What next eh?

[Charliecat5]

Knocked out by hay fever       
 
It’s been a difficult week running wise.  It started with anticipation of running Caburn last Thursday.  I was really looking forward to it.  There was a spring in my step and two friends had agreed to join me.  But one mile in and my legs rebelled and left the building.  I was in agony.  I kept at it for a couple of miles but then had to wish my running buddies well and turned round to limp it home.   A bit of medical opinion (i.e. Google) tells me that I had a touch of medial tibial stress syndrome.  Nope, I have no idea either.
 
Apparently, one cause of MTSS is knackered footwear.  I chose to ignore the stuff about: too much, too soon.  And not building up mileage gradually enough, or the stuff about seasoned runners who abruptly change their workout regimen, suddenly adding too much mileage, etc.   Clearly none of that relates to me.  It has to be my shoes.  To be fair they do have big holes in them and have probably done 500-600 miles.    
 
So on Saturday I went to a running shop and bought a shiny, sparkly new pair.  They are lovely and blue with grippy stuff underneath.  And I got £20 off due to my esteemed status as Moyleman Race Director.  
 
Sunday evening I headed out with Radar to put my new shoes to the test.  She is on the road to recovery from a nasty bout of pneumonia so we had planned a slow 5-6 miles along the river and up the hill to Mount Harry.  It was a beautiful run and in the end resulted in 7 miles.  My feet were bouncy and not hurty.  Result. Problem solved.
 
Tuesday I rocked up for a Herd Run.  Taking it easy was the call for the day, a few still cooling down from the London Marathon.  We set off to do the Kloop (aka the Kingston Loop) which is about 5 miles and reasonably flat.   It was a nightmare.  I know I was running with a fast group, but still.  At the two mile mark I was on my knees.  No energy and legs like a badly tossed salad.  By mile three I called it a day and announced that was going to walk home.  Being a caring lot, they eased up and insisted that walking was for losers. So I kept running.  I’m pleased I did, but it was a painful experience.
 
Thursday (i.e. last night), Radar put a call out for a run, so I joined her for another go around the Kloop.  This was better than Tuesday’s affair, mainly because it was slower.  It was still a painful experience though.   No energy in the tank.  Snot pouring down my face.  Legs like treacle.  
 
I love this time of year… but the bloody hay fever is something else.
 
P.s. the medial tibial stress syndrome (whatever that is) has disappeared, so I guess it was the shoes.