Now into October

Well things started well. The Bristol half marathon was in the middle of the month, and this time I was even more determined to get inside my target time. Last year I did it in 2 hours and 2 seconds. I thought I was inside the time, but in setting race pace, I had not allowed for corners and not being able to run the shortest line, and the actual distance covered is another 400 metres.

Anyway, this time I was inside - just over 30 seconds. But a bit of right leg pain for the last couple of miles meant that after the finish, I could barely walk.

10 days later before I tried to run again and had to give up! This is NOT a good start to my training regime, particularly as I am also doing our local half marathon - Burnham on Sea - the first water stop is actually my driveway, so if couldn't be more local - this Sunday (Oct 6th).

But drastic problems call for drastic measures. Last night I had a session with a sports massage therapist. She also suggested taping up my right leg (like you see on the professionals sports men and women). Wow - what a difference! I hobbled in and walked out. And from being 100% sure of not being able to run on Sunday, it might now even be a possibility. It will be a case of setting a slow target time - maybe 2h 15. The objective is not a personal best, but to complete a gentle long run and get my training back on track. After all, I have been unable to train at all for over 2 weeks.

But this taping is quite interesting. Firstly, it is going to be agony taking it off - it should not be on for more than a week. Because I was unprepared, I am taped over quite hairy legs. So before I ever have it done again, I will need to shave my legs. Taping needs to be done by an expert, but is good for 7 days. So when I go for a week cross country ski training in Lillehammer in February, I can get it done the day before I go and see if it makes a difference. The leg currently taped is the one that swells up when pushed hard cross country skiing. Then, although I would have to take it off part way through the RR, at least it would give me the benefit for the last few days training and the first 2-3 days of the RR.

There was a report on the news today that preliminary findings are that for those with heart problems, proper exercise is as effective as drugs, and for stroke patients, exercise is better than drugs. I am beginning to think that as I get older, I need to look after my body more, and on the two occasions this year with injuries, proper sports massage has made such a difference that I am now going to treat it as a regular thing.

Talking of Lillehammer - last night whilst sorting the washing out, I saw most of the Hairy Bikers - doing a trip through Norway. Down to Lom, the first day the road was open (done that one May), and a great bakery in Lom (been there, done that, but not got the T shirt). Then on to Peer Gynt country - a favourite of ours, and one of the best cross country skiing areas ever - around Gala.

 

No-one could fail to enjoy skiing such fantastic countryside. In the pictures here, this February, we skied the large 27km loop. Light fluffy snow overnight had almost filled the tracks, and for half the circuit, we were the first and only ones, until we met first some Danes and then  some Norwegians coming the other way. As the so-called "expert" and fitter skier, I got the job of going first to clear the tracks. Adds a bit of effort, but also fun. Going downhill with 2m long planks strapped to your feet hidden beneath a few inches of fluffy snow is quite an odd feeling.

 

The Hairy Bikers even tried the cheese. The local Gudbrundsdalen brown cheese is unlike anything else you have ever tasted. I see this morning a survey shows that Norway is the second best place in the world to be retired - beaten by its neighbour Sweden. In pretty much every survey of lifestyles - happiest countries etc the Scandinavian countries are at the top of the list. This is despite high taxes, very expensive alcohol and cold winters - the opposite of most Brits dreams (but not mine - mine is to be able to step outside in the winter and ski and step outside in the summer and sail. Maybe I have some Viking blood in me somewhere).

 

So after two weeks of depression after an injury, as sports massage, some tape, and pictures of the fabulous sunny winters days skiing and my spirits are back and I am raring to go again. But I have learned a few lessons - maybe I am not going to get faster as I get older - at least not without considerably more care an training. Perhaps I should look more to slower marathons? And that the older I get, the more I should learn from what the professionals do instead of thinking I am still 23 and invincible - not nearly 60 and creaking!