Injuries continue

Haven't ran since Tuesday as injuries seem to be happening without even running.First knee went again ,then had bruised toe pads,then awoke with sprained ankle type pain to top of Left foot which I don't remember injuring.

Sunday 10th - Sunday 17th

Started to jog Fountains road on the Sunday after getting some gel insoles - to protect the Plantar - Toes were sore - but worringly more sorer each day - when I struggled to get home on Thursday I was forced to take Friday and Saturday off.I started again on Sunday with my old worn out Asics and fared much better toe wise.

Fountains Road

Toe - 10 days post op

Resting

Had sutures removed today - toe still has a lot of healing to do.

Surgery

Finally had de bulking of soft and bone tissue op on second toe on Right foot in Sydney this morning - hopefully will resolve problem fingers and what's left of toes crossed.

Surgeon

Saw surgeon again and agreed on another operation involving removing more bone from the toe in a private operation to be scheduled in Sydney.

Surgeon

Finally got to see surgeon followed by getting toes X-rayed....Now will have to return next Friday.Have lost all fitness so will have to get a resolve first.Talk of more surgery on the problem toe or a straightening procedure for the big toe which I'm not too keen on.

Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues

missed all days apart from Monday - did Fountains road slowly - without watch - in Nike Frees - as toe really bad.This resulted in very sore heel - hence no run today.

Wed/Thur/Fri

Managed slow runs on Wed/Thur - 47 mins on Thursday - missed Friday - toe very sore and very demotivational at the moment.

Fountains road

Very slow - but got stopped- to talk.Toe again was very sore and demotivational.

Fountains road

42:53 - similar to yesterday - but toe very painful at finish - will have to look at further treatment to be able to progress.

Fountains road

After missing again yesterday - managed at least to get out today - run took 42:53 - quite slow - it felt hard work and the toe was sore during the last 10 mins which was not a good sign.

Thursday/Friday - Fountains road

Felt a bit virusy this week - typical - bad guts - causing weak feeling, so was surprised to make it around in 39:23 yesterday - today struggled in 43:43.Trying to maintain at least a tickover situation - but the plantar has been quite sore again - all day - not just when running.

Fountains road

Managed to get out again for a 41:12 effort - despite the cold weather....

Fountains road

Much determination to get straight home from work,exercised and out - back in the big Nike's managed a sub 40 min run.

Sunday/Monday - no running

Spoke too soon re injuries improving - problem toe has again gone swollen and tender/red - seems to have an infection or problem.Having great difficulty finding motivation of late - particularly with going dark early and not having enough time to do exercises first etc.

Fountains road

Phew - only just made it out of the door at 4:45pm - felt better then yesterday - wearing Mizuno racer/trainers - plantar under right arch is definitely showing improvement.Took only 41:12 today.

Fountains road Thursday & Friday

Managed to run 3 days in a row but tonights run was pretty bad - unable to find a comfortable style in the big Nike's - presume they're not making the injuries worse as I'd love to swap back to the Free's.Took almost 45 mins today - but just happy I made the effort.

Fountains road

Finally got out for a jog today - a slow 42:58 run in the rain - hopefully I'll get some time soon to be able to train.

No Running....

No Running....for a while as I've been trying to get the garden back under some kind of control.I'm making progress but it's a long difficult job trying to remove privets that have taken over large areas.....trying to find time when not working and still have light.

Fountains Road

After missing again yesterday I was relieved to finally get out for a run at 4:42pm today.Usual Fountains road in 40:15.....

Fountains Road

Faster still today - 40:56 but hamstring quite sore all day - tried to massage again before starting and hopefully I've not started back too early.

Fountains Road

After missing again yesterday I was relieved to actually get my butt out the door today.Ran a lot better after massaging Plantar and hamstring with arthritis cream and finished in 42:40 - still ticking over/trying to get fit again.

Fri,Sat,Sun,Mon....

