The Boggers Log

jake1970 · 28-11-2016 08:58AM

Really bad luck, I was sure that this marathon would be the One. Recover well.

UM1 · 28-11-2016 10:10AM

Sub 3 is only for pussies and burds... a sub 3:30 50k is where its at..see u in feb

Neady83 · 28-11-2016 10:44AM

You gave it everything C, you 100% controlled the controllables, it's just ****e luck and not fair. Hold your head high because I think you as well as everyone else here knows that if your calf hadn't gone, you'd have nailed that sub-3. Really disappointed for you, you deserved the win on this one after the all your hard work.

Murph_D · 28-11-2016 10:51AM

Standing back a bit from it, it looks like rotten luck: but I'd rather be done in by bad luck than a bad performance or bad tactical execution. The splits suggest you were on the ball, in the zone at the right time, well "in the game", as FBOT likes to put it. Nothing you can do about the injury. At least it happened early enough for you to limit the damage.

Of course you have another attempt in you. If you haven't been put out on the side of Seanadh Pheistín by now, you can probably get away with another cycle or two.

Recover well and regroup.

MisterDrak · 28-11-2016 12:48PM

Tough lunch Sir, im gutted for you... There will be more days !

Sandwell · 28-11-2016 01:51PM

Dreadful, dreadful luck but you're well capable of going sub 3 and it'll be all the sweeter when you do. I hope the injury isn't anything too serious.

Back in Black · 28-11-2016 09:24PM

Am absolutely gutted for you. Heal up and come back stronger - this will just make it all the sweeter when it does happen for you!

hot buttered scones · 28-11-2016 11:41PM

Ah balls. Hard luck man. I hope you get another crack off it.

Mulberry · 29-11-2016 02:47PM

It's not as if you raced it hard and still couldn't achieve your goal - what happened had nothing at all to do with your ability as a runner and your training.

It may as well have been a stomach bug or a delayed flight, or a broken leg!

Frustrating as hell I'm sure but no reflection in any way on how well prepared you were and your ability to run sub 3. So you need to get fixed and get signed up for the next one asap so you can still benefit from this cycle of training.

So, you have my utmost sympathy but... training update please?!

annapr · 29-11-2016 09:41PM

Lots of wise words here ^^. Really disappointed for you and I hope the calf is getting better and you are back in action soon.

denis b · 30-11-2016 12:18PM

Have been following the log for some time and was really sure that this cycle would deliver for you. That was a hell of a blow for you tbl and a cruel way to loose out when you had covered so much. Absolutely no doubt that you have the resilience to recover and go again if that is what you choose. .

adrian522 · 07-12-2016 01:32PM

Sorry to read this TBL. How is the calf now? I hope you'll take a bit of time to reflect on this and move forward with a new goal in mind as you still have all the gains from the training even without finishing it off with a race.

ThebitterLemon · 13-12-2016 03:11AM

Just over 12 years ago as a fat, chain smoking, hard drinking slob, I was sitting on my couch trying to scratch my belly button when I realised my finger wasn't long enough to reach through the folds of fat! This peculiar episode precipitated a few days of self reflection and the onset of my first midlife crisis. I told the missus I needed to do something new and gave her a list, I could (a) buy a Ferrari and financial ruin us, (b) I could start chasing young wans and morally ruin us or (c) I could start jogging and ruin my knees.

I told her to pick and a couple of days later I was out on the road in a pair of too tight O Neills shorts with folds of fat bulging out, like the cream in a squashed profiterole. The running bug took hold and I embraced every up and down that I encountered along the road over the next few years. I really enjoyed it and I benefited enormously physically and mentally from the challenge. I could now even see my belly button!

Three years ago I gave up multi marathoning, started a log here and tried to improve my PB with a goal of a sub 3 marathon. I was very disappointed with a 3.09 PB in Amsterdam in 2014 but a 3.05 four weeks later in Valencia gave me renewed hope and confidence that the sub 3 was only around the corner. A couple of poor training cycles (for a variety of reasons) meant that I never really had a decent shot at it. I decided to really commit to it one more time and started training in May for San Sebastián. I made significant sacrifices from a family, work and social perspective, lost weight and stuck to my training plan to the best of my ability.

At the start of November I felt like I was in great shape, from that stage I felt like I could go out, on any day and run 26.2 miles and I'd at least PB.

I toed the line in SS on a perfect day, confident that the training and effort I'd invested would yield an appropriate return. Everything was going fine, I was feeling good and on target to hit halfway in 1.29 when my calf went at mile 13. It was excruciatingly painful and after struggling over the next .7 mile in 10 minutes I quit. The hobbled walk back was torture, yes my calf hurt like hell but my head was in a tailspin with emotional meltdown, rage, frustration but mainly despondency.

