So we are in month 8 of 12, and the pressure is really
starting to mount for quite a few reasons.
2014 has been quite a tough year so far for me, though I seem to be
doing OK with the running so far, a lot better than some others anyway! I believe my last blog post was done in
February, so apologies for that and I promise some a more prolific output
between now and the end of the year.
Here are some highs and lows of the year so far…
The Early Months
January was an excellent month for me. Having worked out a bit of a plan in my head
that averaging 45 miles a month (about 9.5 a week) to cover the challenge would
be sufficient I decided that with it being cold, and winter a flying start
would make the rest of the year easy. I
completed the month with a fairly satisfying 43.5miles under my belt, including
setting a new highest number of miles ran with a 10.07miler completed on a
freezing cold Saturday.
February was slightly less productive than January but still
saw me complete some pretty decent runs.
The majority of which between 4 and 6 miles. During this came my first visit to a new
parkrun in the form of Gibside Parkrun.
For those in the North East area, it is a charming run on a National
Trust site that is both beautiful and challenging in equal measure. Why is it so challenging? Well pretty much the first 1.5miles are
completely up a very steep hill. Second
half of the run, the way down, is much more fun. I ended the month of February with 32.1miles
completed. A pretty decent start.
Injuries
The next two months saw quite a big drop off in my
productivity. The weather in March was pretty cold, and I began the month in
quite lazy fashion. A couple of visits
to Newcastle Parkrun was about the best I mustered. Having then decided that my game needed to be
upped, I then decided to try a repeat of my 10 mile route from January. All was going well until I pulled my calf
muscle at about the 6 mile stage. This
signalled a walk home of about 4 miles, in the freezing cold, and a weeks rest
completely from running. I finished the
month with the slightly pathetic sum total of 26.4 miles ran.
April wasn’t much better; having this ongoing calf problem I
found I couldn’t really run for any more than 2 miles without severe pain and
risking a more serious injury. April was
effectively a month of rest with some small runs sporadically throughout the
month. During this month I joined a new
gym; the highly recommended Inline Fitness Gym in Blaydon. After explaining my injury to John, the owner
he got me a session with one of the physios from Newcastle Sports Injury. After 2 very painful, but very productive
sessions, the injury was much better and back on the road I went. 27.3 miles
done in April.
On the Mend
After putting the depressing months of March and April
(injury aside, I was also made redundant), I began to make some serious strides
towards getting my output back on track.
I started a new job (enabling a run with colleague, friend and fellow
5000milerun peer Adam around the iPro Stadium, home of Derby County football club). I completed another 10 miler, and found a new
stock route that allowed me to run 3-5 miles pretty easily every couple of
days. May was also the month that allowed me to break my Newcastle Park Run PB twice (28:59 on the 3rd of the month, and 28:58 on the 31st).
47.8 miles ran during May and I
felt like I was back.
June brought what was my inspiration for running, the iconic
Blaydon Race. This was the second time I
had ran the race. For years I have been
watching my friends complete the run and then doing the now yearly celebratory
drinks and food at local pub The Runhead, without actually earning it. Last year that changed and I completed my
first (in around 55:50) – this year I seem to take all the outside corners and
ran it in 56:14 – so a quicker pace, but slower time…
June was not quite as productive as May, a combination of
working away (allowing me to run in such places as Heywood (near Manchester)
and Delph (near Oldham)), the World Cup and beer meant I clocked an acceptable,
if unremarkable 37 miles for the month.
Injuries Pt. Deux
July started with a bit of a bang, completed a strong 8
miler and getting out very regularly. As
festival season was on the horizon I decided it was time to try and lose a bit
of timber before a weekend of drunken (and very muddy) debauchery at KendalCalling. Getting out for the first time
and running 3 days consecutively for a total of
around 13 miles. While this did wonders
for my stats (monthly output 45 miles), it was also the first appearance of a
now niggling ankle injury. As I type
this, 4 weeks after first feeling it, it seems to be on the wane and running
having taken a few paracetamol and iboprufen seem to do the trick.
August carried on in a similar vein, managing the injury
with painkillers and trying to limit my running to flat courses and shorter
mileages. Not ideal with the GatesheadTrail 10k and Great North Run in sight…
As I write this blog post I have currently completed 23 miles in August
so far (22/08/2014) but plan a 7-13miler tonight and another next week to
ensure I hit 50 miles or so for the month.
Fingers crossed the ankle holds out and I can complete the world’s
greatest half marathon.
For those interested, my current aim for a time would be
2:12 if fully fit, 2:20 if the injury stays as it is or 2:30 if it flares up
anymore…
Thanks for reading.
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