Didn't manage to get out Friday or Saturday.Fountains road on Sunday and Monday in 45:30 and 44:09....

Fountains road

Managed to drag myself around Fountains road in 46 mins despite total lack of motivation,dodging the rain,and several ongoing injuries....toe - STILL gets painful,hammies X 2,Plantar X 1.

Wednesday - no run

Started gardening as I had a bit of spare time before 6@6. Ended up spending too much time gardening - then it started raining which pretty much sealed the decision to miss the run.......need to gain a lot more motivation.

Tuesday - Fountains road.

45:30 Tonight - hard going.....wearing Nike Vomero's which are not comfortable at all.Will soon be looking for the Free's....

Monday - Fountains road

Managed to get around the course despite being unfit but struggled over the last 20 mins.
46 mins.

Narara Station return

27 Min jog.Hamstring remains tight.Plantar still there to Right arch but improving.Didn't run for long enough to test toe - but worryingly was tender around scar area.

Still resting

Toe looking OK to run on but hamsting still quite sore after a month off and worried to start back too early and put it back.Also Planter on Right arch still there although improving.

Sutures removed

Sutures removed today and toe looking much improved - hopefully will be able to start running again soon after about a month off already.

Toe re dressed

Went to surgery for re dressing of toe - looking much improved will have sutures removed next Friday.

Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues/Wed/Thur/Fri

Still no running of course - Plantar to front of Right heel still a problem.Hamstring improving some but still very noticeable.It's going to be a big struggle to get fit again....

Wed/Thur/Fri

Finally had the op done on that toe - I was surprised at the size of lump that was removed - glad that's now out of the way.Will have some follow ups to check/re dress and suture removal and of course won't be able to run at all for a few weeks....

Sun/Mon/Tues

Still resting awaiting news of op...

Tues/Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat

More rest days - resting injuries/awaiting small op....

Sunday/Monday

More rest days due to ongoing Plantar and hamstring issues - lack of motivation following no toe surgery being possible for a couple of weeks more.

Cap'n Cooks lookout

Very dissapointed not to have the minor operation I desperately needed on Friday....very de motivational as I had planned to rest these other injuries after the op.
Will have to wait a couple of weeks now and so decided to give the Trotters run a go this morning.Run itself went OK but Plantar fascia to Right foot and Hamstring on Left leg sore for the rest of the day...

Wednesday - rest

Had to miss 6@6 due to hammie problem and tiredness....

Tuesday - speedwork.

5 X 1000m in 3:46, 3:33, 3:32, 3:33, 3:29.
Good session - had to go easyish due to ongoing Left hammie problem.

Sunday - The Orchard run

Was knackered in this and it became an exercise in running on empty - finally finished in 2:58 - not helped by 2 falls that had me adding to the catalogue of injuries/grazes.Hamsting on Left side very sore for rest of day.

Trotters - Fragrant Gardens run.

Only about 11.5 km and felt pretty good apart from having tight calves and hammies and struggling on the up hills along Hastings road - just made up by running faster on the downhills which I don't think my legs appreciated too much.Forgot towel again so no swim afterwards...

3 Peaks race - Tasmania

Another go at this event and after 4 days underways relieved that we're now finished.Sailing conditions were slow but the benefit was that we got to do most of the running in daylight.Run legs went pretty good and having a strong running partner made for better times then last time.
Only 10 other teams this year compared to over 30 - 2 years ago so most of the time we had little company as the race spread out.Feet and legs held together surprisingly well and apart from a few falls - one damaged elbow and a few grazes the only injuries.

Tues/Wed

Tuesday - track work at Adcock park - 3000m time trial - done around cycle way due to rainy weather.Ran it pretty slow due to ongoing hamstring problem.
Wednesday - Run around Bellrive - Hobart for 65 mins with partner for the 3 Peaks race - trying out backpack and gear.

