Well I'll be ...

Who knew?
I ran 5 miles today. Very comfortably. I could have kept going for at least another mile, I'm sure, and that's almost halfway there! I warmed up briefly with a walk of about 2 minutes, maybe less, then ran for 5 miles, then jog/walked a cool down of maybe a quarter mile. All I know is that all told, I was on that treadmill for 5.43 miles, ran a full five miles, and I wasn't in pain. Who knows? Maybe my leg will fall off tomorrow. Right now, it's not too bad.

I'm going to ice it tonight (I iced it this morning while at work at the gym) when I get home, and perhaps try something my friend Peter, a naturopathic doctor, recommended. He recommended wetting a pair of cotton socks, wringing them out so they're not drippy, putting them on, putting on a pair of wool socks over the cotton pair, and going to sleep. He said that the heat produced by my body from bottom up while I sleep will increase the circulation in my legs and might help. We'll see. I'm game. Just gotta find a pair of wool socks. I know I have a pair here somewhere, especially since I never bothered switching out my winter clothes for my summer ones.
Yeah. Don't ask.

I'm also going to try and decrease my outdoor runs until my shin is more consistently better. I really want to do this half marathon and I can't do it with my shin the way it is, so this is the way it has to be for now.

I have to say, it is so fantastic to work at a gym where everyone there is encouraging you and cheering you on and eager to give helpful tips and advice. I feel fully supported by everyone and I'm so grateful. Warm fuzzies all around.