Well, since nobody else has anything to say....

...I guess I'll b.s. for awhile.

A note from JB: I just got done writing this post, and, what started out as a quick break from writing the Southern Nevada Water Authority Budget Narrative turned into an exposé on my physiological frailties and how I will solve them singlehandedly, as well as all the other problems facing the world. You have been warned.

So here's the deal. In training for last year's Wasatch Back, I came to the painful realization that I have shin splints. Enduring through this recurring injury has somehow enabled me to learn more about leg injuries, my body and listening to my body than I could ever hope to know. It's really quite amazing.

Weintzy has come up to me on occasion and expressed to me certain symptoms. Without hesitation, I tell him that it is a mixture of Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITB) and old age.

Chasqui Morgan comes to me asking where there he can buy some good compression sleeves, at which point I automatically think, "Well duh, you need to go with the Skins Sport sleeves, as they feature performance enhancing BioSport technology." "WAIT!", I catch myself before replying. "Why suggest the Skins Sports with performance enhancing BioSport technology, when you are so incredibly delighted with your Zensah compression sleeves and their patented gradient ribbing technology, which not only increases performance, but improves bloodflow?"

You see, at this time last year, I was not privvy to this physiological health library that now resides within my brain. Now I am.

With this extensive knowledge that I have obtained through google searches, articles and books, I may as well be a doctor. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing. It can be good because of the aforementioned benefits that my knowledge has provided me. The reason that it is bad, in this case, is that it has caused me to evaluate and autodiagnose myself, which, after many months of extensive testing, trial and error, theories, hypotheses, contemplation, head scratching, stretching and frustration, I have come to this conclusion as to why I have shin splints:

I'm fat.

And by "fat", I really mean "a bit overweight".

And by "a bit overweight", I really mean "I think losing a few pounds would not only make me a fiercer competitor, but it would make my shins smile." And who doesn't love them some happy shins?

So here's skinny (haha, skinny, after I called myself fat) - With each step that we take while running, between 8-10 times our body weight comes crashing down on our shins.

Let's put that in perspective. For lean, mean Chasqui Warnie (who is the closest a human can come to being a gazelle), thats about 1,440 lbs.

For me, it's closer to a metric ton. Actually, it's just over 1,800 lbs (and that is if Janel's new scale is accurate, about which I am having serious doubts). Think about that. Our shins are absolutely amazing. The way a bone that size can support that kind of weight (insert "that's what she said" joke here)? Ridiculous.

With that in mind, today is the day I had to make the decision as to whether or not I was still going to be able to run Del Sol. My shin splints resurfaced about a week and a half ago, and once they resurface, you are to give them complete rest for at least a week. So that is what I have been doing. I have been going to spin class and/or cycling on my trainer almost daily, so I've been staying in shape (or as close to that as I can be); I just haven't been running.

So today was the day I was going to run. Twenty minutes was all I would needed to assess my shins and how I was feeling. It came and went. And I killed it. No soreness, not even breathing heavy once I was done. It was great. So, with the results of this highly scientific test in consideration, I have decided that I am indeed going to run Del Sol.

My problem is now this: I must prepare myself to run over 15 miles within a 24 hour period, and I have three and a half weeks in which to do it.

Running everyday would kill me. The shins just wouldn't take it. Heck, running any kind of distance even every other day is something my shins consider overtraining. And if I get hurt again and have to take another week off to heal, then Del Sol just isn't going to happen for me.

So here's what I'm doing, and it goes back to, oh, four paragraphs ago (the one ending in "ridiculous"). From now until Del Sol, I will only be running twice a week - Wednesdays and Saturdays. My Wednesday runs will never be anything longer than 20 minutes (big ups to Chasqui Morgan for the sound advice on training for time, not distance), and my Saturday runs will never be longer than 55 minutes.

I know - conservative. Will I be ready? Great question, but the answer is "YES". In order to supplement my sparse running schedule, I will continue cycling/spinning every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and if I don't cheat myself, I'll be shedding about 900 calories per work out. This, combined with a healthy but strict diet and really watching my caloric intake, will help me to at least feel lighter on my feet and shins come race day.

Am I going to shed enough pounds in three and a half weeks to really make a difference in the weight that will be compacting my shins with every step I take? Probably not, but I know I'll feel better, cause I already do.

And after Del Sol, the regiment will continue in preparation for Los Angeles.