Injury Update

... still injured.

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After running every second day, he rounded out the second week of November with limited success, yet unlimited frustration. Although the pain in his left hamstring wasn’t acute, he was unable to escape a nagging soreness. The discomfort wasn’t constant, but it prevented an unencumbered stride. Even to the uninitiated, he was on borrowed time.

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Despite denying the inevitable, subconsciously his body knew. And much like savouring a favourite meal before dawning braces, a lone male meandered through the mud and underbrush of a towering west coast forest.

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Perhaps for the first time in his athletic career, in what was still a compromise, he rested on taking four weeks away from the sport he had truly come to love.

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Having not laced up his shoes for two days, he was overheard remarking to his wife the ease with which time was passing. Truth be told, he was already tracing new loops through old forest trails. Sadly, come Thursday (day four) he was singing a different tune.

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Today, in a room void of hope and naught but the company of faceless models, an isolated figure no longer appreciates the melody of a favourite song. Rather, he sits slumped a over chair, impatiently willing the approach of an absent fat lady.

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Training:

Friday: easy 40: 34

Saturday: day off (scheduled)

Sunday: easy 58:17

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Monday: day off (injured)

Tuesday: day off (injured)

Wednesday: day off (injured)

Thursday: day off (injured)

Friday: day off (injured)

Saturday: day off (injured)

Sunday: day off (injured)

Snakes and Ladders

Much like the fluctuating and recurring/mind-numbing nature of the game snakes and ladders, my running, and health continues to change. Never a dull moment, right?

After taking five days off from running, in part due to the injury but also with assistance from the flu, last Thursday I managed to drag my weary body out for a much anticipated run. Although I didn’t suffer through any pain, the discomfort in my right leg was noticeable. Unfortunately, owing to the bike/run, run/bike, nature of my commute my trip back to work on Friday morning was probably not the smartest idea.

So this week, after two more days off from running, I decided to alternate my runs taking advantage of the statutory holiday on Remembrance Day. Monday was fine, and Wednesday was surprisingly okay. Sadly, as luck would have it, I’m now experiencing all the wonderfully enjoyable symptoms of the common cold: sore throat, congestion, sneezing, headache and general lethargy. Oh the joy.

Training:
Monday: day off (injured)
Tuesday: day off (injured)
Wednesday: day off (injured)
Thursday: easy 41:15
Friday: easy 40:52
Saturday: day off (injured)
Sunday: day off (injured)

Monday: easy 40:16
Tuesday: day off (scheduled)
Wednesday: easy 1:01:32
Thursday: day off (scheduled)

The Loneliness of the (Injured) Long Distance Runner

Yup, I’ve been standing still. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the serenity and reflection that can be gained from remaining motionless. On the contrary, I longed for that very moment the entire time while on vacation. But I do not get pleasure from a lack of choice. So there I am, standing in the doorway in a t-shirt and shorts, looking our over the damp leaves on the ground. That is as far as I go.

My hamstrings and quadriceps are tight, to-ight as Seamus might say. Last week I ran four days in a row. It shouldn’t have amounted to much, but it did. Seems my left hamstring and adductor is particularly stiff, this in turn has inflamed the insertion point just below and to the inside of the left knee. The whole lot is uncomfortable.

As a result, I went and saw my favourite physiotherapist this morning and she sorted me out.

After having my physical pain taken care of, I decided to address my emotional state, given the fact that I haven’t run in five days. I didn’t mind for the first three days. Yesterday I longed for an unknown loss. Today that hunger was realized. I digress. As a result, I stopped in at my favourite book shop, and after some careful thought purchased the following: (1) The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, by Alan Sillitoe, (2) Again to Carthage, the sequel to Once a Runner, by John L. Parker, Jr., and (3) Advanced Marathoning, by Pete Pfitzinger. My emotional wellbeing has never felt so satiated.

So, what’s next? I’m still thinking. In the short-term, I’m going run home tomorrow evening. This, if successful, will begin to set the stage the upcoming winter. Long-term, I haven’t decided. I had thought to concentrate on setting a new 10k PB (April), and use that speed to run the new Seattle Rock’n’Roll Marathon on June 26. Unfortunately, conflicting summer priorities no longer make that a viable option. So, once again, I find myself looking east, to either: Saskatchewan, Calgary or Ottawa, all on May 30, or the Blue Nose International Marathon on May 23. Choice, in abundance.

Training:

Monday: day off (scheduled)

Tuesday: easy 38:34

Wednesday: steady 36:40

Thursday: uncomfortable 40:58

Friday: painful 43:56

Saturday: day off (injury)

Sunday: day off (injury)