Am I getting old?

So I was all ready to launch into the next phase of base training and first I twisted my back and also ended up with some weird muscle spasm in my right leg. That put an end to running on Monday and Tuesday.
And my favourite knee started to play up on Wednesday as well, but by that stage I had enough.

Since then I have been back into it although at bit sluggis at times. At least the Mount Street intervals did not go as well as the week before.

At least today I managed a good 28k long run. Got a bit tough on the last 4ks, but otherwise I managed a nice pace at below 70% at all times.
Tomorrow it's off to the south for a few days - I'm sure I'll find a few nice places to run (if I'm up to it between the bottles of wines...)

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First proper long run

It was indeed a rest week, as I'm now busting to get properly back into it again. That is what periodisation is all about. Another four weeks of base training and then intensity.
This week I managed to split up the runs easily over three days with a 25k long run yesterday. My better half crewed me on the bike, which is always very nice as it gives us some "us" time (away from the nagging kids....). We were very tempted to sit down at Choux in Swanbourne for a coffee and a nice little pastry but we were "good" and just got croissants for breakfast after.
Fortunately I had a trial vacated this week which means that the Xmas lead up will be much easier and I'll be able to take the time for training without too much rushing and I won't have to think about work constantly when on the runs.
Knee is still holding up marvelously, even after 25k. Worst thing were a couple of blisters, but that's the Brooks Trance, they are just not a perfect fit over distances 20k+. I'll have to remember that.

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Week four - still going strong

Apart from the occasional niggle the knee is holding up very nicely. I actually applied to join a knee study at UWA to track the long-term development of arthritis in the knee after a meniscectomy. Although I fitted all criteria, they would not take me as I had the same op 20 years ago - bummer - would have been interesting to see how it all develops - especially with a free MRI etc thrown in every 2 years.
Well, I'm happy as it is and I'll soon enough notice if it goes downhill again.
Because of the trip to Adelaide with son #1 on the weekend, I did the long run on Wednesday morning. Then on Sunday a 60 minute run around the Torrens, very enjoyable, albeit feeling a bit sluggish. Nevertheless, at an average pace of 5:13 the heart rate was just under 60%. Not bad at all.
Total ks this week: just over 53.
On Friday I did 6 reps of Mount Street and finally managed to break that 1:30 barrier. The fact that it was lunchtime and the temperature in the high 20's made that just that little more impressive.
This week is a "rest" week, so I'll take it easy, but overall the training is working out just as planned.

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Week 3 - Shins splints? What shin splints?

A solid week with a tempo run on Monday, 13ks overdistance on Wednesday, gym on Tuesday and Wednesday, hills on Friday (nearly broke that elusive 1:30 mark at Mount Street, yeah!) and: ouch, what is that on Friday? Shin splints? Oh, no!
Anyway, despite having to be on my feet all day examining, with plenty of ice in the evening, a couple Voltaren and a good wrap overnight, it had all disappeared on Saturday morning.
I was not game to do the long run then though, so rest and today I went out for 100 mins, expecting that I might have to stop and waddle home.
No such thing, did the entire 100 mins at 5:17 at 66% HR, including Reabold Hill. That was very good. So I'm very happy, especially since otherwise the week quite crappy in various respects.
Next week is hopefully better with work not being as demanding.
Friday it's off to Adelaide for the weekend for #1's UMAT interview, so let's see what that city has to offer runwise.

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One week down, 22 to go

Busy week ahead & just a quick note here.
The first week was exactly as it was supposed to be, pretty much according to plan.
I even managed to stick to my aim of doing the Deepwater Point 15k today & just do it as a long run. I thought I should be able to stay under 70% and do 5:30 per k.
So the plan was to do it in 1:22:30 and lo & behold I got back in 1:22:10. Perfect.
40ks for the week and two solid strength sessions.
The test is going to be this week when I'll have to concentrate on the job. But going for a run will help me keeping a clear head.
Fingers crossed!

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Day one, week one

A few short runs in the bag, plenty of time in the pool (but still a lousy swimmer) and 23 weeks to Canberra. So now the work starts in earnest.
Doing 25ks per week is not a lot, however, the knee needed a bit of build up. The physio also prepared a new program for the gym and that has done wonders to make the knee more stable.
The next eight weeks will be base building by which time I should get to about 50 - 60ks with the longest run about 25ks.
Then eight weeks of intensity training reaching about 70ks in February with the longest run about 35ks.
All I need now is the WAMC program to figure out which races I can use as tempo runs. Certainly the Darlington Half looks like a good opportunity to test the waters.
Now I just have to keep the motivation going!
Tomorrow morning, strength training at the gym.

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Lazarus rises! Oh, yeah!

More than four weeks have passed since the op and I am quite happy with the progress.
The word from the orthopod was not to run for four weeks, so now I'm allowed to go out again. Not that I had been sooo good, I have gone out a couple of times after the three week mark, including the 5k fun run on Rottnest.
Except for the inordinate time to finally end up on the op table on the day and then to wait for the spinal block to go away, the experience was excellent. I watched the whole thing on the monitor and got the running commentary on what was going on and as a special bonus got to take away pictures and a videotape of the surgery.
Yes, it was a bit frustrating to see the people who had opted for a GA to walk out within a couple of hours of coming out of the OT, but getting my toes to wiggle again was an experience by itself.
After that I had some time off, but the only thing I really did not do is put my feet up. I joined a gym and worked out religiously with as little stress on the knee as possible. It has certainly been worth it.
So now I'm planning to put a program together that will see me doing the Canberra Marathon next year.
Last week I did 30ks all up. Knee was just a tad tight, but that was it.
Then 14ks on Monday and that was a bit much so since then it's just been the gym. But there is no rush.
I also want to learn swimming properly and have started with the Total Immersion program. Quite tough, but I think it'll be worth it.

