Since this is my first post as a Team Timex athlete, I’d like to update anyone who may stumble across this on my current status. First off: thanks for taking the time to read this post; I will try to make it as interesting as possible, but I can’t promise anything. I had been training for the London Marathon until the middle of February, at which time I came down with a nasty case of anterior shin splints. For years I’ve thought that shin splints were for beginners and soccer moms, but apparently even a relatively fit veteran runner can be stricken by this nasty inflammatory injury. I blame the nasty South Bend winter, as well as too much indoor running during a 100+ mile week. Massages, incessant icing and stretching, and large doses of Advil weren’t enough to get me back on my feet and training consistently, so my coach Jae (Jason Cerge) and I decided to shut it down for 10 days and start a new cycle March 1st. I couldn’t stand taking the time off, but I knew it was for the greater good in that it was necessary in order for me to get healthy and train at a high level. I managed not to eat my feelings during my 3-4 weeks of time off and intermittent running, so I didn’t have to worry about losing ten pounds when I started back up. I’m now at my third week of ~ 80 miles per week and I’m starting to feel fit again. I haven’t completely recovered from my lower leg injury but it has improved greatly over the past 4-5 weeks. Hopefully the warm weather – which has yet to come to South Bend despite the fact that it’s the first week of April – will help to loosen up those lower leg muscles and get me back closer to 100%. 

Good luck to everyone that is racing this weekend!

- Dan