Not running again

Well, this year my big aim was to win my age group in the City-Bay fun run in Adelaide in mid-September. I even got myself a special race bib. But that fast run is now officially not going to happen. My up and down health since the marathon in February has taken another dive, resulting in me being house- and bedridden for the past two days. The doctors say I have nothing wrong with me (gotta love the Japanese health system).

The good news is I got appointments with two excellent doctors in Australia. So with any luck I might finally find out what's up, so I can get on with getting better.

I'm really missing running, and being able to eat whatever I want.

Enjoying my running

I'm really enjoying my running at the moment. Losing 1-2 kilograms has made me realise I can go faster with less effort - it's making my track sessions a lot more enjoyable.

I got my time and result for the Okutama ekiden that was held in December, and I was pleased to see I set a new club record, and was among the fastest 25 runners for that stage.

At the track last night we did 4 x 1,600m. Hard mentally, but I ran almost exactly even splits: 5.27, 5.23, 5.25, 5.25.

This Sunday is Shibuya Ekiden, a short and fast race of 2.8km. I'm feeling a little stale, but I hope to feel good on the day - I think we can podium.

Achilles

Why does my achilles feel fine when I run but sore when I don't? I've done no miles for three days and the achilles feels a little worse. Still nothing ice and rest can't fix.

Oda Field in the rain

Bit of an odd night of training tonight - it was cold and very wet.

The plan was 2km, 1km, 2km, 1km - but I missed the start of the first 2km, so I ran it as a warm-up.

Then I ran 3.09, 6.51, 3.14.

I felt OK, but I didn't realised my 3.09 was actually rather quick.

My achilles is just bothering me a little.

Tokyo Marathon

In the last post I said Tokyo Marathon was 12 weeks away. I never was very good at maths. It's more like 15 weeks away. It's also made me realise my tough 100km week might have happened a bit too early.

Training's going really well

I daren't tempt fate, but my training is progressing better than ever before. I'm injury free bar a few little niggles (including a left ankle that's felt tight for months) and I'm getting stronger and faster quickly.

My weight has dropped to the low 59kg range (from 62-63 only four months ago) and I've managed six weeks in a row doing at least one run of more than 2 hours each week plus other long runs of around 90 minutes. This week, I've done a race, then 2 hours, 90 min x 70%, and 90 min x 90% (until I cracked at 83 minutes and slowed).

Tokyo Marathon is around 12 weeks away - a bit less - so I can fit in 10 weeks of solid training if my body continues to let me and, hopefully, my weight also will continue to fall.

Whatever it was seems to be going away

Well my glands around my neck are still making me look a little chipmonk like, but whatever the virus I had was seems to be going. I'm even toying with the idea of racing this Sunday afternoon.

Hmmm

Yesterday was meant to be a new PB for the 10km at Takashimadaira. Instead, I found myself walking back to the finish line after just 6km. I'm really run down, with a fever, sore throat, sore lymph glands and no energy. I've slept for over 20 hours since returning home from the run yesterday morning. I hope whatever I've got is a passing problem.

Running again

Back to regular long runs. Still have a bit of a problem with my ankle, and my hip (piriformis) is very tight, but I can run every day without any major issues.

Running update

I haven't hit my planned weekly mileage yet - life has got in the way a few times. But my mileage is still up on five weeks ago. Felt a twinge in my left achilles this morning. I think it will be OK

My training since my 8-week layoff

Run down of training since my 8 weeks off for chest pain. Compiling this list I was surprised to see how patchy my training has been. I really haven't put together even two weeks of solid 40 minutes a day, 2 rest days a week training. And the Oda Filed effort after 8 weeks off, and the Komozawa race after such a bad build up look laughable now. 13 days off in September - 5 more than planned, and 6 days off already in October. Looks like I need to work on consistency.

Date ------ Minutes run ------ Comments
August
22 - 30
23 - Ran at Oda Field - Tried too hard
24 - 30
25 - 30
26 - -
27 - 35
28 - -
29 - 35
30 - -
31 - 30

September
1 - -
2 - -
3 - -
4 - 35
5 - Oda Field - 4 x 1,000 ran with a cold
6 - 30
7 - 30
8 - -
9 - -
10 - -
11 - 40
12 - 40
13 - 32
14 - -
15 - 40
16 - 40
17 - -
18 - 40
19 - 40
20 - 40
21 - 40
22 - -
23 - Terry Fox 5km - Ran about 19.10.
24 - -
25 - -
26 - 37
27 - 39
28 - 37
29 - -
30 - -

October
1 - -
2 - 40
3 - -
4 - -
5 - 32
6 - Komozawa 5km - Ran hard 18.11. Felt awful.
7 - 35
8 - 38
9 - 50
10 - 45
11 - 37
12 - -
13 - -
14 - 90 LSD
15 - -