Loser

Well I lost the Gregory v's Gregory challenge this week but I'm happy to say that I lost weight and few centimetres along the way. Let's just say, my challenger had a "last minute training session" and next weeks results may be a little more accurate. I'm pleased to say I feel like I have finally turned the corner with my foot injury, the dreaded plantar fasciitis, I have some new orthotics to wear in my everyday shoes and had some adjustments made to my "running" orthotics, some physio and lots of taping. I am very excited that I have had no foot pain for now 9 days. Last weeks training was again mixed and very enjoyable; * Running - a grand weekly total of 45km and pain free!!!!! * Lots of strength and core work, I'm loving the return of the callous on my hands * Cardio; step machine, bike, walking, etc. On Saturday morning we meet my lovely sister and her two little girls and walked "The Bay", a great way to spend a couple of hours in the sunshine. Feeling good.......

Gregory v's Gregory

This week’s training has been like a bag of liquorice allsorts. I finally received the results from my x-ray and my foot is “normal”, so the Doctor recommended I get a steroid injection, so I have made an appointment with a sports doc on 13 April 2011. In frustration and pain I took myself off the local physio in pure desperation with my x-rays in hand. I should have done this sooner; it appears the pain in due plantar fasciitis (who would have thought) so after some treatment and strapping I was off out the door and limped home.

In addition to the medical costs I have decided to it’s time to trade in the stilettos for “flatties” - yes I have been shoe shopping.

So this week’s training has included; walking, swimming, free weights, PUMP classes, and a 90 minute session in Wanda Sandhills

Now getting back to “Gregory vs. Gregory”, both Wayne and I have been injured for a while now, so for a couple that were both running 100km plus per week to next to nothing our waist lines have expended, so there is a challenge in the house. On Saturday morning, we took some before photos in our “reg grundies”, weighed in and shook hands on a three month challenge, similar to the Biggest Loser, the person with the biggest weight loss percentage each week is the winner. So this week’s were off the movies to the see the winner's choice.

ARRHHHHHHH

For those of you who follow my blog will be aware I have had issues with my foot since January, and this has causes some disruption to my training and quite a few stops and starts.

I have now had the foot x-rayed (results pending) and did not run from 17 to 25 March 2011. During this period I also took some anti-inflammatories and I must say my foot felt the best it had in months.

Saturday evening (26 March) after my PUMP class I ran an easy 30 minutes on the treadmill, the foot was a little "niggly" but not too bad. Full of enthusiasm, I did a nice easy run around Scarborough Park, only 5km but bang - my foot was giving me the same grief.....DAMN!!!

No don't go thinking I have been sitting around for weeks not doing anything but baking...... Just a quick summary (I have forgotten most of it now)

• ''000" Aquathon - Emergency Services. This is an annual event that included a 800m swim and a 5km run. I teamed up with my usual partner and did the run leg, winning the first Mixed Team, and Second Team outright.
• Spin and PUMP classes
• Lots of free weights and overall strength and conditioning.
• Cross training, ie cardio machines and walking.

Training Wheels

I'm not one to train in the afternoon but sometime the options are limited, so after a quick coffee and chat when I got home I quickly got myself back out the door.  I was a little anxious that both the distance and pace recommended were a little beyond my ability at the moment but I decided I would give it a go.  Let me just say I was pleasantly surprised that I made the distance and was a little quicker than the suggested pace.

This morning I was back at SWEAT, however I started my warm-up my legs were very tight and stiff from last nights run and my foot was still quite tender.  However, got through the drills and strides 7 x 600, ironically all at the same pace.  I must say I'm feeling very slow but I know a couple of good solid weeks will make all the difference.

Foot:  whilst I had been resting it's still quite sore but at least in an isolated area now.  I have order two new pairs of running shoes and have decided to go for a complete change on recommendation of a well respected runner.

NKOTB

Some of you 80's and 90's blue light disco kids will know what I mean.......