FOUNTAINS ROAD

45:23 - Ran in Mizuno racer trainers due to hamsting problems - injuries seem to be popping up everywhere at the moment....but managed to survive another day...

Fri/Sat /Sun

Friday arvo went to see my podtriatic surgeon.Had an intersting chat about the way forward with that toe and also went through the Plantar Faciitis injuries I have at present.Didn't therefore run Friday.
After that decided that the Trotters time trial wasn't on as risking further injury wasn't fair to the 3 Peaks team,same for my planned Sri Chinmoy run on Sunday.Instead I ran a slow Fountains road on Saturday and an even slower Dog Trap Loop on Sunday - 1:23 all in Nike Vomeros.The change of shoes seems to be causing a hamstring injury also to the left buttock so even slow running is a problem at the moment.Hopefully things will improve next week in Tassie.

Katandra lookout

Very slow going today - was tired/drained - took about an hour - felt quite warm still but main thing is injuries seem to remain in check.

6@6

24:01 - lack of fitness evident and could feel injuries when trying to run faster.

Tuesday - speedwork

7 X 800m done in about 2:50 pace with 1 min recoveries.

Fountains road

Improved time to 44:58 - but still struggling in bouncy cushioned Nike Vomeras - which seem to be good for the arch and P.F. but finished with all 4 toes on fire again - ouch.Re committed to 3 Peaks - try to get fit for Easter.

Sunday - Orchard run

Struggled today after nearly 2 weeks off.Toes/feet a major problem and had to stop at the quarry to massage toes - finally finished in about 3:03.

Fountains road...

Arrived at Medical centre at 9:30AM to be told my referring doctor plus all the other doctors were off sick and at that stage there were zero doctors.....
Decided to open sealed results - they stated that no stress fracture was indicated and Plantar Faciliitis was the cause of the problem - this seems to be the same problem I have with the Right arch also - So generally great news...still the ongoing problem with the second Right toe that is the reason I'm wearing the Nike Frees - for the flexibility in the first place - ie if I could fix the toe I could run in more supportive shoes....Today I ran Fountains road slowly in new Nike Vomeras in 49:14 - Left foot felt a lot better after nearly 2 weeks off - not sure at this stage if I can still get fit for 3 Peaks.....in less than 2 weeks.

Injured

A radio active injection followed by a lot of bone scans etc didn't make me feel any healthier or wiser as to the cause of injury.Will have to await G.P. s interpretation on saturday.

Stress fracture

Sat in doctors waiting room on Saturday - wasn't part of the plan.He confirmed that it's looking like a stress fracture to the 2nd metarsel - have to arrange scans this week.

Injured

Had to pull plug on 6' Track Marathon due to ongoing injury to left foot.

Injured

Can't get/find any advice so I'll have to decide if I am to pull the plug on 6' Track or see how far the injured foot will get me

Injured

Injury to ball of foot has had me limping all day - enforced rest.

Monday - rest day

Have a couple of niggling injuries....P.F. under right heel/arch and a problem between toes/under front of pad - ball of foot on left foot - feels a bit Mortons neuromaish.Hopefully both will be OK - tried a bit of stretching etc for the P.F.

Berowra Bush Runners 10km handicapped time trial,(reverse)

Quite pleased with this run done in around 39:12 as it's quite testing and again was pretty humid.

Sydney Striders - North Head 10km

Quite humid conditions and perhaps effects of virus saw me run well to about 7km before struggling badly over the last 3km - to finish in 37:39.Seemed to be blowing a fair bit but the initial pace was pretty quick for me,(think it was 7:13 at 2km).

Thursday - Fountains road

43:52 Today - a bit quicker again which is surprising as I've had a bit of a virus this week but it doesn't seem to affect things too much.
Rest day Friday - (long day at work - started early then got a call out just after I'd finished).
Hopefully I can recover enough to get down to North Head for the 10km.

6@6

Got to be happy with 22:14 today - some speed finally returning.

Speedwork - track

3000m time trial in 11:09 followed by 800m in 2:39.

