Last run of '09??

3.9 miles, 27:09

Avg HR = 161, peak = 169

Rec after 1 min = 42

Summarising the run as follows: 10 minutes of pain-free enjoyable running, 10 minutes of running in increasing discomfort, 7 minutes of running in pain. 

It's hard to put into words how disheartening runs like this are, and avoided posting this yesterday as I didn't feel that posting suicidal thoughts would contribute anything productive. The problems are not only stemming from my left quad but also my upper left shin. It's particularly frustrating because the last 3 times I have attempted to make a running comeback I have gotten about 10-12 weeks in, up to about 40 miles a week, and the same problem in the left quad keeps arising to shut me down. What the cause is I have no idea, although the last official diagnosed stress fracture I had back in '04 was there. The left shin which is presently troublesome is also the site of a prior stress fracture. Musing over any and all possible reasons for this I remembered this blog post that Tarpy sent me a few months back describing how Fosomax works (as well as this and similar articles), and have sort of concluded that my bones just haven't healed properly from any of the stress fractures I suffered while taking Fosomax. I'm not really sure how to deal with this if it proved to be correct as Fosomax has a ten-year half life, meaning that I am still about 5-10 years short of clearing it from my system. Given that I can't afford to go and get any tests/scans done to confirm/deny this theory, I'm back at the usual spot of rest/recovery before getting back in the saddle.

So I have resolved myself to cross-training at least 3 times a week for the next month-6 weeks in order to continue in the bid to shift this tire from around my gut and maintain/improve fitness levels to allow to start running again in a few weeks time. Will probably not blog much during this time as I can't be bothered writing about an hour on the bike unless I happen to spot some honeys in the gym that are post-worthy. Peace.

Gobble Gobble Gobble

Yes it's Turkey day in the US of A. I admit I miss the annual celebration of giving thanks for the pilgrim settlers wiping out a whole race of people, but only for the food. Plus it would have been nice to have the day off today. But we can't have it every which way. 

If you've detected a slightly narky tone to the blog thus far you'd be on the mark. Today was gym day, and I have to say I woke up feeling spectacular, and bounced out the door. No heaviness in the legs, feeling good, off on my way. No more from 100 yards from the gym my left soleus (lower calf muscle for the anatomically challenged) seized mid-stride, and it felt like I don't know what, but it hurt like a mofo. Thinking that I just needed to stretch it out I stopped, but when I went to start again I knew it wasn't happening. Because I'm such a man, I went to the gym anyway and did what I could, and then faced walking home. The turkey gods or someone was conspiring against me cos at this stage it was bucketing down. Facing a half hour limp in the rain, or a 10 min gimpy run, I chose the latter. I've iced the calf twice since then, but its still good and seized up. 

I've never had something like this happen mid-run, although I did have a similar cramp affect me in the pool yonks ago in the days of yore when I was fit, which with a bit of massage only resulted in a day or two off. Reflecting on it, its a pretty minor event in the grand scheme of things, and I'm thankful that in the 8-9 weeks I've been back running a bad cramp is the only note of complaint I have thus far. 

So, I'm off to make sure Tottenham seal the deal in Europe. To my American friends, those calories ain't gonna burn themselves!!