It seems things aren’t going so well currently. After struggling through the last 3 weeks (which in itself included a week of non-running to rest my hip) I’ve now been advised to rest some more. I’ve been to see the physio about my knee and been working on some exercises to remedy a biomechanical imbalance which seems to be working. However, she’s now more concerned about my right hip (as am I) which is now painful to run on and uncomfortable to walk on resulting in a slight limp. So I have more exercises to do to try to stretch out the hip joint and see if it frees up.
I’ve got another appointment next Wednesday, but I’m thinking that if it’s no better (which after a week of more or less no running (I did a few miles to work on Tuesday and it was really quite painful) it doesn’t seem to be) I may go to the GP to see about some other form of remedy.
Either way, my running is not going quite to plan at present which is annoying as I feel like I approached the build up nice and steadily and have been rewarded with a succession of niggles and injuries. I’m rather looking forward to being able to go on a long run and not be worried about which bit is going to be sore for the whole run. Maybe at my age I’m asking too much, but I hope not.
Monday 16 August 2010
Monday 9 August 2010
The long and the short of it
This week saw a return to running although without having completely sorted the hip/groin issue. It's stopped being a pain around the joint and has moved more into the groin which therefore, whilst still a niggly pain, becomes more manageable through stretching and gritting teeth.
Tuesday's 8 miles was uncomfortable which left me somewhat dreading Thursday's 18 miles - the longest run on the programme to date. In actual fact I only needed to dread the first 10 miles of it. After that it all seemed to get a lot better. It may be because there was a lot more downhill from there on, or just that the remaining distance seemed 'doable' in my head at that point but whatever the reason I was pleased that it ended better than it began. Actually I was just pleased that it ended. By the afternoon at work I was in need of strong coffee to support my body's energy levels but no real ill effects.
At the weekend, in keeping with the plans to reduce the number of longer runs to prevent overtraining and to inject some speed into the proceedings I decided not to run the Long Tour of Bradwell (31 miles) and instead did the Endcliffe Park 5km TimeTrial. It's a low key, free to enter event with 67 runners this week over a measured, and flat 5km course. Only 48 hours after doing the 18 miler I was quite pleased with a performance of 22 mins 50 secs - 7 mins 22 seconds/mile and exactly mid way through the field. I also managed a 1,500m swim on Friday evening in 27 mins 54 secs, a 45 second improvement on the previous week.
I'm still most pleased with my Injinji socks and Mizuno Wave Ascend trainers which have brought me no foot issues whatsoever so far. Currently less impressed with the quality of my Raidlight pack which after only 4 months' use has had to be returned due to a broken shoulder strap. See what the repair/replacement comes back like but I'm starting to lean towards the OMM pack which has a top reputation for withstanding all manner of abuse.
Rest week next week so hopefully more time for the groin to repair and the rest of my body to recover.
Tuesday's 8 miles was uncomfortable which left me somewhat dreading Thursday's 18 miles - the longest run on the programme to date. In actual fact I only needed to dread the first 10 miles of it. After that it all seemed to get a lot better. It may be because there was a lot more downhill from there on, or just that the remaining distance seemed 'doable' in my head at that point but whatever the reason I was pleased that it ended better than it began. Actually I was just pleased that it ended. By the afternoon at work I was in need of strong coffee to support my body's energy levels but no real ill effects.
At the weekend, in keeping with the plans to reduce the number of longer runs to prevent overtraining and to inject some speed into the proceedings I decided not to run the Long Tour of Bradwell (31 miles) and instead did the Endcliffe Park 5km TimeTrial. It's a low key, free to enter event with 67 runners this week over a measured, and flat 5km course. Only 48 hours after doing the 18 miler I was quite pleased with a performance of 22 mins 50 secs - 7 mins 22 seconds/mile and exactly mid way through the field. I also managed a 1,500m swim on Friday evening in 27 mins 54 secs, a 45 second improvement on the previous week.
I'm still most pleased with my Injinji socks and Mizuno Wave Ascend trainers which have brought me no foot issues whatsoever so far. Currently less impressed with the quality of my Raidlight pack which after only 4 months' use has had to be returned due to a broken shoulder strap. See what the repair/replacement comes back like but I'm starting to lean towards the OMM pack which has a top reputation for withstanding all manner of abuse.
Rest week next week so hopefully more time for the groin to repair and the rest of my body to recover.
Monday 2 August 2010
A change is as good as a rest, almost.
My hip last week was really painful, even on walking so I decided to ditch the running for a week and cross train instead. I had a physio appointment last week too, following up on my knee injury so I picked up some exercises to try to help my hip as well – it feels like I’m falling apart a bit. Hopefully the rest and getting my knee back in alignment will sort it out – after a week of no running it does feel a lot better, and so next week it’s back to the trainers and hills.
I ended up going out on my bike twice last week – once to do 25 miles on the way to work on Thursday and again on Saturday morning. The Saturday trip wasn’t exactly planned, until mid-way through 6 pints of Moonshine on Friday night when I agreed to join a group of regular cyclists for their usual 50 mile trip through the Peak District at 8am the following morning.
Despite stinking of ale as I arrived and introduced myself, I put in a reasonable performance all things considered – like not having ridden more than about 5km in almost a year, and then bashing out 25 miles just 48 hours before. At the end of it I was completely out of fuel and spent a lot of Saturday afternoon recuperating.
Other good news is that I managed a pretty respectable 1,500m swim on Friday afternoon too in 28 mins 40 secs, again having not swum for ages, which I was pleased with. I just have to contend with aching in muscles I’m not used to aching in.
