My ailments!

Ailments.....

This week I had a sports therapy/massage session, as recommended by the makers of my orthotics and my trainer, to help me adjust to wearing them. I had the orthotics to hopefully cure some of the problems I have running. The bio analysis done when I had the orthotic made identified I have a short left leg. It's about 8mm shorter than the right one! This was a suprise to me and explains why I overpronate on my right foot. I also put 60% of my weight through my left leg. I get left knee pain when running and also at times I lose the feeling in my right foot after several miles of running. The loss of feeling looks to be 'back' related. I have a very slight scoliosis (curved spine) caused by the leg length difference it appears. I get quite a bit of lower back pain from time to time, but the chiropractor usually sorts it out. They usually cure the 'numb' right foot, which is something to do with the sciatic nerve. I'm hoping the orthotics will be a magc bullet and cure (or at least go a long way to cure) all these problems.

The sports therapist identified a lot of tightness in my back and legs. He concentrated on my back this week and wasted no time getting to work and sorting it out (ouch!!!). Afterwards I had lossened up considerably and was able to lie on my back and raise my legs far higher than before. I'd been suffering from tightness in the back on my legs (hamstring). It felt much better after the session. I'm going back on Tuesday to let him have a look at my legs. He did a few tests on my knees in this session though. My left knee was shown to be suffering overuse. I cannot tell you how much one of his tests hurt. I had to lie on my back straight and raise my left leg slightly. I then had to tense my quads as he pushed down on my kneecap. This was agony, and showed the overuse injury. I guess this is because I have been putting 60% of my weight on that side for the last 31 years! I've no idea what I can do about this right now, I'll ask on Tuesday next week.

I picked up some supplements which are widely used by runners with knee issues: Glucosamine & Chondriotin. I've not used them before, but some studies have shown they can help. Fingers crossed eh.

Ailments aside...on Friday I did 8x1min intervals, with a 1 min walk break in between, at the Gym on the treadmill. Alternating between 4mph walk for 1 minute, then up to approx 9mph for the interval. After the intervals I did my usual weekly strength session with my trainer Clive. This session typically lasts an hour and works on all the main muscle groups. I'm looking to be more focussed on leg extensions and curls, to build the right muscles for climbing hills (or even dunes!). I'm fairly flightly built at only 70kg but I can currently leg press about 230kg. In the past I've had it up to 260kg, so a little more work to do there.

I did 6 mile walk yesterday up to Mow Cop in Cheshire. It's quite a climb, especially when you have a 25lb baby in his rucksack on your back! I am going to make Saturday my weekly walking day. Eventually building up to some serious long distance walks.

On Sunday I ran 7 miles (easy pace). I felt very fresh afterwards, but didn't go any further as I want to stick to the marathon training schedule. Tomorrow's my rest day. See you next week!

The Marathon Programme

The marathon programme i'm following is from here:
http://www.runnersweb.co.uk/indextrn.htm

As I said. I jumped in on Week 3 as i'm up to about 6 Miles already. I'm now on Week 4. I did the slow 6 mile on Sunday. Keeping my heart rate down to 75% proved difficult. 141bpm that would have been. In the end I settled for 145 - 150 when possible. As a result of running to that heart rate, the 6 miles took me about 66 minutes! Still, i really enjoyed the run. I actually got to look around and enjoy my surroundings whilst doing that easy pace. Normally I'm too tired to notice! I'll go for 7 miles this week, instead of 6 again.

[I subsequently ditched that programmme and formulated my own, which I posted on the blog each month for the next 2 years, starting here]

I ran 3 miles yesterday. I forgot my data recorder. I did an average of 8:09 minute mile.

Today. I did 5.2 miles. Data is shown above. Red line is my Heart Rate. Blue is my speed. Mileage shown at the top.

I'm in

Today i've received notification that i've been accepted into the 2008 Marathon Des Sable.

It's a 6 day event over 244Km accross the Sahara Desert. The equivalent of a marathon every day. For detailed information see www.saharamarathon.co.uk .

I believe everyone should set themselves an impossible challenge at least once in their lives. This is mine.

I've never run a marathon before. I've run in events for the last couple of years, but no more than 10k off road. Now I have to not only train to run a marathon. I have to train well beyond that distance. One stage of the MDS is 80Km. So I need to be an accomplished ultra-distance runner in 2 years time, to stand a chance. Did I mention temperatures reach 125F, oh and that you have to carry all your own food and equipment for the 6 days.

I've been running 2 or 3 times a week for the last couple of years, but only short distances (up to 10 miles). Now everything changes.
For the next 13 weeks, i'm doing a marathon training program. I'll post that in at some point. I've jumped in at week 3 on the program as that's about my level at the moment.

When I can run 26 miles, i'll start ultra (over 26.2miles) training. I'll then start to add weight to a back pack up to about 10 or 12 Kilos. Then I need to get some climate training in!

I use a GPS with Heart Rate Monitor and data recorder. I'll post my results from the week in as often as I can.

I'll need every day of this 2 years to give myself a fighting chance of making it. Wish me luck.