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

Some bugs are contagious!

To start a brief update on my injury.

Having seen a physio on Tuesday it has been confirmed that I have IT Band syndrome.  This is a result of muscle imbalance.  Calves too tight, glutes too weak, text book problems (which is what I had read about last week).  Despite me thinking that a stretch quite a bit I am probably guilty along with the majority of runners of not stretching enough.  I suppose it is a bit like when I played football as a kid.  All you want to do is actually play, rather than train and do drills.  The same with running, I just like to run.  Well a valuable lesson learnt and fortunately not too much damage done.

The consequence is that I will be deferring my run this year in the Brighton Marathon.  If I was running for charity, I would still be taking part.  But fortunately I do not have that responsibility, so I can be a bit more cautious.  However, I have registered for the Kent Road Runner Marathon on 1st June.

So onto my main topic of this blog, Mich, my wife! also known as 'The Mrs', 'Er Indoors', 'The Trouble & Strife' these are obviously generic terms and not names that I would use personally, I know Mich reads these blogs ;-)

It was only last Autumn, that I managed to persuade Mich to join the Petts Wood Runners beginners group and from being a complete non runner, within 8 weeks she completed her first Parkrun.

Fast forward 6 months and now, I often miss the Tuesday night PWR run, so she can run, I am babysitting Max, although I believe when it is your own child, it is called 'parenting'  Last week Mich achieved a Parkrun PB. This week we were talking and I suggested that she started incorporating some interval elements.  So on Thursday, Mich ran for 30 minutes, with a 15 second threshold pace element every 5 minutes.

Saturday was when I had final confirmation that Mich has truly caught the running bug.  Early morning Mich was up and was eating a banana along with a glass of beetroot juice.  Then I came out of the bathroom to find her doing dynamic stretching!  Mich then asked my advice on a plan for incorporating some threshold elements in her Parkrun.  We agreed on a strategy of an increase in pace for 20 seconds at each mile with a faster finish.

The result was another PB of 32:38, knocking another 1m 19secs of the previous weeks PB.

The stats that I should have uploaded earlier

But to be honest, none of that was the proof that Mich has the running bug.  My evidence is as follows:

Mich will tell you, I am a bit untidy and she will also tell you it is a close run thing, who makes more mess, me or Max.
Upon returning from Parkrun, I happened to be tidying up a bit in the bedroom, picking up my clothes etc and Mich came out of the shower and said
"What are you doing?"
(Most blokes will know, when your wife asks you this you have to think about your answer very carefully)
"Er tidying up" I replied cautiously.
"Oh, well I thought you would be uploading the Garmin stats to see how I did"

So there you have it, Mich would rather me upload her run stats than tidy up! :-) She has officially caught the running bug!

Mich focussing on the finish, with Max encouraging!

A 10k run in May is next on her agenda, I have pencilled her in for the Barca Half in 2015 ;-) (I want to get my hat-trick in 2014)

Until next time
TJH (proud Hubby)