CINCINNATI -- I suppose it's not the weirdest thing in the world for one's foot to fall asleep on a Sunday. Perhaps one is finalizing a fun-filled weekend with a lazy day on the couch or something.

In my case, however, conversing with someone else's grandparent wasn't the cause of the prickly heel. I was actually about halfway through a 7-mile run Sunday when the sleepy shoe syndrome struck. Kind of odd timing for a fatigued foot, wouldn't you say?

So I did what I always do when unexpected pain or discomfort flares up. I focused my breathing inward, and visualized the heat from my breath working its way downward through my body and toward the sleepy shoe. It's amazing what you can learn in only two yoga lessons, especially when the instructor is quite an attractive young lady. Oh Megan, where have you been?

While training for the first Flying Pig Marathon in 1999, I found a similar measure to be quite helpful when dealing with abdominal cramps during running, and is clearly more efficient than quitting. Visualizing a desired effect always has been key in my growth as a young adult. But I must confess that I can't remember repeatedly telling myself in my 20s that I still wanted to be broke and mired in mediocrity at age 32. You win some; you lose some, I guess.

Also noteworthy about my longest run in several years was the fact that Greater Cincinnati enjoyed temperatures -- or, as some angry E-mailers claim one of our station's meteorologists says, 'tempatures,' -- in the 50s Sunday. It was nice not to have to wear longjohns and numerous other layers, though lacking petroleum jelly certainly caused some issues. About the time I woke the foot up, I began to experience some alarming discomfort with regard to chafing. Sorry for the visual.

Getting back to mind over matter, I was able to block it out and keep running. But my co-workers today sure are looking at me differently. I guess I'm walking funny.

That 1999 marathon introduced me to something I'd never imagined I'd see. At three or four different positions throughout the race, a volunteer would hold up a big piece of cardboard that was smothered in Vaseline. Plenty of runners would slide a slippery fingertip on it and then apply it to the upper innards of their thighs. Again, not a lovely visual, but a necessity nonetheless in long runs. Anyhow, I had no problem dipping a digit on that first board, around mile marker 10, but I was a touch uneasy about repeating the act when subsequent Vaseline boards were available later in the race. Think about that.

And with good weather comes good scenery, of course. I live in Covington, Ky., where running isn't cool unless cops are trailing. So I drive over to my old neighborhood, a little uppity hamlet called Hyde Park. That's where the homes are big, the grass is green and plenty of 20- and 30-something runners are ruining their Sundays.

So I covered about seven miles throughout Hyde Park, and while the marathon is still about 90 days away, I only have three more Sundays in February to get up to 14 miles. That won't be easy, but a little Vaseline and some continued climatological comfort sure could help.

Marathon Diary:

Jan. 20, 2003: Pig Procrastination: Cold Can't Keep This Scribe Down!

Jan. 13, 2003: Wise Decision: Should I Run The Marathon?

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Wise is Senior Editor of ChannelCincinnati.com and TheLouisvilleChannel.com, and is training to run Cincinnati's Flying Pig Marathon in May. Check back again soon for more progress reports on his training, as well as some self-deprecating fun. Any help will be appreciated, and that doesn't exclude financial contributions.