We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you…
What’s this? Where’s Mr Trihard?? Who’s this new guy???
That’s right, after years of appearing as a comedy walk on character in this very blog, I’ve finally been trusted to temporarily take over the controls and update you on the exciting running exploits of an all round nice guy, of a generally misunderstood and surprisingly modest runner. Me.
After the, er, temporary hiatus of a three year gap in posts, Mr Trihard has asked for a brief update on what I’ve been up to since you last saw me drinking beer from a glass that was as large as my head.
Unfortunately, far from enjoying a stupendous purple patch, I have mostly been battling a series of injuries as first my right glute and then my left knee (which, it turns out, was doing more than it should do after the glute gave up) put paid to any dreams I may have had of achieving anything close to a PB.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Whilst PBs have been few and far between there have been a couple to cheer about, and thanks to some hard work I’ve put in in other areas I’m now the fittest I’ve been in a good few years. So, rather than talk too much about the running, I thought I’d let you know what else I’ve been doing to get myself back on form.
I started off just doing a small routine that I followed from YouTube, but now I regularly attend at least one session a week at the gym. This has really helped me strengthen up my glute and my knee and improve my flexibility. If I go two or three weeks without having done a down dog or a sun salutation my body starts grumbling at me, so I try to keep on top of the Yoga.
That was until the next day, when my entire torso hurt. Non stop. For the best part of a week. Unlike Yoga, my body never grumbles if I don’t go to Core, but I also know it will hurt like hell if I stop and then go back, so I try to keep on top of Core.
Let’s get this straight. I’m incapable of swimming any distance whatsoever. It’s not helped by the fact that despite being nearly 40, the first thing I want to do when I see a pool is divebomb into it.
I do, however, like to get on a bike every now and then and since our exploits at The Bishops Castle Tandem Triathlon (more on that coming soon) I’ve been spending a bit more time on my bike. That may be because the final bike leg of the BCCT is the most fun I have ever had in any kind of race ever.
So, since summer 2016 I’ve been hitting the road when I can and trying to go to Cyclefit at the gym. Cyclefit sessions at my gym are led by Craig. They’re like the Core sessions, except it’s your legs that do the screaming. I quite like Craig, but writing this blog I’m struggling to remember why.
Luckily, I’ve been seeing the amazing Dan Worboys from Highwoods Health Clinic in Colchester, who not only knows what he’s talking about, but also listens to my own Pseudo-Scientific analyses of my injury woes, quietly discounts them in his head whilst smiling amiably at me, and then does what he knows is for the best. Thanks, Dan.
So, where does that leave the running? Well almost a year since the knee decided to go ‘flobby’ and over two years since the glute went ‘pop’, things are finally looking up again.
I’m not as fast as I was, but I surprised myself with an 18:49 at the Ipswich Twilight 5k in August, saw my 10k dip back under 40 minutes, with a 39:37 at Takeley 10k in September and just missed out on a sub 90 minute half at the off-road Hatfield Forest Half Marathon a couple of weeks later.
Then, just last week, I found myself just 15 seconds off a 5 mile PB at Wix 5, with a 30:50 finish. Crikey.
What’s that? Why all the running?? Oh, that’ll be because of the 30 mile ultra marathon I’ve entered at the end of October. Wish me luck.
That’s right, after years of appearing as a comedy walk on character in this very blog, I’ve finally been trusted to temporarily take over the controls and update you on the exciting running exploits of an all round nice guy, of a generally misunderstood and surprisingly modest runner. Me.
After the, er, temporary hiatus of a three year gap in posts, Mr Trihard has asked for a brief update on what I’ve been up to since you last saw me drinking beer from a glass that was as large as my head.
Unfortunately, far from enjoying a stupendous purple patch, I have mostly been battling a series of injuries as first my right glute and then my left knee (which, it turns out, was doing more than it should do after the glute gave up) put paid to any dreams I may have had of achieving anything close to a PB.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Whilst PBs have been few and far between there have been a couple to cheer about, and thanks to some hard work I’ve put in in other areas I’m now the fittest I’ve been in a good few years. So, rather than talk too much about the running, I thought I’d let you know what else I’ve been doing to get myself back on form.
Yoga
That’s right. Yoga. I’d never done Yoga in my life, but it turns out it really is good for you. Well, it’s good for me, so I’m presuming it would be good for you too.I started off just doing a small routine that I followed from YouTube, but now I regularly attend at least one session a week at the gym. This has really helped me strengthen up my glute and my knee and improve my flexibility. If I go two or three weeks without having done a down dog or a sun salutation my body starts grumbling at me, so I try to keep on top of the Yoga.
Core
I really enjoy Yoga. I don’t really enjoy Core, but I know that it’s good for me and I can feel that it helps with my glute. Core sessions at my gym are led by Craig who can find new and intriguing ways for your core to scream at you for 40 whole minutes every single week. The first time I went to Core I thought it was alright. Pretty easy, in fact.That was until the next day, when my entire torso hurt. Non stop. For the best part of a week. Unlike Yoga, my body never grumbles if I don’t go to Core, but I also know it will hurt like hell if I stop and then go back, so I try to keep on top of Core.
 |
| That time I made some of my core class do a plank pyramid because my little sister had posted a picture of her doing one and I’m a bit competitive |
Cycling
Let’s get this straight. I’m incapable of swimming any distance whatsoever. It’s not helped by the fact that despite being nearly 40, the first thing I want to do when I see a pool is divebomb into it.I do, however, like to get on a bike every now and then and since our exploits at The Bishops Castle Tandem Triathlon (more on that coming soon) I’ve been spending a bit more time on my bike. That may be because the final bike leg of the BCCT is the most fun I have ever had in any kind of race ever.
So, since summer 2016 I’ve been hitting the road when I can and trying to go to Cyclefit at the gym. Cyclefit sessions at my gym are led by Craig. They’re like the Core sessions, except it’s your legs that do the screaming. I quite like Craig, but writing this blog I’m struggling to remember why.
 |
| Me and my bike. It probably costs as much as one of Mr Trihard’s wheels |
Sports Massage
Above everything else, it’s got to be having a regular sports massage that has really helped me get back on track. I’m not going to lie, it’s been a slow and steady journey, and I’d have preferred it to have been quick and instantaneous, but apparently that’s not the way injuries work. That’s why it’s worth finding someone who knows what they’re talking about and trusting them to do it.Luckily, I’ve been seeing the amazing Dan Worboys from Highwoods Health Clinic in Colchester, who not only knows what he’s talking about, but also listens to my own Pseudo-Scientific analyses of my injury woes, quietly discounts them in his head whilst smiling amiably at me, and then does what he knows is for the best. Thanks, Dan.
 |
| This man knows his knees from his leg elbows |
So, where does that leave the running? Well almost a year since the knee decided to go ‘flobby’ and over two years since the glute went ‘pop’, things are finally looking up again.
I’m not as fast as I was, but I surprised myself with an 18:49 at the Ipswich Twilight 5k in August, saw my 10k dip back under 40 minutes, with a 39:37 at Takeley 10k in September and just missed out on a sub 90 minute half at the off-road Hatfield Forest Half Marathon a couple of weeks later.
Then, just last week, I found myself just 15 seconds off a 5 mile PB at Wix 5, with a 30:50 finish. Crikey.
 |
| Smile for the camera |
What’s that? Why all the running?? Oh, that’ll be because of the 30 mile ultra marathon I’ve entered at the end of October. Wish me luck.
Comments
Post a Comment