running home by Alaistair

Looking back, regardless of how I feel today...has been a good year for sure. I will draw heavily on that sentiment in the coming weeks to help get me back on my legs and get this run going again. In 2011 I managed to run 1420 miles, 47 of which were barefoot (wished I could’ve done more). Races run totalled 24. Managed to set 5 new PB’s:

Third Marathon  -  1:00:45

10 Mile  -  1:08:25

Half Marathon  -  1:33:34

20 Mile  -  2:31:45

Marathon  -  3:26:59

The sadly 2011 came to a slow end covering only 31 miles in the month of December. The race planned on the 27 Dec actually did happen although looking back not sure how sensible that was?

It was a must run race, the last on my running Club Championship Calender for 2011 and going into the race was on level points with my racing nemesis David. The event was billed as Multi Terrain but to be fair was mostly off road with little sign of road or a non grass running surface. The venue was Ripon and the area around Studley Royal Deer Park on the outskirts of the town. The race started up on Hell Wath Nature Reserve and was almost autumnal; not the usual ice & snow for this time of year.

Elected to run in Inov-8 fell shoes and was warm enough for just shorts & vest. Arrived extremely early allowing lots of time to try and get the legs moving freely, try as I might just couldn’t settle enough to give the race a real good go (lots of aches). Decided to run it conservatively and do just enough to stay ahead of David. Before the race he’d claimed to be lacking form and would not be competitive but have heard him say this before so was prepared to try and stay with him for as long as possible.

The race started well but from the very start found running on grass and rough terrain hard going; worked as hard as dared but my left hamstring grumbled and warned against pushing to hard. The threat from David just never came and after 3 miles running and a steady climb with an elevation gain of 380 feet the second half of the race was relatively easy going; was a gradual decent back to Ripon with an elevation loss of 371 feet. With still with no sign of David backed right off the effort over the last mile.

Sun 27 Dec,  Ripon Jolly Holly Jog 10K,  47:47

Posn: 115/414,  M50 21

Pace Splits:  7:13, 8:36, 8:22, 7:30, 7:20, 7:56, 7:22

As I managed to finish first M50 of my running club runners it’s enabled me to retain the award for another year. Have to say that the issues I’ve been having with Metatarsalgia did not surface during or after the race. Yes my foot aches and has continued to ache but figure it is slowly improving. Post race my real injury issues were at first with my Left Hamstring, hurt so much kept me awake that night; following day the pain moved to my lower back then hip & ITB. In the days that followed improvements have be slow and nothing seems to make a difference.

Running has just not happened, tried a gentle jog on a treadmill but pulled up with pain. Yesterday managed 2 very slow miles but to be fair have probably made whatever the problem is worse. Have seen the doctor in the hope of getting some funky pills to take the edge off but she’s simply referred me back to a physio. So this week will make a return to the physio and am hopeful he can get me back on track to get to grips with whatever needs to be done…great start to the year or what!