The last week

Friday: 11 December: No run

Saturday: 12 December: No run

Sunday: 13 December: 2 x Bay - 39.27 & 39.20
No improvement from a few days ago but that was for 2 reasons - I was not trying to go quicker and I was out a bit later and it was very humid. In fact it has been cool out early around the Bay but very humid. It could be summarised solid workout consolidating the previous training.

Monday: 14 December: 2 x Bay - 40.58 & 42.46
This is the first time in the recovery mode that I have run 2 loops of the Bay on consecutive day. I was expecting it to be slow but the idea was to run on tired legs. It was again humid. each morning I do about 20 minutes of Achilles stretches and at least 30 minutes of a night. I am not sure if there is any improvement. I still cannot walk without significant pain, discomfort and a hobble. I am amazed I can run at all.

Tuesday: 15 December: 1 x Bay 37.45 @ 5.23

A session for a shorter but faster session. I was pleased with the solid time. Well really for a lap of the Bay it is crapp but in the context of recovery it is encouraging that the slower longer sessions are able to also bring down the single lap time without any short repeat sessions.

Wednesday: 16 December: 2 Bay 38.54 & 38.33

The stretching continues at night and for the first time last night one particularly stretch that is held for 15 minutes caused almost no pain while holding it whereas usually there is significant pain when doing it. In the morning there was less limping before warming up and I hope that is a positive sign that there is at last improvement.

With that confident start I felt encouraged to push each lap with a recovery PB.

2 x Bay : 39.44 + 39.30

I have decided that my clock/countdown will be for the Macleay River Marathon in June. This is one of my favourite marathons and so I will focus on that and have removed Canberra Marathon because I think it will not happen.

I will run a couple of marathon before Macleay River in June but they will not be focused on.

I thought with a day off I might run a bit quicker even without pushing. Despite saying running at the moment is about training it is difficult not to run hard even in training. So I was pleased to get under 40 for each lap and sitting here some hours after training I am not sure the Achilles appreciated the effort this morning.

With regular running my time initially will come down quickly but I must keep reminding myself that at this time it is all about recovery and not about pushing to my present physical limits in each session. That can happen when the recovery is complete. The Achilles are a long way from ceasing to be an issue but I think they are getting better - although I hope that is not just wishful thinking.

Rest & recovery day: No run

2 x Bay : 42.44 + 42.10

Yes the Bay in 42 ++ and I am pleased. This time last year JD and I could do 3 laps in about 100 minutes. How things have changed and it shows just how much work I need to do.

At the moment the running is about balancing a lot of things. Not too hard or long to do damage to the Achilles but pushing enough so that there is improvement. An easy 7k each day will result in an improvement but it will take for ever. I do not want to be in a rush and push too hard and go backwards but I need to push up near the limits (as slow as they are) as much as I can.

About a week ago one lap was a hard push in 47 - so fitness does improve rather quickly. Today the laps were without a rest in between and it was pleasing to come back on the second lap a bit quicker but then again I controlled the first lap so that I could do that.

8k in 47.44 @5.58

I felt okay this morning - which means no worse than usual despite the 16k yesterday. I have been running a bit to HR but It is more a guide than something I push to.

Anyway I ran to a HR which was firm but able to be maintained. The pace was a consequence of the HR being maintained. So I was watching the HR and not the pace and was not sure what the loop time would be but I expected that it should be slower than yesterday just because today might be classed as a recovery day.

It clearly was no a recovery day by the pace. I need to watch the attitude that to run the loop each day quicker is good. It is not good as I need to get a pace and then consolidate it by running that pace for a week or so and then moving to a quicker pace. It cannot and should not be a race for a PB each day, that is not training it is racing. At the moment it is about training.

Sunday : 2 x 8k

I missed running on Friday and Saturday for various reasons but a couple of days no running recovery at this early stage is fine.

