Woo hoo - on your responsive GP! At last.

Good luck again with all the rest of your treatment. Things will definitely get better, and you will run properly again.

Actually, hubby did laugh about it - a little, and mostly later. Indeed, he was most impressed by the Swiss mountain rescue men - one of whom single-handedly sped him down the mountain-side, dragging my husband behind him on a rescue-sled sort of thing. My husband couldn't move a muscle on this trip as he was so tightly wrapped up. This rescue man left the rest of his team struggling to keep up with him, and they had only themselves to bring...

PS. before my husband loses all credibility - he's a very good skier - has skiied extensively every winter for the last 30 plus years of his life. It's just that this time he tackled an off-piste mogul run, and so I have little sympathy for him. We're going again next February. Aargh.

Please take care, Trinity. I know you are, but maybe, just maybe, Miami is going to be too soon for you? That's my inexperience talking, and I don't know what others might think, least of all yourself?

Karen... I know what you mean about Miami being a bit close for comfort, and I am starting to clutch at straws now.

I know I have done some good long runs (17, 16 and 15) fairly recently, but at the moment my leg is not at all happy. I've still got a horrible achey feeling right down the right side of my body and leg from this mornings 4 and a half mile run... it's sort of like I want to stretch the whole side out... anyone got a stretching rack?

But the thing is, my flight is paid for, hotel is booked, and race is paid for... so I have to go.

It's looking more and more like it's going to be a walk run thing for me

...or a time machine to take you back to the Spanish Inquisition!!

Actually a time machine would be perfect... so long as you can keep hindsight as you travel back

A while ago, when it felt like my training was getting back on course, I entered the Bedford half. I ran it last year and enjoyed it, so thought it could form part of my training schedule this year.

However, as you know, my injury put the brakes on my training last month and I have been to hell and back trying to get it fixed.

I've also recently been having deep and painful sports massage twice a week and my sports therapist is doing all he can to figure out what's going on with my leg. In fact he has found a problem on my lower back, which is almost definitely linked to the injury in my leg.

We had a travelodge booked and paid for near Bedford for the race today so we went. My partner Rich was going to run it and I said I'd decide by Saturday night.

Consequently I was shivering on the start line this morning in zero degrees but bright sunshine. We decided that we would start near the back and take it really easy.

Did the first mile in 9 minutes, the second just a shade under and the third was another 9 minutes so all was going to plan. And although it was mildly frustrating to run so slowly I just kept telling myself that I had to treat my body with care and it was what I needed to do if I was going to have any chance of completing the distance.

At 3 and a half miles I felt that old familier niggle/twinge/achey feeling in my leg. I told myself it was psychoscematic and it was just because I was worried that it was going to happen. At 3.8 miles I decided that it wasn't in my mind after all and I would have to stop and stretch out my leg at the 4 mile marker.

Rich was running with me and we both stopped at 4, I stretched out as much as I could and told him that I might have to do that every two miles from there on.

At 4.5 it was getting bad again so I stopped and stretched at 4.8. When I started running again, there was no improvemnt and it got worse much more quickly. I stopped again at just over 5 and Rich said that we could try walking for a while and see how it is. So we walked for about a quarter of a mile, started running again, but stopped straight away because my leg was really not happy by now.

Rich didn't want to go on and finish without me so we ended up getting a ride in an ambulance back to race HQ.

My first ever DNF


So what now? When I first booked into Miami marathon I was looking at a seeded place and a sub 3.30 finish. Then I was looking at a probable sub 4. Then it was down to a run/walk strategy with 'whatever time'. Now I might end up walking the whole bl**dy thing

Sorry to hear you and Rich DNF'd, Trin :-(

Given my recent experiences, I do know that it is possible to run a marathon when you've had injury problems running a half beforehand.... but it's also obvious that your injury woes are hanging around :-(

Was there anything about the start of Bedford that might have brought the niggle on? Was it the hills? The cold? The surface? Anything? I'm guessing Florida will have very different conditions.

Can't suggest much really - keep going with the treatments? you could try totally different shoes? Whatever, enjoy you christmas break and to get yourself to the Miami start line in the best condition you can!

Thanks Hollywood

I don't think it was anything about the race that brought it on... my last couple of training runs before I stopped running to try and fix it had the same pattern. It always started between 3 and a half and 4 miles.

I am really losing all hope now. In fact I was thinking last night that maybe I should do whatever I can in Miami and then take a year off and try and get my body fixed. If I can't do it in a year then think about throwing the towel in completely.

So I phoned FLM this morning to see if I could defer my GFA place but unfortunately they don't allow Good For Age places to be deferred... so that's that I guess. I already wasted a ballot place this year with this d**n injury, I can't waste a GFA as well.

I really am trying to remember that there are people a lot worse off than me.... but it's so hard when I've been taking one step forward and two steps back for such a long time

Sorry to see you had to drop out of the Bedford 1/2 Trinity. Sometimes you just have to accept that on the day you can't do it and getting a DNF against your isn't the end of the world. In fact I swear that the DNF I got at the Bury 20 a few years back did me good as I then went on to do my best FLM....so there's some hope there for you.

Keep smiling!

I assume DNF stands for 'did not finish'? I'm so sorry for you, Trin. Glad to hear your other half is being so supportive. It's true that there are always other people who are worse off than you. But that shouldn't take away from your own hopes and dreams, which are the essence of what you are. So hang in there. Maybe Miami will happen, and maybe the FLM has a slightly better chance for you. We're all hoping ...

Best wishes Trinity hope everything goes well for you.

__________________
NELLIE

just popped in between shopping, wrapping, writing cards, working, counting the days til C*****mas is over and sleeping...


Thanks for your support...it means a lot.

I'm just taking each day at a time and each little run that I can do at a time. I can't do much else really. My sports therapist is working really hard on me too and he's doing his best to get me running again.

Trinity, just remember that at 4.5 miles I (and maybe others) would be celebrating only another .5 to make the training blog look good !!

I'm sure that with your background of running and from what it sounds like, a very determined and positive attitude you will get through.

All the best and keep up the good work

Granty.

2007 has just got to be better Trinity!
Merry Chrimbo and keep smiling!

And a Merry Chrimbo to you Steve... and everyone else who has offered help and support, or have just been here while I rant.

I still have a mountain of wrapping to do and I'm away all weekend so I'd better get on with it.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy injury free 2007

Take care x

Any sign of improvement Trinity?