Glasgow Parkrun #172 - 05/05/12

Time today was 18mins 48secs - 22nd placed.

Glasgow Parkrun #168 - 07/04/12

Time today was 18mins 56secs - 17th placed.

My Return to Running

Just after the Stirling 10K in September 2011 (time - 37.10) I started feeling pain in my left calf, then yikes it went 'pop' whilst I was out doing a recovery run some 4 days later.  I cycled on my stationary bike and returned to running in December.  In January 2012 I ran the Hamilton Harriers 10K Club Championship (time again 37.10).  Then I focused on upping my mileage for the upcoming London Marathon, but foolishly ran 24 miles on the Saturday, then another 6 miles on the Sunday and  further 9 miles on the Monday.  Then on the Thursday of that week in early March my right calf popped and again I was injured.  I thought I was on my way back and then two weeks before the marathon I raced a Glasgow Parkrun and re-injured my right calf.  At the London Marathon my left calf popped at mile 4 and I was out of the race.  Two weeks later I tried another Glasgow Parkrun and yikes I strained my right calf again, but at least it didn't tear.  Today is May 11th 2012 and after lots of mountain biking I may try another Parkrun, since I managed a 10K easy paced run this morning.  I tried my Newtons once more, but won't wear them too often.  Changing my running shoes for each run may be the way to limit injuries.  I know Paula Radcliffe recommends that strategy.

Hamilton 9 Mile Training Run - 11/12/11

Time was 1hr 05mins 50secs i.e. 7mins 19secs per mile with an average heart rate of 145bpm.

Happy with that!

Hamilton Harriers 5K Christmas Handicap Race

Time today - 19mins something. No watches worn for this race, as there was a nominated time prize on offer. I am happy with that time, since that is the first time in nine weeks that I have run at that intensity. I have lost some fitness, but hopefully not too much.

Heart Rate Readings - Too High

I have now completed around four or five 10K training runs in around the 44 or 45 minute mark.  The one thing I have noticed is that my heart rate reading is averaging around 152 bpm.  Prior to injury I was covering that distance in roughly the same time, but with at least 10 beats per minute lower i.e. 142 bpm.  I remembered it took a while to steady my heart rate the last time I was out injured.  This tells me I am nowhere near ready too return to racing.  My aim for 2012 is to curtail my races to around twelve or so.  One a month seems reasonable and hopefully this will avoid the lengthy injuries I've incurred over these last three years.

16/11/11

My return to running - I used the 'medicinal workouts' as proposed by Parker in his article on calf muscle 'heart attack' i.e. calf muscle micro-tear.  Most people, like me, think they have a calf muscle pull, when in fact, they have something totally different in a condition known as calf muscle 'compartment syndrome'.  It takes a while to recover from this frustrating. but serious injury.  The protocol is rest - massage - small steps back to running'.