I decided that despite not having run much or long lately I would try 2 laps with a short break in between. The idea of the break at this stage was to have a small recovery so that I could hopefully maintain a similar pace on each lap. I really doubted that I would do that because of my lack of endurance AND I also wanted the first lap under 50 minutes as that sounded good.

Managed 49.44 & 49.51 so I was pleased. Also there was no additional sorness or stiffness with the Achilles - that means it was still a problem after the run but nothing additional because of the double distance.

8k in 50.02 @ 6.15mpk

Missed a run on Wednesday due to a work commitment. I have been doing a massive amount of physio exercises for the Achilles each night and in the morning. I feel there has been a slight improvement but there is still a long way to go.

On Monday it was 5k @ 6.27mpk (minutes per k) and that seemed right on max. I wanted to go a little longer today and expected the pace would be no better. Without pushing it was significantly quicker. I need to remain at that pace for a week or so while I increase the distance.

Start of Summer & start of rebuild

I have a certain personality and so it makes absolute sense to me to start my rebuild on the 1st of the month and the start of summer. It fits nicely into my organised way of thinking.

I have done some reflecting and now need to move on from 2009 and not to be concerned with what could have been. But also make sure that the things that I could change and improve on from 2009 are not forgotten. I need to remove all the negatives from the year and the disappointment of a DNS in C2K and be positive and focus on the future and the things that need to be done to to recover.

I have developed a plan of what needs to be done. I am determined to take my time, get it right and put the Achilles issues behind me.

Today was more stretching before running. It was then a test run to gauge my fitness so that I have a benchmark to compare as the recovery progresses. So it was 5k at the Bay as firm as I could go without pushing - well 32.15 is for me an ugly time but I am pleased to have an injury that at least allows me to run in the recovery phase. Also weighed myself for the first time in 4/5 months and a considerable amount of work needs to be done there.

DNS for C2K

I guess I always knew that starting the C2K 240l run in 10 days was not likely after the issues in GNW. However I have been putting off making the final decision. I knew what the sensible decision was and that it would need to be made soon to be fair tot the crew etc.

So on Sunday morning I went for my usual 14k loop and gave a great deal of thought to making the decision and I guess hoping I would run pain free and strong. The run was neither pain free or strong and near the end was an ugly shuffle that I was trying to make look smooth but anyone looking at he pain racked face would have known the truth.

I wasn't really shattered just disappointed that after finally committing this race and having a great crew and running buddy I had to withdraw. Anyway the decision was made and then I got in touch with all involved and then tried to look to what needs to be done to get this body back into shape for 2010.

I need a mark as to where I am at and where this rebuilt journey starts. A lap of the Bay at a steady pace within the pain threshold to not damage the Achilles resulted in 46 minutes. At this time 34 should be firm but manageable. Lets hope the improvement come sooner rather than later but I am committed to a steady recovery on a daily basis to get rid of this issue for ever if that is at all possible.

Rebuild : Day 2

Was any worse off as a result of yesterday's effort. No. In fact both physically and mentally it was positive. It however confirmed physically I have a long long way to go.

In the past my entries have usually been fairly clinical with regards to the actual training done such as distance time etc. However for a little while I might indulge myself with some personal thoughts type dribble however I am sure I will soon get over that.

For those who take the time to read my Blogg thanks. Your support and comments are always greatly appreciated and carefully considered. Not wanting to select one but I will say Anth what you have said about respecting the distance and only running when I am ready makes me think that the only decision is to not run and only do it when I am ready in all respects. If I run I will be running for all the wrong reasons and probably setting myself up for another DNF and likely before lunch on the Friday. Trying to get redemption for GNW by starting this is just not sensible.

I was out today and did a similar session. The heel drop exercise for the left leg is just so so painful but I believe I must happen that way before it starts to get better. I am not certain the pain in the left Achilles is not all Achilles related. When I do a straight leg stretch (you know put the heel on a knee high wall and lean over and stretch) then there is considerable pain left joint area. I suspect there is a problem there where I am making the whole left side lean to the right and so pulling the left side.

