It was all going so well.
I think my Meniere's has once again reared its ugly head. I was clocking up the miles and feeling great. A little sore in the limbs and a familiar twang on my coccyx reminding me of its presence, but I was upping the distances and feeling confident. Group 6 is my ideal running group, the leader's pace perfect for mine and I was enjoying running with the group once more. This week as we crossed a wooden bridge I was towards the back of the pack, lots of feet in front of me could not run in sync and as I got about half way across I thought my world was going to fall down around me. My balance left me and I had to quickly grab the rail and hang on for dear life until the bridge became mine alone. Panic began to surface, I forced it back and took some deep breaths.
Being a strong believer of not allowing Meniere's disease to win I put my head down and ploughed on. Concentrating hard, one foot in front of the other, falling into step with the leader got me back on track. Strangely, as mentioned in the past, sometimes I can't walk in a straight line but running is usually fine and I had no further problems and completed the run including a sprint (of sorts) finish.
Usually after running I am starving within a couple of hours but not this time. I didn't want to eat and couldn't eat. The dreaded nausea set in and lasted for about three days. Not being able to eat very much at all made my after work run on Thursday slow and hard, Gill kept me going and I was determined to make my body understand that it is able to run on an empty tank and when tired. During the night I kept waking, my temperature either soaring or chilled and every little bit of my entire being hurting. My ear is still very painful at times and my hearing has taken another knock.
I missed my Friday wind down from work run, I missed the Saturday Parkrun and I missed my planned Sunday long run. I decided there was no point trying to put my trainers on until I felt better. I really couldn't risk triggering a full blown attack. My MD has been in a very good phase, bothering my life very minimally and if I have anything to do with it that's exactly where it will stay.
I think the nausea has eased off, I think my aches are nearly gone. My plans keep having to change but I'm not giving up, not yet.
I have a goal, I WILL achieve it.
Sunday 23 March 2014
Sunday 16 March 2014
Starter for Ten
Last week I ran 41km over 6 days. This week I thought I would up the ante and planned a 10K to start me off. I chose my route and although I hadn't run this as a complete course before I have run all the bits of it and thought it should be around about 10K To my absolute delight I actually ran almost 13K!
I had a lovely, if somewhat painful massage yesterday afternoon. My lovely Jo worked hard on my solidified shoulders and upon waking this morning I could hardly move. I questioned fellow runners if running today was a sensible option bearing in mind I was hoping to run further than I have in a long while. A resounding yes was their reply, so out again into the glorious sunshine I ventured.
I had given myself a slightly shorter route option if when I got to what I thought would be about half way I was flagging but I was very happy to discover that besides not walking a single step thus far I was more than able to tackle my longer choice.
Today's plan was to take things nice and easy, no fartlek ideas, just get round. I took care not to set off too quickly but enjoyed the stretches where I could stride out, just a little, and hoped this would make my overall pace acceptable. It did. I was also amazed to see when looking at my stats that my fastest section overall was well into the run when I was actually feeling quite tired. At that stage I felt I had fuel in the tank but my legs were aching somewhat.
My iPod sits nicely tucked inside my t shirt so I have no idea how far I have been nor how well I am doing until the end. Today I ran across my finishing line at the foot of our steep drive, hauled myself to the top where a conveniently placed brick wall always awaits my collapse and aids my stretching whilst I listen to my achievement. I have stopped listening to the false message that always declares "Congratulations, you have run another 500km," and wait for the more important facts, always distance first, then time, then pace then calories burned. The combined details had me grinning like a Cheshire cat and I confess to a fist pump and a whoop or two!
The best bit is the feeling that I could go further, is this possible? Both you and I will have to wait and see!
I had a lovely, if somewhat painful massage yesterday afternoon. My lovely Jo worked hard on my solidified shoulders and upon waking this morning I could hardly move. I questioned fellow runners if running today was a sensible option bearing in mind I was hoping to run further than I have in a long while. A resounding yes was their reply, so out again into the glorious sunshine I ventured.
I had given myself a slightly shorter route option if when I got to what I thought would be about half way I was flagging but I was very happy to discover that besides not walking a single step thus far I was more than able to tackle my longer choice.
Today's plan was to take things nice and easy, no fartlek ideas, just get round. I took care not to set off too quickly but enjoyed the stretches where I could stride out, just a little, and hoped this would make my overall pace acceptable. It did. I was also amazed to see when looking at my stats that my fastest section overall was well into the run when I was actually feeling quite tired. At that stage I felt I had fuel in the tank but my legs were aching somewhat.
My iPod sits nicely tucked inside my t shirt so I have no idea how far I have been nor how well I am doing until the end. Today I ran across my finishing line at the foot of our steep drive, hauled myself to the top where a conveniently placed brick wall always awaits my collapse and aids my stretching whilst I listen to my achievement. I have stopped listening to the false message that always declares "Congratulations, you have run another 500km," and wait for the more important facts, always distance first, then time, then pace then calories burned. The combined details had me grinning like a Cheshire cat and I confess to a fist pump and a whoop or two!
