Hiatus

For the last few weeks I’ve felt tightness down my left calf and into my left ankle.  I’ve had regular massages and I’ve just run through it – afterall, no-one said training for a marathon would be plain sailing.  However, last Sunday I went to Richmond Park and ran a half marathon.  The tightness in my ankle was joined by discomfort around my right knee and my form degenerated into a lumber.  At that point I realised running through it was no longer an option.

Tuesday this week I decided to replace a 5 mile run with 50 minutes on the cross trainer.  That went OK, although I was disappointed not to be running.

Wednesday I had a day’s annual leave so I could run at a more sociable hour than my usual 6AM.  However, I spent the day on the sofa, catching up on the running related reading I’ve missed out on in recent weeks.

That evening I saw Jennie.  Thankfully she diagnosed no damage and no joint problems, just tight muscles which she teased into a more relaxed state.  By working together we decided the problem might be caused by my new trainers which aren’t correcting my overpronation.  The plan, therefore, is to run in older trainers which should correct it.

This morning I was on annual leave again and managed to get to the park for a 5 mile run in the older trainers.  It wasn’t perfect (the ankle still niggled) but it was better than recent runs.  And it was great to be outside again!  The orthotics felt more pronounced than usual, so I think switching shoes will have an effect.

I’ve entered the Finchley 20 on Sunday.  The original plan was for it to be more “event” experience combined with the longest run of my training programme – 20 miles.  However, I’ll decide on Sunday whether I run.  The good news is that the course is four laps of a 5 mile circuit which means I can get the benefit of going to and starting an event but then drop out after 5, 10 or 15 miles, depending on how things feel.

Whilst I’m desperate to run and stick to my training programme as much as possible, I really want to run the marathon in just 30 days time.  I know the latter won’t happen if I push too hard now.