Perhaps looking for Plan C!

A week into Plan B and it's not going well.  My foot has been grumbling all week and I've not had a good weeks training.  Yoga on Tuesday was wonderful.  On Wednesday morning I went out early in the morning in the rain to run for the first time in 10 days.  I was aware of my foot all the way round but after 4k I became more aware of a "toilet" problem so needed to head back asap.  Fortunately I made it, just, and it reminded me the importance of routine i.e. ....no need to go into detail here as I think you get the point!
I then took my bike to get it's annual service and due to a part needing ordered I haven't had my bike back yet which hasn't helped.
Thursday and Friday I was in London so no ability to train but I did a lot of walking and my foot wasn't happy.  On Saturday it was a glorious day but I had booked a days golf for a friends birthday so we were away for the day.  Turnberry is a fantastic golf course on the Ayrshire course and the sun shone all day.  However my foot really started to hurt and my calf muscle began to stiffen.  By the end I was limping and the pain was affecting my golf - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
I rolled my foot, stretched my calf and hoped I'd be able to run today, Sunday.  Sadly there was no improvement in my foot and calf so today became a rest day.
I am meeting my podiatrist on Tuesday night and he is looking at stiffening the mid foot area to provide more support to my foot.  We are also looking at my footwear which when I do a post mortem, it might turn out to be a major factor despite taking advice at the time.  I will also be booking a massage for my calf and foot which I don't think will result in a "happy ending"! 
Is a plan C required?  Maybe but not before I get the orthotics adjusted and look at changing my shoes.  Hopefully the bike will be back and I can get in the miles.  I'll be back in the pool and between those two should keep my fitness up.  My taking part on a sprint triathlon and a half marathon are in the balance and I'm not even thinking about my 100 mile run at the end of August.  A lot will depend on the next few weeks.  Get out there and enjoy the summer folks!

Plan B

Life has a way of putting obstacles in your way and that is why you need a Plan B.  Unfortunately I have to implement my Plan B due to my foot injury.  For a few months now I have been suffering pain in my foot and despite treatment it hasn't improved, in fact it's got worse.  Tonight I visited the specialist and had 3 x-rays taken.  The outcome wasn't exactly conclusive but without getting an MRI scan which isn't guaranteed to show anything, the experts view is that there is some "wear and tear" on some of the bones on the top of my foot.  There may be some old damage from a car accident 7 years ago but nothing definite.  I've been told I can run and if it's sore take pain killers.  I've to see what happens over the next month - the last resort is surgery as that is a 3-6 month recovery period so here's hoping.
What wouldn't be sensible would be high intensity training compressed into 8 weeks.  Therefore it is with a heavy heart that I am postponing my WHW+ (100 miles) till 22/23 August.  It will mean 2.5 hours less daylight but that will be part of the fun.  It gives me 8 weeks more to build my mileage in a sensible way. 
I may be mental but I'm not totally stupid.  I have numerous multi-day events and challenges that I want to take on over the next 10 + years and having to do it with a walking stick isn't on the agenda.  My short term focus is now on a half Ironman on May 17th so miles on the bike required and build up the running.  It's a set back but not a season wrecker like my hamstring last year! See you out on the road, the trails and on the water!

Pain free training!

It's been a mixed week of training.  The good news is my hamstring is fine.  I think pushing the pace in my training run last week didn't help and taking a couple of days rest was a wise move.  After a two week layoff I went back to the pool - I won't make that mistake again! For me it's like hell after a lay off. I need to think about everything and it just feels like hard work, but it was good to be back.

I got new orthotics for my other shoes, not my running shoes as their orthotics are fine. This will give me additional support which I hope will help with my plantar faciatis.

On Thursday I went out for a run and lasted 100 yards. A sharp pain shot through the top of my foot and it didn't feel good. This is the area the surgeon will be looking at on the 13th April. So using my sensible head I hobbled back home. I gave it two days rest but played golf on Saturday afternoon - even that was sore.

Today the sun was shining so I headed out with a pal ON MY BIKE! We covered 62 km with some nice hills and I felt great. We took the pace easy, I had cobwebs on my bike, and I loved it. So here's the plan until I see the surgeon I'll either be swimming or cycling to keep my fitness up - no running. That's all I can do. If I get the go ahead to run the 100 miles will probably turn out to be my hardest challenge yet. Physically challenging because I haven't done the miles and mentally challenging because I know I haven't done the miles. Plus probably some pain management.

I've promised Maggie's Centres that I'd raise £5,000 and I don't want to let them down. But I will be sensible, promise. What an adventure this is turning out to be! Stay tuned!

1 step forward, 2 steps back but still moving!

