It’s been a bit of a strange month so far, packed with ups and downs including this blog disappearing for a few weeks. My groin injury kept me out of action for a week. I was immediately back into it the following week, running on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. This included a new 7.5 mile route up through the path by Whitley Bay Golf Club and on into Holywell Dene. A great route away from traffic although there was almost an incident when a mother cow and her calf blocked my path. I followed this up the next night running home from Benton for another 7 miles. No reaction from the injury although I seemed to have noticeably slowed my average pace. For some reason I didn't run again that week but rounded it off with a goal in our 2-0 win over the Cullercoats Piper.
Last week was poor on the running front with just one run. This was a rain soaked effort home from Benton, squelching home in around 7:30 min per mile pace. A combination of events kept me from running again not least the Champions League final and the impending arrival of my in-laws from Maine. Back in action on the Sunday we visited South Beach attempting to deny them promotion. Things didn't look good when we kicked off with only 10 men and then went a goal behind in the opening five minutes. We may have been a man short for most of the half but the lads played some decent stuff and I rather fortuitously equalised just before half time. A shot from 35 yards headed straight to the keeper who generously let it slip through his grasp and into the net. Then as half time approached I felt a sharp twinge in my groin. The injury was back. It hadn't gone completely but I immediately knew that if I tried to sprint or even jump it would go. We had eleven players by this point but still no substitute, so I had to soldier on and played the second half almost as a passenger. I jogged around half-heartedly trying to give as much as I could without injuring myself any further. It was rather a difficult experience with the natural urge being to play to my full capacity. Although we lost 4-2 I just about managed to make it through the game without further problems even though a couple of goalscoring chances were almost too difficult to resist. Now the big question is whether I should play in my last ever game this Sunday. It’s a meaningless end of season match for us and the Blaydon Race is just two weeks away. Common sense would dictate that I don't risk it, but since when have I had any common sense? Just three days after the injury and it seems to have calmed down. The urge is there to play and I must admit I'll find it hard to resist pulling the shirt on just one more time.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Thursday, May 04, 2006
A 48 hours from hell
It just had to come, things were going too smoothly. I was running well, increasing mileage, maintaining my speed and introducing new routes into the schedule. On the football front we were still in the promotion hunt and in a cup semi final. Then out of nowhere an injury gatecrashes the party and things take a dive. The week had begun well. I usually give myself the day off after a match to let my muscles recover. However, I was feeling good and decided to get some extra miles in early in the week. On the way home I took the train to Palmersville and then ran up through Killingworth Village and Backworth. It worked out at just under seven miles and although the pace was slower than normal it was a decent workout. The following night I ran the whole way home and for the second week in a row averaged less than seven minute miles (62:22).
I felt great after the run but the following night we had football training and I was lethargic. I made it through the session with the minimum of effort and decided to rest on Thursday and Friday ahead of our upcoming games that would define our season. As it turns out I missed my scheduled run on Saturday as well and should have been well rested for Sunday’s promotion clash against the Earsdon Red Lion. As I warmed up I felt some tightness in my left groin muscle. Not sure what had brought this on I tried to stretch out as well as possible. Then I got up and kicked the ball with my right foot. “Ow!” a pain shot through my right ankle. The ball came back to me and I kicked it with my left foot and the same pain shot through my left ankle. Maybe my body was trying to tell me this season is the right time to hang up the boots after all.
