Half-Marathon: Kneewatch Day 4

Update on the knee situation (I know that you were worried).

Pain is over. Thankfully, because it really was quite painful.

Stiffness in knees remains, however. It seems to be slowly easing... However this just means that I've gone from walking like C3PO on Hoth to walking like C3PO just after an oil bath. Not exactly a lean, mean running machine, I think you'd agree. Although, on reflection, I do actually run somewhat like C3PO does. Hmmm...

What this means is that I shall gracefully declining the great privilege of taking part in the half-marathon at the weekend. The risk of finding myself crippled and alone far from home is too great... (OK, the alone thing might be an exaggeration.) And, for once, this isn't even because there's rain forecast on Sunday!

Gosh, a silver lining for my cloud - who says I'm not upbeat and positive, eh?!

:o)

Running time/distance: 0 mins, 0 miles (recovery days are so important)

5x50: Revenge of the Knees

Before I started training for the marathon (2.5 years ago now!), my main concern was my knees. They were known for being dodgy and problematic, and were not to be trusted. So I consulted both the medical profession and the Evil Podiatrist in order to avoid any issues with said joints. And all was well.

But... But it would now appear that my knees were just being sneaky. Biding their time, letting the issues with the Traitor Toes distract me, lulling me into a false sense of security. For yesterday my knees finally came into their own and effectively downed tools. No more bending (without quite excruciating agony), limited standing, and as for lying down... Well, let's just say it's not supported and leave it at that.

Which leaves me popping Ibuprofen and slapping on Biofreeze and trying to broker some sort of deal with my own joints (a tricky endeavour at the best of times). It also leaves my participation in the half-marathon this Sunday looking rather unlikely (*gasp* No! Let it not be so!!).

Now, some might say that the remarkable lack of running in my recent training regime would rule out participation anyway, but I had hopes 50 continuous days of exercise would mitigate against that. However, there's not much even I can do about recalcitrant joints, and since I am fond of being able to move in a pain-free manner I may have to withdraw from the run to be on the safe side.

I know, I know - all quite traumatic. And I was soooo looking forward to it too... Hey, ho, there's always next year!

In other positive news, notwithstanding the recent injury the 5x50 Challenge has been successfully completed. In total. On a daily and every-day basis. And once my knees give over with the pain thing, I shall be celebrating this, I'm sure.

:o)

Running time/distance: 0 mins, 0 miles ('ave a 'eart, guv'nor, me knees are giving me gyp)

5x50: Weather warning

'Tis spring, and the weather is taking a turn for the warmer and sunnier. In general. As such, I had strong plans this week to actually go out and do some running.

Tuesday it was sunny all day until early evening, when the torrential rain started. And then it was sunny again. And then it rained again. It rained when I arrived at the supermarket; stopped by the time I got to the tills; and started again as I left the supermarket. Frankly, it was all a bit stressful and confusing for me.

As we know, there are clear health and safety reasons for my not running when it rains (i.e. I might melt) and so once I got home I sat down and had a cup of tea before making any firm decisions on the running front. A perhaps less well known fact is that "sitting down and having a cup of tea" is a tried and tested path to my deciding not to do any running: and so it proved on Tuesday.

Today, the weather took itself through a very similar cycle and I began to suspect that I was receiving unsubtle messages from above... So no running today either.

In fact, running has now been shelved as an exercise option until the weekend. Normal people look forward to weekends and have lots of nice things planned for them. I schedule all the stuff I hate (running, housework, admin) for the weekend as otherwise it definitely doesn't happen due to frequent use of the "I'm too tired from me very long day at work" card. As opposed to the fact that it probably won't happen at the weekend due to similarly frequent use of the "but it's the weekend!" card...

My life is a mess. *sigh*

:o}

Running time/distance: 0 mins, 0 miles (it was too hot.. I was too jet-lagged... Blah, blah, blah...)

Cross-trainer time/distance: 30 mins, 4.2 miles (Level 5 - Sunday)

5x50: Goodness gracious me!

So last week I was languishing in the Dubai heat and complaining that it was too hot to exercise. Particularly run. This week I'm back home in the, uh, temperate weather which we usually enjoy at this time of year (yes, that's right, it's been raining) and complaining that it's too cold to exercise. It's not that I'm hard to please - it's just that I think that in this day and age a temperature-controlled living environment isn't too much to ask for. Is it?

Anyway, a triumphant return to my own sweet gym was called for. Although, it has to be said, it's all gone a bit strange. Last night I went into the gym assuming that it was empty as half the lights were off. But no - in the half of the gym without lights, The Terminator was cross-training away. (Oookay.) and in the other half of the gym he had the TV playing Kiss FM Old Skool Anthems (no, really, that was the official title) at full volume. (Ooooookay.) Frankly, this was not only odd, but it was rather disappointing. Kiss FM? Old Skool Anthems (with, frankly, no real indication what it was about the pounding unending discordant noise that made it "Old Skool". And don't get me started on the spelling...)?? Oh, how do I long for the innocent days when The Terminator brought his iPod to the gym...

And that's before you notice the fact that The Terminator does his relentless cross-training with his jacket over the console - so how does he know when to stop? How does he know how long or how far or IT MAKES NO SENSE!!??!! I try not to think too long on that one...

There's more... But, then again, there's still just over a week of the 5x50 Challenge to go and so I shouldn't peak too soon...

;oD

Running time/distance: 0 mins, 0 miles (it was too hot.. I was too jet-lagged... Blah, blah, blah...)

Cross-trainer time/distance: 37 mins, 5 miles (Level 5 - Thursday)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 31 mins, 4 miles ("Level 6" - last Tuesday)
Cross-trainer time/distance: 30 mins, 4 miles ("Level 6" - last Wednesday)