I'm back running - Woo Hoo!

Well, after injuring my hamstring 2 weeks ago, I have been a bit cautious, some may even say over cautious about running.

I attempted to run last Thursday after giving it a week to settle down, however it was still troubling me and I found myself limping only a few minutes into the run so decided that it needed more time.

So, after some massage and cupping (thanks Faye!), some rest, some Zen linament and plenty of Skins wearing I ventured out to do a run today.

Of course my whole conscious was tuned into my hamstring and I really couldn't detect much at all!  I did only do an easy flat 20min run, however, there was no pain whilst running and no pain once I cooled down.  Very happy with that.

Plan moving forward is as follows:  another run on Tuesday 30mins easy flat, see how I pull up, then on Thursday, our 5km hilly loop and see how I pull up.  No running off the bike until I am satisfied that all is good.  Well, that's my excuse anyway!

So, I'm really pleased that I am back running, I can try and build up some distance in a couple of weeks if it all holds together OK.  Moral of the story - no 'speed' work for me until at least after the Ironman NZ race. 

My run videotaped!

Today was a full on day.



It involved a cycle with BTS, a Physio appointment, work, a lunchtime run (drive) out to Active Stride to get new shoes, work and then a massage. It was certainly an expensive day! Hopefully, though we will begin to make progress on my injured foot.



The cycle this morning was great. Speed sessions are always quite fun. We got into groups of 4 of similar abilities. I went with Chris, Sophie and another guy who I'm not sure of the name of. We had to do 5 x 5min efforts with 5min break along the Corso.



Chris led our group out and he did a great job, I was hanging on for dear life! He has really got some speed going at the moment. Then the rest of us would take quick turns to try and hold that pace, however invariably we would drop off the pace a bit. It was a good session.



Then off to the Physio - I even had to miss out on coffee afterwards! A travesty!



Paul videotaped me running which was interesting to watch as it was apparent to me that there was a fair bit of side to side movement and not much forward movement. Paul said that my pronation is quite dramatic and sees no reason why I shouldn't go to a more supportive shoe. So, I have lashed out and purchased the Gel Kayuno shoe. I will go for a little run in them tomorrow and see how they go. Paul is going to give me some exercises to do to try and get me running from the hip. So it will be interesting to see how I go. I am willing to try and improve my technique, who knows; maybe I'll be able to run faster with less injuries!!!

Injuries...

I toddled off today to see the Physio about my foot. The verdict is that I have a really tight muscle or tendon that runs down the outside of my leg and this is putting pressure where it joins down in the joint in the foot. Layman's terms as that is all I understand is that my foot is inflamed and sore and I am not running in the very near future!

I was due to do a 3km time trial tomorrow which would have been great - I'm running the best I ever have. I'll just have to sit it out though and wait for it to get better. I go back to the Physio on Wednesday, so hopefully there will be huge improvements by then and I will be able to run shortly. He seems to think that I have got it early and that it is not as bad as last time. So, this is good - there is hope.

I didn't have my running shoes with me which is a bummer. He seems to think that this is a possibility, I'll take them Wednesday and he can check them out then.

I guess that is going to mean more swimming and more cycling! Bummer. As I had to go to the Physio on Monday morning I missed my lunchtime swim session and I am going to miss Wednesday's as well. So, I am back to night swimming this week on Tuesday and Thursday nights. It is a conspiracy!!!

Mooloolaba Ocean Swim/Run

Today we picked up Alex and Trish and headed up to Mooloolaba to get some on course practice in. There was just the 4 of us and we told the Surf Life Savers what we were about and headed off.

We walked up towards the swim start from the SLSC, we only went up a short way though. We ended up going out there and then swiming up just past the Loo with a View and then we swam back and then back again and then we got out of the water at the flags, then got back in the water and swam back to where we started. So, we probably got in a good 30mins of swimming, however we spent a bit of time regrouping as we wanted to swim as a group and then it took ages for me to get out of the water, so everyone had to wait around for me to get out! The last time we went out Craig and Trish swam beside me and tried to encourage me to ride a wave in instead of standing there waiting for waves to come and then ducking underneath them - very time consuming way to get into shore particularly if there are a lot of waves coming in!

So, I was swimming in, felt that dreaded suck in feeling of a wave coming so stopped and Craig and Trish said "Swim", so I swam and managed to catch the wave! It felt amazing! My problem is I just can't judge the waves, to know whether to try and catch them in or to swim under them. I guess it is all practice, but I'll get there eventually.

The run was good, I set off and was going to do the 10k run in my Aerobic capacity. So, my HR was around the 80% mark and I was feeling comfortable, breathing easy and the weather was great. However, my foot has been bothering me for a little while now and every time I run I can feel it for the first 10 minutes or so until I warm up and then it goes away. This time, however it didn't go away. So I decided to only do 1 lap, not 2 which was really disappointing. I am really frustrated with myself as I have known that I need to get it to the physio, but I've been telling myself that it is OK. So, I am going to have to book a physio appointment... I'm hoping that this won't curtail my running too badly for Mooloolaba - that would really suck!

Luckily Alex and Trish had an ice pack so I used that on the way home, however it is still quite sore tonight.

Craig had an absolute blinder - he did 11k's in 54mins which is brilliant! He did the same course last year and took 1hr 17mins so this is a huge improvement. It is sessions like this that give perspective to the improvements that have been made!