Anyway, the game kicked off the pains subsided. We didn’t play particularly well, but then neither did the opposition. We gifted them a goal after about fifteen minutes and then they proceeded to present us with chance after chance to equalise. It took the gilt-edged chances but we eventually levelled it up five minutes before half time with a goal from Tatey. Then with half time approaching I picked the ball up in midfield and ran past two defenders. As it turned past the second one a shooting pain went through my groin. It had gone and the pain was pretty bad. The immediate problem was that I was still standing up and in possession of the ball. I looked to lay it off but no-one was available and eventually decided on a shot which turned out to be pathetically weak. I went down for a few seconds but against my better judgement got up and tried to last the two minutes until half time. Moments later we were defending a corner and the ball came to me on the edge of the six-yard box. I swung my leg to clear the ball, and my groin screamed with pain as I completely missed the ball. Fortunately the ref blew for half time and I hobbled off the pitch. The game was over for me and soon after the restart it was over for the rest of the lads as well. Two sloppy goals gave the Red Lion a 3-1 lead. Our promotion hopes were in need of an unlikely three goal comeback and it never looked likely. Craig Blackburn pulled one back from the penalty spot but that was all we could manage. The Red Lion had been poor and if we’d played well it should’ve been an easy three points.
I’ve never had a groin strain before but I can tell you it was pretty painful on Sunday afternoon. The pain subsided by Tuesday but every time I tried to bound up the stairs or jog across the road it came back reminding me I was out of action for a while. I’ve no idea how long it will take to recover but I’d like to play again this season and my first race is pencilled in for 24th May. Meanwhile, two days after the Red Lion defeat the rest of the lads were faced with keeping our season alive in the cup semi final against Choppington Bomar. Although we’d beaten the Bomar 6-3 back in September they are undoubtedly the best team in the division. And with a squad depleted by injuries we never really stood a chance. I stood and watched from the sidelines as we got tonked 5-1. The subs bench was pretty thin and even some of the lads who were playing were carrying injuries. So all in all, not a good 48 hours for any of us. Struck down with an injury that I don’t know how long will take to recover, promotion dreams out the window and then dumped out of the cup. What was that song the played when Tony Blair won the lection in 1997 … “Things can only get better”. Let’s bloody hope so. Stay positive.
I felt great after the run but the following night we had football training and I was lethargic. I made it through the session with the minimum of effort and decided to rest on Thursday and Friday ahead of our upcoming games that would define our season. As it turns out I missed my scheduled run on Saturday as well and should have been well rested for Sunday’s promotion clash against the Earsdon Red Lion. As I warmed up I felt some tightness in my left groin muscle. Not sure what had brought this on I tried to stretch out as well as possible. Then I got up and kicked the ball with my right foot. “Ow!” a pain shot through my right ankle. The ball came back to me and I kicked it with my left foot and the same pain shot through my left ankle. Maybe my body was trying to tell me this season is the right time to hang up the boots after all.
Anyway, the game kicked off the pains subsided. We didn’t play particularly well, but then neither did the opposition. We gifted them a goal after about fifteen minutes and then they proceeded to present us with chance after chance to equalise. It took the gilt-edged chances but we eventually levelled it up five minutes before half time with a goal from Tatey. Then with half time approaching I picked the ball up in midfield and ran past two defenders. As it turned past the second one a shooting pain went through my groin. It had gone and the pain was pretty bad. The immediate problem was that I was still standing up and in possession of the ball. I looked to lay it off but no-one was available and eventually decided on a shot which turned out to be pathetically weak. I went down for a few seconds but against my better judgement got up and tried to last the two minutes until half time. Moments later we were defending a corner and the ball came to me on the edge of the six-yard box. I swung my leg to clear the ball, and my groin screamed with pain as I completely missed the ball. Fortunately the ref blew for half time and I hobbled off the pitch. The game was over for me and soon after the restart it was over for the rest of the lads as well. Two sloppy goals gave the Red Lion a 3-1 lead. Our promotion hopes were in need of an unlikely three goal comeback and it never looked likely. Craig Blackburn pulled one back from the penalty spot but that was all we could manage. The Red Lion had been poor and if we’d played well it should’ve been an easy three points.