After slowly getting back into my running and now only having the foot injury isolated to one area, I sent and email off to  Sean Williams  last week deciding it was time to get back to SWEAT.  I had not been to his sessions since 2009 and I knew my level of fitness was not the best but I was happy to be a NKOTB again. 

So today was my first session back and to welcome be back we had 30 hills sprints, and I'm happy to say I got through them all (just).  Including my warm up/down, drills and strides and the 30 hills sprints I managed a grand total of 10.4km.  WOW.

Now looking forward to nice bike ride after work with my husband who has been given the all clear to start some light exercise after knee surgery a couple of weeks ago.

Coming up for air.

Wow, it hard to believe that over four weeks has slipped by so quickly. I’ve had an interesting couple of weeks but here is a quick summary (the bits I can remember).

• Australia Day: I ran the 3hr Wild Running Event. It was a really hot day and a great event. I used this event to assess my foot injury and the likelihood of completing 6 Foot Track. After about 2.15hrs I was really struggling (hobbling) and the pain in my foot was unbearable.

• 6 Foot Track :-( - I withdrew knowing my injury and the level training required for event in a time was not possible. I don’t want to just finish events, so lookout 2011.

• After my decision to withdraw from 6 Foot I felt like the weight of the world had been taken off my shoulders. I had a few days of no exercise and just caught up on sleep. This gave me the opportunity to think about training goals and establish a routine that would fit into my work and lifestyle.

• Injury: after recognising the issue with my foot I decided to visit my very well trusted sports Doctor, something I should have done earlier. After a quick discussion I had a diagnosis, a solution and was told to go home and run.

• Exercise: I’m happy to say I have enjoyed my sessions at the gym and still knocking out my push-ups on my toes (a personal victory), I’m getting out on my bike, walking and running. I have no long term running goals at the moment, I still have some pain in the foot but it’s on the mend so I just need to moderately return to a solid base.

• Diet: after my regular monthly visits to the dietician, I am now weighing in every fortnight and have a full consultation every six weeks. My first weigh in gave me loss of 2.5kg so I was very happy – it seems I am now re-establishing a routine again.

The eye is on the ball

The past week has really got away on me, I did manage to complete 10/14 days on my self-enforced "no running" rule but I have to say during this period I was so tired and slept 10-12 hrs a day most days and would fall asleep on the lounge most nights.  By the time last Saturday rolled around (15 Jan) I felt the need to test my body with a gentle 7.5km run.  I felt okay a little stiff all over but I could not believe the humidity and felt like I was running on the spot but managed an average pace of 5:36/km.

With the plan of not rushing back into things I had a rest day on Sunday, but partly due to having a little guest, my 2 year old niece who stayed with us on Saturday night so we could spoil her a little.

Yesterday back to it; up at 4.20am for an easy 10km run.  Everything felt okay and managed a nice comfortable pace of 5.30/km.  After work I completed a gym session of:

4 x 10 lunges (20km standard bar)

4 x 8 power squats (40kg olympic bar)

4 x 10 single leg roman dead lifts (10kg dumbbells)

4 x 20 calf raises

4 x 10 upright rows (20kg standard bar)

4 x 10 plate raises (10kg)

4 x 10 lateral raises (7.5kg)

4 x 50 oblique twists (3kg medicine ball)

20 minutes on treadmill walking on an incline.

This morning was struggling 12km.  I felt really flat, probably a little dehydrated and my legs felt a little heavy from the strength session.  I included 2 x 1km reps that were shamefully slow but the effort was felt.

Now the next few days will be interesting, Wayne and I get a special delivery this afternoon.  A 6mth old baby (Mckenzie)  and 2 year old (Ruby) - now it's only temporary.  We'll be babysitting/spoiling the girls until Sunday, so I'll have to do a little juggling with my exercise but I'm sure the running pram will get a work out this week at least with the 2yr old, which I'm sure I can also count as strength training, as she is almost 16kg herself.