So, the training is going well. The miles are ramping up, slowly but steadily. Still with plenty of strength work, stretching and some speed sessions. I'm doing something everyday. The knee is holding up (although there's an annoying ache which seems to come and go unexpectedly, and not related to what the session before had in stock). I've got some new friends to help guide me though: I look a right muppet carrying these poles around but they're light, sturdy and help take the load from my knees on hills and provide some forwards propulsion on the flat. When running 1030 miles I've got to be efficient with the load on my legs by spreading the forces around the rest of my body as much as I can. The clip is for some gloves to hook into, by the way. I can't decide if they remind me of Beaker or a rooster? . See if you can spot the odd one out from the selfies below. One's taken on an early run on Christmas Day, before the t...
I've just finished reading 'Meditations from the Breakdown Lane', a book by James Shapiro chronicling his 3026-mile run across USA in the 1980's. He describes the mental and physical strength needed, as his body and mind evolve, along with the ever-changing environment, with a 'will he/won't he make it' bit in the middle. (Spoiler alert). He finishes, surprisingly not with elation, but more like how a dream ends.
My midsummer night's dream this week started in a hotel in Morecambe Bay. I was meeting the runners and crew who are doing this year's LEJOG at Lancaster as they progress on their shortest day (only 24 miles) to Kendal. I met them shortly after 8am at Lancaster Quay - who knew that Lancaster had a quay? - with old, tall 18th century warehouses, remnants from the textile industry - onto the tidal, wide River Lune, connected to the hinterlands by the Lancaster canal. The runners and crew had been staying in Kendal and arrived in a couple of minibuses and, without much of a fuss, gathered around and walked off.
Lesson 1: start the day (they're now on Day 17) by walking and then slowly increasing the pace as everything warms up.
I talked with the crew - some of whom had done the run the year before. Everyone was welcoming and super organised. We went to set up the first pit stop in Warton. A chance to talk with the therapists and medic.
Lesson 2: tibialis anterior (the muscle you can see on the front and outside of your shins when you stand on your heels) is THE muscle that fatigues on endurance runs like this and what they spend most of their time trying to help. Overuse and lack of strength leads to shin splints and tendonopathy. Time on feet during training and specific strengthening exercises help reduce the risk.
The runners started coming in - all looked strong - even the ones who were suffering. Snatched chats with some - everyone mostly in good spirits.
On to the next pit stop. A chance to talk with the alumni from last year and more chat with the runners as they recognise me from the first stop. 'You're doing THIS?'. More advice about food, running shoes, poles, walking, back to backs, and not laughing in the cafe queue at Tintern Abbey (!). The list goes on.
Lesson 3: bring less stuff for the evenings. Wearing tomorrow's running kit is fine. Everyone brings too much stuff.
Then back to Kendall to the hostel. A final chat. Will my knee arthroscopy allow me to still train for and complete it next year - the message from the professionals and the participants was a resounding 'yes'. If anything, I will be more prepared as I am more aware of the need for, and completed, strength training. Yay.
Lesson 4: be patient (again) but be consistent with training.
My knee is letting me do parkrun with a run/walk regime and more cycling. I'm pre-habbing for my arthroscopy in a couple of weeks. I spotted a bird of prey out on a ride. This is my recurrent theme I think to myself. It's my midsummer's dream spirit guide back again. I'm getting better at recognising them. I couldn't quite see it fully because of the hedge. Quite big. A fan tail? Or was it forked? A kite maybe? No, a different sort. A kite it may be, but it was one that was attached with a string to a stick in a farmer's field to scare birds. Plonker. I finished the ride by trying to outfox the traffic lights on the hill so I didn't have to unclip my shoes. Until, that is, I didn't see the car in front not move off at the anticipated time. I fell off, with cries from the pedestrians nearby as to whether I was hurt. Embarrassed more like. And I'm not sure why, but I booked in a hotel in Morecambe Bay that didn't serve breakfast until a ridiculous-for-a-hotel-on-a-week-day-particularly-when-that's-the time-I'm-meeting-the-others 8am and the room had a wobbly blind and horribly nobbly mattress.
A Midsummer Night's Dream?
More like A Comedy of Errors.
Follow this year's runners here - this will be me in 11.5 months!
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