I’ve never had a groin strain before but I can tell you it was pretty painful on Sunday afternoon. The pain subsided by Tuesday but every time I tried to bound up the stairs or jog across the road it came back reminding me I was out of action for a while. I’ve no idea how long it will take to recover but I’d like to play again this season and my first race is pencilled in for 24th May. Meanwhile, two days after the Red Lion defeat the rest of the lads were faced with keeping our season alive in the cup semi final against Choppington Bomar. Although we’d beaten the Bomar 6-3 back in September they are undoubtedly the best team in the division. And with a squad depleted by injuries we never really stood a chance. I stood and watched from the sidelines as we got tonked 5-1. The subs bench was pretty thin and even some of the lads who were playing were carrying injuries. So all in all, not a good 48 hours for any of us. Struck down with an injury that I don’t know how long will take to recover, promotion dreams out the window and then dumped out of the cup. What was that song the played when Tony Blair won the lection in 1997 … “Things can only get better”. Let’s bloody hope so. Stay positive.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
At crossed purposes
The last 3 weeks have seen our football season revive from the winter slumber again. Its been difficult to keep to my schedule as the muscles ache for a day or two after each match. We're still in with a shout of promotion and possibly even a cup. Anyway the past 3 weeks have gone like this.
Week 1 - Ran home for the second Tuesday in a row. Altered the route slightly so now its 9 miles exactly and ran much better. Averaged sub 7 minute miles and felt good all the way home. Whilst running down a street in High Heaton a 9 year old girl started to race me, sprinting to keep up she looked up at me with a broad smile on her face before running out of breath and going in for her dinner. Its nice to know that all kids down aspire to hanging around bus stops hurling abuse at people. Managed to run 4 times in total before playing football for the first time in 8 weeks on the Sunday. A bit rusty but we beat the Cullercoats Piper 2-1 courtesy of a brace from Mason and moved into the quarter final of the Cup.
Week 2 - Woke up on Monday with every bone in my body aching. The match had really taken it out of me. By Tuesday evening I was still in a bad way but headed out for a 5 miler. Took it easy and was just hoping that it would help releive the muscle soreness but I was still a bit stiff on Wednesday. The only other run was an 8 miler on Friday which was a pretty decent if unspectacular run. Away to top of the league South Beach on the Sunday we battled hard for a 1-1 draw.
Week 3 - Legs felt much better after the match and on Tuesday I went out for a 10.25 run. Didn't push the pace and settled into a very comfortable 7:20 to 7:30 per mile pace. Went to practice at The Parks on Wednesday with a few of the lads and my only other run was a trip to the lighthouse on Saturday. Not a very productive week on the running front but rounded off with a 2-1 quarter final victory against the Rockcliffe. Choppington Bomar in the semi final. We've still got 6 or 7 games to play and the season is scheduled to go to the 28th May but hopefully games can be brought forward. Until the season is over I'm just going to have to fit runs in when I can and then step up the running after that.
Week 1 - Ran home for the second Tuesday in a row. Altered the route slightly so now its 9 miles exactly and ran much better. Averaged sub 7 minute miles and felt good all the way home. Whilst running down a street in High Heaton a 9 year old girl started to race me, sprinting to keep up she looked up at me with a broad smile on her face before running out of breath and going in for her dinner. Its nice to know that all kids down aspire to hanging around bus stops hurling abuse at people. Managed to run 4 times in total before playing football for the first time in 8 weeks on the Sunday. A bit rusty but we beat the Cullercoats Piper 2-1 courtesy of a brace from Mason and moved into the quarter final of the Cup.
Week 2 - Woke up on Monday with every bone in my body aching. The match had really taken it out of me. By Tuesday evening I was still in a bad way but headed out for a 5 miler. Took it easy and was just hoping that it would help releive the muscle soreness but I was still a bit stiff on Wednesday. The only other run was an 8 miler on Friday which was a pretty decent if unspectacular run. Away to top of the league South Beach on the Sunday we battled hard for a 1-1 draw.