The best bit is the feeling that I could go further, is this possible? Both you and I will have to wait and see!
Sunday 9 March 2014
Bring Me Sunshine
Woke up, got up, went for a run.
No hat, no jacket, no hesitation.
Ran a bit, jogged a bit, walked a bit.
No worries, no cares, no pressure.
And all because the lady loves...
THE SUN
Saturday 1 March 2014
The Tale of the Tail
Today I had the honour of being the Longrun Meadow Park Run tail runner. I got up to a beautiful morning of sunshine and a frost requiring a deicing of the car. I arrived at Longrun Meadow in plenty of time and met the other morning's volunteers. A group photo was duly taken and I was very glad to hear that Dave the run director had been sweeping away one of the puddles. Worry not, there were plenty more lakes to wade through!
Plenty of runners gathered and made there way to the start. It was good to see a good number of new Longrun runners attending and I duly made my way to the back behind all the runners. In my normal way I had time to have a panic about what I might have to do if any runners got into trouble or if I dropped my phone in the mud and then wouldn't be able to call for help, thankfully the hooter soon sounded and away we went. No sooner had we started than I was alerted to a couple of latecomers who soon caught us, got into the pace and took off and disappeared into the pack. My next panic, what if the slower runners dropped out after the first lap, would I then end up needing to catch the pack, oh heck, I certainly hoped not.
Having the opportunity the make sure I was the last runner really took the pressure off. Now, the only results that matter really are your own results, there really is no pressure and although plenty of the runners have a desire to be up the front, beating your own time is what it's all about. But today I didn't even have to beat my own time. Therefore, I enjoyed my run a whole lot more than usual. No gasping for breath, no pushing myself, no charging through the puddles, the whole run was relaxed and I had time to select a course through the water and gloop.
I was very fortunate to be running with a lovely lady, whose name I sadly didn't ask. She hadn't done a 5K for a while and although we walked a little now and then, especially through the mud, (how on earth does anybody manage to run through that?) we kept going and she even put on a bit of a sprint at the end.
I'm never going to see the run from the front but I decided whilst running that being right at the back gives a completely different perspective to the run from what I am used to. I was able to see all the runners stretched out before me. Instead of concentrating on me I was able to look up, look ahead and see all the vibrant fluorescent colours, how do they get so far so quickly? I am usually near the back of the runners but I haven't been lapped until today. A young, tall and slender teenager tore past us and I'm sure he was the eventual winner. Oh how I wish I hadn't taken the short cut and hidden in the corner of the field during school days cross country!
The best moment by far was eventually catching up with a four year old. He was having a magnificent time too, splashing through all the mud and puddles and eagerly running on to find the next lot and all with a gorgeous smile. And yes he did run a whole lap.
If you haven't done a Parkrun yet I definitely recommend that you do. If you have but you have yet to volunteer please see if you can, I recommend tail running, being at the back is a good place to be.
Plenty of runners gathered and made there way to the start. It was good to see a good number of new Longrun runners attending and I duly made my way to the back behind all the runners. In my normal way I had time to have a panic about what I might have to do if any runners got into trouble or if I dropped my phone in the mud and then wouldn't be able to call for help, thankfully the hooter soon sounded and away we went. No sooner had we started than I was alerted to a couple of latecomers who soon caught us, got into the pace and took off and disappeared into the pack. My next panic, what if the slower runners dropped out after the first lap, would I then end up needing to catch the pack, oh heck, I certainly hoped not.
Having the opportunity the make sure I was the last runner really took the pressure off. Now, the only results that matter really are your own results, there really is no pressure and although plenty of the runners have a desire to be up the front, beating your own time is what it's all about. But today I didn't even have to beat my own time. Therefore, I enjoyed my run a whole lot more than usual. No gasping for breath, no pushing myself, no charging through the puddles, the whole run was relaxed and I had time to select a course through the water and gloop.
I was very fortunate to be running with a lovely lady, whose name I sadly didn't ask. She hadn't done a 5K for a while and although we walked a little now and then, especially through the mud, (how on earth does anybody manage to run through that?) we kept going and she even put on a bit of a sprint at the end.
I'm never going to see the run from the front but I decided whilst running that being right at the back gives a completely different perspective to the run from what I am used to. I was able to see all the runners stretched out before me. Instead of concentrating on me I was able to look up, look ahead and see all the vibrant fluorescent colours, how do they get so far so quickly? I am usually near the back of the runners but I haven't been lapped until today. A young, tall and slender teenager tore past us and I'm sure he was the eventual winner. Oh how I wish I hadn't taken the short cut and hidden in the corner of the field during school days cross country!
The best moment by far was eventually catching up with a four year old. He was having a magnificent time too, splashing through all the mud and puddles and eagerly running on to find the next lot and all with a gorgeous smile. And yes he did run a whole lap.
If you haven't done a Parkrun yet I definitely recommend that you do. If you have but you have yet to volunteer please see if you can, I recommend tail running, being at the back is a good place to be.
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