Is it Now?

I'm afraid my abode of bliss was incomplete this week. I woke at 2am after the last run, with a swollen knee the size of a rugby ball, could hardly move with the pain. Bought some ibuprofen, and it started to go down after a couple of days. So no running at all this week. Today was the first time, a few laps of a field, and limited strides. Again, the proof of the pudding will be what happens tonight/tomorrow.

As an aside, a mate emailed me (I hope he doesn't mind this being shared), casually asking was I really not going to run the Tonelagee and the Lake, the race I've been training and recce'ing for since January? I took his question as a friendly prod to listen to my heart, "sure you only live once", type of thing. So I replied that I hadn't ruled it out, you never know, winky;), chortle, we'll see what the day brings:D

His reply?- "Sure it's only 6.something km. What damage could 6km of up and down a mountain do to a complex joint that is currently unbalanced. Sure the forces acting through it on a fast downhill (body weight x 7) aren't going to worry about a bit of inflammation as they pull more bits out of alignment, turning a minor bit of damage into maybe a career ending and potentially crippling injury. You won't let a little thing like that stop you from running in a race only 200 people will ever hear of and only a handful will remember in a decade."

Bloody brilliant. Sometimes you need a cold hard slap of reality. For anyone interested, it's a beaut of a course, if you see a wistful chap taking pictures half way up the climb, try not to kick him in the knee;)

2.5 miles easy

Could feel the knee all along this run, which was borne out of maddening frustration at not running for days. Took it easy, kept it flat, no repercussions at the moment- in fact the knee seems to have loosened up somewhat.

Erred on the side of caution for the last few days. Sunday was out taking photos at Tonelagee. Would have loved to race this one, and even packed my running gear when setting off. Purposely left my hill shoes out of the kit though, bit schizophrenic really. Sunday evening had too many beers discussing the race with PositiveNegativ. I don't really drink much beer, and the hangover this morning confirmed I was out of training for boozing as well.

Mon 6 miles easy

Took my hangover and better-felling knee out on the roads and trail, for an easy 6. Felt great, I could move again, and the knee seems to be responding well. I'll keep the level low for a while, seems to be doing the trick.

Thurs Leg 6 WWR recce

Sun beating down, weather continental, forest's not yet sold; perfect day to recce leg 6, with PositiveNegativ, who will be blazing this trail come Jun 11th. We kept it steady on the firetrail climb, noting all the "bends of death" ("That was **** AC 2010: there's ****AC the previous year..."). Came to the forest uphill section and enjoyed the break from monotonous trail slog. Exit forest, and begin the never ending climb to the first summit. Steady, no real issues.

Along the road, start of climb number 2. Plod, slog, plod, and we're at the top, in under an hour, without much hassle. PN hit the downhill correctly, I saved the knee and walked down it. No point in risk, I am happy to have got this far without issue. Jog, then walked down the last downhill. Into the cool stream to immerse the legs, beautiful, just before the massively rotund farmer arrives with his slurry tank to fill/clean/dump in the river. We nodded "nice day" at each other with mutual disdain and hatred.

Very happy with how the knee held up an this first "test" in a while. As an added bonus, I felt the kneecap click a few hours afterwards, and it seems as if pressure has been relieved, certainly my extension is better, and the knee feels smoother.

Mon 25 April 13 mile hill run

Early meet-up with Slogger Jogger and asimonov for a recce of leg 7 WWR. This would be my longest in a while, and the amount of hard trail and road would be a test for the knee. Pace was easy enough, passed the brilliant pink huge rhododendron tree after 2k, which is now in full bloom. I'd say there's a week left to catch it, before it sheds, for anyone who is into that sort of thing. It's my favourite colour: ruby lake light (Messini oil paint), and a touch of titanium white, will get you a good approximation.

Hit the first hill a bit out of breath- more because I hadn't taken the inhaler, than any other reason. Took any downhills easy, but otherwise kept a chatting pace. The final hill is tough going up, no matter what way you run it, and so it was today, plod plod plod. Easier running once it has been summitted, ran the never-ending grassy lane, out onto the road, for the sting in the tail ending (which was shorter than I remember). 1:51 about, which is as fast as I raced it three years ago. Amazing how years racing pace, is another years jog.

