Elevated Training Plans Scupperd

Happy Easter blogaholics.

My training has been going rather well this past week with a slight low on Wednesday.

I was in Leeds and had arranged to meet some colleagues outside my flat. I live on the 10th floor so, of course, I got changed and took the lift. The lift came to a juddering halt at floor 2. I waited for a while for it to restart but it didn't and none of the buttons would respond. After several minutes experimenting with the alarm button I eventually got through to an operator. The conversation went something like:

Operator: Hello?
Me : Hi.
Operator: Are you in a lift?
Me : (wanted to say no you got the wrong number!) Yes I am.
Operator: Are you stuck?
Me: (wanting to say - no I just needed to talk to someone) Yes I am.
Operator: Where are you?
Me: You mean like - what floor?
Operator: No, which city.
Me: (wanting to sue the management company) I am in Leeds
Operator: Do you have amobile phone to call the fire brigade with?
Me: No! I am wearing lycra and trying to go for a run!

75 minutes later the fire brigade forced the doors open. I didn't bother going for a run, I went to the pub instead. My friends (not surprisingly) hadn't waited for me.

The rest of the week was excellent. I did a half Marathon round the north of the Island, mainly offroad on the Ayres on Sunday.

I am currently teetotal - 2 days and counting. Watch this space...

Kneesy Does it

Last week was a good one for me. I feel like I am making progress. I got out again on Friday and did a nice 4 mile run through the Bride hills. On Saturday I got up early while the girls went to Ballet in Douglas and went out.

Funny thing for me is that I can run for two hours but walking for two hours is harder as it puts a lot of strain on my knees. Last weekend I had to run walk - alternating every 15mins to take the strain off. The irony is that run-walking is supposed to alleviate the strain of running giving you a chance to recover while walking, whereas I am run-walking to alleviate the strain of running!? If I am to walk for a day or so in June non stop, it seems reasonable that I should be able to walk for two hours non stop in March. So that's exactly what I did. I didn't have a GPS or anything but I guesstimate it was between 9 and 10 miles.

Now its Monday morning. I got up early to do a quick 4 mile run and my right knee is too sore. It feels inflamed under the kneecap. I know its from locking it back racewalk style for those two hours. I have been doing strength exercises in both my shoulder and my ITB to help prevent injury but the knee pain is back. Problem is its even too tender to run on.

So here I am wondering why I am continually beset by problem week after week. Maybe I overdid it? Perhaps so, but if I am to walk all day long by June I am rather painted into a corner and have little choice but to walk further.

I am worried about my knee and wonder if I should try and walk fast instead of doing knee locking racewalking. Can I go fast enough to do the Parish this way? What do other people do?

Ugh!

Answers on a postcard please...

Lazarus!

So it would appear that I have been raised from the dead.

Actually it was more like a sporting depression. I apologise to the blogaholics and the poor folk coming here via the parish site for inspiration for my transgression to the quiet side.

I had not wanted to post as it was all doom and gloom. However, upon reflection (and pressure from fellow blogger) I have decided that this all needs to be captured because certainly my experiences are by no means unique!

While I was skiing I broke a rib which made walking and running quite painful. Three weeks later and it only hurts when I poke it (so don't?) and when I sneeze or laugh now. I put on a kilo during those three weeks so I am 88stone and the Parish seems all rather close for someone who feels fat and unfit. However, I have entered, I am healthy and I am determined to give it my best shot.

So, training - I did my first run last Wednesday - just 4 miles - its was okay although I felt like a slug. On Sunday I probably unwisely took a gamble and went out for 2 hours - run / race walking - switching from one to the other about every 15mins. I think I probably covered about 11 miles. I felt the need to kick start my system and give my metabolism a wake up call. On Monday I did a 4 mile run and managed to do 4 miles last night (Wednesday) too.

If I can up the mileage a little next week, then I feel I will be making progress again - I have to really concentrate on core fitness now.