The long slow road to recovery

First post for a while as I haven't had too much to write about. First things first, the beard has gone, much to my mothers delight.

With Beard

With Moustache (definitely now gone!)

My injury seems to be clearing up and last week I managed a total of 4 miles for the week, consisting of 4 x 1mile runs. On each run I still had some discomfort but every day it takes a bit longer for the discomfort to start. This week I have upped the run length to 2miles, it's all going in the right direction but it's going to take some time before I'm firing on all cylinders.

On a brighter note, I purchased myself a second hand but pretty much brand new road bike and have been keeping fit with cycling and absolutely loving it! I have to keep reminding myself that I'm a runner not a cyclist, but like I say at least it's keeping me fit.

My new bike (the smaller red one)

Still Injured

Still injured and instead of heading back to Iten as originally planned I'm heading back to the physio :-( After two weeks of no running I headed out on Saturday for a short ten minute test run, all felt good with only a dull ache in my lower back, unfortunately the injury was slightly painful during the rest of the day and after another short 15min run on Sunday and 20mins today I realised the pain was only getting worse and if I pushed things at all I would set myself back considerably.

One good outcome of this injury is I have really got into cycling. It's funny, as I have been running for years I know quite a bit about training, i.e. if someone runs 100 miles a week this is good going, more than 140miles a week is pretty hard core (obviously this applies to distance running not sprinting). But when it comes to cycling I haven't got a clue what is considered "hard" training or a lot of miles, is 50miles a day decent going, or 100miles a day??? I've just been going out on my dads "town and trail" bike until I get bored or I run out of road. Definitely considering getting myself an entry level road bike.

I think if I couldn't cycle or do some sort of exercise I wold go crazy, but none of them give me the same feeling as running, I've just got to take my time getting back from this injury, it's just frustrating not being able run when I am so used to doing it every day....

By the way my beard is coming along nicely, more on this later....

Weizoloop

Still can't run but I'm rather enjoying cycling at the moment at least I can keep some sort of fitness.

I was meant to be racing last Saturday in a 10km called the Weizoloop in Holland but as I can't run, no race. As my plane ticket had been paid for I decided to take the trip to keep my mate Mr Mark Tikkel company. I had a very enjoyable weekend staying at Mark's parents house (who were really friendly and welcoming), beating Mark at ten pin bowling and then watching the 10km race that included two Brits, Scott Overall and Neil Gamester, both of whom had solid enough runs I think.

Here is a short video of the start of the race:

My injury isn't improving as quickly as I would like but I guess that is normally the case with injuries and hopefully I will be able to run at some point this week. The race I had planned for next weekend is probably out of the question but you never know.

Injury Strikes

As my form had just looked like it was on the up injury strikes! After finishing a tough session last Saturday I got excrutiating pain in my lower back, I couldn't even stand up, not a good sign! After a visit to the physio on Monday she diagnosed it as inflamation of the sacroiliac joint. Luckily it doesn't seem to be serious and it has already eased off a lot but I still haven't run since Saturday so my race this weekend is definitely a no go. Lots of rehab and cross training in the meantime until I can hopefully start running again soon.

Back with the CATS

When I was ten years old (a long, long time ago) I joined my local athletics club, Colchester and Tendering AC or the CATS. The Cats train on a Monday and Wednesday evening at the Colchester Garrison athletics track, and this was where I did the vast majority of my training between the ages of ten and eighteen.

As I'm staying with my parents in Tiptree at the moment, last night I decided to go and train on the track in Colchester, when I arrived the first person I bumped into was one of my old friends Mr Adrian Sharpe. Adrian is a truly inspirational person, he used to be a police officer and had a very bad car accident resulting in brain damage. The doctors told Adrian that he probably wouldn't be able to walk or talk again but through sheer determination, perseverance and hard work he taught himself to talk and walk again. These days Adrian coaches at the athletics club and helps at local schools teaching rugby and educating people about head injuries, like I said a truly inspirational guy.

It brought back lots of good memories training at Colchester, it even had a familiar smell?!? or maybe my vest just needs washing!

The track and clubhouse hasn't changed a bit and as always it was pretty windy but my session of 10 x 1000m, 5 x 400m went to plan. All in all a good night.

I posted the video of Asbel Kiprp doing a 400m on youtube so if you want to view it click HERE

Back in Winning Ways....

After the flight from Nairobi I finally arrived at my parents house at around 19.30 yesterday (Saturday 9th July), a short jog and some strides to help get the journey out of my legs then an early night before my first race for a while, the Felsted 10km.

Shortly after the start of the Felsted 10km

I wasn't expecting too much in this race but felt fine on the warm up. Soon after the start it was clear I was going to have a lonely run. The first half of the race was fairly flat and I passed through half way in around 15.25, the second half was a lot more undulating slowing me slightly as I finished in 31.20ish. Always nice to win a race and it's given me a good boost to my confidence, I'm sure I can get close to 30mins in my next few races, which will put me in a good position to start marathon training in August.

Speeches

Apart from having no power for the best part of three days, things have been going very well here in Iten. I did my best tempo run ever at altitude and definitely have a good feeling that my training is heading in the right direction, there might be hope for me yet!

On Saturday I took a trip to Edwins youngest sisters boarding school with Edwin, Kiptum, Edwins Eldest sister and her young son. The school was having an open day for friends and family to visit. Edwin told me we were going to leave at 9.30a.m. I had finished my breakfast by 9a.m. and was ready to go, I felt a little tired so thought I would take a little rest in my bed until Edwin came to get me. I awoke at 10.30 with no sign of Edwin so went outside to find him in the middle of washing the car! At 11.30 we finally departed, or so I thought as we took another hour making various stops around Iten. Leaving three hours late it was an hours drive to the school through some torrential rain.

When we arrived at the school it soon became obvious that I was the talk of the town, as I was probably the first mzungu to visit. We met with Edwins sister and had a nice lunch in the car. After lunch we were introduced to some of the teachers, who asked me as I was such a special guest to give a speech to the students including some words of encouragement! I managed to come up with something which they seemed to enjoy, I even slipped I a few jokes which made them laugh! After the speech lots of the students wanted pictures with the mzungu which I duly obliged, then off home to Iten.

Less than a week until I return to the UK where I have three 10km races planned, then back to Kenya to start the hard work of training for an autumn marathon.