This weekend I got out to the bike trail. I am slowly getting back to my normal running schedule. It was a great day to run. Sunny, cool and a slight breeze.

So, one thing I did not post about my new shoes a while back is that they are Nikes But not just any expensive Nike’s. No. They are equipped with Nike+. In simple terms, it’s Nerd heaven. There is a small sensor in my shoe that when I run records things like distance, time, pace etc. It is then all synced with my iPod as I run. So while sweating like heck, my iPod is busy telling me how well I am doing in between songs.

Tonight was the first night I really got to give it a try. I still need to calibrate it more to my walk/run stride because it thinks I have a longer stride than I actually do. However, that might not be a bad thing if I want it to look like I ran 20 miles when I only went 4. This Nike+ thing looks to be a lot of fun and my inner nerd is just loving it because it also syncs with the Nike+ website where it put everything in graphs and tables.

On the injury front, my legs still get a little tender after working out, but I can tell they are slowly getting better. Still just taking it slow.

I have tomorrow off due to a dentist appointment, my regular checkup. So I might try out the bike trail or doing strength training at home.

Tonight was my first night back to running and so far it went well. While I mostly walked, I still got a good amount of running in and my legs felt great. They were a little sore this evening, but seem fine now. Still taking it slow.

This weekend we are heading to Minnesota to visit some relatives.

I did not do much running this past week. I biked a little and did some strength training instead. When I did try to run, I could feel my shins tighten up, so I didn’t bother pushing the issue. But this week I plan to try again. I headed to a local store that has a way to check your stride and make sure the shoes you wear are right for you. Its a big pressure sensitive pad with a computer read out that shows how you walk. It was pretty neat and I found out a few things I already knew and a few I didn’t. For example, I thought I always over-pronated when I walked. (moved my heal to the inside) But instead, I have a perfectly straight gait that evenly distributes my weight. So, I got another pair of shoes, hopefully the last pair for a while. I actually got to run in them before I purchased them, which is what sold me on them. So this coming week, I will again try to slowly get back to running.

Today was the local Renaissance Festival. It was rainy, gloomy and cold. But I managed to pick up a new dragon to add to my every growing collection of dragon stuff. I never set out to collection dragons, but I have found enough over the years that are really neat, and cheap, that I now have quite a few dragons flying around our office. Today I picked up a red/orange dragon that is weaved from a rope type fiber wrapped over a wire frame. Its hard to describe, but its really cool looking and rather large. I got it for $26. We found out its made by the same people who are up at the Minnesota State Fair who make Loon and Wolf carvings at the fair.

On the running front, my legs are feeling better. Though they still feel tight at times. I should be able to slowly start back up this coming week.

My legs are healing…..slowly. Weight training has been good so far, but I am looking forward to getting back to running. Although this time it will be at a much slower pace.

With this set back, I have found a race in mid-July that I might try. It would give me just over a month to get back to training. But for now, I am taking a wait and see approach.