Running Diary 2018 – Week 8

Running week 19th to 25th January
Distance this week: 37.9km
Number of runs this week: 6
Distance to goal: 1912.3km

What a difference a couple of weeks and a visit to the doctor makes! From worrying about never running again to running 6 days out of 7 – it’s an amazing turnaround. What’s more, I feel great too.

Let me first mention my knee. Whilst it has been mostly pain-free there has been the odd twinge. But, crucially, nothing to stop me running. I got a letter this week too with my physio appointment for my patella tracking issue, I’m not wondering if this is needed? I think I will go and discuss it with the physio and take it from there.

Running Steady

My GP had told me to stick to gentle jogging. I’ve tried, I really have. But I can’t. I am now running normally and I even did a Fartlek speedwork session this week too. I’m really starting to feel my fitness and endurance coming back, and along with my dietary changes I am hoping to lose some of this extra weight and build muscle.

I’m not exactly overweight but at my recent hospital appointment, I came in at over 89kg. Contrast this to when I was training for the marathon 12 months ago and I was 3kg lighter. I think 86kg is a good level for me and maintainable with my running.

So I’ve built up from stead running back to where I want to be and I’m loving it.

Motivation & The Night Race

I’ve found new motivation to get up early and run. Last Friday I got up at 5am to get a run in as Helen was working an early shift. Rather than look like the insane idiot I often am, I cleverly disguised it as being for the dog! I haven’t got up at that time to run for a long time and it didn’t bother me at all. 5am is a great time to run.

To add to my motivation Helen has entered me in the No Ego Challenge head torch race at Dalby Forest this weekend. I haven’t run in a race since last April’s marathon and I am really looking forward to it. I love running in the dark with my head torch, the only difference is I won’t have Duke with me. But it will be a good laugh and there are a few people I know that are doing it too.

Setting Targets

Looking ahead and hoping I can build on this positivity I am thinking about other events I could do. I love my local area and with so many runs around here, I am not looking too far afield. There is a series of races at Duncomb Park in Helmsley that I am interested in. There’s race from 5km up to an ultra but I am thinking about the marathon distance. I think the challenge of an off-road marathon would be great and as it’s in July the scenery will at least distract from the pain!

Of course, I’ve opted not to return to the Blackpool marathon this year but maybe I will next year to try and beat my time on a super flat course. And it makes for a nice family weekend away too.

So, today I will be out running in the Beast From The East weather and I can’t wait. As much as I like running in a t-shirt and shorts in the summer I also love layering up and getting out in the bad weather in winter too.

Thanks for reading.

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