Lazarus rises?

Today I had a lousy run, but then, at least I had one.
In fact, I nearly went up to Kings Park for 8am to sign up for the 15k Pancake run, but then decided against it.
Instead, I left home at seven, passed by the start of the run (they were just setting up, so only a few runs) and got home having done only 6.5k.
On the other hand, at least I am running.
The orthopod did say that I could do no more damage and whether or not to have the op really was up to me entirely and how I felt about running with the knee as it is.
So, even though I was terribly underdone, I thought I might just head out for the City to Surf. I had done all of 2x 6.5k runs in the last two months, so yes, I certainly was not up to doing a quick time.
When I picked up the race number I was a bit embarrassed to say yes when the lady at the counter asked me whether I was still going to run in Group B, meaning I was aiming at doing a time of at least 58mins.
I said yes and I can say quite happily that I met the challenge. Although a few times I was very close to veering to the left and going home I just made it in 57:59! Actually I'm quite chuffed.
The following week I did a 12k run round Kings Park and then decided to do the Perth HM.
Again, completely underdone (boy, did my calves hurt afterwards) I headed out and managed to do it in 1:47.30. Admittedly, having Wife and little one cheering me on (and me scoring a kiss) at the half way mark did help.
So, overall, being 5.5 mins and 11 mins slower than last year at C2S and Perth HM respectively was not too bad.
This week, I did close to 13k on Wednesday and got on the bike into work on Friday and the knee is doing ok. Hurts, but it hasn't fallen off.
So having a bit of trouble this morning is not really a great drama.
Given how much work I've got on, I am actually looking forward to 27/9. At least I can tell everyone that I am just not going to be around.
Tomorrow I'll do the "bike thing" again and then we'll see what I feel like.
I'll also be looking to sign up for a rehab program at a gym Wifey has found so that I am adequately prepared pre-op for post-op.

The Verdict

Not much point trying to rehash the year so far as it has been pretty much c..p.

By June I was was doing long runs up to 32ks, so that was not all too bad, considering that I opted out of doing the Perth Marathon as we were going to fly overseas that very day. But by then I was getting a sharp pain on the inside of the right leg, just below the knee.

I did not want to really believe it but should have known that my old army injury was having a comeback.

So after a few visits to the doctors and an MRI I got the good word from the orthopod today: gnashed medial meniscus.

Unfortunately I'm a tad busy until late September, but had planned on taking October off anyway.

So 27/9 is it & after that I hope I'll be (slowly) on my feet again.

Until then, I'll ride the bike and should do some swimming. I have done a bit of running (as in very, very little), since the orthopod thought that I did not "need" the op and it was very much a matter of choice and how much pain I felt and wanted to put up with.

So notwithstanding the fact that I have had no training of substance in the last three months, I picked up the C2S race number today and might head out tomorrow. The BoM says there will be showers and possibly a thunderstorm (& also NW winds, oh dear!) but that will not sway me.
I'll see how the knee feels in the morning and decide then.

2007 Goals

Long time since the last post, I'll just briefly summarise:

The preparation for the planned 6-inch track 45k race was going ok - not perfect as I had real trouble for a while to get up early in the morning. 

However, my better half started joining me on the Saturday long runs on her bike and that was good fun! Who would have thought that she would ever get up early on a day when she was not on a schedule.

The accommodation was booked and all planned when I had to go back to Switzerland at the beginning of December as my godfather was very ill. Fortunately I managed to get there just before he passed away and we were able to spend a couple of days together.

I then ran in the Silvesterlauf, a 8.6k race through the middle of Zürich, very pitturesque, if a bit crammed. How I managed to focus during that race I have no idea as otherwise the whole time over there was quite draining. 

After dealing with the aftermath, I just got back for Xmas (the kids were happy), but I slept for the first three days back almost non-stop.

Apart from one run up the Üetliberg outside of Zürich I didn't run all month. 

By the end of the year I had at least mentally recovered, put on about 5kgs and ready to plan. Took me another week to work it all out, but then, hey, who's rushing?!

The year started well though as I started it with a run around Kings Park at 5:30 in the morning!

So the plan this year is to do the Bunbury, Perth and Rottnest Marathons, with a focus on doing Perth in 3:30 and Rottnest just to enjoy myself. Bunbury is not a must, especially as it is a mere six weeks before Perth and I may turn it into training run only.
I will also do the Perth Half (but not Freo as we will be in Melbourne then to see the Dalai Lama), Darlington Half, City to Surf and a few club races.
The 6-inch is a definite date (unless I decide to go skiing instead).

Training started for real last week and I have been keeping up with it. I also try to ride my bike to work to get some additional overdistance work done without the strain on the joints.

Eventually, I'll start swimming again - but first I'll need to figure out how to go about learning it properly - I am just so hopeless, it's embarrassing.