Week 3 - Legs felt much better after the match and on Tuesday I went out for a 10.25 run. Didn't push the pace and settled into a very comfortable 7:20 to 7:30 per mile pace. Went to practice at The Parks on Wednesday with a few of the lads and my only other run was a trip to the lighthouse on Saturday. Not a very productive week on the running front but rounded off with a 2-1 quarter final victory against the Rockcliffe. Choppington Bomar in the semi final. We've still got 6 or 7 games to play and the season is scheduled to go to the 28th May but hopefully games can be brought forward. Until the season is over I'm just going to have to fit runs in when I can and then step up the running after that.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
A blip in form.
Thu 31 Mar Delaval Arms 43:42
It seems like I've hit a bit of a pothole in my training plan. This week got off to a decent start with the 9 mile run home from work but just one more run, and a disappointing one at that during the rest of the week. My training has certainly taken a bit of a dive over the past two weeks and I'm really going to have to dig in and work hard to get myself back on track.
Thursday's run was exceptional in an unwanted kind of way. Not for the first time whilst running at night, I was abused and harrased by a bunch of teenagers sitting in the bus stop outside the Whitley Bay Leisure Pool. This time two of them chased after me whilst shouting and screaming. I'd had enough and turned and swore very loudly at them which sent them sprinting in the opposite direction. It was just a bunch of stupid girls and I should have just ignored them but this kind of thing is happening too often and I'd had enough this time. It really spoilt my run, sometimes when you're not running well at least you feel the benefit mentally of getting away from everything and can relax with your own thoughts. This incident ruined everything, I felt anger at being harrassed and guilt at the way I reacted. It just beats me that in a decent area with good state schools we still have to put up with kids like this. What kind of parent allows their 13 year old kids to wander the sea front in the dark these days? Do they not watch the news or read the newspapers and realise what kind of weirdos can be lurking out there?
Anyway, rant over. Next week's plan must be to stick to my plan, run 4 times during the week and get myself back on track.
It seems like I've hit a bit of a pothole in my training plan. This week got off to a decent start with the 9 mile run home from work but just one more run, and a disappointing one at that during the rest of the week. My training has certainly taken a bit of a dive over the past two weeks and I'm really going to have to dig in and work hard to get myself back on track.
Thursday's run was exceptional in an unwanted kind of way. Not for the first time whilst running at night, I was abused and harrased by a bunch of teenagers sitting in the bus stop outside the Whitley Bay Leisure Pool. This time two of them chased after me whilst shouting and screaming. I'd had enough and turned and swore very loudly at them which sent them sprinting in the opposite direction. It was just a bunch of stupid girls and I should have just ignored them but this kind of thing is happening too often and I'd had enough this time. It really spoilt my run, sometimes when you're not running well at least you feel the benefit mentally of getting away from everything and can relax with your own thoughts. This incident ruined everything, I felt anger at being harrassed and guilt at the way I reacted. It just beats me that in a decent area with good state schools we still have to put up with kids like this. What kind of parent allows their 13 year old kids to wander the sea front in the dark these days? Do they not watch the news or read the newspapers and realise what kind of weirdos can be lurking out there?
Anyway, rant over. Next week's plan must be to stick to my plan, run 4 times during the week and get myself back on track.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Homeward bound.
Tue 29 Mar Newcastle University to Home 9.1m 1:08:17
I hate taking buses. They’re dirty, smelly and take forever to get anywhere. As I mentioned in the previous post the one-day Metro strike left me with two options on Tuesday night - a) get the bus home or b) run home. To avoid the misery of the number 308 bus, I chose to lace up my running shoes and complete the 9 miles on foot. I was a bit surprised by the amount of planning required. Remembering to pack my running gear in the morning for a start, which wasn’t easy considering most of it was in the dirty laundry. Then as I prepared to run it struck me that the contents of my coat pockets all needed to be locked away in my desk drawers overnight. Money, mobile phone, iPod (forgot to bring the handy clip to attach it to my shorts), the list just seemed to grow and grow. I even had to remove the unnecessary keys from my key ring for the night because they would have been to heavy to carry all the way home.
