week ending 27/04/14

Another set-back:  Just 25 miles in total this week in 4 runs, because I have a sore knee cap - a problem experience tells me is unlikely to disappear quickly.

I've had this 4 or 5 times in the past 4 years:  Its caused by cramping (Lyme related) and shortening of my quads which alters patella tracking and irritates the cartiladge.  Its fixed by lots of quads massage along with hip and quad strengthening exercises.  In the past it has taken between 3 weeks and 4 months to get back to running.

Very frustrating - yet again I've travelled the route from anger to sadness to acceptace that this is just how it is.  Now, it boils down again to my choice, either to give it up or to give it 100% one more time, and I can't answer this until I see how long it takes to heal.

week ending 20/04/14

A good week.  The 2.2mile race was a shock to the system, I felt strong but uncoordinated, and never really settled.  I didn't push too hard because of the recent mystery injury - with no sign of that coming back I should now be safe to start 800m reps this coming week.

Total Miles	Total number of runs	Quality sessions	Longest run	Other
111	14	2.2mile race 6.5mile Fartlek	18.5	c.30mins massage X7 c.10mins yoga X7 Hip+Core work X1

wk ending 13/04/14

The injury...healed! Whatever it was causing swelling and pain behind the tibia for 5 days subsided by last weekend, so after a couple of short test jogs on sat and sunday, I restarted training on monday:

Total Miles	Total number of runs	Quality sessions	Longest run	Other
105	13	4 mile fartlek	18 miles	c.30mins massage X7 c.10mins yoga X7 Hip & Core work X1

Decided not to do any testing speedwork this week as a precaution and after feeling pretty stiff monday and tuesday, I felt better as the week went on.

I really don't know what the injury, even with cycling and aquajogging last week helping with bloodflow and speeding up healing, 7 days for something so painful is almost unbelievable.  (I did 13 rides totalling c.90 miles, pushing with my heels on the pedals to rest my toes, and 1/2 hour 'hard' aquajogging)

I'd say my chance of a 6:40 at Winchoten in Sept has lept back up, maybe as high as 10%!

week ending 06/04/14

A difficult week.  The lower leg pain first felt last sunday worsened overnight and I did no running at all this week.  The problem is a toe flexor at the point where it joins the back of the tibia, which will take anywhere between 1 and 7 weeks  to heal.  I went through the usual rage, then demoralisation, and now have reached acceptance.  Begining the week certain that I should retire, I now will patiently wait and see what the coming weeks bring.

I believe the injury was most likely caused by the two fast rep sessions done last tuesday and saturday. Both were done in the rain on very wet grass in old trainers; I think struggling for grip overstrained the toe flexor.  A lesson learned, and another new entry to my catalogue of creative ways to lose hard won fitness!

I'm certain I've had worse than average luck with injury and illness through my running career, even for someone staying near the edge, genuinely trying to perform to their absolute best.  I also know I've done much more than the average runner to avoid injury through improving my technique, regular massage, stretching, diet, and good rest.   Such is luck in life - for every big lottery winner there is a guy who gets struck dead by lightning, (thankfully my luck isn't as bad as his!)

So, with luck in a week or two I'll start up again, though I now rate my chance of hitting 6:40 in autumn as less than 5% - I believe its a chance still worth trying for.