That would cause the muscles on the left side to pull short and the pain to be felt at the left ankle area. Also when I run the left heel on the shoe wears much faster than the other and scrapes instead of landing cleanly on the heel. I suspect a visit to my muscular/skeletal Dr will be necessary to sort that out not a physio to treat the referred pain.

The runs went okay 5 x 1k all around 6.30 and why did I get excited about the last one in 6.15. A k in 6.15 and I am excited !!!! I should get a life and get injury free and then my times will get back closer to 4 minutes a k.

The Rebuild for 2010

Well all journey's start sometime and somewhere. And perhaps the rebuild for 2010 started today.

I have reflected on 2009 and over all is has been a very disappointing year. Serious training started in December 2008 for the Canberra Marathon and what was to be the focus race of the year the Gold Coast Marathon. Each marathon was more disappointing than the one before.

In July/August things did not get better but I ran a lot of marathons in the period but the times were drifting to near 4 hours and there was nothing I was doing in training to get some endurance and stamina to at least give 3.30 a shake. In this period I was just chasing marathons and finishes but I always do that in this period each year however the times are usually been much quicker - I was taking quantity over quality and doing very little training other than a taper/recovery between marathons. I did however have some pleasant weekends away in Canberra, Wagga Wagga and Mudgee and despite the marathon times enjoyed the weekends.

I had great pleasure in running a marathon on Saturday and then being the 4 hour pacer on Sunday at M7. That was a ball of a weekend. Off course running the Sydney marathon was a pleasure even if it was the weekend after the 100mile finish at Glasshouse. That run with Jane was probably the most rewarding run of the year. I was not injured, we worked hard but steady all race and has a respectable time.

That was mid September and I guess since then I would have run 200k in training. If casually turning your legs over a couple of days a week. It was more like pretend training. It was not real and it was doing nothing for fitness. A couple of business trips in September/October for a week at a time interstate didn't help with the training. Also a solid teaching load meant that more often than not the morning training that gives me so much pleasure and starts the day off well had to be missed to get to work early to prepare for the unusually heavy teaching load that I had at that time.

I was a runner pretending to be a runner pretending to be training.

The Worlds in Sydney were a disaster for me. I had not trained for them and I got my present Achilles injury when competing. I would have been much better off to have ignored them.

I went into GNW with very negative thoughts arising from the injury and the lack of any training. I don't think the fitness from Glasshouse in September carried through without being maintained. It was not being maintained because of the injury and lack of training. Despite those thoughts I thought my experience on the course and the race itself would allow me to finish just under the cut off. At no time did I contemplate being timed out at 81k because I was too slow. That realisation come about 10k from the CP when I thought I had to be there by 10pm, made a calculation that I would not make it and started to walk, 90 minutes later I made another calculation realised it was an 11pm cut off and by that time my walking had caused me to the timed out.

Anyway where from here?

Two minds the C2K crew etc are still ready and will go with Jane whether I start of not. I really do want to start but as I continue to hobble around most of the time that seems like a very unwise decision. I really am having difficulty making up my mind what to do. I do have another CR who is prepared to crew for me but that would mean splitting our existing crew of 3 girls and I don't want to do that. They joined the crew to be a crew with each other and I am reluctant to split them just because I want to run and there is a real possibility that I will DNF at some stage.

However if that happens I guess Jane will have more crew.

Anyway it is time to start to rebuild from the ashes of 2009 both mentally and physically. So today was the first run since GNW. There was some Achilles stretching before attempting to run and the stretching was less painful than the week before C2K which maybe a good sign. I suspect most of the discomfort from the stretching came more from lack of running than the injury.

It was then just 3 x 1k at about 6.30 per k and some stretching in between each. It sounds so simple run 1k in about 9 minutes and repeat 240 times - nah don't even think about that as a way of looking at C2K. Anyway that is the start of the rebuild that may or may not be interrupted by a long run. One way of looking at it is if I start and it becomes too much I just hop in the car and become crew for Jane and have a pleasant time away for 4/5 days.

