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...
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Monday, 17 March 2008
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...
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...
Thursday, 13 March 2008
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.
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.
Friday, 8 February 2008
Injured but not down
I fell down the stairs around six years ago. Not a big fall, but in breaking my fall, i damaged a ligament holding my left arm in the socket. For a long while it remained undiagnosed. I now know that its a permanent injury and that regular physio exercises giving good muscle strength around the shoulder reinforce the strength of the shoulder.
I moved back to the Island in August and never unpacked my weights. A problem forgotten. After the Ronaldsway race, my shoulder flared up again. It becomes so inflamed that the shoulder actually pinches the surrounding muscles leaving me with a virtually useless left arm.
I have been back to see my specialist who has severely reprimanded me for being such a twit and not keeping the exercises up. I have started doing them again and my arm is operational once again for which I am very grateful.
Problem is twofold - i) I can't get out training until its stable and ii) I am STILL 87 kilos!!
The problem is getting better at a rapid rate of knots and I am hoping to get out for a first session this weekend.
Lastly, check out my live updated Isle of Man weather report at the bottom of the page!
I moved back to the Island in August and never unpacked my weights. A problem forgotten. After the Ronaldsway race, my shoulder flared up again. It becomes so inflamed that the shoulder actually pinches the surrounding muscles leaving me with a virtually useless left arm.
I have been back to see my specialist who has severely reprimanded me for being such a twit and not keeping the exercises up. I have started doing them again and my arm is operational once again for which I am very grateful.
Problem is twofold - i) I can't get out training until its stable and ii) I am STILL 87 kilos!!
The problem is getting better at a rapid rate of knots and I am hoping to get out for a first session this weekend.
Lastly, check out my live updated Isle of Man weather report at the bottom of the page!
Monday, 28 January 2008
Another week, another Race
Since getting back, things have been going reasonably well on the training front. I have been trying to mix the training up, some walking, some running. I even managed to run up North Barrule (local fells) last weekend from the Verranda and back. I was delighted to get up and down in 1 hour 20.
I went for a longer run in the dark along the Leeds/Liverpool canal on Wednesday night. I trod on a round stone and rolled my ankle over and ended up hopping along cursing at myself for such stupidity. After limping back to my flat in Leeds I was forced to rest until yesterdays race.
I got down to Ronaldsway happy that my ankle was feeling fine and feeling fresh from a three day break. I managed 69:12 at St Johns before Christmas so I was determined to set a SB (seasons best is probably the best way for me to describe things from now on) . The course was 10 1k laps. I went well on on the first two laps but somehow got myself into a dip in the middle of the race. I was apprehensive of going too fast and ruining my chances of finishing. I am still struggling to find my pace properly. I got into a good battle with some folk I caught up with but then my food went numb and I had to stop and readjust my shoes losing valuable seconds.
The stop probably helped me as I got anger with myself for not having got this detail right at the start and chased off at a much stronger pace. With three laps to go, Marie Gilbertson caught me up. Marie is faster than me on paper so I decided that I was going to catch a tow and stay with her until I collapsed. Luckily I didn't and this propelled me a further 6 places up the field and I finished in 5th place in 67:46 beating my previous time by 1 minute 26.
Given the fact that I am STILL 87 kilos and I had a rubbish month with little training I am content with the time. I know that the weight is a significant factor in my performance at the moment. The next race is the 10th of Feb. I want to go under 65 mins. my research into these things tells me that 2 kilos should be enough to secure that without getting any fitter.
My current plan is to try and train 5 times a week for the next fortnight and concentrate on the weight thing as a priority. I am off for a weekend snowboarding in the alps next weekend so, logically, my other aim is to stay in one piece!
I wanted to say a quick thank you to Michael for showing me some very useful ITB strengthening exercises. They are harder than they look!
I went for a longer run in the dark along the Leeds/Liverpool canal on Wednesday night. I trod on a round stone and rolled my ankle over and ended up hopping along cursing at myself for such stupidity. After limping back to my flat in Leeds I was forced to rest until yesterdays race.
