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.

wk ending 30/03/2014

Total Miles	Total number of runs	Quality sessions	Longest run	Other
105	14	20X400m flat grass reps 9X800m flat grass reps	18 miles	c.30mins massage X7 c.10mins yoga X7 Hip & Core work X2

Another good week.  Tuesdays session was the 9X800m, done in the afternoon of a day off work after a post-lunch sleep.  Was probably my best speedwork session since 2010 - due to being rested and probably also due to feeling more optomistic that I might actually get to feel the benefit in terms of a good race performance!  Thought I'd overcooked it when I could feel lactic acid after just 3 reps (I usually aim to first feel lactic c. 3/4 of the way through a session) but managed to complete the 9 at the same pace.  No DOMS in the following days was encouraging too.  Saterdays session was the 20X400, which also went well but todays long run was a minute slower than last week as my left calf began to cramp and ache a few miles in - massage should have fixed this and I'll be OK again tomorrow.

wk ending 23/3/2014

Total miles - 104
Total number of runs - 14
speedwork - 6.5 miles fartlek, 16X400m reps
Longest run - 18 miles
Other -  20 mins massage X7, 10mins yoga X7, Hip and core strengthening X2

Felt strong in long run, but speed is down a little after the recent weeks of viruses and cramp -  basework is there though so a short stretch of hundred plus weeks and a race or two should fix this.

wk ending 16/3/14

Another frustrating week.  Over the last cold and feeling good when I caught another.  3 days of no running might have helped clear it quickly this time as I started full training yesterday and completed fartlek session tonight feeling strong. 

Total Miles	Total number of runs	Quality sessions	Longest run	Other
52	8	none	6.5 miles	c.30mins massage X4 c.10mins yoga X5

2 weeks ending 9/3/14

Two difficult weeks.  I had a mild cold, but this brought on my Lyme Disease symptoms - painful cramps, twitching muscles and severe fatigue. The muscles of my feet, quads, mid back and chest were worst affected.  I've been living with this for 4 years now and it is improving - I was optomistic enough to start this blog! I'll write about Lyme another time.  Felt strong today though, so should be back on plan from tomorrow.

wk ending 2/3

Total Miles	Total number of runs	Quality sessions	Longest run	Other
44	8	none	7 miles	c.1hr massage X7 c.10mins yoga X3

wk ending 9/3

Total Miles	Total number of runs	Quality sessions	Longest run	Other
48	7	5 mile Fartlek	13 miles (90 mins)	c.30mins massage X3 1hr back massage (by a Pro.) c.10mins yoga X3 Hip+core work X1

 

wk ending 23/2

Total Miles	Total number of runs	Quality sessions	Longest run	Other
89	14	12X100m steep hills 9 miles Fartlek	13 miles (hilly, 90mins)	c.30mins massage X7 c.10mins yoga X7 Hip+Core work X2

This was week 7 of block 1 training, the previous 6 were very similar.  Tuesdays fartlek was longer than usual because I'd had the day off work and was feeling good.  Resting pulse was up to 51 on wednesday but 48 on thursday, which is where I'd expect for my current fitness.  Still having problems with cramp in quads, glutes, and calves but daily massage is keeping them from hampering training.