It Didn't Happen for me - Great Manchester 10k 2014

Just in case you wondered how the run went, ..it didn't!

My wife had a bad cold for about eight days and I thought I'd got away with it but it got me end of last week and with a running nose and burning chest on Saturday I considered it too dangerous even if I felt I could've dragged myself around on Sunday. 

I feel oddly fortunate that I definitely wasn't fit to have run on Sunday. If I'd felt a little better I would have had conflict as to whether I should have tried.

Still well fed up over weekend, especially watching the TV coverage.

Well done everyone who took part.  I'm now looking for a replacement 10k late June or July, maybe Leeds.

Bugger!

Only days before the race, the only thing running is my nose!
I'm supposed to avoid health and fitness issues for these last few days but it is not going well.

My wife has had a really bad cold and chesty cough for over a week and now I seem to have contracted it. Burning throat, running nose, aching sinuses and sore eyes. Just waiting for it to hit my chest. That's number 1 thing that's not supposed to be going on now.

Number 2 is an injury that I have no idea where it's come from. My last run on Tuesday went well and I was fine 'till I got my boots on to head out on my ranger patrol at Lyme Park on Wednesday when I became aware of shin pain. I though I must have banged it and it continued with annoying discomfort all day. When it came to driving home I realised it was more in tendons and muscles to left and behind my shin bone and each time it's been rested it's stiff and hurts.  It may be that I've been compensating for the hamstring problem, I really don't know!

So, I'm dosed up with Lemsip, taking it easy, drinking a lot (not alcohol) and resting my leg applying cool packs and ibuprofen gel.

Hopefully I'll get to run but unless I'm a lot better it wouldn't be safe. I feel a slow time coming on if I do manage to run.

Ready.... I think

Injury Status
My long standing achilles problems continue but with care not to suddenly increase training frequency or impact, post-run stretching, cool packs and strapping, the symptoms remain mildly annoying rather than worrying.
All therefore seemed good, until I slipped on a steep hillside while checking a boundary wall above a steep valley. This was in my alter ego role of Patrolling Ranger at the National Trust Lyme Park.
I went down heavily sideways on my left leg and, though it didn't hurt at the time, I suffered pain and stiffness in the side and back of my knee and hamstring pain in the following days. This knocked me out of training for several days and I'm still feeling it though healing is definitely well under way.

Urgent Training
After the panicked realisation of how imminent the race was, training has gone well over the last 2 weeks.  I have been trying to get out every 36 hours, e.g. Mon p.m., Wed a.m., Thur p.m., Sat a.m. which has worked quite well.

I have also been running the parkrun 5k at Bramhall on Saturday mornings culminating in a very satisfying Personal Best last weekend at 26:33.

5 days ago, I deliberately upped toward a10k duration with a 55 minute run. This turned out 9.8km with an average speed of 10.62kph so all looks well for a reasonable performance next weekend.

Pre-race Break
Today, Tuesday, I completed my last run before the Great Manchester Run 10k next Sunday. I kept today to a fairly flat 15min route trying to stay steady and not taxing but still averaged 10.5kph.

So now to take it easy and not hurt anything for a few days. That said, I'm on duty at Lyme Park again tomorrow!

ST ANN'S HOSPICE

Many people, like me, know someone who the magnificent St. Ann's Hospice have looked after, particularly end of life care. If you would like to support them, please use my JustGiving page (Sponsor me button) or Text as follows:


   Or, Text GEDX69 followed by amount e.g. £2 to 70070 

Running for St. Ann's Hospice in memory of Margaret Donovan (Mum) and my classmate from junior school, Sheila Waddington.