Tue 8 miles easy

First 4 miles steady, ran to training, none of my kids there, lazy sods still tucking into their Easter "break", so warmed up a group of 50 enthusiastic 4-8 year olds, then 4 miles back home, easier, smashing through the undergrowth of where a train used to run to Shillelagh, 60 years ago.

Sat 16k hill walk.

Met PosNeg to help out at a local walking festival, 16k over Croghan Kinsella. Poor attendance, more chiefs than indians unfortunately. Had to fight the urge to run, kept the pace down to literally pedestrian. A great stoney uphill could only taunt me for so long though, and I handed my bag to the hobnail-boot-wearing Sherpa, and ran up it, tough enough on the loose rocks. (I was meant to be at CP today, this was a poor sub). Hit summit, walked slowly back down, 16k in 6 hours, it's logged so it must exist, but it doesn't feel right.

Fri 9 miles hilly

Met Woddle and Kiwirunner (and his mate) for a late evening recce of leg 1 WWrelay. The two club runners were out for a stretch of the legs before a hard Sat speed session. They still managed to jog effortlessly up the initial climb, which I found a bit tougher. Down the "technical" downhill (some debate: I've become a bog'n'****e snob), hit the road, and up and over Prince Willies. This was my first time running the hole leg- its actually not that bad.

Decent couple of pints after, nice company throughout.

Sun 45 mins hilly

Major time constraints lately, just managed to grab a quick run with PositiveNegativ. What hill? Da local one. What route? the steep one. Could have done with my inhaler, I was soon wheezing, and holding back PN. Hit the summit, down the steep flank. Road shoes, ugh. My buddy hops into the forest, flies down amongst the steep trees. I try to protect my eyes from jutting pine branches and follow. Road shoes, ugh. Brakes on, when its easier to just let go. Hit the bottom, cautiously suggest we take the flat route back to the cars along the rod. No dice, has to be back up the steep hill. The mountain goat does his running thing while I practice pushing down on my knees in giant strides. No contest. Finally reach the summit again, one of the best grassy downhills around around. It's harder to break. Let go and accelerate... ROAD SHOES, UGH! Can't stop, takes me 30 seconds to control and slow my descent. Great fun though.

I hate running uphill. I love running downhill. Just as well I live in a valley- if I lived on the top of a mountain I'd have given up this lark years ago.

Tue Evening: 2 miles including sprints, strides

Loosened the legs up a bit while training the kids. "Training" meaning straining to beat the teenage boys in the sprints:D

Wed 6 miles easy

Recce of leg 8 WWR, nothing much to report, dry and firm underfoot, then boring roads, not the nicest leg. There are some nice views as you skirt along the hills, which is its saving grace. I really want to find a route to Shillelagh over Ballycumber hill, which would cut out a lot of the road section.

Sat 12 miles hilly

I decided against the Circuit of Avonbeg, as too much too soon. Need a couple more weeks to see how the knee holds up before racing. So I was free to help, and I ran off an hour before the start to plant some controls and marking. Very windy once you got out of the initial zigzags, and Clohernagh was hard to find, as always. I kept running all the way, doing mini zig-zags myself when the peat got too steep. Ran back to loop the Clohernagh trig point, and continued along the flat ridge to the summit of Lugnacoille, which was covered in cloud. The views just before entering the cloud were spectacular, though. Up to the trig point, where I waited for the runners, and chatted with some walkers. After a while, I was getting cold though, so decided to head back, running down the great grassy slope. Have to be careful here, all roads lead up, but down could be along many paths. Soon I spied ocnoc, so turned and ran for a chat with him. (Ran back down, and another runner said this is considered pacemaking, so he might be stripped of his title?;))

Passed Mick looking well, then back down some more. It was hard running down Clohernagh, very steep and boggy, and I gave up trying after several tumbles. Got my control, ran back down the forest zigzags, and waited at the finish for ocnoc, who set a new record, well done to the lad.

Tue 5 miles easy

This felt much harder than yesterday's run, it was hot, I had eaten, and I think my runners may be out of bounce. Started off running well, kept the pace down, but by half way in I was out of enthusiasm, and found it hard to keep going at the jogging pace. I've been running a year in Saucony progrip4, think its time to go back to my old Brooks Adrenaline. Can't get the 8's anywhere (didn't like the 9's). 10 or 11 it will be. Why do they have to always tinker with perfection?

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

"I think my runners may be out of bounce".


Worse excuse ever. Face it. Too heavy

I live slightly lower down than you. Gravity more intense;)