Whats the story, Morning Glory?

Got bad news yesterday with the fact that our dog Dillon is being put down on Tuesday. We've had Dillon since 2001 but he hasn't been healthy for a while, so it was a somber house here yesterday evening. On top of this Ruth was voted off the X factor. Not that she was one of the best singers in the competition, but she has a great set of knockers. Fantasy football is not going great either with captain Ronaldo just sent off, feckin eejit!!

On the plus side, after an amazing 11 hour coma fest for a sleep, felt great this morning, and went back to the football fields for a 40 mins run. As tight as my soleus is during the day, there is no pain at all running which is great, but again I definitely feel the need to get a rub or something to loosen up the legs. Not really sure how I'll play out training this week as I have a few conferences to attend so time is a bit cramped. Might have a bit of a down week (is this even possible when I'm only running 30ish miles a week?) but will play it day by day.

Today: 5.75 miles, 40:14

Weekly total: 5 runs, 26.7 miles

It's bloody Baltic!!!!

And by that I mean its cold as tits out here!! With the temperature not above freezing all day, plus a fair bit of moisture in the air meant that it was ridiculously cold here. Wasn't sure whether I was going to run based on my calf but it felt good enough that I thought a short trot on grass would do more good than harm. Initially planned on going for about 20 mins, but after 10 mins of everything feeling good I decided to stretch it out to a half hour. If anything my right soleus felt tighter than the left, and the left was pretty tender afterwards, probably the result of the icing and massage of the last couple of days. A bit concerned about how tight both my soleuseseseses are, and will keep it on the grass for another day or two.

30:30, 4.15 miles (thought I was being a bit antsy going with the 2 decimal places, but since JoKin's done it first, I'm ok with it)

Day Off

No run as planned today after yesterdays crampage-fest. Thankfully the calf is much improved today, and I'm able to walk gimp-free although it is still pretty damn tight. Also, my right calf is noticeably tight today too, so am obviously not taking good enough care of my calves. Part of this stems from having read this really good article on stretching in the New York Times (subscription needed - relax its free). While it addresses the warm-up only, I had been doing less post-run stretching based on the article, and had been relying on my new best friend, my foam roller. But given my recent problems, I may disregard the info, not sure yet.

One serious potential roadblock to my calf recovery is the Abu Dhabi reunion night tonight. Gettign hammered is surely not the proper approach, but I've never really been known for turning down a good excuse to get plastered. However, all going well, I'm planning on a short 3-4 mile jog on the grass tomorrow

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!!

Just a quickie (That's what she said)

Herbert Park,
6 miles, 42:31
Avg HR = 155, max = 167
Rec After 1 min = 34

Early post today as I am seriously struggling with work and am using this to procrastinate. Really enjoyed today's run although legs were a wee bit on the heavy side (no fat jokes needed). Was pretty warm (about 50) and humid which after yesterdays coldness felt like it was summer. Think that my experiment to do the gym on my day off will not continue, as I think my legs will need a full days rest a week to keep training.

Irish team for Euro XC was announced today, looks like I just missed out again. Not even a phone call from selectors to justify the decision. Bureaucratic bullshit. Team is strong this year, looking forward to seeing them go and hopefully a top 5 finish (or higher) is on the cards. No Cragg though, otherwise I think a medal would be a serious possibility.

It Should Have Been Me, Instead I'm Wallowing in Self Pity

It should have been me.. What am I referring to? Only Andrew Ledwith's 3rd place finish at NCAA's. Ok so of course it was never going to be me, but I can't hide my surprise and delight when I saw the result. The reason I make the comparison is that myself and Andrew both came up through the NACAI system in Ireland (of the two running organisations in Ireland before they unified in 2000, the NACAI was like the retarded stepcousin you never really want to admit that you have) before heading down to North Mon in Cork to train under Br. D for a year before heading states side. The similarity is a little uncanny, although of course, I'm better looking. But fair play to Andrew, and I can't wait to see him go now in the Euro XC. NC's was a great day for the Irish in the field (2 in the top 20, plus the 11th place finisher in the womens, although I admit, I haven't the foggiest idea who she is). 

The reason for wallowing in self pity has nothing to do with the NCAAs, more the realisation that I'm fighting a losing battle to get fit. I'm just up from the dinner table, and feeling like I'm about to give birth to a baby calf (is it baby calf, or should it be baby cow?). Having 'misjudged' the quantity of dinner to make, I decided I'd just can whatever I didn't eat. One busted gut later and the plate was empty. Really need to eat less. It's so bad I'm even resorting to scouring the web for things like this.

Believe it or not I did run today though. 6 whole miles. Ran along the Canal which was one of my favourite runs when I first moved to Dublin, but has gradually fallen out of favour for a couple of reasons. One is there are quite a lot of intersections, and between half 7 and 8 traffic is fairly heavy meaning quite a few stoppages. Secondly are the swans. I'm all for swans in the canal, but I don't get their toilet habits. I can understand they don't want to shit in the water, thats like us going twosies in the middle of the living room. But the swans here in Dublin (and I swear its deliberate) shit all over the footpath. I mean the grass either side is spotless. Someone needs to potty train those fuckers. 

6 miles in 42:57 (22:13 out, 20:44 back, which means I ran under 7 minute miles. I rock).

Avg HR = 156, max = 165

HR Rec after 1 min = 39. Good day today.

Bit of A Bleh Day

Day Off from running

Gym session

Normally I've been going to the gym in the mornings after doing a bit of a run and then running home, but decided to mix it up and see how the body feels doing it on my off day. Should probably do a bit more of a warm up than just 5 mins on the rowing ergometer as the workout felt much more difficult than normal despite being pretty much the same although I jacked up the weights on one or two of the machines, cos lets face it, I'm a goddam beast.

The weather is absolute muck, although compared to whats going on in PVD at the minute I'll refrain from too much complaining.

Generally a quiet day all round. Shout outs to Owen and Jim B on their day of birth. The new skin is to aid DeCoste who couldn't read my blog on his phone in its previous design. Normally I'd take this opportunity to get a good slagging in here, but since he's showing interest in actually reading my verbal garbage I won't complain just yet. Instead I'll just post an incriminating picture