I was saying, I had plans to do some running out in the desert. But an injury kept me from my appointed rounds. The day before leaving for the desert I did my 16 mile training run. The route was nice. 2 miles up hill with a slight ascent, two miles down. Then 1 mile straight up, and the next mile straight down. That mile coming down really aggravated my IT band around my right knee. (What is the IT band?) As I was coming down the steep hill every step hurt, and then it only got worse for the remaining 9 miles. I had to keep my leg in constant motion. During the walk breaks I exaggerated my knee movement to keep the muscle from getting cool and tightening up. From what I understand this pain is not abnormal for beginning runners. Luckily it happened now while I can do something about it. Later on it would be too late to heal in time for the marathon. Thus I chose not to run in the desert, instead giving the muscle a break. Even tonight, if I just touch where my IT band attaches to the knee it hurts. Feels kinda like a bruise when I touch it.

Decompression has kept me from my appointed rounds. I forgot how much the playa takes out of me. Out of necessity, I have been going to bed early all week, with no energy whatsoever to do anything. I spent lunches sleeping in my car. What this also means is no running; slacking on my run today as well. Today was supposed to be 18 miles with the team. I overslept. Frankly I am glad I did. Today I just rested and got my room in LA organized and I feel the best I felt since getting back from the land dust and more dust. I am excited to get my maintenance runs in and really get back into the running game.

Tomorrow I will be playing ultimate Frisbee. Go team.