Update : Monday 25.02.08

Another week of some very focused training with some pleasing gains and no negatives.

Ran 10k on Friday in the Summer Series in 4.45 pace. Rested Saturday and then increased the distance to 16k (what 10% rule) in the Sri Chinmony run around my loved Bay Run. Managed it in 4.34 pace. Now need to ease off the pace (but will have a 10k TT on Friday for the last of the Summer Series at the Bay) and then have lots of runs at and just below 5 minute pace.

That should see the pace come down without the need to risk injury with speed sessions.

Progressing much better than expected.

Update Monday 18.02.08

A good week of improvement by some steady work. Capped off with a 5k at the Twighlight Series at Parramatta Park on Friday in 5.36 pace. Sunday morning the first time around the Bay for a couple of months in 5.30 pace.

My daughter is training for the track and cross country and so on some afternoons we train down at the Bay. Until Sunday I was watching her train which was frustrating. We decided a 3kTT was the afternnon session and I decided to run with her and it was done at 5.02 pace.

The SF seems not to be complaning.

Update Monday 11.02.08

I do not intend to have a stream of updates relating my feeble efforts to resume serious running so this will be the last until there is any significant news.

This morning I did my usual injured exercise program of stretching and core strenght. Then a 3k walk and at the end of that I decided on a 1k run to finish off. There was no pain but the left hamstring area felt 'different' to the right - perhaps best described as feeling tight. That could be telling me I am not yet fully recovered or I could be very anxious. I will ease back for a few days just in case.

It is so wonderful to run - well move faster but not much faster than walking. We all endure the pain of training but we should also take a few minutes each day to enjoy the absolute pleasure gained from being healthy, fit and being able to run. Next time you run do a short cool down of slow running and just take the time to feel what you are feeling. Like almost all things in life we take them for granted until we don't have them.

Further update : 10.02.08

Thank you all for your wonderful encouraging and supportive comments.

As you would be aware when you have a long term injury it can be very depressing and support from some great friends is a way of dealing with the feeling and looking twards recovery and positive thoughts.

After 6 weeks or so of no running I thought it was time to see if the recovery was progressed far enough to allow me to start running. It is a little earlier than I thought but I felt it was the right time to try.

So after my usual exercise program and walk at the Bay I managed to get up the nerve to ease from walking to a gentle jog. With each step I was waiting for the stabbing pain from the SF to be still be present from the start or to occur on each tenatative stride. Neither occurred so 1k was completed but I must admit it was not much faster than my walking and probably not pretty either. However it is a start.

The real test will be tomorrrow when I again go for my walk - if there is pain then it is not recovered and I will need another week or so of rest.

Update : 1st February

A month since I last posted.

There is bad news and good news.

The bad news : it was not a hammy but a stress fracture of the left femur. Not in the same positions as last time and not as severe. So there has been no running for 4/5 weeks.

The good news : as it was not as serious as before the best guess is that 7/8 weeks of no running should see it repaired enough to start running again. So it is just waiting and then picking a time to start running again and see how the injury responds - no pain then continue with the running any sign of pain and wait some more. I think I will ease back into some light running in the last week or so of this month.