The Next Steps

Since my last blog and my simultaneous decision to end any form of marathon training, things have felt good. I am not missing the structure of marathon training and I am certainty not doubting my decision not to have any involvement in a virtual London Marathon and/or attempt a new Good For Age time.

Mentally it feels like a hanging weight has been lifted; I pretty much know where I stand now in terms of the rest of this year, and although I am waiting on an email from the London Marathon to confirm what will happen with my 2020 place, I am not wasting any energy worrying about what that outcome may be. Physically, my body already feels better for a drop in mileage too. It has made me realise how much pain the tendinitis that my Sports Therapist had recently diagnosed as developing in my left knee has been causing me, mainly when not running. Recently when driving my car and my leg being stuck in a fixed, bent position it was becoming extremely uncomfortable and was seeing me finish even short journeys ready to literally jump out the car and straighten my leg. This week I drove from York to Lincoln without any pain whatsoever. 

In York I had been staying with my sister and her boyfriend for a few days, and my parents also came up to stay, so I was able to see them for the first time since Christmas. The timing of my little trip away could not have fallen more perfectly really; with the marathon plan torn up I was able to really enjoy some time out of my lock down routine and also to switch off. I still ran most days with my sister and her boyfriend (it is so great having family who also love to run!) but there was no pressure to get up and squeeze 20 miles in before joining the days activities. We are still an active family though, so we walked lots of miles and I even went on a bike ride for the first time in many years! We cycled 24 miles and although I have absolutely no cycling gear (my backside was a little saddle sore sat on a rock hard saddle in flimsy running shorts!), was borrowing my sister's second hand bike, and got a puncture a mile from home whilst cycling up a hill - I really enjoyed it! 

At times whilst away I was almost able to forget the ongoing impact of Covid-19. In fact some areas of my life are beginning to shift slowly back towards normality. I am still working predominantly from home, although can go into my workplace/office now if there is a need to - these little breaks from my kitchen table are very much welcomed. Our Run Club is now meeting in slightly larger numbers and we even have a track session planned for next week. 

Perhaps most surprisingly for 2020, I also have an actual race - the Normanby 10k - taking place in two weeks time. This is an event I have absolutely zero expectations for in terms of my own performance but simply want to experience a race day feeling again with friends and also support Curly's Athletes, who I know through our joint involvement in the Lincoln City Half Marathon. I trust that the Curly's team will be doing all that can to deliver a safe but enjoyable event. 

Running wise I am simply going to do what I feel like in the weeks ahead; I know I need to keep my mileage a little more conservative for a few more weeks, and I actually feel quite inclined to do some shorter, sharper runs for a change - I can get myself 5k ready for the long awaited return of parkrun! ​I am also going to be a little more relaxed with blogging - not stopping! - but without 'training' as such to report on I am simply going to write when I feel like it. 
 
I feel comfortable with my next steps, and my biggest hope is that things also keep progressing forward more generally in the world and society.