Running Haiku

Is this a dream?

Running, striding out freely 

Please do not wake me.

 

Eye level mist, suspended

Grass clippings flick from quick heels

Floating over wet grass

There was a runnning haiku challenge on the masters running forum. Above were my contributions.

I managed half an hour on the exercise bike yesterday and this morning. My ankle is much less inflamed and swollen this morning.

Going long mid week

12km on the bicycle path this morning. It rained heavily overnight ruling a run on the grassy field out.

It was still cool and drizzly, conditions which I like.

12km 64:14 (5:26, 5:10, 5:10, 5:14, 5:17, 5:27, 5:12, 5:25, 5:41, 5:30, 5:20, 5:21)

A very evenly paced easy/moderate run.  

I think I am getting to the stage where I would be able to run on consecutive days. If they were both easy runs.

Tonight there is no pain in my calf/achilles. There is some stiffness in my left hand side quad.

Last night I did 15.5km on the exercise bike.

Last Sunday I did a 16km (93 minutes) on the grassy field. I slowed down very badly in the final 8km. The surface and the heat really knocks me around on that course.

Weeding the Garden

Just spent an hour or so weeding the Garden. I did this without knee tape. I also walked around the shops without knee tape. This is after a 40 minute session on the exercise bike. The tape worked its way loose after 1o minutes. Awful Coffs Harbour humidity.

Conclusion, I am really winning the battle against the maltracking knee cap now. My VMO has more strength than the VL. This is a good thing!

My achilles has settled today, I think I will be up to an easy run tomorrow on grass.

I saw an advert in the local newspaper that there is a fun run on Australia Day 26th January in Coffs Harbour. There is  2, 5 and 10 km races. The 10km is the only one with prizes. I’ll probably race in the 10km. I’ve done a few 10kms runs in training but no races. I reckon it will be tough.

First small steps for Quinkin

The physio had me run on a mini trampoline and a exercise mat for 2 minutes. My achilles was fine. I could walk on my heels and toes without pain. I could jump up an down on both legs. When I tried to jump up and down on my bad achilles it became sore.

I get to run 4 minutes on Wednesday. Still it seems to be improving. Six weeks for this achilles injury is nothing compared to 3 years for my knee.

I just did forty minutes on the cycle. I averaged 19/20km/hr for the final 5 minutes or so.

Don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

A week ago I really hurt my achilles tendon. So I haven’t been able to run since then. I have seen  a physio locally and he reckons I will be able to run again. He massaged the tendon an show me some eccentric heel raises and heel drop exercises to do.

The achilles is definately settling down. I spent 8hours on it in the field today. It was a little sore at times but not too bad. I can use the exercise bike until my heart’s content.

Unfortunately it looks as if I will miss two funs. The temptation is there to run the fun run on Sunday. My physio reckons it is too early, but I am tempted to give it a go. Take some anti inflammatories and see what happens.

I think I will get a green light for a test run tomorrow.

A couple of times lately I though I was really beating the knee problem. Last Friday night I went spotligthing and the quads and glutes were really gripping. I am using a combination of the McConnell taping and an ITB strap. The ITB strap seems to dampen the VLAT muscle. My ankle is also strapped.

A week of training

I’ve actually put in a week of training. There is still medial pain in my knee, but it is manageable

Sunday race 5km (24:45)
Monday 30 minute cycle
Tuesday 6.6km walk; 15 minutes cycle pm
Wednesday 5.3km run 27:40 (25:55 5.0km)
Thursday 30 minute cycle
Friday 5.2km run 26:21 (24:50 5.0km)
Saturday 6km run (28:50; first 3km 14:56; second 3km 13:54!)

I was chuffed with that second 3 km of that 6 km run. After a month I am almost as fast as I was in 2005 before I injured myself. This time my knee is NOT going off track. I am getting stronger I can see it. I think I can still run reasonably well for a 45 year old, if I can do some consistent training. Like win my age group in some local fun runs

Anna Bligh Australian Story

I was disappointed the story didn’t focus more on her passion for running. I thought the story of her family was interesting, but the focus on Queensland Politics just didn’t fascinate me at all. 

Just did 8.2km on the bike. I was pedalling at 17km/hr and it was easy. Today my knee seemed to take another leap forward to recovery. The VLAT muscle is loose and soft and stretched. There is starting to be more muscle on the medial side. There is less lateral nerve pain. Apparently this is lateral branch stretching said my physio, and I am over it.

Lenny the Cockatiel

Lenny the Cockatiel is getting all clucky at the moment. She comes up under my chin making baby bird noises as my chin gives her a back massage. She sits on an instruction book that she has chewed to bits, spreading little bits of paper like a nest. She defends this like a nest. When I go to put a blanket over the mouse cord and keyboard cable that she can’t resist chewing, Lenny launches herself at my hands. When I am typing she paces back and forth beak agape.  I wouldn’t be suprised if she lays an egg very soon.

Bike ride

2km 7:02

3km 10:12

5km 16:49

8km 26:49

9km 29:57

I had averaged 18km/hr from about 1km onwards and in the last five minutes, I got the bike over 20km/hr. There was no pain in my knee, but my quads were burning.

I think my heart rate was getting up to what I experience on the 5km jogs.

Wet

It’s raining torrentially outside today.

I watched the 20/20 cricket match.

Bill Lawry urged Brad Hodge to field a ball that was headed for the boundary rope. “Dive, dive, dive,” he said. 

Michael Slater said,” You sound like a submarine captain, Bill.”

It was the highlight of a match that if you blinked you would have missed it.

I spent 30 minutes on the exercise bike this morning without knee taping. 

Cycle, swim walk

Cycled 8.6km in 30 minutes. Swam for about an hour. Walked 5.3 km in 54 minutes 33. Pushed a bit harder on the bike,  averaged 17km/hr for most the 30 minutes. 8km in 27 m 52. My heart rate built from around 103 in the first ten minutes to about 125 bpm towards the end. Felt pretty smooth on the walk, didn’t push hard, heart rate didn’t get bove 108 beats per minute, except for the hills at the end. Still my knee prevents me from getting a good workout.

I am not sure how I am going to get through a day at work tomorrow.