I got down to Ronaldsway happy that my ankle was feeling fine and feeling fresh from a three day break. I managed 69:12 at St Johns before Christmas so I was determined to set a SB (seasons best is probably the best way for me to describe things from now on) . The course was 10 1k laps. I went well on on the first two laps but somehow got myself into a dip in the middle of the race. I was apprehensive of going too fast and ruining my chances of finishing. I am still struggling to find my pace properly. I got into a good battle with some folk I caught up with but then my food went numb and I had to stop and readjust my shoes losing valuable seconds.
The stop probably helped me as I got anger with myself for not having got this detail right at the start and chased off at a much stronger pace. With three laps to go, Marie Gilbertson caught me up. Marie is faster than me on paper so I decided that I was going to catch a tow and stay with her until I collapsed. Luckily I didn't and this propelled me a further 6 places up the field and I finished in 5th place in 67:46 beating my previous time by 1 minute 26.
Given the fact that I am STILL 87 kilos and I had a rubbish month with little training I am content with the time. I know that the weight is a significant factor in my performance at the moment. The next race is the 10th of Feb. I want to go under 65 mins. my research into these things tells me that 2 kilos should be enough to secure that without getting any fitter.
My current plan is to try and train 5 times a week for the next fortnight and concentrate on the weight thing as a priority. I am off for a weekend snowboarding in the alps next weekend so, logically, my other aim is to stay in one piece!
I wanted to say a quick thank you to Michael for showing me some very useful ITB strengthening exercises. They are harder than they look!
Monday, 14 January 2008
Feels good to be back
I am back in training at last. 77.2 Kilos. Today I did my first session since the 21st of December. Winter virus's really truly are the scourge. The one at Christmas left me with a nasty chesty cough which prevented me from exercising.
I was also disappointed to miss the winter league race on the 6th of January, especially because it was my local race in Andreas. Even more the shame as looking at the times I would have had a good handicap tussle with Chris Cale I think. But never mind that, I will just have to beat him at Ronaldsway instead :-)
I felt good today, went very steady. Cardio wise I was strong. I felt it pulling at my hip abductors. Before Christmas my knees were starting to feel quite sore, a repetitive impact injury. The break did them good and I didn't feel any problems in them at all today.
Hopefully its all systems go again now.
I was also disappointed to miss the winter league race on the 6th of January, especially because it was my local race in Andreas. Even more the shame as looking at the times I would have had a good handicap tussle with Chris Cale I think. But never mind that, I will just have to beat him at Ronaldsway instead :-)
I felt good today, went very steady. Cardio wise I was strong. I felt it pulling at my hip abductors. Before Christmas my knees were starting to feel quite sore, a repetitive impact injury. The break did them good and I didn't feel any problems in them at all today.
Hopefully its all systems go again now.
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
Humbug
So I spent Christmas in bed!
After a super week of training (got out every day bar Thursday) I went out for a sharp walk at lunchtime on Saturday. I felt good. I got home and couldn't shake off the fatigue. Within an hour I was flushed and shivery. Horrible clammy high fevery kak. Four days later and I am left with a painful chest but at least I can be human again.
The good news is I am 87kilos - haha! Thats great considering it was Christmas. Every cloud...
I have to wait until this chest thing is cleared before I can start training again. Fingers crossed for the 6th of Jan winter league race. I had high hopes for that one before this virus hit.
After a super week of training (got out every day bar Thursday) I went out for a sharp walk at lunchtime on Saturday. I felt good. I got home and couldn't shake off the fatigue. Within an hour I was flushed and shivery. Horrible clammy high fevery kak. Four days later and I am left with a painful chest but at least I can be human again.
The good news is I am 87kilos - haha! Thats great considering it was Christmas. Every cloud...
I have to wait until this chest thing is cleared before I can start training again. Fingers crossed for the 6th of Jan winter league race. I had high hopes for that one before this virus hit.
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