I take it you've not seen me in the Matrix films then...

yes, and i look just like keanu reeves...:-)...be it a ginger one.

Sorry not my type of film so I missed you!

Here's a quick recap for you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR_i_AQSZyA

(if you look closely you can probably see how she favours her left leg - clearly and sensibly protecting the cartilage in her right knee!)

Get yourself wet, Trinity - it'll give me a chance to beat you in a race :-)

Correction - it'll give me a chance to try to beat you in a race :-)

Thanks for that Hollywood... it brought back some fond memories of my time with Keanu


Did you like my line about "having to feel the pain"... it's so true isn't it



And by the way, the only way I'll be getting wet is in a c c c cold bath after my long run

Hello guys

I am feeling so down today.

I took Monday to Friday off running last week, as I said I would. On Saturday I went out for a little run of 4 miles just to loosen up the legs resdy for Sundays longer run.

I felt great on Saturday, no calf tightness at all either, which I've have regular bouts of.

I started out on Sunday feeling fine, consequently ended up running a little faster than I should have for a long run. I didn't actually realise my pace was too fast (sub 8 min/miles) until about 4 miles because it felt so comfortable.

Anyway, I tried slowing a bit but it wasn't easy because it felt more comfortable to run faster.

By about 6 my 'recovering' leg was complaining, by 7 I had to stop and stretch it out. I had to repeatedly stop and stretch it for the next few miles, but managed to run consistantly from about 10.5 to the end of the run, which was 15.5. In the afternoon I went out on my bike and rode mostly alongside my partner who was running 14 miles, just to keep him company. So it wasn't strenuous riding.

Today my leg doesn't feel good
I can walk fine but every so often it just catches my attention, feels a bit like my knee is slightly out of joint...kind of a deep ache in the outside of my right knee and slightly up the back of my thigh, although it doesn't feel like there is a problem in my hamstring.

I have a sports massage booked for Thursday and my next acupuncture appointment is the following Monday.

The marathon is 10 weeks and 6 days away now and it's like one step forward two steps back and I am so fed up

Oh dear Trinity you are feeling blue aren't you!
I too had a shocker yesterday and my race..only a half m... is next Sunday.

10 weeks 6 days ( are you counting?!) is still a way to go so keep your ( I was going to say pecker but that doesn't apply here does it!) chin up. You still have a good 8 weeks of training to do before you taper so you still have plenty of time for the 20 milers.

You probably just did too much after a week off.

Cheer up I'm sure you'll be fine.
Uncle Steve!

Fanx uncle Steve... I'll try

Go On, Turn Your Mouth Up At The Corners....

Hey Trinity. We're still holding out for you, even if you're feeling a little down. Things must get better. Often my knee also still feels 'strange' (but not sore) after the arthroscopy and menoscopy operation I had in May, and I wonder how I can possibly run with it, but I do.

Chin up, plan carefully; we're behind you all the way.

[pushes corners of mouth in upward direction]

Thanks Steve and Karen... hopefully one day I'll look back over this thread and it'll all be a past nightmare.

Hey Trinity... well. I cant offer you ANY advice, as i am a total utter novice... however i wanted to wish you the very best in your recovery and training and i hope from my heart that you manage to run and finish in Miami.

Im in a similar position.. although having NEVER run more than 3 miles in my life.. the mere prospect of even surviving a run/walk/jog/crawl combination of 26 miles.. feels somewhat impossible... however i set myself a challenge, i am determined to complete the FLM 2007... and today found out ive got a golden bond place.... thing is, im just recoving from two thigh muscle injuries... wonderbar!

Anyway, keep us posted as to how you're getting along...

Joe.

Thanks Joe And congrats on getting a Gold Bond FLM place. Do you have sports massage or physio for those injuries? If not, I would recommend that you find a good sports masseur now, they will keep any injuries at bay and be invaluable throughout your marathon training.

Next thing to do, if you haven't already, is look for a marathon training schedule. I'm guessing that you'll probably need an 18 week one at least...in fact the longer the better because you need to be as prepared as you can be for your first to counteract the nervousness that you will probably feel on the day. There are loads about, some on Runners World website, Hal Higdons website, some in books... find one that will best suit your lifestyle, although you can usually swop rest days, providing you're not doing too many hard runs in a row.

Then once you've found your schedule, buy a cheap diary and put each days mileage in it right up to marathon day... this is great for motivation, especially when you can tick off the days and weeks as you go and then look back with confidence that you have prepared well.

Once you know you have prepared your body and mind (which I'm sure you will) all there is left to do is enjoy the experience and look forward to the achievement


As for me, I've had a sports massage this afternoon and although it was at best 'uncomfortable' and at worst agony, my recovering leg feels much more stable. I also poured out my woes to my sports masseur and he has fed me with positivity so I'm feeling hopeful again.

I'm not allowed to run while my leg is getting over todays massage so hopefully I'll be back out there on Saturday.

Did you get any training done this weekend, Trinity? Your last note suggested a Saturday start again. How'd it go?

I'm definitely not doing that Andy Reading 10K you told me about - I'll be in the US (Philadelphia) over that weekend instead - but thanks for telling me about it. I was really very tempted to try. Meanwhile, I've re-started running again this morning (had 9 days off due to v. bad cold).