GNW Ultra

Lets get it straight from the opening a DNF!!!!

Went in with an Achilles problem and it was a problem from the first step and that put me in negative frame of mind from the start. Running the flats was manageable anything with a rise and fall was agony.

I started with Seris and Tallgeoff and was hoping to stay with them for a long time. That lasted for about 3 hours when as I got to the top of a hill they had stopped and were waiting for me. I then just said leave me, keep running and don't look back. Jane had tears in her eyes but I insisted it was best for all of us and they did as I said.

From then on I struggled mentally to get motivated although I wanted to. I got into the first CP at about the same time as last year and so was not worried. I thought I pushed as hard as last year in the next section but was an hour slower. I then knew the cut off times for the first time were going to be a concern.

I pushed the next section as the afternoon cooled but it was just so so negative. At some stage I decided I would not make the cut off and eased right off . Then after 90 minutes or so realised I had got my times and calculations wrong and could have made it but could not now because I had eased off too soon. Does that make sense?

It was then time to relax and enjoy the cruise through the quite, still and very warm night run through the forest into CP3 and 81k. It really is the first time in this event in 5 years that I have been able to do that so I just enjoyed those last 2 hours. I must admit at that time my thoughts were that this might well be my last ultra.

Who knows too old and too slow.

After some good running in July and August I have done little serious training, have put and weight and become very slow. An injury that is just so difficult to treat does not help.

I have some serious regrouping to do. Both physically and mentally.

C2K is very doubtful unless I am stupid and forget common sense. Being stupid and forgetting common sense I suspect are inbuilt characteristics of runners so c2K could also happen with a very early DNF. Commonsense says the Achilles will not get better attempting to run 240k

Belated update

Have not Blogged for a while because really there was nothing to Blogg about.

Ran the Masters 5k in 20.29 and I suppose I was okay with that but just could not get under the 20 minutes. Maybe early next year just before the Canberra Marathon. Speaking of Marathons I will run the Hobart Marathon in early January that is combined with a family holiday touring Tasmania for the first time.

Also ran the Master half with a shocker on 1.44. Best forgotten for the time but still remembered as I strained both Achilles on the day and they have not got any better. More precisely it is an Achilles bursitis - that is a bruising of the bursa behind the tendon. It makes running painful and in particular the push off so I am still running rather flat footed in 'training' for the GNW's 100 miler.

That event could see me DNF at any time. Either the injury will get worse or more likely the pain will just increase to a level that causes me to think about pulling out. Yep unless I cannot physically take another step I will continue towards the finish line until the cutoff times pulls me off the course.

Rather foolishly I have also entered the C2K a 240 k run in early December. Rather majestically from the sea to the to[p of the highest mountain. I guess it will all depend on how I finish up after GNW.

Just a few days to go and the excitment is buidling and also the doubt about fitness.

World Masters Games

I had not trained for these events at all. I did some speed work in Brisbane and it was having an affect but I needed another 2 weeks for me to feel I could run well.

On Sunday I lined up for the 10k Road Race and know that I would be well down the list of finishersif I could not get below 40 and I knew that was never going to be possible. So I decided that a very quick 5k would be a good session for the runs later in the week and then hold on. Although I did not want to run the first 5k that I could not run on well to the end. The 5k marker was short but by the Garmin I still made it in about 20.15 and I felt tired but not exhausted.

I held on for a 42.05 finish. That is much shape than I was in this time last year but after these events are over I do not need any speed with GNW 100 miler coming up.

Ran steady on Monday. Did not run on Tuesday. I ran on Wednesday and did a 3k TT to see if I have continued to improve in the last 2 weeks. Yes 12.12 but eased off a little as I have the 5k track on Thursday. I would love to go under 20 for a 60+ PB.