Send in the Clowns - BAC 10K Challenge

littlebug wrote: »

Krusty I had a sports massage a couple of weeks ago and she highly recommended epsom salts baths for loosening up tight muscles. I have no idea if it was the massage or the bath or a combination of both (plus icing a lot) that did the trick but I was right as rain in a couple of days having been in a lot of pain since Craughwell. It could be hocus pocus but it can't do you any harm.

How's Mrs KC's training going? More importantly will she beat you ?:cool:

Thanks, will give it a go. I'll try any hocus pocus going! I think at this stage, she'll definitely beat me (unless I can weigh her down with heaps of chocolate).

Today: 7 Mile run around Fassaroe
Nice short run on a route that I hadn't really considered doing before, but sort of fell into it, instead of setting out to do it. The calf muscles felt a good bit better. Plan was to hit the park and wear an old pair of runners on the wet and muddy grass, but whenever I set off, you just can't gamble on where I'm going to end up. Calfs (calves?) tightened up towards the end (should have stuck to the grass, or worn a newer pair of running shoes), so into the bath, with the epsom salts, arnica, olive oil, ice and foam roller. The ice melted in the hot water, but I added a dash of balsamic vinegar, and it was delicious <confused>.

So will continue to run just every second day, and keep the mileage low. No point in trying to start training for the ultra at this late stage (that's my new mantra). Will try to pick up heel wedges tomorrow.

Summary: 7 miles in 52 mins, @7:28/mile, HR=14x (HRM was stupidly wrong for the first mile)

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Hope the calves ease out for you. Lots and lots and lots of stretching. Dropping the calves off the stairs is a great stretch works great for me the odd time I can be bothered with that stretching malarky.

I take it you're still planning on running next week?

Oh yes, indubitably (my word for the day). It's not an injury (yet), just a tiredness/tightness. If I can just stay sensible for the next 8 days I should be fine. What happens after the race starts is in the hands of vishnu (my god for the day).

Today: 13 most excellent miles
I was forced into enjoying a few pints in the best smallest pub in the country, which only opens at 11:30pm, and starts to get busy at around 12:30am, so with a slight hangover, I decided 7:30 pace would be a suitable target. Total Fail. I managed one mile at 7:30, and the rest were all around 7:10/mile, or quicker. But still, an enjoyable run. I picked up some heel wedges (like these ones) and wore them for the 13 miles. Not sure if they helped, but when I slwoed down I could feel a new pain in my spine. :eek: They're comfy enough for walking around in anyway.

This is a fantastic place to run (once you get outside the town). Trees, ferns and mosses so green, they look like they're emitting light. Black faced baby lambs that are so new to this world that they take a few tentative steps towards you, before nervous mothers corral them away. Ancient ornate stone buildings, gates, bridges and watermills that once served only the landed gentry, now reduced to serving hungry cattle. A photographers paradise. Little wonder I couldn't keen a watchful eye on my pace.

Calf muscles still bunching badly, so I'll try and take two days off.
Summary: 13 miles in 1:33, @7:10/mile, HR=141

Today: 10.5 miles on the bike
On Sunday, I instructed the OH to ban me from running for two days, so that my calf muscles would recover. Of course as soon as the first 12 hours had passed, I was gagging to hit the road for a few miles. Much as I cajoled and pleaded, she wouldn't let me put on the running shoes. So that was it. Nothing for it but to hop on the bike and get my outdoor fix on two wheels. A nice easy 10.5 miles, that was easy on the calf. I took off the clipless pedals, just in case. I'd hate to have a fall 5 days before Connemara. Lovely evening for a spin on the bike, and for the first time in around 10 trips, I didn't get a puncture. Chain/gears are still slipping under any kind of pressure, which is a bit annoying (anyone have a troubleshooting guide?).

Summary: 10.5 mile cycle, in 44 mins (lots of traffic lights) HR=125

Then I went out for a sneaky 2 miles, just to lengthen my stride, after the cycle (really, just cos I'm stubborn, and don't possess any sense).

Jaysus lads, don't be wishing me the best of luck. Sure I'm only doing it for a bit of fun. I'm only tootling around the course, unlike others around here who have real goals for their respective races and have put in real training. Barcelona was for real. This one's just for the doss!

Thanks! Last time I felt this un-prepared, I was sitting down to the physics paper in the leaving certificate.