Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements?

Well it looks like I've managed to finally upset my calf. Weeks of tentatively running have come to fruition by way of over exuberant form. Basically overdoing it.

Felt a little tightness in my calf the other day after running with Abby. I was wearing my new shoes, box fresh. The one hour run was too much in new shoes. I usually break them in with general walking with an added 1 or 2 mile run. But I was feeling good. So I thought "why not?". 3 miles in and I knew something was not right. I managed to get home, but that's when the tightness started. I did leave it a good 5 days and the tightness had subsided enough to make me believe it was ok. I thought I'd try a little run (1.5 miles ) to work. Barely a mile in and the stiffness had surpassed the previous feelings. I walked the rest of the way to work and proceeded to sulk.

I am now in for 2 weeks of not running. But I have promised myself that an intensive course of turbo training is in order.

I will be at the start line in Brighton. I will not be defeated. People have completed marathons with a lot less than I have. Their are people in the world who walk that distance for food and water. Surely I can manage it for a glass of prosecco and a doughnut.

We are the privileged few. Run for fun. Miles and smiles. Remember those who can't do what I/we do.

A Run Of Two Halves

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/721183753



18.63 miles. The first half  was terrible. Had to nip home to the toilet after 5 miles. But this gave me the chance to get rid of my coat and gloves.

Once up on to valley road. I felt hungry again. I then realised that I was burning fuel which I didn't have. A long mothers day shift at the pub meant I didn't really eat well in the 24 hours prior. My better runs come after big food days. 

I had an energy gel at the 10 mile mark and this was a real life saver. I was able to carry on and I was starting to enjoy it. I had deliberately included a few Hills into today's run because Brighton Marathon is not going to be flat. I think I dealt quite will with the inclines and at no point did I fell the strain on my calf or knee. Happy it's done now though. Bath and wine to follow.
Today's play list was:

Pharrell Williams album: Girl
Charley Bradley album: Victim Of Love
Rudimental Album: Home

Not two bad

TWICE! How does it happen twice? 1 hour 51 minutes and 17 seconds for the second time. I'm really not sure how I managed it, but at the Cambridge Half marathon I managed to match my previous "Personal Best"
I can't really complain too much. The previous PB was set after a solid winter training block and a race at Great Bentley. Whereas Cambridge was of the back of 4 weeks running after a layoff with a calf injury.
I really enjoyed the race yesterday. Although very crowded in the first few miles, the scenery was second to no other city race. Cambridge always delivers beauty.
The next race for me will be Brighton Marathon in April. I'm really looking forward to it. I now have the confidence that I will complete it. I was never worried about my time in Brighton, but it would be nice to get close to my 4 hour 11 min PB.
Always have a great laugh with the Ipswich Jaffa team. Lots of support and camaraderie. Perfect weather for running too.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/714296862

Hashtag Sad Face

Not going well at the moment. Last week at Park Run Ipswich I was forced into an evasive maneuver to avoid hitting a dog, which ran across my path. I felt a twinge in my calf and slowed up. I missed a lot of training last year through torn calf muscles and this felt familiar, though not as severe. I rested it for a few days and it felt a lot better. To the extent where I had completely forgotten about. Possibly because I was distracted by having ManFlu.
Once recovered I decided to head to JAFFA track session. 3 x 12 Minute intervals. I hate these sort of intervals. They may be functional, but I find them boring. Especially on a track. I lack focus at the best of times and I could not get motivated to enjoy this session. What with the icy track too....
Then I felt the calf getting straining. Time to sack this off. Called it a day in the third interval and went home to drink some wine.
Three days on and the calf is back to being non problematic. But I'll not run until the weekend just to make sure.

Long? Run?

On today's run. I was overtaken by the frozen balls which had fallen of a brass monkey.
Could not get warm on the hour out, or back. I picked the pace up towards the end for two reasons.
1. To warm up.
2. To see if I could go any faster.

I enjoyed it again though. Really looking forward to warmer weather, so I can bust out the proper shorts.

It's really working for me doing my long runs early in the week. Due to the nature of my job, I can't be the weekend warrior that I'd love to be😀

3 week of consistent training started with a real bang. 12 miles banked. 4x1.5 mile commuter runs planned for tomorrow. Then I'll probably leave it until park run on Saturday.

Good times.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/678284456

Just another half a mile?

This week i've managed to run 29.5 miles. I think this is the highest ever weekly total of miles for me. The knees are sore, but holding out. A few times this week I have considered quitting running altogether due to the constant discomfort post run. This is something I am not ruling out completely for 2016. For now I'm just focusing on getting to Brighton Marathon. 

Slowly building the miles up. Planning on 12-14 miler next week. After that, I'll start bringing in speed work and intervals. 

Need to dust my bike off too. Ride anyone?

http://connect.garmin.com/modern/profile/BJP1974

A New kind of balance.

Nipped out for another run today. I think thats 6 runs in the last 7 days. Really starting to enjoy my running again now. Although I still need to work on the diet part of my new regime.
Anyway, I'd ordered some New Balance trail running shoes to give me better grip through the winter months. I ran in them today, along with the new Asics dual shorts and a NB Technical t-shirt.
The run went well and for the first time in a while, I did not get the sharp knee pain that I usually get in the first 15 minutes of my runs.
Obviously I don't want to just assume it's the new footwear. It could be the consistency of my running which has helped. It could be that I am relaxing more. Running more naturally and not thinking about stride length, cadence or efficiency. That can come later. For now i'm just running with a smile on my face and music in my ears. So far, it's going well.

http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/666786553