Week 1

Week 1 I hear you say?  What is that all about?  It's my reset of my mindset.  Having pulled out of the Ultra Race Romania in August I have to start all over again so that I will be at the start line in 2023.  I could have sat in my "puddle" taken weeks off training as it's approximately 55 weeks away, but it will come around quick enough, as it did this year.  In addition I have a race to prepare for in September and I need to get my fitness back and lots of miles under my belt!
First of all I needed to get a diagnosis on my ankle.  During the week it had remained swollen and spent my time in the gym or doing yoga while trying to keep the weight off my feet.  I met with my physio John who diagnosed an injury to my Superior extensor retinaculum - the band that goes across your ankle holding the 3 tendons in place.  The good news is he expects me to be able to run in a week and that I can continue with walking and even walking up a hill, but no running.  Ice, Ibuprofen gel and using my massage gun regularly will help the recovery.  Some yoga but no stretching of the ankle or it could get angry!
On Saturday I put it to the test and went for a 10km walk.  No pain although some puffiness around the ankle when I'd finished.  I then did a yoga session afterwards but I didn't have any ice so I used my bottle of Peroni to cool it down while I sipped the contents along with my food - liquid carbs!
Having passed the test I got up early today and climbed Tinto.  It has a path all the way to the top and I had no pain or puffiness afterwards which is really positive.  I was tempted to run down from the summit but stuck to the instructions I'd been given by my coach and physio.  I also followed this with a yoga session.  Yoga is going to play an important part in my recovery and also in my preparation for 2023.  I've come to the conclusion I need to spend more time in "prehab" than "rehab".  Yoga worked for me when I prepared for Marathon des Sables in 2013 so I aim to repeat that approach.
We take our fitness for granted until we get an injury or feel unwell.  A number of my friends in the triathlon club have been affected recently with Covid and are slowly recovering, trying to avoid any long term effects.  They might be struggling with very short runs of say 5km but at this moment of time, I'd be delighted to run 5km.  We just need to be patient, as I discovered this morning going up Tinto.  My heart rate was higher than normal and I felt I was working hard. 6 weeks ago I went up and down Tinto 4 times but today I certainly couldn't have done it twice.  How quickly your fitness goes.  But it's only week 1 and I will stick with my schedule to deliver me to the various start lines I will have over the next 55 weeks.  Thanks to all my friends for their continued support and my "my medical team" for keeping me going.