It's been a mixed week.  Due to work commitments I couldn't make swimming on Tuesday which is now 2 weeks without a swim - I'll pay for that this Tuesday!  I was away at a conference and after 5 hours of lectures my arse was numb as was my head so I pulled on my shoes and went out for a fast 10k with a fellow ultra runner.  It was a beautiful night and we just got back as the daylight went.  Checked my pace and it was 5:15 per km which I was delighted with and my heart rate was ok.
On Thursday I went out early in what could best be described as fowl weather with Genevieve my coach and we ran our 10.5 miles route.  At the furthest point from the end I felt something strange in my left hamstring and I stopped and stretched it off.  After a while the niggle disappeared and I was running well and when I finished was amazed I had taken 5 minutes off the first run on this route a week ago (5:13 per km pace).  I felt great.  What an improvement.  I didn't walk any of the hills and felt strong at the end - that was my 1 step forward.  Later on in the day my hamstring started to remind me it wasn't happy so on Friday I called off another 10.5 mile run - this was my 2 steps back. 
It wasn't any better on Saturday but was invited to a gym by my wee pal Papa G.  I went on a bike for 35 mins (I have no bike fitness!) followed by 20 minutes on the treadmill.  A few stretches, steam room, sauna and jacuzzi with the water jet fixed on my foot, and I felt better (that's the but still moving bit!).
This morning I went out with Mark who is training for his first ironman and was happy to run in zone 2 and we did 3 evenly paced laps - 6:31 per km pace for 23km.  I felt I could have gone on for another lap which is the benefit of running at that pace but my foot was starting to grumble.  I've iced it, rolled it, stretched it and am now resting it.  I really don't have a choice at this stage but to build the miles slowly and not concern myself that I am so far off where I need to be.  My wee pal Papa G reminded me that I was good at giving advice but needed to listen to some of my own.  The point he was making was that the hamstring injury might have been due to me pushing the pace when I need to be the tortoise not the hare - point taken Papa G.  Here's to an incident free week.

Running with Dr Doolittle

It's been a great week for my running.  On Wednesday I went out with my coach for 10.5 miles before work.  The lambs are making an appearance and she enjoyed talking to them and the other animals all the way round - just like Dr Doolittle!  Two days later we did the same route again and despite the headwind we were more than 2 minutes quicker - progress.  Anyone who has run with me knows I sound like an old man dying with my breathing so Gen had me working on my breath and heart rate.  Hard work but easier when someone is on your shoulder keeping you going.
On Saturday I was running with the animals namely Rosie & Duke plus Gav - I was out for 3 laps/15 miles.  The plan was for easy 50 min laps as this would keep my heart rate in zone 2.  At the end of the 1st lap I looked at my watch - 45.15!  Those 4 legged pace makers had stretched me.  They were only staying for another half lap but I managed that in 47 mins.  I knew the third lap was going to be tough and my foot was grumbling along with my legs as this was the most I had run this year so no surprise when the 3rd lap was around 53 mins.  Being on my own and hobbling round wasn't much fun but is good practice for long distance running - nobody said it was easy!
Foot rolling, icing and night boot were all employed to get me ready for today.  As I lay in bed I thought about my scheduled 10 miler with some of the 'fling boys and started considering going cycling instead to ease off my legs and foot.  But my "A" race is only 87 days away and doesn't involve a bike so I headed off for Chatelherault.  Despite the easy pace it was tough.  My legs felt "shredded" from doubling my previous weekly mileage but it had to be done.  My three companions had some good banter so that made it more bearable.  A bath and some food made me feel human again but as I won't be running till Thursday they will have time to recover. 
Unfortunately my foot/ankle specialist has postponed my appointment till 13th April so I'll just keep building the miles and put up with the discomfort.  Maybe talking to the lambs will take my mind off the pain!

Rolling rolling rolling!

This certainly hasn't been a normal weeks training.  I was away for a long weekend and the running shoes and lycra wouldn't have gone down well with my better half as it was "a break" -  a friends wedding.  So during the week I had some shorter road runs to keep the legs moving plus a sports massage that, was painful.  It was suggested based on the tightness of my calves that a weekend off might not be a bad idea, plus some yoga.
Having travelled 6 hours in a car, when I got back on Sunday I wasn't capable of running the length of myself so I took the rest.  This morning at 6.30am I went out for a run and it was great.  This is now going to be the norm as I increase the regularity of my running during the week with the long runs at the weekend.
Yoga tomorrow morning will help with the stiffness in my claves but unfortunately I will miss my normal Tuesday night swim session as I am attending a motivational talk which will help me on the mental side of my preparation - leave no stone unturned!
A big date on the horizon is 2nd April when I meet a foot & ankle specialist.  I am hoping that by rolling my feet twice a day and wearing "the night boot" which is stretching the arches in my foot will help.  I am also going to start using orthotics in my normal shoes to see if that takes some of the strain off my arches.  My hope is that I will be able to build up the miles, slowly, so that I can run the 100 miles on 18/19 June without causing any lasting damage!

Sticking to the plan

Training for an endurance event isn't easy as it takes time and sometimes life or work gets in the way.  This week I was away at a conference from Wed - Friday and it involved long days.  So my only mid-week run was on a treadmill (how boring) for an hour.  But I did have a good yoga session and swim session before I went so I didn't feel too guilty.
The main miles are done at the weekend and although I have a half ironman approaching and have done no cycling, I'll get there, I need to concentrate on my "A race" in June - the 100 mile run.  The weather forecast on Saturday was horrendous - heavy rain and 49 mph wind.  So there was only one place to run - Chatelherault.  The trees would provide cover but may become dangerous as the forest is littered with recently felled trees.  I ran with a couple of friends who were looking for an evenly paced run as part of their Ironman training and were happy to work with me as I tried to keep my heart rate down - you get fitter that way.  By the end of three laps I was soaked and very muddy so was hosed down and told to strip before getting in the house!
I spent a painful evening nursing my plantar fasciitis, rolling it and applying a stretch through a special boot.  When I woke in the morning I was still hobbling and nursed the foot further before going out for 2 laps.  I was delighted to be accompanied on the 2nd lap by my coach Gen who has been in Canada for the last few years and back home for a while.  She was pleased with how I was running which gave me a real lift in confidence and assuming I can "nurse" the foot along, well let's not tempt fate.  But I achieved the goal I had set for the weekend and am sticking to my plan.  Slowly does it and I need to increase my running and cycling during the week.  It feels great to have stretching targets - realistic ones don't do it for me!