Uneventful plodding

I haven't had time to run since the gaffa tape incident, but my ankle has been a bit sore and oozy so that's probably no bad thing. I couldn't put it off any longer, though, so have been out for another 4.5 miles today. That's a sixth of a marathon, you know. I can't imagine being able to go out and do that run another 5 times before bedtime, but I guess with 5 months to go, if I can increase my distance by 4.5 miles a month, I'll get there.

That means that my New Year's Eve run will be 9 miles. Eek.

I don't have much to report on today's run. I used a Compeed on my heel which seemed to do the trick. I ran a new route which included a couple of steep hills I had to walk up, and discovered a new footpath and quite excellent playground at the other end of Delph. I did my usual thing of working out what percentage of a marathon I had covered and what my final time would be if I could keep going - a habit I'm definitely going to have to break.

Instead of music today I listened to an audiobook. It didn't seem to slow me down much, but at the same time it didn't do much to still the inner voice, or alleviate the boredom of running. At the moment I think I'm as worried about how to stop myself going insane over 7 hours on the road as I am about the physical discomfort. Hints and tips welcome.

I did run past a house today where, several weeks ago, I saw a mum and toddler planting spring bulbs. I'm looking forward to running past and seeing those in bloom!

Since it appears I am actually fine to run, it's also time to re-start the fundraising. So please, I urge you, fling me a couple of quid; text ZOMB76 to 70070, or donate via my main page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SusanWitterick.

It's a tough time of year for money, I know, but look at it like this. You could buy me a card and spend money on a stamp, or you could text me £2 and make me much happier. You know what to do!

The engineering solution.

Dovestone Reservoir is a beautiful place. It's on my doorstep, it's exactly 2.5 miles around, and the dog loves it. So why is it that every time I run there I have a miserable time?

The first time I buggered my knee. The second time it rained, and I thought I would die of misery. Today was cold but sunny, a bit muddy, generally nice apart from the fact that I was running. 

I'm trying to change my technique so that I cover a bit more ground, focusing on landing heel first and trying to push off with the ball of my foot. It definitely seemed I was moving further with each stride but bloody hell it was hard work. Seems to use much more energy so the first mile I was doing a lot of walk-run. And concentrating to try to keep the 'new' form up was hard too. 

At mile 2, I developed an injury. 

 

Actually I developed it around mile 1 but pretended it wasn't happening. When I finally stopped to look there was blood all over my trainers and ankle. Tasty. 

Scooby the wonderdog and I completed the first lap and I limped back to the car hoping to find a first aid kit and some plasters. No such luck. 

What I DID find was some cotton wool pads and some gaffa tape. And lo, the day was saved. 

 Yes, I really did use gaffa tape to hold myself together. And it was bloody marvellous. Comfortable, supportive, and it stayed on! I may have to carry some at the marathon or just wrap it around my whole body at the start like a mummy, just to make sure I don't leave any of myself behind on the course. 

I think I will put some plasters in my bum bag too, though. And I need longer socks. Probably. I'm blaming them. 

Completed the 4.5 mile run without further incident. I'm aching and clearly not as fit as I was before my injury, but I'm telling myself the aching means I'm actually getting stronger. Maybe crazy rolling foot running is actually good for me. Only time will tell. 

Today's lessons are that there's an engineering solution for everything, and that you can never have too much gaffa tape. 

Guess who's back?

My ankle has been feeling fine for a few days now, and I couldn't face the gym. I decided to risk it, and try a run. Dosed up on ibuprofen just in case, spent a dreadfully long time getting ready, stressed about it quite a lot.

Couldn't find my shoes, which is a worry as I have two (identical) pairs. I blame the dog. Eventually found one pair in the car (where I had put them to keep the dog off them) but still no sign of the second.

Did I mention that I blame the dog?

I was surprised how nervous I was about running. Would I be able to do it? Would everything flare up and keep me out for another three weeks? Would I have lost all my fitness? I set off at my usual very slow pace and just kept going...

