Week 5

17SEP12

I’m due for a comfortable four miles today and I’ve no thoughts about giving it a miss. As I set off there’s no pain in the knee or anywhere else for that matter and everything feels okay. I’m pleased but there’s obviously an issue here that needs addressing. I’m reminded of when I first joined the Army back in 1998. I was on a course at Sandhurst called Rowallan Company which was essentially a 9 week beasting. The course no longer runs due to the amount of people it broke. The training was so intense I started to suffer from Chondromalacia patella and the theory was that the outside of my thigh was developing quicker than the inside which pulled the kneecap out of place. I would report sick and get a 3 day ‘biff chit’ and my knee would settle down. I would return to training and the problem would flare up again. I very nearly failed the course because of it. I have found the photo below which, apart from being a gratuitous shot of me in a towel, shows where my right knee has been shaved so it can be taped up. Back then it was just zinc oxide tape but nowadays they use special kinesiology tape as seen being used by footballers in the Euros earlier this year.

So, I’m thinking something similar is happening here whereby I am not allowing my knee to recover for long enough in between runs. I therefore think that I need to reduce my training to two runs a week. I wonder if I should also reduce my targets but for now I’ll stick with trying for 1hr 30 but won’t deem it a failure if I need up to 1hr 40. I won’t implement this straight away but will stick with the current programme to see if my theory is correct. If I do go down this route, I’ll introduce some strength training to try and build up the knee without the pounding it gets from running. This actually ties in with my plans for what to do after the GSR but I’ll write about that later on another page.

19SEP12

Based on my current theory, I’m thinking that my knee should be giving me some problems today. To add to it, I was on a site visit yesterday to a job I’m managing near Waterloo Station and so was wearing steel toe capped safety shoes. My ankle simply couldn’t cope with the weight and I walked the length of the station with my left foot flapping about. Felt quite silly.

Anyway, today was a 3 miler but at goal pace and as I set off I felt a twinge in my knee but is was bearable. It eventually went away and the run went very quickly. Still a sweaty mess though.

Heard from Rich (another one, not the one with the son with the Sellotape) who I know through my mate Rich (a different one altogether) who has had a knee ligament op and subsequent back problems but is also in for the GSR. Fair play mush!

21SEP12

Went straight to the gym after work to beat the rush. My ankle seems sore but I put that down to the effort it’s going through rather than there being a specific problem. Only a 3 miler, supposedly at a comfortable pace, but thought I’d give it a go at the goal pace again. To be honest, I see no real difference between the 9 minute and 10 minute pace other than the latter taking longer so I’ll probably only do the 9 minute pace for these runs. Absolutely no problems whatsoever other than my left leg feeling a little tighter than my right, particularly my hamstring. That’s probably just because its doing a bit more work so I just need to do a bit more stretching before and after. I also notice my brace is rubbing a little on the inside of my ankle. The foam appears to have flattened through use so there’s no padding anymore. I’ll need to sort that out. The week is going well so far and I’m looking forward to Sunday to see if I can complete a week. It’s listed as 8 miles which is double the distance I have managed so far. That’s seems a bit of a jump so I think I’ll do 6 miles then 8 miles next week and 10 the week after which brings me back on track at more sensible intervals.

23SEP12

Got a nice early start at the gym and after thanking the lad in the Villa shirt for the 3 points yesterday I set about my six miler.  It was pretty uneventful other than a Paula Radcliffe moment (for which I was grateful I was running at the gym and not out on the road).  In the main it lived up to my original expectation of it being rather dull.  Thankfully, I am reliably informed that on the day the atmosphere with the large crowd etc helps considerably (thanks Julie!).  My left leg certainly tired ahead of the right and, combined with the monotony, I will have to really concentrate on lifting my leg properly and not getting lazy.  I nearly tripped a couple of times which is fine on a treadmill as I can catch myself on the side rails but on the streets of Southsea it will be a different matter with drain covers suddenly appearing from under the feet of the person in front.  Main thing is I’ve completed a week and am starting to get some mileage under my belt.