Today I did a stupid thing...

[Seafront Plodder]

...but more of that later.

Occasionally, life does just get in the way of running. On Boxing Day my sister and her clan went skiing to Switzerland for a week. They returned 3 days ago. On the morning they were due to come home, my nephew (age 15) decided to risk a jump he'd been working up the courage to attempt all week. He broke his femur.

The good news, is that if you're going to break your leg, you couldn't do it in a better place than a ski resort. The helicopter was scrambled and he was in x-ray before you could say Hörnligrat!! Various pins and private ambulances later, they came home, complete with accompanying Swiss nurse (male ).

Well my long run last weekend was ruined by their home-coming as the compulsory feast was duly prepared and, well after that it was as much as I could do to waddle around the park with the dog.

My other big problem is that I tend to fit my running around the beer drinking rather than the other way around. Otherwise I could have gone out on Saturday instead but I was dragged, kicking and screaming, down the pub on Friday night.

Well I finally managed to get out tonight and ran for around an hour. It was certainly hat and gloves weather out there, but I never cease to be amazed at the speed at which I warm up, as by the end I was down to just a t-shirt against the biting, icy wind.

I know I have to crank up the runs as the 1/2 I've entered looms closer, if I want to have any chance of putting in a PB. I have run 2 marathons since my last 1/2 which was at Silverstone last year, and I suspect I am not now giving the distance the respect it deserves. *gulp*

..........And the stupid thing I've done? Entered the New York marathon in November this year. Will I ever learn?

[El Gordo]

New York? Good decision. One of my favourite cities. For some reason I've not really thought about doing the marathon there, though they say the crowd support is second to none. The odd hill or two apparently, and that funny early start in Staten Island, but I've heard mostly great things about it.

A great time to go to the US with the exchange rate too, so there's that gamble about whether to pay for your accommodation and flight now or later.

Anyway, best of luck. It'll be a great experience.

[Nigel]

New York ! Wonderful city, and a great historic race. Now that'll get you out of the house through the winter, SP....

I can imagine the Verrazano Narrows bridge and the crowds on First Avenue - but I'm looking forward to reading all about it. Good luck !

[Seafront Plodder]

I had to attend a client's bored(sic) meeting today *yawn* and I found myself with a dilemma on the motorway whilst driving back late this afternoon.

Hmm.....cratcheschinthoughtfully:, back to the office to tidy up some bits, or bugger off home for an early evening run......a difficult one.

50 minutes fairly intense hill running followed! It had better be doing me some good I can tell you, boy it hurts . The big chill has, I think set in this evening, and towards the end of the run I was breathing so hard I couldn't see where I was going for the steam.

But now a sublime feeling of well-being has descended over this pc! I don't need to elaborate; we all know that post-run feeling - and it's fantastic. Andy has described it many times in his diaries, and it's here with me now.

Happy Tuesday.

[Seafront Plodder]

tennis player; having played to county standard many years ago, and although I'm not the gazelle I once was, can still hit a ball in anger, and I know the foot fault rule.

Well tonight my cross training was 90 minutes of singles (indoors) against a 23 year old! It's a shame I can't spell 'fcuked', as that was how I was by the end! Still, keeping up (most of the time) with a guy a couple of years younger than me isn't too bad I suppose.

Beer day tomorrow, rest day on saturday and the longee on Sunday morning. Can't wait!

[El Gordo]

Originally posted by Seafront Plodder
Beer day tomorrow, rest day on saturday...

Hmm. So is a beer day counted as training? Please send me your training plan immediately. This could be the one I've been looking for.....

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Oh.

I thought every day was beer day.

Am I doing somthing wrong? Forgive me... I'm new at this running lark.

MLCMan

[El Gordo]

Originally posted by Mid Life Crisis Man
I thought every day was beer day.

No, it's good to have one rest day per week.

[Riazor Blue]

Aaahh, but when your'e into the serious training, and if you want to improve your PBs you could probably skip your rest day. (Make mine a London Pride).

[El Gordo]

I live across the road from a Fuller's pub, so mine will indeed be a London Pride in about 3 hours from now.

Hurrah!

[Seafront Plodder]

I managed to squeeze a 3 miler in this evening before the commencement of the beer festivities.

I still can't quite manage to shake off this annoying lower back ache though. It starts after a mile or so. It's fine now, but at the time is extremely hard to run through. If it keeps up as it has been I'm in danger of missing the Brighton 1/2.

I've had my shoes looked at by a specialist running shop and they've still got some miles in 'em, but I really can't think of anything else it can be. As I type, (Guinness by my side) some 90 minutes after the run, the back's fine - it's really only whilst running that it hurts.

Still, I'll know more after the long run on Sunday am, and today on the whole had been a good day. The M S Society (my the charity for whom I ran the London Marathon) have confirmed my place in the New York Marathon.

Good day made slightly worse by the announcement from Mrs SP that she and the two SP minors will be coming to cheer me on. Now don't get me wrong, I'd have given anything for them to be there at the finish-line in London or Dublin, but this time it's bound to have a serious effect on the wallet

Not cheap this running lark!

[Antonio247]

Andy, I hope you get better from your back ache and enjoy your long run on Sunday.

I´m sure it will be a wonderful experience to run NY marathon and much better with your family´s help and support.

Greetings from another sea front plodder.

Antonio

[El Gordo]

I often have trouble with an ache at the top of my back and around my shoulders on long runs. It kicks in after about 6 miles. I talked to a masseuse about it who said that I had a big build-up of lactic acid (?) up there which she 'massaged away'. Said that in my case it was caused by two things: 1. (probably) bad running posture. Not running upright enough, and 2. not stretching enough. Said I should lie on my back and raise my head and neck as though I was craning to see something beyond my feet.

Not sure why I'm mentioning this because it's not the same problem as yours by the sound of it.

Is it an old problem? Or just since you returned to running? Are you running on different surfaces from previously?

It might be worth getting a sports massage, and/or trying to find out if you're running style may be contributing to the problem.

Another suggestion is to look at the possibility of a Pilates class. I'm doing one at the moment on Tuesday evenings, and find it very helpful for running as it's all about stretching.

Let us know how it goes.

Andy

[Seafront Plodder]

It happened when I first started running, then it went off as (I guess), I developed a previously unused muscle group.

It happened again after the FLM lay off when I started running again as training for Dublin, and it's happened again now after that lay off. I've no doubt it'll ease off again, but I'm running (ha) out of weekends before the Brighton 1/2 on 22nd Feb.

I have a friend who's a paramedic, and he reckons it's important to lightly stretch the hamstrings before running otherwise the pelvis compensates (err....I forget the rest of what he said), and puts unnecessary strain on the lower back!

Probably more to do with the fact that I'm hardly built like a whippet.