My Right Foot

Following a request here is a picture of my right foot to proove that the swelling a few weeks ago did actually go down!



[Feet aren't that attractive are they!]

Maybe I'll photograph them again after 26.2 miles!

Surely not...

My last training run is over and I am able to walk and have all my limbs in tact - does this mean I am actually going to make it...?!

Knees Up Mother Brown....

Yesterday saw my last long(ish) run (when did 10.5 miles become a short run?!)

Again no ankle pain (yay!), sadly plenty of knee pain (boo!)
On the positive side I am so used to having sore knees that it's not going to stop me but it does mean i'll be (even) slower and more than that it is just frustrating.

I get this problem every year around this time. The only thing I can think of is that it is linked to my hayfever medication - but I have been unable to Google any connection between cartilage and cetrizine hydrochloride so it can't be true can it!!

Convinced of the connection I have stopped taking it - it's probably too late but if nothing else I will be able to sneeze my way around!

So now the time to marathon is being counted in single days, soon to be just hours. If I can get round in 5 hours or less I am going to be happy. After all the injury problems of the last six months getting round is plan a, less than 5 hours is plan b, anything less than that is fantastic!

At Last...

...my first run since Jan 1st with absolutely no pain in my right ankle. Woo Hoo!

Sadly this was somewhat tempered by a nagging and persistant pain in my left knee.

I have over the last couple of weeks been getting a pain in my left knee. Not a sharp pain but the long, aching nagging pain that I have been used to, on occasion, since about the age of 13.
It's not enough to stop me running, it never is, but it is just enough of a nag to make me stop every couple of miles just to let to pain stop and regroup in some way.

Still I completed a 17 mile run (so much for the planned 14) and I will probably be glad not to see the cycle path on the far side of the river for a few weeks - blimey that has got dull, dull, dull!

The first for this run was running in my Asthma vest (it looks a bit like this although thats the old design) - certainly the colour seemed to turn a few heads, plus it has my name on the front which perhaps seemed a little 'show offy' to the passer by!
It was also a first long run in my race day trainers newly arrived from the Sweatshop in Harrods.
As is always the way I got a blister - of course after 17 miles it was a biggy!

Tapering starts in earnest. I had been told that this is the worst part - and they were right! Suddenly your mileage drops right off, you feel like you are eating for three and gaining pounds on an hourly basis but I guess you need the rest before the big day - certainly I still felt that I could feel last weeks 20 miles somewhere in my legs.

Let the Carb Loading Begin...!

Saturday saw my second attempt at a 20 mile run.

Prior to the run I was somewhat concerned.

• It was only two days since my sports massage and my legs were still sore to touch - although they felt alright running.
• I was having to run on the Saturday, a day earlier than normal, for practicality reasons
• Both sets of shoes are now starting to feel worn and a twinge in my ankle seems to be being rather persistant.
• I was having to run mostly on my own
• Last, but by no means least, the last 20 mile run blinking well hurt - a lot!

As it was I adopted a nice steady pace, averaging somewhere around the 10-10:30 min mile for the first 8 or so miles. It dropped off by a minute to a minute thirty after that point but was still consistent.

Em met me at around the 17 mile point (i.e. heading up Bridge Valley road) and bounced Tigger like in front of me for the rest of the way home. It was nice to have a little company although I did have to try and stop myself from trying to keep up with her!

The best part was this hurt much less than last time. The twinges in my knee had occurred again somewhere between 9 and 10 miles but had seemingly not then transfered the in balance into my thigh. Yes I was sore - but I have no dount I could have continued for a least another 4 or so miles which only leaves 2 to find!

So bring on the bread/pasta/potatoes/ice cream etc.etc. - the carb loading starts here!

Now I know Who Put the F into OMG

Thursday evening went for a Sports Massage at a place called The Medical in Bristol.

I haven't had a sports massage for a number of years and my previous ones were in response to to a groin problem I had at the time and so were less vigorous.

After a health questionairre and a few questions the masseuse got to work and OMG I know now who put the F into OMG - boy did it hurt!

It's one of those ridiculous situations where in any other circumstance the level of discomfort would be nearly more than you can bear - but you know that the pain being induced is doing you good and what's more you are paying for the pleasure (or should that be pain).

My legs are still very sore, the following day, but they do feel a little lighter - or maybe that is just wishful thinking. A five mile run tonight should test out the result!