Whatever it takes

The good news is I did get my first pint at the pub since lockdown on Monday!  At 5pm I went with my son Ali and we enjoyed a "cold one" in an outdoor beer garden.  It was busy but we managed to keep our distance from the crowd and it was good to have some form of normality restored.  Later on however we heard they had to ask people to leave as it was getting too busy.
During the week I mixed running with cycling and would put it down as a good weeks training with some decent runs.  By Thursday my heart rate was behaving which confirmed the training schedule was on point. 
On Saturday I ran 30 km which was a decent step up in distance but unfortunately it was all tarmac.  I'm still getting used to my new orthotics and while they are offering more support it does have an impact on my body which I started to feel around 20 km.  My foot was uncomfortable but it was more my IT band at the side of my knee.  With 6 km to go I turned for home straight into a headwind and my niggles were getting worse.  I eased off on my pace as I knew I had a 90 minute run the next day and didn't want to hurt myself.  Just as I got into Strathaven I noticed my coach and her husband heading in my direction on their bikes.  Genevieve started shouting and waving like a loony and that always makes me smile, straighten up, and pick up my feet.  But that short burst of motivation quickly subsided as I just wanted to get the run finished.
I reported back to Genevieve on how I felt and we both agreed to wait till the morning to decide whether to run or rest.  I woke up and other than the first few footsteps I felt fine, certainly no muscular pain in my legs.  So I headed off for Chatelherault to get off the tarmac and back to the trail.  I was scheduled for a couple of laps but quickly it became obvious it was going to be a painful run as the niggles were getting worse.  About 3 km in I felt like turning back and walking but decided to keep it going and see whether I could manage 1 or 2 laps.  At some stages it felt fine and with under a km to go in the first lap I thought I'd start the second lap but as soon as I turned up the hill towards the end of the lap, the pain came back and I called it a day.  A slow and painful lap.  Such a shame as it was a lovely day to be in the beautiful grounds of Chatelherault.
I came home, hot bath, anti-inflammatory tablets, ice and elevated my leg.
Tomorrow is a rest day and I have set up a conversation with my coach for tomorrow.  Fortunately I have a sports massage booked for Tuesday and seeing my sports therapist on Thursday.  My "A race" is 12 days away and my current race strategy of completing it in a week might have to change.  I'll do whatever it takes to be ready on Saturday 25 July and if it means I have to run more days and less mileage then I will, with one condition.  I'm not creating a bigger problem with my foot / leg.  I'll be speaking to my podiatrist as well as it takes time to adjust to new orthotics.
It's never easy which is what makes it so satisfying when running injury free.  May the wind be at your back!