If my hip, glute, groin, ankle or head had given up then I'd have been more easily able to accept it coz they'd caused me issues in the past, but my calf, ffs someone was having a laugh! All that effort for the square root of feck all, "I'm never running again", I then got back to the hotel and promptly wasted €57 by entering the Pisa marathon on 18th December!

The journey home that evening was depressing, I couldn't even stand my own company and the following week was as bad. I got different diagnosis but we couldn't get to the root cause of the issue. I tried physio, massage, needling and cryo baths and was only short of enlisting the help of a witch doctor to try and help pinpoint the issue. A very slow 2 mile jog after a week set me back as the calf completely seized up again!

At this stage I was fit to jack it all in.

Last Saturday night on the couch after eating an entire Christmas selection box, including the fudge, I felt drained of energy and couldn't see my belly button...

I turned to the missus, "Ferrari or young wans?"

She's used to me muttering darkly to myself these past few weeks and she just continued to watch some ex minor celebrity munch on goats penis in the middle of a jungle as part of their mid life crisis!

I decided to keep at it, and on Sunday I got 3 miles easy done and while the calf didn't completely seize up it was very rigid and stiff afterwards. A small step forward hopefully, but I need to get to the bottom of what is causing it.

I'm going to go to the well again and although some people probably look at this log as the inane fluffy ramblings of a plodder, I'll keep it up because I enjoy the banter and I've met some great people and characters through this forum.

I tried, I failed, I'll try again. That's life!

I'm in New York for a couple of days and when I get back I'll try and get the leg sorted and a plan in place before Christmas.

Thanks for the messages of support.

TbL

ThebitterLemon · 13-12-2016 03:13AM

Just over 12 years ago as a fat, chain smoking, hard drinking slob, I was sitting on my couch trying to scratch my belly button when I realised my finger wasn't long enough to reach through the folds of fat! This peculiar episode precipitated a few days of self reflection and the onset of my first midlife crisis. I told the missus I needed to do something new and gave her a list, I could (a) buy a Ferrari and financial ruin us, (b) I could start chasing young wans and morally ruin us or (c) I could start jogging and ruin my knees.

I told her to pick and a couple of days later I was out on the road in a pair of too tight O Neills shorts with folds of fat bulging out, like the cream in a squashed profiterole. The running bug took hold and I embraced every up and down that I encountered along the road over the next few years. I really enjoyed it and I benefited enormously physically and mentally from the challenge. I could now even see my belly button!

Three years ago I gave up multi marathoning, started a log here and tried to improve my PB with a goal of a sub 3 marathon. I was very disappointed with a 3.09 PB in Amsterdam in 2014 but a 3.05 four weeks later in Valencia gave me renewed hope and confidence that the sub 3 was only around the corner. A couple of poor training cycles (for a variety of reasons) meant that I never really had a decent shot at it. I decided to really commit to it one more time and started training in May for San Sebastián. I made significant sacrifices from a family, work and social perspective, lost weight and stuck to my training plan to the best of my ability.

At the start of November I felt like I was in great shape, from that stage I felt like I could go out, on any day and run 26.2 miles and I'd at least PB.

I toed the line in SS on a perfect day, confident that the training and effort I'd invested would yield an appropriate return. Everything was going fine, I was feeling good and on target to hit halfway in 1.29 when my calf went at mile 13. It was excruciatingly painful and after struggling over the next .7 mile in 10 minutes I quit. The hobbled walk back was torture, yes my calf hurt like hell but my head was in a tailspin with emotional meltdown, rage, frustration but mainly despondency.

If my hip, glute, groin, ankle or head had given up then I'd have been more easily able to accept it coz they'd caused me issues in the past, but my calf, ffs someone was having a laugh! All that effort for the square root of feck all, "I'm never running again", I then got back to the hotel and promptly wasted €57 by entering the Pisa marathon on 18th December!

The journey home that evening was depressing, I couldn't even stand my own company and the following week was as bad. I got different diagnosis but we couldn't get to the root cause of the issue. I tried physio, massage, needling and cryo baths and was only short of enlisting the help of a witch doctor to try and help pinpoint the issue. A very slow 2 mile jog after a week set me back as the calf completely seized up again!

At this stage I was fit to jack it all in.

Last Saturday night on the couch after eating an entire Christmas selection box, including the fudge, I felt drained of energy and couldn't see my belly button...

I turned to the missus, "Ferrari or young wans?"

