Green shoots???

So, its been 11 weeks since a proper run outside now and over 4 weeks since the last new injury

Everything seems to be working now so I started running v v gently on the treadmill at the gym in Crieff

I've done 3 efforts and the last one totalled a big 2.5m.

Well its a start.

I've no aspirations now except to get back running outside and to enjoy it again. Asking too much???

Lots of exercise but no running

Over the last 5 weeks or so I have been swimming 3-4x/week, going to the gym 1-2x/week, cycling on the stationary bike 2x/week and doing a bit of yoga.
I feel my overall fitness is pretty good and the injuries feel fine however I have been advised to give it another 4 weeks before running. Seems a bit excessive so I might slowly start running on the treadmill in 2 weeks time.
Hopefully a rest from running will prove to have been a good thing in the long run and all this crosstraining should help especially if I can keep some of it going once I get back running.
For the record I can now swim 800m reasonably comfortably although there is a massive potential improvement if I can cut out the gasping at the end of each length.

Still not runnning

I was making some decent progress until last Sunday when I reinjured my calf. I had got up to 15min on the treadmill a few days before that but after 12 min my calf suddenly went again.
A friend reckons a calf needs 6 weeks to properly heal and be strong enough to run on again.
I clearly need to give it quite a long rest.
In the meantime I am swimming 3x/week and going to the gym.
Its all incredibly frustrating but there dont seeem to be any shortcuts.

1 month on

My last real run was the SWCHR 1 month ago. Since then I've struggled with an achilles tendonitis and when I did a 1.5mile run 2 weeks ago I strained my calf!!
I am feeling pretty good however. I have started swimming and even done some cycling and joined a gym. I feel alot less stiff and sore than I usually do and can now get out of the chair without hobbling the 1st few steps.
Swimming is v v difficult for me but does fit in well with work. I felt like the new boy in Perth when I got in the fast lane. I was ejected for being slow and swimming on the wrong side.
So what about running? I will do v short runs on the treadmill for a while until I am convinced everything is OK. It really is almost like starting all over again.
I need to cross train when I start running and cut down on the number of races I am doing.
This year really has been a running disaster but hopefully I can lay the foundations for a better year in 2011. If not there is always golf.

Sheriffmuir 11 miler

I was v unsure whether to do this race or not and got it wrong
I had had a sore lateral R ankle the previous few days and it wasnt quite right. I di a 1/2 m warmup and could feel it but decided to give it a go anyway
I could feel the ankle the whole way and was pleased to finish the race at all.
I dont think my energy levels were great anyway but I was disappointed with my pace and time. I finished 6th in 74.19 and was hobbling around and feeling sorry for myself immediately after.
Since then I have rested it and dont know when it will be OK to run on.

Comrie fortnight hill race

This 5 mile loop north of Comrie used to be promoted as a fun run. It wasnt and it isnt however what it is is a good wee race that gets you working hard all the way round.
It was a lovely evening and the course was in great condition. Will headed off and I kept visual until about 2 miles when he took an unintended shortcut!
I ran really well(how often can I say that) the whole way round to finish in 2nd place with a pb of 34.42 and I really enjoyed it. A few others took the wrong turn that Will did but it didnt really make much difference and I would still have been a long way behind Will.
We retired to the pub afterwards so it was a cracking evening all round.

Helensburgh half marathon

1 hour 25min 54sec.
I went over for this race on my own. It was the 3rd time I've done this well organised sl undulating race but not since 2006.
I have spent the last week feeling v tired after the long run a week ago so wasnt sure what to expect.
I set off at 6.30 pace and with the exception of a couple of miles more or less maintained that. I finished well overtaking 2-3 runners in the last couple of miles which is a good sign. Although this is the slowest I have run this race I was v pleased as my time was the upper part of my aspirations for the day.
4 days to recover for the Comrie fortnight hill race!