I had a somewhat pleasant run this morning. I had purposefully taken the week off after I broken my ribs. I did the same thing when I broke my foot back in April. That time it was mandated by my doctor; self-imposed this time. But learning from that previous experience, I think after any major training easy, whether it ends well or early or unexpectantedly, it's a good idea to cool the jets.

But this morning I got back on the trails. I do have a couple of races on the horizon, but for at least another week, until after Christmas, it's gonna be about running how I feel and want to. And I guess if you include yesterday, that also includes some fooling around with my Vibram FiveFingers.

My sister and brother-in-law fly in tonight and official kick-off a week of the holidays [and its stress.]

Everything was going good and on schedule.

Then yesterday I was trying to clean the gutters and get leaves of our roof. I slipped and fell, hit my abdomen on the railing to the deck and broke two ribs. No spinal injuries or problems with my liver or kidneys (given where I hit).

However, broken ribs are obviously painful. My race is next weekend. The ED doctor said no way, but prefaced that it wasn't dangerous; just that it would be too painful to breath. I did a trial run this morning. Yes, there was pain, but not from breathing and not intolerable, so now it throws in the air the whole possibility of still going, how well I would/could, etc.. I'm so torn right now, given that this is the second time it's happened in the last year. Am I just terribly injury prone?

Greg cursed me. The other day he asked if I would end up going through pre-race nuisances of feeling really crappy then beginning to feel great. Well, I hadn't experience it much recently, and said as much.

While it happens during the normal course of training, I was particularly aware of how "off" I felt. I was doing my running at Wrightsville Beach while conducting my Coast Guard obligation. My long run was done at Umstead on Friday before I left, with two mid-range runs on and near the island. The sensation is hard to explain. Feeling "off" is the closest, but vaguest term. It's like a felt like I was working really hard, but had the sensation that my pace was slow. Then I get done with the run, eventually look at my watch, and realize I was running at a typical pace. While it's good to know I was working steady, the out-of-sync sensation is bothersome.

I love December and all the seasonal Christmas atmosphere. By this I of course mean the holiday selection at Trader Joe's. I try and experience a new item once a week, and always consider what, if anything, to stock pile for the rest of the year.

I've also been cooking/baking a bit more. Sometimes from boredom, sometimes from cravings. Thanksgiving helped when I was able to make cornbread and then into cornbread stuffing, as well as a a "knead-less" yeast bread loaf. Then I made a PB cookie-dough, granola-mixed brownie contraption. Still undecided on how much I enjoy it. Oh well. Most of the time I make more than enough to satisfy any taste cravings. The rest usually gets sent to my dad's office or taken to YMCA. I hope both are appreciative.