Bumble Bees & Destiny

Running

It has been a couple of weeks since I last blogged and in that time I have only been running twice. 

Two weeks ago I helped out with the Petts Wood Runners Beginners group which after a warm up entailed 3 x 10 minute jogs with 3 minute walking breaks in between.  Add to this a mile or so jog back to my parents and my physio would have probably told me I had overdone it.  But it was all at a nice easy pace.  Although the knee was aching a bit when I got back so I raided my mum’s freezer for a bag of peas (purely precautionary)

Last week I went out with PWR group 3 (a couple of groups below my usual group).  I think we did about 4.5 miles and I don’t know ho long it took because I had forgotten my Garmin, again! This is becoming a bit of a habit.  But it was nice just to run and have a chat.  A couple of twinges, but nothing to worry about.

 

Bumble Bee Theory

During this time I have also had 4 physio sessions and this is where the Bumble Bee comes into play.  It is reported that due to the laws of aerodynamics a Bumble bee shouldn’t be able to fly, to body size and size of wings etc.

The more I have had physio the more it seems that technically I shouldn’t be able to run?  My biomechanics defy logic!  Tight gastrocnemius, weak soleus.  Glutes that might as well not be there, well my brain has forgot they are there as my quads and hamstrings are doing all the work.  The list goes on.

When I had my MOT as part of Project 26.2 last year, a lot of this was highlighted, but it seems my stretching has only just manage to maintain my level of inflexibility.  So I really have to ramp up my stretching.  Plus the importance of form was highlighted as well.  I was doing what might be considered the right stretches/exercises but doing them poorly meant half the time they weren’t having the desired effect!

I am now stretching and performing strengthening exercises daily.  Yoga, Pilates and sports massage is all back on the cards as well.  I need to do everything I can to try and keep this Bumble Bee flying!

Incidentally, the wife also has to have a couple of weeks off running as well.  She too is seeing a physio and it transpires that she if hyper-mobile, the complete other end of the spectrum to my mahogany sideboard flexibility.  So we are both at home taking turns to do our respective stretches.

I thought running was meant to be good for you……?

 

Destiny

So now onto the destiny part.  Based on my initial consultation with my physio, I had decided to defer my entry for the Brighton Marathon.  It now seems that destiny was playing a part in this decision and scenario.

Part 1.  I mentioned in my last blog that I had entered the Kent Road Runner Marathon.  Well, lo and behold I won a competition via the Southern Running Guide which gives me entry into said marathon, 2 nights accommodation in the local Hilton Hotel and a polo shirt to boot.

 

 

 

 

Part 2.  Some of you may know that I am Millwall fan.  Millwall have managed to make it to the FA Cup semi-final which happens to be on 13^th April (the day before the Brighton Marathon)  Having a few beers at Wembley whilst cheering on your team the day before a marathon is not something I have ever come across in any training plan.

 

 

 

So it seems I was destined to run the Kent Road Runner Marathon this year and the Brighton Marathon next year.  Well that’s my take on it anyway!

So this week it is time to get gradually ease myself back into my training, as I have a Marathon to train for.

Until next time
TJH