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'.

Three weeks out with a calf injury (again!)

Calf injury occurred on Dechmont 10K Training Run on 29/9/11.  That's three weeks with almost no running.  Overuse has caused my left calf to tighten, thus preventing me from running and now I have re-injured it on three separate occasions.  As of today I've now missed three races that I had pre-paid.  My focus now is the 2012 London Marathon.  Slow return to running is now my only option - missing it so bad!

Last 10K training run before St Andrew's Hospice 10K at Strathclyde Park.

Oh Dear - disaster has struck.  I have pulled/torn my left gastrocnemius/soleus (calf) muscle.  I won't make Sunday's 10K race i.e. the St Andrew's Hospice 10K. 

Bah Humbug!!! :-(

Half Marathon Training - 25/9/11

I ran this to 'bag' more mileage in my legs for next week's Kirkintilloch Half Marathon, but unfortunately my left calf felt a bit strained near the end. I ran it in 1hr 36mins with and average heart rate of 144bpm - quite happy with that!