Achey legs.

My Legs ache! They ache in a good way, a way that means I have been putting in some decent training again. It is a necessary evil, the overload phase of training. It always saps my legs of their bounce and I struggle with my pace, but I know once my body has adapted to the loads the pace will come back along with some more bounce. The true bounce never comes back until the taper time, and that for me is a couple of months away. Right now I am into a focused training month, and I just have to be patient for the fitness to come. I know I am not quite back to my old self in terms of fitness having competed in the Sunderland 10k Last month. For me it was more than seeing where I was in terms of fitness, it was about getting back out on the race scene, getting my racing head back and seeing if I was really ready for it all again. I loved being back in the race environment; it felt like putting on a comfortable old pair of slippers. I ran 34.28 – (and no I wasn’t wearing an old pair of slippers) a time that is a true reflection of where I am at right now, given I had just a month of training under my belt since my injury. So work to do, but I am moving in the right direction.

one race down

I have done it, I have got in my first race since my injury. I find getting back into racing is always a bit daunting as you never know how you are going to fare. I knew I was never going to set any records and my 34.28 for the 10k great Sunderland run was a true reflection of my form and really what I expected, despite this a little bit of me still wanted to run faster! I now know just how much work I need to do in the next 12 weeks in the lead into the Chicago marathon, and August is really going to be about some good solid miles, specifically for the marathon.

Racing and understanding your times is all about knowing what point you are in your training cycle. I am not upset about my time, it is just a reflection of my current form. I know in 10weeks time I will be ready to run fast!

Today I did a 10mile tempo run just under 6min miles and it nearly wiped me out. This is re-enforcing just how much work I need to do...bring on the training!

Getting in the miles

Finally I am cracking out some decent mileage between 80 and 90 miles per week and completing some good solid sessions. Over the last few weeks I have really noticed that my pace has started to come down and I am able to run faster for the same all out effort. I have noticed also that my recovery between my sessions has improved and this is a great sign that I am getting fitter. Don't get me wrong I am not fit, as I still have a long way to go until I would describe my self as fit....in relative terms my fit is to be able to run 5.20 miles for a half marathon and at the moment I can just about hold it for 6 minutes. So as you can see I have some work to do. Just how much work will be on show for all to see as I am racing the Sunderland 10k this weekend. I am excited about racing, but nervous at how much it might hurt!

A solid weel

I actually like that feeling when your legs ache and you feel like you have done something. being able to run without pain feels great and I am ready to really get into my running again. I have just built up the frequency of my running and I have actually had a go at some unstructured fartleks, and the leg seems to be holding up.

I am looking forward to racing the Sunderland 10k mid July, but I know I won't be as fit as I would like. It will be good to jump back on the horse and blow some cobwebs away!

This week I am aiming to run more miles and do some light sessions, although this weekend will be tricky for running as my Husband will be running 105 miles in 3 days along the south downs! Nutter. So this means I will have to sneak ruby off to her grandparents while I nip out for a run! Sometimes you just have to be flexible and I have a well planned rest day on Sunday!

Have a great week all.

Double daytastic

I finally feel like I am getting somewhere. That familiar ache in my legs again is proof to me that the miles have been creeping up. I even banked 49 miles last week and as the week progress I feel more and more confident that my injury is getting stronger. My enthusiasm for running is back and I can feel my mind focusing on my goals again. It feels good to be back in the saddle, and come July I am sure I will be back in full training again.

It takes many runners as much restrain to rest as it does to train. Rest is rest, and the body needs it when it is ill or injured and the committed runner is no less committed if they rest and allow their body to heal. Only the silly and obsessed run on ignoring the signals their body gives them.

Enjoy your running!

I'm getting there

Just in the last week I feel like I have turned a corner. I finally feel like I can trust my leg again and not feel like I will fall apart if I run too fast or too long. Today I clocked the grand total of 72 mins, and hope to run twice tomorrow. It has been some 12 weeks now since I did the injury and I am far from fit. I am really looking forward to banking some decent miles again having just clocked 35 miles in each of the last 2 weeks. I am keen to start double daying again and have some nice lung buster sessions to do.

If all goes to plan I am now focused on doing the Sunderland 10k, then the Great North, followed by the Chicago marathon. I will be far from fit in Sunderland, but it will be nice to have a blow out and find how much work I need to do.

If you are injured and feeling frustrated I have found it really does help to look at the bigger picture, and to take time to do things you don't usually get round to doing.

Any progress is good right?

I have the green light to run again! Yes, ok I am really pleased, BUT only every other day. It is progress after 3 weeks of total rest but I just so much want to be running and running fast. I want to feel the air burning my lungs again. However, I have to be patient and run easy just to ease myself back into it again. I feel unfit, like I have just rolled the dice and moved on to the largest snake on the snake and ladders board right back to square one!

Being injured is a pain, and for a runner it is dam right frustrating. I have had internal turmoil, wanting to run, but being sensible and doing the right thing so I can get back to it as soon as my body will heal. I pulled a boney attachment so it takes about 3 months to totally repair, so really I am up with just 2 months since I did it. (See trying to be positive!) Not running really makes me appreciate how much I love running, how much I need it to think straight, to sleep well and to be happy. I miss the endorphins. 'Well could you not cross train I hear you cry?' The truth is no, the area I have injured and the type of injury required total rest, minimal leg movement. I wanted too, and felt guilty for not trying to hold onto some fitness, but then I wanted what was best for the injury. See turmoil!

I am now hoping the worst is now behind me and maybe round the corner their is a nice ladder to help me on my way again...OK, I can dream, we all no there are no quick fixes for getting fit again! Roll on the hard work!