Almost a nice (rather than ice) spring day so thought I would try a very slow run. At first planned on 3k, then 2 miles, and in the end got through 5k. Kept the pace extremely slow and felt very comfortable, just didn’t want to risk another pop of my hamstring, which thankfully behaved itself, hopefully I can keep running, even if it’s very slow for now!
Needed to get a run in, so opted for a short 5k, given time constraints, and the terrible weather predictions. Not particularly quick, but ran at pace in places towards the end. Not sure when the next run will be, need to protect my limbs and bits from the vicissitudes of the weather!
Had to go to Ashton to bank a bit of cash, so decided to get the bus in running kit and then run back.
Wasn’t the nicest of runs, route mostly clogged with traffic and therefore fumes, and plenty of obstructions and speeding lunatics steering chariots of deadly metal as fast as possible for no reason, though one or two were polite enough to let me cross.
Had to slow down at one point when my pace was edging under 9 minute miles as didn’t want to risk any injuries again, but was happy to dip under 10 minute mile pace for most of the run and feel comfortable running a bit quicker with no niggles, hopefully building back up slowly will see me ready for a good outing in the Great Manchester Run in May!
Really wanted to get out for a run and just get some exercise hormones flowing after quite a stressful and strange week.
Figured I might try 2 or 3k, and at first thought the hamstring was going to pop straight away but it didn’t. Kept the pace very slow, and when I got to 3k, decided to keep going at the same slow pace, and although there as a slight twinge after I’d stopped at traffic lights, it passed and I was able to complete 5k in 38 minutes without the hamstring popping painfully, so it’s a start!
Tried to run in the week, but had to come back in as it was far too slippery. Missed both SRC runs due to work or ice, so was nice to get out and just run, even though it was raining, cold, and a few bits of slushy ice still about (it always reminds me of the sugar at the bottom of my weetabix bowl for some reason).
Just a jog really, very slow, but didn’t get puffed out after 10 days off, and no hamstring twangs, though I would be surprised if anything could twang going at the sedate a pace! Onwards and upwards, again!
Set off at a brisk pace, felt ok, kept going and managed to finish 5k without feeling half dead on this occasion!
Another 5k with mixed feelings, right leg never felt 100% but seemed to survive if I kept the pace really slow. Had been swimming earlier in the week, which is great, but at £2.80 a time can work out more expenseive than hitting the road!
I have a current theory about my injury, which goes back to the fall I had over the summer, cracking my back hard on a rock. I’m wondering if I compressed a nerve, as when I had 2 weeks off running, some other symptoms I had, such as a mild numbness in certain places, subsided, but seem to have returned along with starting running again, so am wondering if running is putting pressure on it and this is in fact what is causing the leg pain…
I will see what happens after this run. It may be that I need an extended break for the nerve to uncompress itself (funnily enough, after swimming, and stretching my body out, the symptoms greatly ease). Maybe I will even have to quit running altogether.
Good or bad news? Who knows! I’m thinking of the Zen story where a farmer’s son breaks his leg, but thus avoids being conscripted into the army and killed. Maybe my injury will help me avoid a rendezvous with a truck or maniac gunman…
A very gentle 5k run to test out my legs. Was ready to abort at any minute if I felt pain, must admit legs didn’t feel as solid and dependable as I would have liked… Wore my tracksuit bottoms for the first time with long sleeved top, felt quite chilly out there.
Set a very sedate pace of about 7 mins per k and soon warmed up. Lungs and heart seemed to respond well, and managed 5k without feeling any sort of discomfort or breathing hard, will now see how the leg reacts to this, before deciding what to do next.
With the City of Salford 10k less than 2 weeks away, my plan is to do a small taper, and cut back on mileage while still doing some speed workouts, so by the time I get to race day, the base miles will be doing me good but not still in my legs, and my body will be used to going out of the blocks quickly!
Had to have 3 days off as after the long run at the weekend I was still getting the intermittent sharp pains in my left leg. My theory is it might be some residual referred pain from my back from when I fell, and may have a bit of a pinched nerve back there, or it could be any number of things, but rest seemed to benefit it!
I set off gingerly at first, but there was no immediate reaction from my leg, and after a very short warmup of slowish running, I started to pick th pace up bit by bit, testing my legs out. There was a bit of a calf twinge before 1k was up, but nothing major and it didn’t recur. I clocked the first km in just over 6 minutes, and then I was hitting 5:15 pace and quicker for most of the rest of the run. I was breathing hard and noticed the Garmin going under 5 mins per km at times, even though I wasn’t going flat out (comfortably hard, but not race pace). I struggled a bit on the last km, and the last few 100 metres was uphill, which slowed me down but I managed 5:37 for the last km when I felt I had slowed to a crawl.
Am not sure on this evidence I could get near running 10 sub 5 minute kms, but you never know on race day, I will do a few more fast runs to keep my legs ticking over and see what happens! There was no recurrance of the sharp wobbly pain in my legs, my right ankle felt mildly niggly, but OK, so not sure what it was all about really!
I like the term muggy sunny, from the poem Corson’s Inlet by A.R.Ammons, so thought I would borrow if for today’s running blog post title!
Not a huge amount to report. This was first run back since my adventures on Wednesday, I had been a little apprehensive about how my back would respond to me pounding pavements without the mid-run endorphins and adrenaline that had been in my system when I fell on my arse that day… It had been a bit tender the day after but otherwise seemed ok, just the odd mild jolt jumping off buses.
I started a bit gingerly but it wasn’t really any trouble, was going pretty slowly anyway. Started to get quite warm and puffy towards the end of the run despite taking it very easy, and at one point there was a bit of a twinge on my left knee, but all in all felt Ok and back was no trouble.
After 3 or so weeks of increasing mileage I’ve cut back by about 5 miles this week, with just a couple of easy runs and the hard club run in the middle. Hope to go to the club on Monday but will see how I feel. I need to let my body reap the benefits of recent hard running and mileage before I pile more demands on it!