From the success of this week I’m keen to include more cross training into the programme, if only to maintain interest. It’s just a case of finding the time to fit it in.
I ended up going out on my bike twice last week – once to do 25 miles on the way to work on Thursday and again on Saturday morning. The Saturday trip wasn’t exactly planned, until mid-way through 6 pints of Moonshine on Friday night when I agreed to join a group of regular cyclists for their usual 50 mile trip through the Peak District at 8am the following morning.
Despite stinking of ale as I arrived and introduced myself, I put in a reasonable performance all things considered – like not having ridden more than about 5km in almost a year, and then bashing out 25 miles just 48 hours before. At the end of it I was completely out of fuel and spent a lot of Saturday afternoon recuperating.
Other good news is that I managed a pretty respectable 1,500m swim on Friday afternoon too in 28 mins 40 secs, again having not swum for ages, which I was pleased with. I just have to contend with aching in muscles I’m not used to aching in.
From the success of this week I’m keen to include more cross training into the programme, if only to maintain interest. It’s just a case of finding the time to fit it in.
Is it time for a re-think? - week 13
Back into training properly this week and I really struggled. Both the 8 miles on Tuesday and Thursday’s 14 miles were just grim. I felt like I had nothing in me in terms of energy and really didn’t enjoy either of them.
In addition my right hip was really sore – it started a bit in Dorset the previous week, but was much more pronounced this week and was actually painful just walking. I think it is most likely to be as a result of compensating my gait to counter the effects of my dodgy left knee which has started to be more pronounced as I’m running tired and for longer distances.
So, a bit of a revaluation has been applied to the training programme. Fearful of overtraining and injury at such an early stage in the proceedings, and conscious of limited progress in terms of times, I’ve decided to drop the 10 mile run on Sundays in favour of a fast speed session of either fartlek or just all out speed work over around 3 miles/5km time trial. I may increase Tuesday’s 8 mile run to 10 miles, but will play it by ear and see how my body responds.
This week’s benchmark 3 miler was covered in a sedate (though it didn’t feel it) 24 mins 28 secs, or 8 mins 12 secs/mile. To put that in perspective, that’s marginally quicker per mile than the average speed I did when I achieved my personal best marathon time in 1999!
In addition my right hip was really sore – it started a bit in Dorset the previous week, but was much more pronounced this week and was actually painful just walking. I think it is most likely to be as a result of compensating my gait to counter the effects of my dodgy left knee which has started to be more pronounced as I’m running tired and for longer distances.
So, a bit of a revaluation has been applied to the training programme. Fearful of overtraining and injury at such an early stage in the proceedings, and conscious of limited progress in terms of times, I’ve decided to drop the 10 mile run on Sundays in favour of a fast speed session of either fartlek or just all out speed work over around 3 miles/5km time trial. I may increase Tuesday’s 8 mile run to 10 miles, but will play it by ear and see how my body responds.
This week’s benchmark 3 miler was covered in a sedate (though it didn’t feel it) 24 mins 28 secs, or 8 mins 12 secs/mile. To put that in perspective, that’s marginally quicker per mile than the average speed I did when I achieved my personal best marathon time in 1999!
When is a rest not a rest?
Answer, when it’s spent on holiday in Dorset with masses of kids causing havoc. On the plus side, reduced running distances this week meant that there was a chance for tired muscles to recover.
Running in the Dorset countryside proved to be a bigger challenge than anticipated however. I’d planned out a range of routes to be used throughout the week which all looked scenic and easy to follow on mapmyride.com but when we arrived it soon became apparent that the local farmers did not share my passion of getting out and running on footpaths and bridleways. Almost all of the paths were overgrown, not maintained or simply not there. Gates were chained shut across the paths that could be followed and progress was very slow and hard going as a result.
So at the end of a week that was supposed to see me rested, refreshed and raring to go, I returned home still tired and, as it turned out on Sunday, with a mild dose of the upset stomach that had been doing the rounds whilst on holiday and so even my 8 miles planned turned out to be a 3 mile struggle to keep my insides from being outside.
Running in the Dorset countryside proved to be a bigger challenge than anticipated however. I’d planned out a range of routes to be used throughout the week which all looked scenic and easy to follow on mapmyride.com but when we arrived it soon became apparent that the local farmers did not share my passion of getting out and running on footpaths and bridleways. Almost all of the paths were overgrown, not maintained or simply not there. Gates were chained shut across the paths that could be followed and progress was very slow and hard going as a result.
So at the end of a week that was supposed to see me rested, refreshed and raring to go, I returned home still tired and, as it turned out on Sunday, with a mild dose of the upset stomach that had been doing the rounds whilst on holiday and so even my 8 miles planned turned out to be a 3 mile struggle to keep my insides from being outside.
Feeling Tired - week 11
This week was a full on monster – 4 sessions covering hills (Monday), 8 miles (Tuesday), 16 miles (Thursday) and 10 miles on Sunday. And it showed. I was exhausted at the end of all that and the holiday was most welcome
The long run was very draining and at many points I was tempted by short cuts and heading back early. Bloody mindedness won out however and I got around albeit in not particularly good form.
A long drive to Dorset on Saturday morning heralded the start of a week’s holiday with friends, including 10 kids aged 4 and under and the next rest week in the on-going cycles of training.
The long run was very draining and at many points I was tempted by short cuts and heading back early. Bloody mindedness won out however and I got around albeit in not particularly good form.
A long drive to Dorset on Saturday morning heralded the start of a week’s holiday with friends, including 10 kids aged 4 and under and the next rest week in the on-going cycles of training.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