She's used to me muttering darkly to myself these past few weeks and she just continued to watch some ex minor celebrity munch on goats penis in the middle of a jungle as part of their mid life crisis!

I decided to keep at it, and on Sunday I got 3 miles easy done and while the calf didn't completely seize up it was very rigid and stiff afterwards. A small step forward hopefully, but I need to get to the bottom of what is causing it.

I'm going to go to the well again and although some people probably look at this log as the inane fluffy ramblings of a plodder, I'll keep it up because I enjoy the banter and I've met some great people and characters through this forum.

I tried, I failed, I'll try again. That's life!

I'm in New York for a couple of days and when I get back I'll try and get the leg sorted and a plan in place before Christmas.

Thanks for the messages of support.

TbL

Itziger · 13-12-2016 06:59AM

Personally, I prefer the second one. Sorry about the 57 yoyo. They are very good at deferring though, the Pisa people.

Best of luck with the calf or the Ferrari or the young wans.

Bahanaman · 13-12-2016 09:19AM

Glad to have you back TbL. Did my own calf last Saturday week and haven't been able to run since. Still sore even walking around the place. Like yourself also I've never had calf trouble before and I don't know what to make of it. Hope you get things going again soon and slay that 3 hr dragon.

aquinn · 13-12-2016 10:09AM

If my hip, glute, groin, ankle or head had given up then I'd have been more easily able to accept it coz they'd caused me issues in the past, but my calf, ffs someone was having a laugh! All that effort for the square root of feck all, "I'm never running again", I then got back to the hotel and promptly wasted €57 by entering the Pisa marathon on 18th December!

Morning,

Good to see you back and I'm sorry all did not go well in SS.

More troubling that as yet you don't know what's wrong with the calf so please prioritise that and be careful out running.

You tool on entering Pisa but as you say live and learn.

You think it would be easily acceptable to take the pain and disappointment if it was anything other than your calf but I'm not so sure. I think maybe harder as you had managed all of that well and didn't do anything stupid.

I hope your confidence and mood is returning as if you did come from an overweight ex-smoker then look at all you have achieved and you haven't lost out on your sub 3 goal. You are still well able to achieve. Your head needs to be on board with this though as then you're really fcuked.

Annie get your Run · 13-12-2016 10:36AM

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

I'm going to go to the well again and although some people probably look at this log as the inane fluffy ramblings of a plodder, I'll keep it up because I enjoy the banter and I've met some great people and characters through this forum.

I tried, I failed, I'll try again. That's life! TbL

Great to see you back C

and even greater to see you give this another shot. My dad was always telling me 'If at first you don't succeed, try try try again'.

Best of luck with the recovery

Neady83 · 13-12-2016 10:43AM

So glad to see a post from the infamous TBL this morning

I really enjoy this log, it has everything from entertainment, travel writing and above all else, I've learned a lot from your dedication to the plan. Get your leg sorted and don't ever loose your grá for running, you're an asset to this place

FBOT01 · 13-12-2016 10:43AM

Let's be honest without the Ferrari you ain't getting near the young wans!!!!

I hope you get the calf sorted soon. In the meantime enjoy New York and don't forget to keep up all the S&C work that you can do so that when you do get back running all the others bits are in top shape ready to go.

Keep the Faith!

Annie get your Run · 13-12-2016 11:01AM

FBOT01 wrote: »

Let's be honest without the Ferrari you ain't getting near the young wans!!!!

Speaking on behalf of all the youg wans, we'd prefer a Lamborghini....

ger664 · 13-12-2016 11:12AM

That's the spirit get back on the horse cause young wans are overrated and there is no way you can get into a ferrari

ultrapercy · 13-12-2016 11:20AM

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Just over 12 years ago as a fat, chain smoking, hard drinking slob, I was sitting on my couch trying to scratch my belly button when I realised my finger wasn't long enough to reach through the folds of fat! This peculiar episode precipitated a few days of self reflection and the onset of my first midlife crisis. I told the missus I needed to do something new and gave her a list, I could (a) buy a Ferrari and financial ruin us, (b) I could start chasing young wans and morally ruin us or (c) I could start jogging and ruin my knees.

I told her to pick and a couple of days later I was out on the road in a pair of too tight O Neills shorts with folds of fat bulging out, like the cream in a squashed profiterole. The running bug took hold and I embraced every up and down that I encountered along the road over the next few years. I really enjoyed it and I benefited enormously physically and mentally from the challenge. I could now even see my belly button!

