Post London Marathon week - also known as the week I battled both post marathon blues and also the ridiculous state I seem to have got my quads into. Post marathon blues is nothing new; give it a Google and there are lots of articles about the challenges of a comedown following a big event which has been the focus of your time and energy for the past months. I always suffer from it, so expected to feel a bit lost this week. I did not expect however my legs to be so slow to recover from running 26.2 miles. I am usually back into exercise sometimes the day after a marathon, and the past two marathons I have completed have seen me undertake races the week after. This week has been very different though... MONDAY: the day after London and I was in a lot of pain. My walking was a stiff shuffle and my quads were incredibly painful. The rest of my body seemed relatively fine, but the acute soreness in my quads meant I grimaced with virtually any movement. Needless to say no exercise was even considered. TUESDAY: my quads were still very painful today, less excruciating but my mobility was still badly affected. I went to the gym for a steady cycle on the bike to try and encourage some recovery. I also braved the foam roller, which was simply hideous! WEDNESDAY: a slight improvement in my quads today. They were still sore and stiff, but almost at the normal post marathon levels I am used to experiencing, only three days delayed. I cycled again at the gym before attempting a Body Pump class. What with being away watching my friend in the Boston Marathon and then prepping for my own London Marathon I had not been to the class in over two weeks. Due to this it seemed extra hard work, but I dragged my tired body through. | THURSDAY: Body Pump was not a good idea. Today my entire body ached, and obviously still my quads. Even moving the mouse on my laptop at work hurt! I think I had totally shocked my body, so I opted to give it a (probably much needed) rest. FRIDAY: there was some low level pain in my quads today, but compared to the rest of the week they seemed much better. I tried a gentle 3 mile run after work. It was awful. My quads felt like I was back running Mile 25 of the marathon again. The pain was almost nauseating. SATURDAY: I volunteered at Lincoln parkrun today, which I was really happy to do after marathon madness meaning I had been away for the last two weekends. After last night's run I was especially glad I had not attempted to run. I went to the gym after parkrun and cycled again in a vain attempt to try loosen and flush out my pesky quads. My quads felt fine on the bike, which was frustrating considering how painful running was. Even the foam roller was markedly improved from earlier in the week. SUNDAY: I nervously tried another run today. It was not much better. Initially things felt bearable, but quad pain soon developed. I plodded an uncomfortable 5 miles and on finishing my legs felt like I had ran the marathon again. One week since London and I was virtually back to square one. I am not going to run now until I have seen my Sports Therapist on Tuesday. I am hoping she will be able to work out what is causing the pain in my quads and hopefully offer my muscles some release. Part of my marathon blues fighting strategy is to maintain a reasonable level of running in prep for the half marathon I have in four weeks, and also embrace some of the other gym classes I enjoy. At the moment that feels impossible. Hopefully next week will be a different story! |
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As you may be aware, I am running the London Marathon in April in aid of Project Africa Athletics.
Project Africa Athletics aims to support athletes in rural areas of East Africa. The charity seeks to give exposure to athletes living in poverty who possess the required talent to compete internationally and allow them to earn a decent living through running. Project Africa Athletics then assists these athletes with developing sustainable projects back in their rural villages to improve quality of life.The funds I raise will allow those less fortunate than me to reap the rewards of running, whilst also assisting communities living in poverty in Africa. Thanks to the support of numerous organisations I have been donated a number of prizes which I am raffling in aid of Project Africa Athletics. These are; Aftershokz Wireless Trekz Titanium Headphones: These bone conduction headphones are sold at a RRP of £109.99. The bone conduction technology delivers music through your cheekbones, ensuring your ears remain completely open to hear other sounds. Bone conducting headphones are the only earphones fully approved for use in all road races under the UK Athletics rules of competition. Signed Alistair and Jonathon Brownlee ‘Swim Bike Run’ Book: In their own words these brothers are ‘two ordinary men from Yorkshire trying to conquer the world of Triathlon’ - I think they are doing a pretty good job of it! This paperback copy of their bestselling book is signed by both brothers. Signed Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill Photograph: Dame Jess is a British athletics legend and heptathlete superstar, and this signed photo captures Jess competing at the London 2012 Olympic games. Skins Clothing: Clothing brand Skins have donated two items of clothing; calf tights (size M) and women’s capri tights (size S) which both can be won as a bundle. To enter any of the above draws simply donate £1 to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Alice.Carter including the following words in the comments section; Headphones (to enter the Aftershokz headphone draw) Brownlee (to enter the signed Brownlee brothers book draw) Jess (to enter the signed Dame Jessica Ennis Hill photo draw) Skins (to enter the Skins clothing draw) Every £1 donated equals one entry; for example a donation of £5 equals five entries, which then equals more chance of winning! (Note: please do not Gift Aid prize draw entries as donations made towards a prize cannot be counted for Gift Aid) The closing date for all draws is the 28th February. An individual winner for each prize will be drawn at random. Each winner will be contacted and prizes sent accordingly (sorry only UK entries). Thank you and good luck!
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December 2021
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