The joy of running groups

Another motivation for getting the calf strong again is so that I can go along to the old running groups: Moti and/or Bristol & West. These running groups are great; they are sociable and supportive; the people are generally easy-going and friendly; and also they tend to do interval sessions when I always run harder in the group than when running alone. Interval sessions are when you alternate fast and slow running, which is amazing for cardio fitness. The fast interval on these sessions can often be close to 6 minute miling, particularly if the distance is relatively short. This means that the calf needs to be able to stand up to these kind of speeds, at least over shorter distances or at most a mile, before I will feel comfortable doing an interval session with the group. For today's 10k I averaged around 8 minute miling. The right calf felt okay so I pushed it a little in the middle with a 7:45 and then a 7:30 minute mile. However, there was a bit of a twinge in the calf so I eased back and know I'm not ready for the interval sessions just yet. Still, positive progress, followed by the usual bike ride and stretching out to warm down thoroughly. Soon Lucy and I will be heading to Poland for Flo and Honorata's wedding so I'll rest the legs for 10 days and get going again on my return...

Why I enjoy running

There are various reasons why I love running. It has a physicality of speed and rhythm, of lungs and heart pumping, of neurochemicals and hormones coursing through veins. It has a mentality, an inner silence and calm, the physical effort meaning that thoughts become less complex, more dreamlike and floating, like a trance. It is simple and cheap; all you need is some clothes and a decent pair of trainers and you can step out of your door and start running in the great outdoor world; as distances get longer you can visit many terrains and environs. It is primative - we are animals that are designed to run, not sit in rotating chairs stairing at screens. Whilst sometimes there is pain and effort, there can also be joy, euphoria, and the satisfaction of self improvement. Most distance runners I meet have a steady manner, a long view, and an appreciation that everyone is different with different abilities, and that beating your own best time is an achievement to be celebrated, no matter what that time is. These reasons are what motivate me to strive to overcome injury and get back running freely, I very much hope that I can.

Best post-injury run so far

Had a great run today - 10k sandwiched by 5 miles warm up/down on the x-bike. Decent pace, around 8:15 minute miles - best pace since my injury and felt good to stretch the legs out a little. Still had to hold back as the right calf was still tight at times...stopped a few times to stretch it out. Overall really pleased!

My trusty steed - the x-bike

After the second time I injured my right calf, I borrowed an exercise bike (called the x-bike) from my friend, Martin, who had used it to help recover from a broken ankle. Initially, I was dubious - it is very much nothing like riding a real bike, there is no air resistance so you can get up some decent pedal speeds which aren't realistic. However, it has become a trustworthy companion to my recovery, meaning that I can at least get some aerobic fitness which I am not really getting from the slow runs my calf forces me to do. I put in another half-marathon on the x-bike this evening in about 35 minutes, with a bit of stretching out afterwards. I'm still doing at least 3 sets of the calf strengthening and stretching exercises the physio gave me every day, as well as the hip strengthening from my hip injury a few years ago. I very much look forward to the day I can run freely again without issues from the calf, and hope that all of this work will be rewarded with joyous, windswept running through the unkempt wilderness again before too long :-)

Very very odd run

As with all long-distance running, this is going to be a long haul and not a sprint. Long distance runners are not created in one summer, but over several years. Similarly, this injury is not going to get better overnight, but over a long recovery period, however frustrating that may be. I have to be disciplined and determined. Today, I'm not sure I was entirely disciplined! I planned to try another 10k today. Did 5 miles on the x-bike in 15 mins, started running and felt sore/tight in half a mile. Kept going to see if I'd shake it off but didn't really get better or worse and seriously considered stopping. Strangely, at about the 1.5 mile point, I felt like I wanted to go a bit quicker to stretch it out. The right calf continued to feel sore/tight and I stopped to stretch it now and again, but kept speeding up and it didn't feel worse. I started out at about 10 minute miles and finished up at 10k running the last mile at 8-minute miles - a moderate speed for me and the speed I was originally planning to run the marathon. Still can't decide if I have done more damage - it doesn't feel good but not terrible, and it was so nice to run a half-decent pace! I finished off with six miles on the x-bike in 15 mins and stretched out a lot...will see how it is in the morning.

Too early to think I'm recovering...

Ran my first 10k (exactly 6.2 miles) this evening, with a 3 mile exercise bike ride before and a 5 mile bike afterwards. I took the run carefully, but felt okay and ended up averaging 9:17 minute miles which is slow but alright. The left leg felt absolutely fine for the whole run, the right calf twinged a bit and started to tighten up in the last mile or so, so I've been stretching it out as much as I can. This definitely doesn't feel recovered, but it's great to make it to 10k again and without much soreness. However, I've been here before on this recovery process and I'm not making any assumptions about a full recovery...