There was definitely the odd grumble from my ankle but nothing that I would describe as actual 'pain' and now I'm done it's definitely letting me know it's there but not actually hurting. So hopefully, unless I wake up tomorrow totally crippled, it's going to be ok. I'm seeing the physio tomorrow anyway and will probably be told off for running without permission ;)

I managed about 3 miles in 41 minutes, without stopping. I'm still not sure how I managed the Parkrun in 36 minutes because I remember walking quite a bit of that. I got overtaken, and realised my feet were moving at the same rate as the much faster guy, and spent a mile puzzling over why he was forging ahead and I was crawling along.

My running style is quite flat footed and I don't kick my feet up behind me like a lot of people I've observed. I work on the theory that my style is more energy efficient, but perhaps the whole kicky bouncy thing helps to push you forward. I'll have to think about that more. I probably shouldn't worry so much about my speed either because the whole point of this exercise is to be able to keep going for 7 hours, not to break any records.

It was nice to be out in the mud and snow and soggy leaves, and felt good to know that I can still run, such as it is. I have been quietly worried that my marathon adventure might be over before it had begun, but now I'm feeling quite optimistic that it's back on. Yay! :)

Ouch, the update

After 10 days of pain and...well, pain....my ankle hasn't been any better, so today I have been to see the physio.

The upshot is that I have bruised the bone on the inside of my ankle. No, I didn't know that was a thing either. And no, I don't know how I did it!

The 'good' news, however, is that it's not a ligament, which the physio assures me would be far worse to treat. She's using ultrasound on it and I'm on an ibuprofen regimen until I see her again next Friday. In the mean time I am allowed to go to the gym, to start just cycling, then try cross training, and finally try swimming - but only low resistance and to stop if it hurts. At least this way I can keep my fitness up / get my fitness back up a bit.

The marathon is still officially 'on' but I guess I might be even slower, depending on how long it takes before I can properly train. I'm a bit confused as well as I understood the plan on the My Asics app should update to take into account rests and injuries but it seems to think that if I start running tomorrow I'll manage 5 miles no problem. I don't want to start the plan again, though, as that feels a bit like wasting time. Something to worry about when I know I can get back out there, I suppose.

The internet says typical healing time is 2 months. If that's true, the marathon will be on hold until 2018...we were talking in terms of me still running it today, though, so I'm not going to panic yet. I'll keep you posted!

Injured with a capital OUCH

So you know how in my last post, I said I would be missing the next day's 4.5 miler because running with an injury would be stupid?

Well it turns out I'm very stupid. I ran about 4 miles of it, in increasing pain, before limping back to my car, and since then (last Wednesday and this is Monday) I've been in pretty constant pain and had my ankle strapped up.

I'm quite stoical about pain. A few years ago I had a badly prolapsed spinal disc, and trust me, after that, even childbirth is a walk in the park. This is both a good thing and a bad thing - bad because, the fact that my ankle is making me wince and much painkillers may mean that I have actually done something serious to it.

I'm starting to miss running (?!), and to stress a little bit about falling behind with my training - although better for it to happen now rather than right before the marathon I suppose. Work is busy, but if things haven't improved by Friday I'll be off to see a physio / doctor / other professional ankle wrangler to get it sorted.

I complained about it to my optician on Saturday, who told me that when she was a student they ran out of eyes to dissect and gave her a leg instead. She said she would be willing to have a look at my ankle, based on her experience, but that she wasn't sure she could do much without cutting it open. I declined politely!

So yeah...that's why there haven't been many updates. At the current time I assume I can't run until at least the weekend and that's assuming there's some sort of magical improvement over the next 24 hours. Send healing thoughts...

A morning quickie!

A quick 3 miler before work today. Isn't that hilarious? The girl who thought she would die after running 30 seconds in August can now trot along for 3 miles quite happily. 

Unfortunately I seem to have hurt my ankle somehow. It was fine during the run but sore ever since so tomorrow's planned 4.5 miles may not be happening. I know it's not worth risking a worse injury by soldiering on, but it's frustrating all the same. 

Next week I have to start working on increasing my pace, so it's all going to get a little more painful. This would be a great time to text ZOMB76 £5 to 70070 to spur me on. Hint. 

Assuming I do have to rest the ankle, it's likely my next run will be around an office park in Portishead in the wee hours of Friday morning. How's that for dedication?