Fountains road

44:54 - Neither fast nor slow - in the rain - took it easy - as not a lot planned - I had thought to do the Dog Trap loop but in the end chose the easy option.Ran in old Asics as heel still a bit sore.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday.

Friday - rest
Saturday - missed alarm - jogged Katandra lap at 8.00
Sunday - missed alarm - Ran Orchard run in 2:32

Thursday - Katandra lookout.

About an hour again,(with stretching at lookout),wore neutral Adidas shoes for Plantar Fascia problem under right heel but didn't do anything for toe which was very painful by the finish.

6@6

A bit cooler weather and felt better today - quite happy with 22:39.

Tuesday - speedwork

2 X 5 X 400mts - done in around 75 - 79 secs. A bit cooler - which was good.

Katandra lookout

About an hour as usual - plod up the hill....

Sri Chinmoy 1/2 marathon - Centennial Park

I should be happy with a trophy for 1st O50 and shaving 28 seconds or so off the M50 course record - but I'm not totally.I felt I went off at a good sensible pace but at 8km the wheels just fell off big time.I started to lose contact with those around me then started being passed constantly - counting down each painful km.I'm really not running at all well at present and suffering from real tiredness/injuries whilst hardly doing any mileage.

Friday - Fountains road

45:56 Ran easy - still a bit tired.

6@6

Forgot my watch which was a bad idea as I was supposed to be timing the run.In the event I decided to run relatively slowly in a group of 3 of the 4 that actually turned up.We did 29:21 so not exceedingly fast but I was feeling very tired this week and need to freshen up quite a bit as I'm hoping to do the Sri Chinmoy off road half marathon on Sunday and haven't the speed or fitness at the moment.

Speedwork

300m relays tonight 10 of them - in teams of 2 - which meant little recovery.Really enjoyable session with little competitive battles to help get them done.

Fountains road

49:17 - Pretty slow today in continuing humidity.

The Bush Bash....

Quite a good turnout for this bush run around Brisbane Water.I was feeling a bit tired all day and was hanging on to the leaders - catching up at drink stops - in the humidity.Apart from the toe being really sore beginning around the Peninsula cycle way it was a very enjoyable run - not fast - 5 1/2 hours - but great to run in some areas where I hadn't previously been in good company.

Trotters - Tegart's Revenge 14.6km

Took about 1:04 for the run in high humidity.Toe was sore from 49 mins and it was a relief to get it into the ocean after.

Rest day.

Katandra lookout

About an hour again,(stretching calfs at lookout),calfs a lot better since using foam roller and stretching.Trying to get hill work in prep' for 6' track and it seems likely that I'll be doing 3 peaks race this year.

6@6

Tough going in the humidity today and I was trying hard for my 23:43 even after an easy weekend.Felt reasonable though and the toe was better then usual so overall going well.

Tuesday - speedwork

3 x 1600m in 5:52,5:55:5:49 - on wet grass....good turnout and pretty good session - not the easiest and 2 min wasn't enough recovery for a couple of us O50 runners....

Katandra lookout

About an hour quite slowly today - didn't feel too fit - quite humid.

Sat/Sun

Ignored the alarm Saturday - as it was raining heavily.....I must be getting old and slack -
Sunday was,continuing the "rest" week, the Berowra 10km handicap race.Did 40:04 for this - in the rain.Felt faster and ran OK but the watch told the reality.

Fountains road

47:21 today - pretty slow and toe was again sore even in Nike Frees which is a bit of a worry....

Wednesdays 6@6

Felt better this week and was quite pleased with 23:11 - on a humid day.

Tuesday - speedwork 3000m time trial 11:34 800m 2:43

Fountains road.

45:18 Today.Easy run but again toe was very sore from 36 mins on.Difficult to run on bitumen at moment and in any other shoes than Nike frees - (which are still wet from wading into dam after yesterdays run).