Still not quite injured

I was back running again today - did 3 miles on the exercise bike to warm up, 5 miles of running, and 3 miles on the exercise bike to warm down. The run was uncomfortable - I could feel stirrings in the right calf after a couple of miles, then this went away for a bit, then later it felt so tight it might just ping like an over-taut guitar string, and I was worried about getting home on it. Following the warm down and a bit of stretching it feels strangely calm, so I am concerned it is going to shock me with pain in the morning...

Russian roulette

I did another run this morning - sandwiched between short sessions on the exercise bike: 2 miles bike; 4.2 miles run; 5 miles bike. Felt slight twinges in both the left and right calves but these didn't turn into anything more serious and I completed the run averaging around 9:30 minute miles. This is still slow, and it does feel like Russian roulette with the calves...tempting them, almost goading them, into another serious strain. I still feel that they most likely aren't going to make it up to serious distances, but I'm going to keep gradually increasing the distance until they go and I postpone the marathon, or miraculously they stay solid. I'm loving putting in some cycling so I actually get some cardio workout!

So far so good

Got up this morning and all was fine - did 12.5 miles in 30 mins on the exercise bike (probably only equivalent to about 5 miles outside) and worked up a decent sweat. Have also done a couple of sets of the calf and hip-strengthening exercises and I feel good. Next step is a slightly longer run tomorrow...still feel that the right calf may give out at some point but will keep pushing the running distances up at slow speed...

Crunch Time

It is now definitely crunch time. It is 10 days since I saw the physio. I have about 5 weeks until the marathon, and I am going on holiday for 10 days in the final couple of weeks.

A few days ago I broke my rest by borrowing a friend's exercise bike, and cycled what the bike said was 10 miles in about 30 minutes (in reality I'm sure an exercise bike is much less effort than a real bike in the outside world). Overall, this felt great as it was the first proper cardio work I've done for some time, and it felt like it gently worked the calves without being to much effort for them.

This morning, I went for my first run for 10 days, a slow 3 miles. I'm not totally sure I'm ready, but I also think that unless I begin now there is no way I can prepare my injured muscles for a marathon in time. So I have to run now. I have to build up the miles bit by bit. And if at any point during that build-up I feel any proper pain in the calves I have to stop and postpone the marathon for at least a few months and recover properly.

This morning's run gave me some tightness, some small twinges in the calf muscles, but was overall okay. I drove the car in the afternoon and walked a few miles along the river between Bristol and Bath and the right calf felt tight and slight, brief needles of soreness at times, which isn't a good sign. I'll get on the exercise bike tomorrow, then if okay possibly do a slightly longer run the next day or two and see how it goes...it's not looking too promising.

Physio Trip #2

Well, it seems that my original injury has pretty much cleared up, but has spawned follow-up injuries. I have a strain on the mid-right of the calf where the soleus folds under the higher calf muscles. The physio thinks this is because my posture has adjusted to protect the original injury. In addition, that muscle area is 'toned' (i.e., not properly relaxed) which is probably what the blocky feeling I had on the right of that calf was. He did some sometimes excruciating sports massage on it to release the tension, and taped up the right soleus muscles to add a bit of support.

Overall, he is also quite worried. I have 6 weeks to the marathon, and he says I need to rest the leg as long as possible whilst continuing the strengthening exercises, which doesn't really give me much time to build back up. I'll give it a week and see how it feels...

Concerned

A slow four miles up on the downs on Monday evening resulted in a slight twinge in the left calf and a dull ache, almost like a dead leg, in the right. However, all seemed mostly healthy and I was fine the next day and could continue the physio exercises.

However, this evening a very slow (10:30-minute miles) jog resulted in a real pain in the right calf at about 2.5 miles. Stretched it out and jogged again a bit but decided to stop and walk home. My jog was so gentle it was nearly walking but amazingly I seem to have really pinged something. Lots of soreness in the calf if I bend the knee on the right leg and support weight. I've iced it and used ibuprofen gel.

For the first time I am genuinely concerned I may not be able to do the marathon, even slowly. Only six weeks to go and I'm struggling to do 3 miles without causing further issues. This makes me very disappointed. I've got a follow-up appointment with the physio tomorrow so I'll see what he says but I'm a little pessimistic this time...