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Run for over fifty years and you’re bound to eventually learn a few things. One such lesson is that being tired from a workout is not the same as being worn out from not having a sufficient recovery from your workouts. I can distinctly recall races where what I called “tired legs” limited my performance and in some cases, led to an injury. This essential lesson is the topic of today’s post. Walking with Rick? There’s more to recovery than “not running.” As I’ll delve into

406 days. Approximately 9757 hours. That’s how long it had been since my last race. As those who follow this post know, the time since that race has seen far too much drama. Knee injury. Platelet-Rich Plasma injection. MRI. Meniscus surgery. Blah. Blah. Blah. What mattered most to me was the walk up to that starting line in downtown Ames, Iowa. Me and just over four hundred other participants clustering closer and closer together. What was going through my head? Prett

May 2, 2026. Leaving earlier than any sane person on a Saturday morning and armed with a playlist of musical gems from 1976, I braved a morning chill to run not one, not two, but … five miles! Huh? Just five miles? I know. That’s nothing to most other runners. A year ago, it was nothing to me. But now, it's the longest distance I've ran since September 27, 2025. On that note, I’m also up to running five days a week and scheduled to return to workouts with my coach - both

I know. I know. I can’t run the Eugene Half Marathon this year. But who’s to say I can't imagine what it would be like to be a part of that amazing race! To feel those butterflies as I take off with thousands of other runners. To wonder how I’ll feel when I hit that midpoint in the race. To again face that challenging hill at Mile 10. And to savor those final strides down that incredible track at Hayward Field. Hey, I’ve got an even better idea! Why don’t all of you join me a

Yes, this is a typical evening at hour house when I come home. And that kitchen is most certainly not created by AI! 😉 “Honey, I’m home! ” was my usual greeting to my darling wife after a long day of wholesome union work. Then I added, “And I’ve scheduled an appointment with a nutritionist.” All motion screeched to an immediate halt with a sound akin to someone lifting a needle from a record. “You’ve what?” I sought to ease her unintended anxiety. “My darling dearest, I o

We're all friends here, right? If so, then it's about time I come clean with all of you. I'm addicted to running. That's probably not quite a newsflash to anyone who knows me. I'm far from alone in experiencing this particular addiction. There are key reasons why running is addictive that I will elaborate on. And there are points where that addiction can become problematic which I will share as well. Let's Talk About the Science If no one minds, it's time to become Dr. Ri

Credit that post-op smile on some fine pain meds! There are a number of reasons that I love my wife. That I’m now recovering from surgery is one of them. Huh? you’re wondering. That Amy’s had you have surgery is a good thing? Actually, the surgery I had five days ago is the best thing to happen to me in months. Let me explain. Quick Refresher As I’ve shared in previous posts, I experienced a sudden sharp pain on the inside of my left knee on July 8 of last year during a c

It happened on Pre’s Trail in Eugene last month. Call it an epiphany. Call it a defining moment. Or just call it a good day. Regardless, I left that workout with a greater determination and goal. I wanted to run again. It was a cool, foggy morning. A soundtrack of late 1983 music kept me company on those sawdust trails as I alternated five minutes of running with three minutes of walking. Although it was a world removed from what I’d have been doing just six months earli

Say "Hi!" to the Winflo Twins! Meet the Winflo Twins! They've logged over 350 miles with me. Cold early spring mornings along neighborhood bicycle trails to training on wooded paths with my coach as well as those special moments on Pre's Trail in Eugene. We've had some good times. But unfortunately, they're coming to end. They're less than 50 miles from reaching 400 miles. That's the milestone when I retire one pair of shoes for another. That day is postponed as my recov

I proudly admit that I am a Comic Book Geek. I collected those slick-covered epic tomes for over forty years. I was there when...

That smile is the satisfaction from a recent speed workout at with Coach Ives at The Body Project. Yeah, injuries suck. You know it and...