Just some side thoughts,opinions,comments,ideas

First off, I would like to say that shin splints absolutely suck! well actually to be more specific, I am suffering medial tibial stress. I wear the right shoes, and i'm not overweight, but running on the same flat track everyday definitely takes its toll on me. I did some research over the weekend, and learned that the best ways to cure it, are to take ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory), tie your shoes tighter, and run on varied surfaces on different days. Another thing I learned is that building calf muscles takes stress off of the shin bones. Not wanting to become drugged out on ibuprofen, wait six weeks to recover, and not being able to run on anything other than the track, I guess the best I can do for now is to tie my shoes tighter, strengthen my calf muscles, and hope for the best!

Second thought, in all honesty, I cannot wait for track to end! Sure, it's fun and such, but I am really aching to just run alone on long distances. Me, the road, and my GPS. I want to get back into half marathon training! ( I am NOT giving up on this goal) I used to see running as a pretty stupid thing to do as a sport, but its so much more than appears to the eye. To me it is a spiritual connection with myself and nature. It is a time of peace and relaxation. I learn a lot about myself during long runs. I am realistically thinking about cross country instead of soccer this season......crazy right?

hmmm what else is on my mind........oh yes, nutrition. I have been reading a lot of articles about eating organic and vegetarian. I am not sure I could commit to being a full scale vegetarian, but the thought of eating organic is interesting to me. One problem is that organic foods tend to be more expensive. I learned that by eating organic vegetables, a person can cut back on 90% of pesticide consumption. That sounds like the cure to cancer! I am going to dwell on this new realm of food, before I make long term decisions. I usually eat very healthy, but why not go all the way with it?!