Three years ago I gave up multi marathoning, started a log here and tried to improve my PB with a goal of a sub 3 marathon. I was very disappointed with a 3.09 PB in Amsterdam in 2014 but a 3.05 four weeks later in Valencia gave me renewed hope and confidence that the sub 3 was only around the corner. A couple of poor training cycles (for a variety of reasons) meant that I never really had a decent shot at it. I decided to really commit to it one more time and started training in May for San Sebastián. I made significant sacrifices from a family, work and social perspective, lost weight and stuck to my training plan to the best of my ability.

At the start of November I felt like I was in great shape, from that stage I felt like I could go out, on any day and run 26.2 miles and I'd at least PB.

I toed the line in SS on a perfect day, confident that the training and effort I'd invested would yield an appropriate return. Everything was going fine, I was feeling good and on target to hit halfway in 1.29 when my calf went at mile 13. It was excruciatingly painful and after struggling over the next .7 mile in 10 minutes I quit. The hobbled walk back was torture, yes my calf hurt like hell but my head was in a tailspin with emotional meltdown, rage, frustration but mainly despondency.

If my hip, glute, groin, ankle or head had given up then I'd have been more easily able to accept it coz they'd caused me issues in the past, but my calf, ffs someone was having a laugh! All that effort for the square root of feck all, "I'm never running again", I then got back to the hotel and promptly wasted €57 by entering the Pisa marathon on 18th December!

The journey home that evening was depressing, I couldn't even stand my own company and the following week was as bad. I got different diagnosis but we couldn't get to the root cause of the issue. I tried physio, massage, needling and cryo baths and was only short of enlisting the help of a witch doctor to try and help pinpoint the issue. A very slow 2 mile jog after a week set me back as the calf completely seized up again!

At this stage I was fit to jack it all in.

Last Saturday night on the couch after eating an entire Christmas selection box, including the fudge, I felt drained of energy and couldn't see my belly button...

I turned to the missus, "Ferrari or young wans?"

She's used to me muttering darkly to myself these past few weeks and she just continued to watch some ex minor celebrity munch on goats penis in the middle of a jungle as part of their mid life crisis!

I decided to keep at it, and on Sunday I got 3 miles easy done and while the calf didn't completely seize up it was very rigid and stiff afterwards. A small step forward hopefully, but I need to get to the bottom of what is causing it.

I'm going to go to the well again and although some people probably look at this log as the inane fluffy ramblings of a plodder, I'll keep it up because I enjoy the banter and I've met some great people and characters through this forum.

I tried, I failed, I'll try again. That's life!

I'm in New York for a couple of days and when I get back I'll try and get the leg sorted and a plan in place before Christmas.

Thanks for the messages of support.

TbL

What do you mean "even the fudge" fudge is the best one. Get that calf sorted something wrong there if you still can't run but usually calf injuries respond well to treatment. Sub 3 in 2017 without a doubt. Mentally you have dealt with ss disappointment in a manner I approve of, wallowing in misery and crying like a child. Taking it on the chin and bouncing back immediately only postpones the drama for a later date. Good luck with your next attempt and first the calf injury.

adrian522 · 13-12-2016 11:23AM

Have to agree with ultrapercy here. Fudge is best of the lot.

The problem with the calf could still be a result of the other issues you were having with the hip or glute or whatever. Sometimes they just manifest themselves differently.

Best of luck and keep plugging away!

The Muppet · 13-12-2016 11:43AM

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Just over 12 years ago as a fat, chain smoking, hard drinking slob, I was sitting on my couch trying to scratch my belly button when I realised my finger wasn't long enough to reach through the folds of fat! This peculiar episode precipitated a few days of self reflection and the onset of my first midlife crisis. ................................................................................................

TbL

I didn't know your back story, I assumed you were a thoroughbred from birth:) this complete post was just what I needed to read this morning, cheers and good luck with the recovery,

kit3 · 13-12-2016 12:12PM

Welcome back - have to agree, fudge is not where it's at. Now those coffee roses in the green paper, well...... As others have said, make sure to get the calf sorted before you get fully back on that horse. Enjoy New York & be sure to post your non running updates & pics

tang1 · 13-12-2016 01:19PM

Ferrari & young wans, you obviously asked Santa for a magic wand to make that come true!!! Good to see you back C.

jake1970 · 13-12-2016 01:34PM

Great to see you back Tbl, best of luck with the recovery.

FBOT01 · 13-12-2016 02:37PM

Annie get your Run wrote: »

Speaking on behalf of all the youg wans, we'd prefer a Lamborghini....

Do you not have to be one to speak for them

Kennyg71 · 13-12-2016 02:40PM

good to hear your giving another crack, all best with recovery.

The Boggers Log

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