2014

[marathondan]

Back to Dee the Podiatrist this morning, for a very informal chat. We spent quite a lot of time on the Asics website looking at shoes. (Like me, she's an Asics user.) The basic options are to stick with the current GTs and the orthotic she has prescribed, or move up to a Kayano without the orthotic. What difference would the Kayano make? About 40 quid a pair. So we're going with plan A for now.

She has also referred me back to Rob the Physio, for some proper deep tissue massage on the tendon. He is going to take this really small part of my leg, which hurts quite badly when I squeeze or poke it, and repeatedly squeeze and poke it, and perhaps worse. I think I spotted a sadistic gleam in Dee's eye when she bade me farewell with the cliche "no pain, no gain."

But we also had a good little chat about the tendon itself. Like me she was encouraged that I'm running short distances on it pain-free, and like me she thought it was time to start slowly ramping up. This seems to indicate that there's minimal damage to the tendon, but that the fibres are a bit out of shape and rubbing on the surrounding sheath, which is also out of shape due to scar tissue.

Meanwhile, in the last couple of weeks I've got into a good exercise routine, which is hopefully becoming a long-term habit. Early morning isn't my favourite time to run, but I've realised that it's the best time to bag some uninterrupted me-time (no.1 son's bedtime is now 9ish and getting later). So six days a week the drill is up at 5.30, drive to work, then alternately run three miles or stop off at the park for a half hour workout - dips on a park bench, chinups on a handy tree, etc. On Saturday I skip the driving to work bit and make use of the garden, kids' swing frame replacing the chinup tree. As has been well-documented in the past, once I've overcome the urge to stay in bed, motivation isn't an issue - at that time of the morning I'm a mile into the run before I've worked out what's going on. Even now, this morning's effort in light rain and distant thunder is just a memory. And the light endorphin high carries me through the day.

Stay tuned, slow-moving drama fans! Next week: man increases weekly mileage by 1 mile, probably nothing else happens.