So this blog must be reading like the hypochrondratics guide to running excuses. After a great run on Wednesday last week, the Shin splints were back and as family came over on Friday night, which meant going down the Chinese. Going for a run just doesn’t get a look in. Saturday I’m back with my slabs this time a 10hr shift on Saturday, Sunday was meant to be running day, but for some reason, I was stiff until Tuesday. The builder next door reckons its the tension of using a ‘Whizzer’ if you ever used one of these (for cutting stone) you’ll know the fear factor involved.

We’re off on holiday next week and Tuesday I’m playing tennis. That leaves thursday for a run or a few on holiday… lets wait and see. I’ll take the pedometer to Tennis as i see what that generates. Make me feel a little better with 4 weeks to go, eek!

After recovering from laying path, lifting ‘whacking’ machines and shifting tons of ‘crush and run’ I managed to feel like I was back on track. I made the mistake of then going for a two hour singles match on Sunday 8th August which finished me off and my hamstrings screaming, it was Wednesday before I was able to get a good long run in. I think that the long break did me well because other than the odd gee up, I was able to run uninterpreted for about 40 minutes. I’m off target slighting at 6km for 40 minutes but no so bad.

What a difference a week makes… well actually not. I’ve been playing tennis for the last few days and haven’t had a chance to get out running too. There is a little bit of a lull over the weekend because I was laying a garden path. I really should have worn the pedometer just to see how much ground I covered. I’ve never felt aches like it. Worse than ever running the London marathon. Lifting slabs that are just within your limits is one thing, but re-lifting and re-lifting because they are uneven was a test Geoff Capes would have been proud of.

Two days of this hard labour and I’m done, I didn’t recover until Tuesday!

I’ve been dreading the day when these Shin Splints kicked in, but I think the training schedule of pounding the streets to irregularly has finally started. There not too bad to start with but its really hurting the next day so I’ve pulled back from it and giving myself the week off. Apart from once around the park on Monday its a no goer. I’m still cycling which is low impact and not going to agitate them.

Well Week 7 started and I was trying to get away from the excuses. But its near on impossible to get out of it when you upload your data to Silva. I’ve kinda dropped the other two pedometers, whilst accurate. Its just so much easier to get all your running results in one. But as you can see from below its also dangerous if you’re going public like me.

So what of the results below, its basically telling you that although I’ve not been running I’ve upped my game! More of of necessity of getting around the 10k event in September. I’ve got to admit this is not the training I’d foreseen but with all other sports related activity I am able to push myself a little further and now I’ve taken on local park number two. Whereas before I was running twice around the park I’ve spread to half around The Mystery Park, once round Greenbank park and then the other half of the Mystery.

Its been a bad week for running. The added years though have helped anticipate that there might be a bit of a dip in performance. All honed athletes across the world recognise this:)

So to reveal the the weeks work its pretty poor. Monday and Tuesday were ‘rest days’ and Wednesday was a ‘proper’ run. Its about 4.5 km now which is better and two circuits of the park. Its also involving some stretches and exercises to warm up and build some muscle.

Strengthening muscles:

I noticed that I was a little better at running more distance once I had firmed up the stomach muscles. My routine is pretty much unchanged albeit now:

Before running:

• 5 pull ups before running
• Stretching hamstrings, calf, achilles tendons and arm muscles (hence the pull ups)
  

Straight after running:

• 35 x 3 sit-ups left, right and front
• 10 press ups
• 35 bench press styled arm
• 4 and bit… pull ups (about all I can muster)