So what’s been going on over the last three months? One thing for sure is there hasn’t been that
much running!
After London, it took only a day or two before I was able to return the walking stick my 90
year old neighbour lent me and as I headed to my first physiotherapy
appointment I was secretly still holding onto the possibility of being OK to take up my entry in the Edinburgh Marathon (six weeks after London). My reckoning was that if I could get back running after two or three weeks I’d be able to do a couple of longish training runs and be ready. [I kept these thoughts to myself as I knew only too well what Lesley would have to say…!]
appointment I was secretly still holding onto the possibility of being OK to take up my entry in the Edinburgh Marathon (six weeks after London). My reckoning was that if I could get back running after two or three weeks I’d be able to do a couple of longish training runs and be ready. [I kept these thoughts to myself as I knew only too well what Lesley would have to say…!]
I started the beginning of week three after the marathon still
walking with a limp but I set myself the goal of running 3 miles on the Friday of that
week, 5 miles on the Saturday and 10 miles on the Monday. Friday came and I enthusiastically kitted up,
went through my warm up routine and impatiently waited for my watch to “catch
a satellite”. Off I went but within 10 paces I had a strong sense the dream was over!
I just about completed two miles. No sharp, intense pain but an ache from start to finish and the disconcerting sensation that my right leg had no spring in it. The rest of the evening I was limping around with a pretty long face!
went through my warm up routine and impatiently waited for my watch to “catch
a satellite”. Off I went but within 10 paces I had a strong sense the dream was over!
I just about completed two miles. No sharp, intense pain but an ache from start to finish and the disconcerting sensation that my right leg had no spring in it. The rest of the evening I was limping around with a pretty long face!
So much for my 5 and 10 mile plans that weekend! Instead I took grandson Harry to the Bearcat
Running Club on the Sunday (and found myself aching in just trying to keep up
with him!).
Meanwhile my physio appointments were continuing. With the multitude of body parts that were
prodded and described as “very stiff”, you’d have thought rigor mortis had set
in!
On 9th May, exactly one week after my first 2
mile effort I set out once more. Again, it took about 30 seconds before I recognised the dull pain in my right leg
each time my right foot struck the ground and pushed off. I managed the two miles again and tried to
take a little comfort that there was a less obvious reaction immediately after
the run. However, in further efforts made through the rest of May, there was no noticeable improvement.
the run. However, in further efforts made through the rest of May, there was no noticeable improvement.
Nevertheless, I remained determined to run in the Turks Head
10KM race on 8th June. Things
didn’t look good on Monday 2nd June when I found myself having to
walk at half way into a planned 3 mile run. However, I did manage to resume running for the last half mile of my route and didn’t suffer a significant reaction afterwards. The following day I tried again and made it right through to 3 miles. On the Thursday I really felt I’d made a breakthrough when I completed a 5 mile run with only moderate discomfort. For my final warm up on Saturday I did a 27½ minute Parkrun (5KM) and on the Sunday I was thrilled to hit my target of completing the Turks Head race.
A couple of weeks later (21st June) and my 5KM
Parkrun time was heading in the right direction at 26 minutes and over the next
couple of weeks things progressed sufficiently that by 12th July my
Parkrun time was back down to 23½ minutes, within 30 seconds of the PB I’d set
during my marathon training in February.walk at half way into a planned 3 mile run. However, I did manage to resume running for the last half mile of my route and didn’t suffer a significant reaction afterwards. The following day I tried again and made it right through to 3 miles. On the Thursday I really felt I’d made a breakthrough when I completed a 5 mile run with only moderate discomfort. For my final warm up on Saturday I did a 27½ minute Parkrun (5KM) and on the Sunday I was thrilled to hit my target of completing the Turks Head race.
One of the issues noted in my physiotherapy treatment has
been that my running posture has been unbalanced. I’ve
been recommended to take up Pilates to help address this. My first beginner class was a bit of an
ordeal - a real struggle to take on board all the instructions. I found it difficult enough to keep up with when I was supposed to inhale
and when to exhale, let alone the physical manoeuvres! Nevertheless, I have been sufficiently
motivated to buy the “Pilates for Dummies” DVD (or Pilates for Idiots as I inadvertentlyreferred to it in a recent conversation!) and since then my living room has regularly been converted to an exercise studio! I was pleased that my next visit to the class was considerably less embarrassing than the first.
So I’m feeling just about back to normal except that there’s
a fair amount of work to do to get my distance running back to scratch. This is something I’m going to have to put my
mind to over the next month as I’ve only gone and set myself the goal of
completing four half marathons in successive weeks from 21st September followed by the Cabbage Patch 10 mile race on the fifth week! The four HMs are Richmond Running Festival, Windsor, Thames (starting/finishing at Walton on Thames) and The Royal Parks. My entry for The Royal Parks Half Marathon is as part of the fundraising team for Shooting Star Chase which is a leading children’s hospice charity.
completing four half marathons in successive weeks from 21st September followed by the Cabbage Patch 10 mile race on the fifth week! The four HMs are Richmond Running Festival, Windsor, Thames (starting/finishing at Walton on Thames) and The Royal Parks. My entry for The Royal Parks Half Marathon is as part of the fundraising team for Shooting Star Chase which is a leading children’s hospice charity.
Shooting Star Chase say about their work, “Whether lives are measured in days, weeks, months
or years, we are here to make every moment count." When I started planning my running schedule
for the autumn the thought was very much in my mind of making as many of my
moments count. When Shooting Star Chase
gave me the chance for the fourth half marathon in my programme it provided
that extra focus - I very much hope my autumn running challenge will inspire
donations for Shooting Star Chase and help them to make more moments count for
more children and young people.
To find out more about Shooting Star Chase and help me reach
my fundraising target please visit my Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/John-Reece/
Finally for this month, a big thank you to all who helped
get my fundraising for Shooting Star Chase underway with contributions totalling
£355 at or associated with the “200 Year Spectacular” event held to celebrate
the birthdays of Lesley, her mum and me.
£355 at or associated with the “200 Year Spectacular” event held to celebrate
the birthdays of Lesley, her mum and me.
Very best wishes!
John
John
