Post-marathon

I finally got to the hospital today to get this glandular problem worked out. Good news is I'm basically very healthy - white blood cell count, lungs etc all healthy. More results next week.

My knee is slowly recovering from the marathon (bad ITB pain). I can walk now, and cycling is fine. I'll give running a try later this week.

On the hunt for 10km runs now - need to run as many as possible before a big 12km run in Australia in September.

The magical track

What links Steve Ovett, Asafa Powell, Noureddine Morceli, Noah Ngeny and Daniel Komen? (Hands down you clever kids at the front). For those of you who don't know, the thing that links them is they all set world records at a small, out-of-the-way track in Rieti, Italy.

Steve Cram wrote a fascinating article about the track and its amazing history,

here

Running
I did 40 minutes today. Felt OK. Chest hurt a fair bit. Back still has a little pain.

Oda Field

Tonight I dragged myself along to Oda Field. I nearly turned back twice on the way there, but I decided to ignore my cold and run.

I think I psyched myself up too much listening to Public Enemy on my iPod on the way to the track. My first kilometer effort was 3.17. I paid for it in the next two with a 3.30 and a 3.43. I sat out the next one (it was kind of the plan) and then ran one more, posting a 3.24. I was meant to run two more, but the 3.24 had taken a bit out of me and I'm simply not doing enough mileage to do 6x1km.

The pain in the back of my left knee is improving, as is my right foot. Chest is cool. ITB in my left knee is OK.

Still taking it steady

After Wednesday's effort I had a rest day Thursday, then did 40 minutes Friday.

I'm covering Tokyo Fashion Week for the paper I work for, so evening runs will take a bit of organising over the next few days. And I have to make sure I don't drink too much - already been to one fashion party with free beer.

The good news is a. the chest is improving, pain now and then but not as bad as before; b. my legs are OK - have hamstring pain and knee pain in the left leg but both improve with running; c. the weather is finally getting cooler.

Oda Field

Last night, I ran at Oda Field for the first time since late June. I told myself to take it easy, but still got a bit carried away. I ran a 1,200 mid-pack, then a fast 1,200, a mid-pack 1,000, then a fast 1,000. Then called it a night. No point pushing myself when it's only my second run after a 6-7 week layoff.

My chest isn't awful, but I want to track down the cause of the pain. Might be my diaphragm. Seems to be a strain or infection or both.

I've become a bit addicted to Facebook.com. I see quite a few other Nambanners are on Facebook too. Send me a friend invitation if you sign up.

I'm fine

Well I finally got my results today - and the MRI scan found that I'm fine. Great. So I've wasted 8 weeks of training time. And I'm still in pain - but the doctor didn't know what I should do next. He said I can run again. So I guess I just put up with the pain and start running again. I wish doctors around the world would/could adopt a patient-centred approach to treating people. Personally, I'd love it if the doctor tackled my pain and what is causing it, rather than simply telling me I'm not going to die and ushering me out of the room. But, hey, I'm not going to die. So I should be smiling.

Slight improvement

Over the past day or so my chest has been feeling a bit better. Still not great, with pain going up the middle between my chest (and around my heart!) and pain in the right lung - but much better than before.

Chest pain

This is more of a note to myself. My chest pain worsened yesterday. The pain is on both sides, and an odd bubbling sensation occured at the bottom of the right lung last night. I still have a large red lump on my sternum. It's annoying not being able to run. 10 days until my MRI scan, 17 days until I find out what's wrong with me. I really hope this clears up and I can get back to running.

Chest/lung problem

I went to the hospital today, and after an ECG and X-Ray the doctor was able to tell me that something might be wrong with me. He thinks I'm OK, but wants to do more tests to be sure. But he can't do the test (using an image resonance machine) until August 13.

I asked him if it was OK to go in a race (I've got a 5,000m track race on July 16) and after asking how long it was he said no (not sure why he bothered asking how long it was - 5km would seem to be one of the easiest distances on the lungs).

Then I asked if I could still train. He said that training for 5km might be too difficult for me (what ever that means).

So, if I follow doctor's orders it's no training for me for a month, and I miss my race.

It would seem from what he told me, that I have pleuritic pain.

1 hour easy

Did an easy hour. Came back a bit too quick.

I'm going to get my chest pain checked out tomorrow. The closest thing I can find to describe it is a pericarditis type pain. It's funny that Britain's NHS site writes: "... is most common in men aged 2050 years old." A spot of chest pain at that age is to be expected one would think.