Saturday/Sunday

Saturday was the flat time trial - and I was pretty flat.Set off OK but struggled over the second half and had a quite sore toe too.Time was under 39 mins but forgot to check watch as I finished.
Sunday - 43km trail run in 4:05 with MM - good running in the rain and was OK for the first 2 1/2 hours - struggled from then on but a downhill finish made it easier.
Will definitely be taking it easy over the next 2 weeks.

Wednesday - 6@6

Pretty tired tonight.....managed 24:31 struggling for the last 2 laps.Need to rest a bit for the time trial this Saturday.

Australia Day

A.M. - Penrith Regatta centre 10km.Pleased with 38:39 and 12th position as still sore from Sunday.
P.M. Light track session at Adcock park of 15 X 200m.

Mansfield to Mount Buller 50km.

Had to run hard from the start as I knew I'd need a buffer before reaching the climb.Was generally very pleased with the run but gutted to be caught just before Buller.Not having any knowledge of any positions proved difficult and I'd eased off as I thought I was clear.Suddenly seeing the ensuing Martin only 50 or so meters behind - I couldn't respond as I'd "stopped" racing and although I tried to raise my cadence was frustrated at being unable.
I'd wanted to run 4:20 and finished in 4:19:51 - so have got to be reasonably pleased.

Friday - 25 min jog Narara station

Wednesday - 6@6

Still pretty slow in 24:16 - wasn't through lack of trying - hopefully a day off will give me a bit of rest before the weekend.

Tuesday - speedwork.

3 X 5 X 300m done in around 60 secs - quickest being 56 secs - slowest 62 secs.
Toe was again sore and a bit of a worry about doing the 50km Mansfield to Mount Buller race on Sunday.

Monday - Fountains Road

48:08 - Ran easy until toe pain started at 34 mins - (ran in normal shoes instead of Nike Free's that don't cause as much toe pain but don't offer much support).

Saturday / Sunday.

Saturday was a 10.8 undulating run around Terrigal with the Trotters - got left one 1 climb,(Terrigal Drive),but felt pretty good after a rest day Friday.
Sunday was a group run - of 7 - from Mangrove Mountain - 33km in just under 3 hours.

Thursday - Katandra lookout.

Slowish run in about an hour -

6@6

25:06 Tonight - still recovering from Sundays run.

Tuesday - Speedwork

Pyramid - 300m,600m,1200m,1200m,600m,300m, - done quite slowly - barefoot.....

Sunday - B2H.

Bogong to Hotham 64km run - Enjoyable weekend away doing the race. - extra km's due to confusing signage saw me finish in 12th position in 9:33:26.Now aware of the course I look forward to running quite a bit faster on a cooler day.Scenery along the course was magnificent and exceeded expectations.

Narara station

26:37 min jog to Narara station return - last training before B2H....

6@6

Intended to go much slower than the 24:33 I actually ran but sort of got carried away.It's still not officially back on but 3 of us turned up and ran.Legs still quite sore tonight - I think a rest day tomorrow might be a good idea with B2H looming in a few days.

Speedwork

7 X 800m was the schedule tonight and I struggled in all of them to keep pace with Joel but quite a usefull session in humid conditions.

Fountains Road

44:43 tonight - legs a bit sore but not overly - still feeling pretty good.

Round The Bay

Very happy with this mornings 2:32:14 - equalling the course record - for my 3rd win.
Good running conditions - rain and not too hot - so thought I'd go for it regardless of having sore legs from Friday.Everything good except slightly oversize shoes were loose/wet at front leading to a couple of toe blisters.

Beyond The Black Stump - Berowra.

Good conditions - finishing in light rain - good turn out - great aid stations supplied by Plu and others - really enjoyed the run - 7th overall finisher in 3:05:49.This was about 10 mins faster then last year even though stopped at every aid station for probably too long.
Took my right shoe off on both ferry crossings to massage the toe which went pretty well.