Running

Well Done Brun- excellent work.
VanUden- keep up the good work! The knee pain is not an uncommon problem- hope your bleep test goes well.

First 10k at full pace for a long time tomorrow morning.
Will see how it goes.
Going to focus on speedwork and short runs 'till after exams- just keeping 1/2 marathon fitness up, then focus on breaking the 3hr at Nottingham marathon.

This didn't happen today. Got up too late and then was on wards. Lazy and disappointed with myself...
Will be trying when finished on the wards, but since that's going to be 7/8, I suspect I may be a bit knackered.

15/ 25 , not bad, just lovely to be in the forest maaaaaan.
there were 15 dnfs on this which shows the technicality...
http://www.sarumo.org.uk/Sarum%20Galoppen%20May%202013/results.htm

VanUden- keep up the good work! The knee pain is not an uncommon problem- hope your bleep test goes well.

Thanks! What's the rule of thumb for a grumbly / achy knee? Only aches after running, no sharp pain, just persistent ache.

Am going to see a physio on Friday just to be on the safe side, must say have really been enjoying the Couch To 5K program and not running for the past 6 days seems really odd!

Good luck with your program eyebrows!

My response to pain in the leg is to try and isolate it.
(after the usual RICE stuff)
So start with the simple things- the things you don't need to spend money on.
Look at your feet when you run. Are you crossing the midline, finding one foot more responsive than the other, slapping the ground more with one foot, is one foot everted/inverted (its not possible to self-assess pronation issues without a treadmill and a mirror and this itself is an inexact science).

Work on strengthening different parts of the leg- my favorite is trying to stand on one leg, eyes closed, and incorporating lunges. Try it, it highlights your weakpoints well.

Core strength comes next. Think about your back, your stomach, and anywhere where you can lose drive- just as you can when rowing, cycling, etc. If something is wrong higher up- as D found it can affect the knees.

Then think about your hip stability. Run with your hands over your hip-joint, see if you can't localise a misalignement.

A Physio will do all these things a million times better than you or I, I just don't have access to them at all so tried to pick up tips from fellow students.

Finally, once all this is done- its time to start looking at your shoes, socks etc.
I had epic foot pain before 1st marathon. Changed shoes, socks and now everything is better. I also completely renovated my running style.

However, in the photos from this marathon- it is clear I need to work on core massively. You can always improve!

Also- where is the pain- exactly?
You say dull ache- does it continue through the whole day?
Any rise or fall?
Walking make it feel worse or better?

Also- where is the pain- exactly?
You say dull ache- does it continue through the whole day?
Any rise or fall?
Walking make it feel worse or better?

All good advice, thanks. I do have proper shoes that I picked up from Runners Needs after someone watched me run.

The pain / ache continues through the whole day the day after running and for a day or 2 after but lessens gradually. Walking seems to help. Sitting around doesn't. It's directly below and to the sides of the knee cap. Walking down stairs and getting up from a seated position can test it.

Hence I haven't run since Tuesday just gone as I've read all sorts of horror stories about pressing on and ending up screwing your knees royally.

When I first started running I did get shin pain but pressed on through this and now don't get it anymore.

39:13 this morning. My tummy wasn't great and you can tell I've spent a year focusing on LD stuff as my tolerance to threshold stuff was well down. Not sure whether I'm satisfied with the result but I set out to run sub 40 and I did that so can't complain.

I did the Colchester 10km race yesterday.

Nicely organised by the Rotary Club, finishing on the atheltics track and with a sizeable proportion of the event on paths through parks. Each KM was marked out which I love in these sort of races, even though I run with a Garmin, I am usually too scared to look at it incase the speed is not what I want.

I did a PB of 35.16, only really a few rises and they come in the last 2km. Legs were tired from about 7km as had taken part in a Triathlon the day before, and the mile times showed I slowed about 10 secs a mile.

Have I told you lately that I hate you Jamie? Bloody well done, you fast fucker.

I haven't run in a month since the 48hr treadmill monster - it knacked a ligament, and been in great pain just walking. Saw doc on Sat, and can start on light stuff again this week. Already had to cancel Double Ironman next month, and need this to come right soon to build back up to bigger stuff.

Moan, whinge etc and so forth

Need to enter a 10k to get a pb on the board but both those times above are bloody quick!

Nice run Jamie. With tired legs you must be looking at another PB if you take a few easy days before the race. Do you reckon you can get down to 34min?

Glenn, not lately, but its nice to know the emotion is still there.
Rwn - thanks, pal. Not sure, seems like a fair amount of time, will probably try in Aug or Sept if I can find something nice and flat and give it my best shot.

Just knocked-out 11.3 miles. Took an hour and forty but it was actually enjoyable. Pretty pleased with that.

Passed my bleep test! Very chuffed :)

Excellent news.
In other news I'm a bit stumped as to what your knee pain is caused by.
Sounds like patellar tendonitis, but the fact it goes either side may indicate cartilage involvement from generally being battered against each other.

In other words- I don't know ask the Physio.

Cheers! Am going to do that but not run again until I've been checked over this Friday and a plan of action has been put in place.

Glenn, not lately, but its nice to know the emotion is still there.
Rwn - thanks, pal. Not sure, seems like a fair amount of time, will probably try in Aug or Sept if I can find something nice and flat and give it my best shot.

Tired legs must be worth 20--30 s, so you only need to find another 35. I'm not suggesting it'll be easy—hell, I've been struggling to get under 36 for 3 years now and keep getting close, but no cigar.

I did the Colchester 10km race yesterday.

Nicely organised by the Rotary Club, finishing on the atheltics track and with a sizeable proportion of the event on paths through parks. Each KM was marked out which I love in these sort of races, even though I run with a Garmin, I am usually too scared to look at it incase the speed is not what I want.

I did a PB of 35.16, only really a few rises and they come in the last 2km. Legs were tired from about 7km as had taken part in a Triathlon the day before, and the mile times showed I slowed about 10 secs a mile.

Really nice result Jamie - Just what you need as a confidence builder for qualification.

I bottled from doing the Larkfield 10k over the weekend - ran a 10k commute last week with some short efforts, and felt my hip flexor flaring up again.

Fuck getting old. Seriously.

Finally tested out that 10k route. Was properly windy here.
Definitely under 40 mins, not sure exact time though- really need a stopwatch or something similar.

^ Good effort eyebrows!

Took 23 secs off Finsbury parkrun PB, dead on 21:00 when I stopped the watch. Happy with that considering I thought I was stuck around 21:30 for a while. Six pints on a Friday evening seems to leave plenty of energy in the legs the following morning.

Shame I forgot my bloody barcode though.

12.6k done today, longest run so far. Much too much on tarmac / pavement, can feel it in my legs and knees but no pain, just a bit sore. Went through Hackney marshes, need to explore it further I think

New forest, upcoming in trailrunner mag- sneak preview.
this is where I love to run, be in the forest 730 a.m tomoz to set up event,
way off target for next poole 10k on concrete though!

That looks amazing. I'd prefer to be just a little further inland tho'.

Did five miles today... For most of the run I thought I was managing 10minute miles, which for me is amazing... More like eleven minute miles and the fourth mile was even slower... Still pretty good for someone massively overweight who runs once every 2 months :)