Anyway, I finally got myself ready and headed out into the unknown. I’ve been travelling from Monkseaton to Newcastle for more years than I care to remember but covering the distance on foot was a whole new experience. My biggest worry was the volume of traffic and how many roads I would have to cross. Initially this was quite a problem, it was difficult to get into any rhythm as I continually had to stop and wait at traffic lights for a safe time to cross the busy roads. However, once out of the city things became a little easier. The wonder of online street maps even enlightened me to a route through the quiet roads of Murton and onto a trail through the farmer’s field. This made the latter stages of the run much more pleasant, which was handy because by that stage I was definitely starting to suffer. The fact that this was my first run for a week probably didn’t help, but I also started to feel a pain on the inside of my knee. Slightly worrying but there are no after effects this morning so I’m hopeful it won’t hinder my training.
Overall, the whole run went quite well. Running through the city and alongside busy roads isn’t ideal but it allowed me to get my long run out of the way for the week. What’s more it meant I could spend the evening relaxing and settled down to watch Arsenal beat Juventus in the Champions League. This is something I’m definitely going to try and build into my weekly schedule and perhaps even try to fit in some lunchtime sessions. Hopefully my colleagues won’t mind sharing an office with a somewhat sweaty runner one afternoon a week.
I hate taking buses. They’re dirty, smelly and take forever to get anywhere. As I mentioned in the previous post the one-day Metro strike left me with two options on Tuesday night - a) get the bus home or b) run home. To avoid the misery of the number 308 bus, I chose to lace up my running shoes and complete the 9 miles on foot. I was a bit surprised by the amount of planning required. Remembering to pack my running gear in the morning for a start, which wasn’t easy considering most of it was in the dirty laundry. Then as I prepared to run it struck me that the contents of my coat pockets all needed to be locked away in my desk drawers overnight. Money, mobile phone, iPod (forgot to bring the handy clip to attach it to my shorts), the list just seemed to grow and grow. I even had to remove the unnecessary keys from my key ring for the night because they would have been to heavy to carry all the way home.
Anyway, I finally got myself ready and headed out into the unknown. I’ve been travelling from Monkseaton to Newcastle for more years than I care to remember but covering the distance on foot was a whole new experience. My biggest worry was the volume of traffic and how many roads I would have to cross. Initially this was quite a problem, it was difficult to get into any rhythm as I continually had to stop and wait at traffic lights for a safe time to cross the busy roads. However, once out of the city things became a little easier. The wonder of online street maps even enlightened me to a route through the quiet roads of Murton and onto a trail through the farmer’s field. This made the latter stages of the run much more pleasant, which was handy because by that stage I was definitely starting to suffer. The fact that this was my first run for a week probably didn’t help, but I also started to feel a pain on the inside of my knee. Slightly worrying but there are no after effects this morning so I’m hopeful it won’t hinder my training.
Overall, the whole run went quite well. Running through the city and alongside busy roads isn’t ideal but it allowed me to get my long run out of the way for the week. What’s more it meant I could spend the evening relaxing and settled down to watch Arsenal beat Juventus in the Champions League. This is something I’m definitely going to try and build into my weekly schedule and perhaps even try to fit in some lunchtime sessions. Hopefully my colleagues won’t mind sharing an office with a somewhat sweaty runner one afternoon a week.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Knocked for six!
Tue 21st Mar Delaval Arms 6.0m 46:17
That's 6 days without a run now. The kids both have a cold which I've picked up and its left me feeling lethargic and caused my asthma to worsen. I went out last Tuesday for possible one of the least enjoyable runs of the year. I felt awful and even had to stop to take my asthma inhaler after a couple of miles. Normally, being an asthmatic has very little effect on my daily life but when I get a cold it can play havoc with my respiratory system.
