Half Marathon Phoenix Park 2010 Sept 18th

I am writing this exhausted and weary but successful in my first run in over a month

A chilly and wet day, a frantic rush to the start as I dragged myself out of bed after 4 hours sleep. Banana and powerade down the hatch. Here we go again, this time with no training and a dodgy ankle that has kept me down for a month.

First 6 miles, felt good and accelerating, then came the hills, (and I quite like hills generally,) there are two sustained climbs, one about 7 miles, that was fine but then my energy and mood dipped palpably for a mile or so but luckily I came back stronger until mile 10. My ankle was sore but didn't really affect me. After mile 10 I really felt the lack of training and then came the biggest climb - 2 miles and the cramp in my right calf was talking to me, I stumbled a few times but managed to carry on but by mile 12 I was running on empty and managed to haul myself over the line, actually in a very similar time to last year- just over 2 hours, so delighted with that. Went straight to the jacuzzi - the feeling is similar to completing the marathon, my muscles are very hard and stiff but I'm delighted I managed to run the thing given the circumstances.

On this showing, the marathon may be a terrible torture indeed. But feck it,there were some people with physical handicaps and weight issues who managed to complete this and I ain't gonnna wimp out of some pain in October!

The Gym era

Gill had been bringing me along as a guest to the gym, 1escape, in Smithfield and it really is a great club, lovely pool/sauna/jacuzzi, classes, and all the machines and free weights and matches on big screens, so I signed up, for the winter anyway!

The foot is a month injured and still a little sore but not enough to stop me doing any exercise other than running so I'm keeping the fitness up on all the freemotion machines and swimming.

Half marathon on Saturday, my head says I shouldn't do it, but my heart is there already...so I'll line up and start it and see how it goes, if I get too much pain, I'll bow out or walk it.

A week on the greek Island Rhodes next week at Paul McI's wedding (ahhhh sunshine) and then only a month to the marathon. I really am not in good shape this year as far as distance in my legs is concerned, but overall fitness is decent. I need to get another 2 long runs in after the half marathon and see how they go... this is a real cut and paste job this year!
Been accepted on the HDip in Music starting next week too so all is going great. Track Broke-away Brother also finished and waiting for final production from Scott Halliday.

Rehab

2 weeks on and the foot is on the way out of the s**t

I have been doing a bit on the bike and the pool and it is gradually starting to strengthen, although quite a bit off a full recovery. It will at least let me bear my weight and I can do some light jogging now I think but I don't want to feck it up entirely. half marathon in two and half weeks which I will aim just to complete the distance.

kept up the pull ups/ press ups- can now do 18 and 36!

Hate being not able to run though, because the body is so used to it, your mood gets dark when you stop!