The Week Of Self Testing

Despite developing a mysterious ankle niggle/injury/issue (I am not sure what it is!), this week has a been a good week for running. I have pushed myself a little more at times, just for fun really, and have also exerted a bit of self disciple to listen to my body too - testing myself in both ways. This week has also ignited my excitement to start training again in a few months time!

MONDAY: Strength and Conditioning for Runners followed by a Body Pump class

TUESDAY: this week I wanted to try and add a bit more pace to my mid week running, not a lot, but just enough to add a little more stimulus for my mind and demand on my legs. This morning's early  5 miler involved a long hill to begin with and then trying to keep pace afterwards. I like creating challenges like this every once in a while and I recommend it if you want to mix up your running a little. 

WEDNESDAY: another 5 miler, however this run naturally turned into a progression run as with each mile that passed I simply felt I could give a little more. I was really pleased to finish with a 7.37 min/mile split without it feeling too much like I was killing myself! 

THURSDAY: after two good runs today was the complete opposite. My 5:30am alarm went off and I was awake, dressed and out ready by 6am. All was good until I took my first step. My left ankle felt painful instantly, like a twanging feel radiating from the calf/soleus into my foot. It hurt every time I pushed off the ground. As I had felt nothing in the days before or even as I had been walking around my house beforehand I hoped the pain would just ease and might be stiffness. I plodded slowly along, but the pain remained and rather than fade seemed to shift all over my ankle. I made it to 1 mile, stopped, realised this was stupid, turned around and plodded home. I was not too upset - if I had been in marathon training then it would have been another story! Instead I was more puzzled and curious as to why it felt like this, especially as later when walking to work it was absolutely fine. I even went to a Body Pump class later and again felt absolutely nothing. I started to think I had imagined it all, but I promise the pain had been very real when running!

FRIDAY: Rest Day - and a lot of ice and compression applied to the ankle. I still was not sure what was wrong, but figured this would do no harm. 

SATURDAY: tentatively I attended Lincoln parkrun, with my ankle strapped and some ibuprofen gel rubbed in (not really recommended!) I wanted to try running again and decided if it really hurt I could slow down or even walk, and parkrun would still be far more enjoyable then if I had a repeat of Thursday morning. I will admit during the first few hundred metres there was a bit of an uncomfortable sensation in my ankle, but it eased off and I was then able to run untroubled. Running felt so much better than last week's struggle, and I finished in my quickest time since the Sydney Marathon, logging 21:20. This gave me a bit of confidence that I may be able to get back to running sub 21 minute times again eventually; I do not expect it to happen overnight, but I am working steadily towards it. 

​SUNDAY: ankle strapped I headed out for a ten miler, with the realistic expectation in my head that if I felt any pain I would stop or cut the run short. Again at the onset there was a slight uncomfortable sensation in my ankle, but it did fade, especially as I took the first mile steady as a bit of a test/warm up. Spurred on by the beautiful Autumn morning and admittedly the need to run out some pent up life frustration, I then upped my pace a little and tried to see what my legs may be capable of. The pavement took a determined pounding at times, but it was what I needed to do, and I was now running roughly 8 min/mile pace, finishing with an 8.11 min/mile average pace overall (see image). It felt good and whilst I am not training for anything, sometimes it is nice just to feel that sensation - it is the drug I need!