Pirate Galaxy » me after 11 years in the minors. Hes worke

For this mid-training check-in, I was supposed to tell you that my speed was improving and that my body was holding up to the increases in mileage. I was supposed to tell you how much closer I was to achieving my goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon.But since my last blog post on Aug. 31, I suffered a setback. I bruised the bottom of my foot after running in poorly soled shoes through a parking lot full of rocks (an idiotic move on my part). Running became excruciating after it happened.Before that, I felt fairly confident in how my training was progressing. But now, Im behind by 10 workouts (Ive completed only 48 of the 58 I shouldve finished by now). And I struggled through two 10-mile easy runs.It was difficult to realize that I had to take time off, but the ultimate goal of crossing the finish line helped me see the need for it. Regardless, I feel like my goal to qualify for Boston is slowly slipping out of my reach. There is no perfect barometer for judging how my training is going, so Im going off of my past experiences. Based on how I felt at this point during previous training cycles, I think I have an uphill battle to get to race day.But Ive had a lot of time to reflect while running -- and had even more for the period when I wasnt running. These setbacks are part of the journey and part of the glory that I can celebrate once I cross the finish line. As much as qualifying for Boston is the goal for Nov. 6, I cant forget to enjoy the ride and know that, at the end of the race, no matter what time the clock reads, I will have run another marathon.Kara Goucher, a long-distance runner and former Olympian once said, Progress is rarely a straight line. There are always bumps in the road, but you make the choice to keep looking ahead. If that doesnt express my feelings about training these past few days, I dont know what would.I still have a little more than two months to train as best as I can and set up a comeback story. There will always be self-doubt, all the way up to the starting line, and controlling that self-doubt is something I need to continue to work on.So -- there are three things I want to address in the next two months of training. The first is to be more consistent with my cross training to improve my core strength, with the goal of improving my running form. I also want to practice yoga once a week to improve my flexibility and strength.The second is focus on my attitude. No one said running or training for a marathon is easy, and during this recent setback, Ive been too focused on the big picture of qualifying for Boston and have convinced myself I wont achieve my goal. But I still have about two months to become stronger and faster, and Ill set smaller, achievable hurdles to get my attitude back on track.Lastly, I want to have little more discipline with my eating habits. It was easy to fall into the summer trap of eating ice cream and thinking I had plenty of time until race day. Well, now Im 10 weeks through my 18 week program, and I really need to tighten the belt (pun intended) on my eating habits.The last two weeks have been far from what I envisioned for this training cycle. The next two months will test my mental and physical limits with strange work hours, longer workouts and the desire to get better. I cant predict what exactly will happen on Nov. 6, but I can assure you Ill be doing everything in my power to finish the New York City Marathon without any regrets.Training Notebook:Longest run: 14 miles Hardest run: 10 easy miles after coming back from a week off Highest weekly mileage: 41 miles (hasnt changed since the last post) Biggest accomplishment: Listening to my body during my most recent setback and not hurting it moreMegan Flood is a seven-time marathoner and half marathoner. She is on a quest to qualify for the Boston Marathon and hopes New York 2016 is her ticket to Boston. You can follow her progress every other week here on espnW.com and on Twitter @meganflood11.Ryan Kalil Youth Jersey . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Custom Carolina Panthers Jerseys . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. http://www.thepanthersofficialstore.com/authentic-christian-miller-panthers-jersey/ . Siddikur, whose previous win on the circuit came in Brunei three years ago, finished his bogey-free round with a birdie on the 18th for a total of 17-under 199. Indias Shiv Chowrasia, who has finished runner-up in this tournament twice, was in second place after a 66. Curtis Samuel Youth Jersey . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Curtis Samuel Panthers Jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011.SEATTLE -- After holding off a late comeback attempt, the Seattle Mariners were simply happy to have stopped their five-game losing streak.Ketel Marte had two singles and three RBI in a nine-run second inning, and Seattle beat the Los Angeles Angels 11-8 on Friday night.Its tremendous, said Mariners center fielder Leonys Martin, who walked twice and scored two runs in the second. Nine runs in one inning, its going to give you a lot of confidence. Were fighting, man. Were still alive. Keep fighting. Thats what were going to do. Fight every single game.Even after building a seven-run lead, the Mariners had a hard time putting this one away. Los Angeles scored four times in the ninth before Edwin Diaz retired star slugger Mike Trout with two on for his 12th save.We couldnt quite put the nail in the coffin, Seattle manager Scott Servais said. But we got the win. We needed a win and well build on that one.Nelson Cruz hit his 33rd homer in the eighth for the Mariners, who remained four games behind Baltimore and Detroit for the final AL playoff spot.Trout said he was fine before the game, two days after he was involved in a multi-vehicle accident on a Los Angeles freeway. He hit a three-run homer his first time up and Jefry Marte added a solo shot for the Angels, giving Brett Oberholtzer (1-1) a 4-0 lead before he took the mound.Oberholtzer allowed Guillermo Heredias RBI double in the bottom of the first, then gave up two singles and walked two batters before being pulled in the second without getting an out.Obviously, its not the start we were looking for or he was looking for, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.Jhoulys Chacin came on with the bases loaded and promptly walked in a run. The first out of the inning came when Heredia grounded into a fielders choice with the bases loaded, driving in a run. Seattle got a second run on the play on second baseman Gregorio Petits throwing error, giving the Mariners a 5-4 lead.The scoring didnt end there. Five runs in the inning came with two outs, and the bottom of Seattles order did the most damage -- the last four hitters in the lineup all reached base twice in the inning.Marte, batting ninth, lled the way and No.dddddddddddd 6 hitter Dae-Ho Lee added two singles and two RBI. The Mariners sent 14 batters to the plate, getting six hits -- all singles -- and five walks.The nine runs equaled Seattles season high for one inning. The Mariners also scored nine times in the seventh inning of a 16-13 win at San Diego on June 2.Ariel Miranda (2-1) had a rough start for Seattle, falling behind 3-0 after three batters. A walk and a single led to Trouts 26th home run before Marte connected with two outs.Miranda, however, recovered to pitch six innings without allowing another run.He hung in there, Servais said. If youd have told me after the first inning we were going to get six out of him, I probably wouldnt have bought into that one.FIRST TIME OUTJuan Graterol hit a run-scoring double in his first major league at-bat as part of the Angels ninth-inning rally. Graterol was called up earlier in the year but did not appear in a game before being sent back down. This was his first big league game after 11 years in the minors. Hes worked so hard to get here, Scioscia said. The guys in the dugout felt great for him.ROSTER MOVESBoth teams took advantage of Septembers expanded rosters and added players. The Angels recalled Graterol and LHP Cody Ege, and selected the contract of RHP Andrew Bailey from Triple-A Salt Lake. They also activated 3B Yunel Escobar from the 7-day concussion disabled list.Seattle added OF Ben Gamel, acquired from the Yankees in a trade Wednesday, to the major league roster and recalled C Jesus Sucre from Triple-A Tacoma. Gamel started in right field and batted leadoff.TROUTS CRASHBefore the game, Trout said he had no lingering pain. He declined to go into specifics about the accident but said he was lucky it wasnt more serious.UP NEXTAngels: LHP Tyler Skaggs (2-3, 4.75 ERA) will make his eighth start of the season Saturday -- and third against the Mariners. Skaggs is 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA in two starts against Seattle.Mariners: RHP Taijuan Walker (4-9, 4.19) has lost his last three decisions. ' ' '