The cold is still lingering but because there's a Metro strike today I'm planning on running home this evening. The distance is about 9 miles and hopefully the traffic won't cause too much disruption. During the summer I'd like to fit in some runs either after work or during my lunch hour so this is a good time to trial the evening run home. I'm a bit concerned about the volume of traffic but hopefully things will work out OK.
That's 6 days without a run now. The kids both have a cold which I've picked up and its left me feeling lethargic and caused my asthma to worsen. I went out last Tuesday for possible one of the least enjoyable runs of the year. I felt awful and even had to stop to take my asthma inhaler after a couple of miles. Normally, being an asthmatic has very little effect on my daily life but when I get a cold it can play havoc with my respiratory system.
The cold is still lingering but because there's a Metro strike today I'm planning on running home this evening. The distance is about 9 miles and hopefully the traffic won't cause too much disruption. During the summer I'd like to fit in some runs either after work or during my lunch hour so this is a good time to trial the evening run home. I'm a bit concerned about the volume of traffic but hopefully things will work out OK.
Monday, March 20, 2006
I'm back ... and still running
Its been three weeks without a blog entry. Fortunately that doesn't mean its been three weeks without a run. Its been tough weather wise recently with ice, snow and a bitterly cold wind to contend with. However, I've managed to stick to my plan and things are progressing nicely.
In week one of the lost period I ran 3 times for a total of 17 miles. This included an 8-miler that I completed in 58:29. A solid but unspectacular time over what was my longest run of the year so far.
The following week followed pretty much the same theme. Planned 4, ran 3 with a long run of 8 miles. Total mileage was 20 miles. The one big difference was the quality of the long run. This time I completed it in 55:51 for a sub 7 min/mile average.
Conscious of not over-training I dropped my long run down to 6.7 miles this week and ran a total of 20 miles over 4 sessions. Tuesday night was a real easy run to the light house that took the best part of 39 minutes. I put in a 6.7 miler on Thursday with a relatively slow time of 50:51. Just felt tired throughout in some awful weather, not forgetting the effects of an afternoon at soft play with the kids! I introduced a track session on Saturday and ran 2 x I mile sessions. Hoped to run them in around 6 min/mile pace but was pleasantly surprised to achieve a 5:50 and a 5:55. Sunday morning I opted out of football training (match was cancelled again) and went for a 6 miler up to the Delaval Arms. I'd had a curry and a few drinks the night before so I wasn't expecting anything great from myself. Hit the first mile in 6:55 but then slowed by about 10 seconds a mile for the next two. Then as I turned for home I seemed to get a second wind and steamed home in 20:20 for an overall time of 41:42. Sometimes I amaze even myself!!
In week one of the lost period I ran 3 times for a total of 17 miles. This included an 8-miler that I completed in 58:29. A solid but unspectacular time over what was my longest run of the year so far.
The following week followed pretty much the same theme. Planned 4, ran 3 with a long run of 8 miles. Total mileage was 20 miles. The one big difference was the quality of the long run. This time I completed it in 55:51 for a sub 7 min/mile average.
Conscious of not over-training I dropped my long run down to 6.7 miles this week and ran a total of 20 miles over 4 sessions. Tuesday night was a real easy run to the light house that took the best part of 39 minutes. I put in a 6.7 miler on Thursday with a relatively slow time of 50:51. Just felt tired throughout in some awful weather, not forgetting the effects of an afternoon at soft play with the kids! I introduced a track session on Saturday and ran 2 x I mile sessions. Hoped to run them in around 6 min/mile pace but was pleasantly surprised to achieve a 5:50 and a 5:55. Sunday morning I opted out of football training (match was cancelled again) and went for a 6 miler up to the Delaval Arms. I'd had a curry and a few drinks the night before so I wasn't expecting anything great from myself. Hit the first mile in 6:55 but then slowed by about 10 seconds a mile for the next two. Then as I turned for home I seemed to get a second wind and steamed home in 20:20 for an overall time of 41:42. Sometimes I amaze even myself!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)