The Week of Returning Friends

This week I was finally able to reveal that I will be running the London Marathon next year in aid of Project Africa Athletics (more info here). I can't wait to begin training again, and to take on the challenge of another marathon. Revisiting London after completing the 2015 race is exciting, I feel I am a better runner now than I was two years ago, and am hoping to improve my time accordingly. Training for the 2015 London Marathon arrived at a time in my life when I really needed that focus, and likewise as we end 2016 I feel I am in a similar position. Welcome back London, I've missed you.  
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MONDAY: Body Pump and Spinning - my knee was a little sore during Body Pump, I was struck by a sharp pain at times during squatting - not good!

TUESDAY: to my relief running caused my knee no pain whatsoever and I managed a pleasant five miles before Kettlebells and an abs class at the gym. The lack of knee pain was pleasing, but the knowledge something was wrong was still in my mind. 

WEDNESDAY: a faster five mile run, roughly 8 minute/mile pace, before Body Pump. Again my knee was bothering me during the class, and I modified my squatting action to avoid pain. Thankfully I was due to see my Sports Therapist on Friday and this stopped me from hugely panicking. Plus, running still was ok - which is the main thing after all!

THURSDAY: I chose to rest my legs today mainly for my knee's benefit and in prep for my appointment on Friday. I completed a gym session for the first time in months, revisiting the weight machines and free weight exercises that have long been ditched in favour of running miles. I was pleased with how my strength had improved despite this, although the endorphins did not quite match that of running!

FRIDAY: Rest day and my sports therapy appointment. Good news, my knee was nothing too serious; it seems my lack of flexibility and slight negligence in actually addressing this issue is causing some tension in the knee area. I have work to do, but I can still run, so I left feeling relived and happy!

SATURDAY: I volunteered on scanning duties at a frosty Lincoln parkrun today (see images). The park looked quite magical with its white frosting and dashes of colourful runners standing out brightly against the wintry backdrop. It was a little chilly on the volunteer side of things, but still as enjoyable as ever. My friend was also volunteering as tailrunner, so we both opted to run back home after parkrun had finished. It was lovely running, firstly as it warmed up my slightly numb feet, and secondly it was the first time I had ran with my friend since she had been out injured - I think we are talking in the region of around four months! I completed a 10k loop back to my house, stripping of volunteering clothing layers rapidly as I went!

​SUNDAY: my friend joined my for a section of my longer 10 mile run again today and I literally could not believe how quickly it made the miles go by. Having been running solo for quite a while now it seemed to emphasise the difference having company makes. I will happily go out for runs alone, and its great sometimes to have some thinking space and 'you' time, but other times its both therapeutic and wonderful to be able to share the miles with someone else. 

So my running buddy is back and the London Marathon is also back in my life - its definitely been a week of returning friends. ​