Back to exercise... on a bike

Sorry I have not been blogging for some weeks, a project at work is taking up all my spare time that is normally filled with running! My injury woes refuse to abate but fear not, I took to the trails on a bike for the first time in... years. Needless to say I feel a little saddle sore but I am assured my butt will "toughen up" after the miles roll on!

The twinge in my left knee I felt on my last long run before the VLM has returned and no matter which running shoes, running surface (Track, Grass or road) or pace... has manifested into agony. The furthest I can managed is 1/2 mile then my knee gives me pain that stops me in my tracks.

My good friend Rick Bennett, Manager of the Sweatshop store in the Manchester Arndale and Event Director at Heaton parkrun, mailed two photo's he took of me at the VLM 2011, which has cheered me up.
Standing at around mile 13 you get to see runners on the way back (mile 22) from the same spot.
In the first photo I appear to be holding my nose, this is probably due to tipping water over my head at mile 12 and it dripped down through my shades onto my nose!
on the second photo you can clearly see my running style is shocking, I am sloping forward as highlighted by the speed camera directly behind me. Since becoming a running coach I seem to always pick holes in my running pictures!

More upsetting is that I still have no pictures with me "keeping up" with Nell McAndrew...

In a week or so I should be starting my marathon training for the Robin Hood in September, I hope my knee starts to strengthen soon, the lack of running is becoming to be a bore.

Please enjoy your running, as I cannot!

Mark Kelly



A great Easter break

Following a marathon the general recommendation is to take a rest and let your body recover. As a keen runner this is tough to do, helped or not by being injured I have been restless to say the least!
The hundred pushups app on the iPhone is a great way of focusing on exercise with a swim session later in the week planned.

I am already planning for the next marathon (Robin Hood, Nottingham in September) not so much the race but how to condition my body better.

The lack of miles in the last few weeks in the build up to London, the injury cost me at least 5 minutes and will no doubt take me longer to recover for sure. There are many things that I am reflecting on right now, my pacing, nutrition, core body strength to name but a few.

Reading in this weeks 'Athletics Weekly' that in 2010 the average cost for a runner to kit up, travel and so on costs around £450 pounds to take part in the London Marathon... I can vouch for that.
One thing I can count on for Nottingham is a quieter Saturday to rest my legs. The standing around on tube trains and walking around the expo in London was horrendous on the runners who should by all rights be taking it easy.
I am considering a better strategy for next year including a proxy collection!

I just about managed 53 push ups on Thursday over 5 sets with just 60 seconds of recovery, the app works like interval sessions on the track... Push you body hard, recover and push again. I followed that with my first swim in over a year and made 30 minutes before my calf tightened and shoulders ached (pushups then swimming... Not good combo)
The swimming went well and after 30 minutes I felt the calf tighten slightly and my right knee did a classic "Give it up man" as it has always has! So I will be looking to do one swim session a week in my new look training plan in readiness for the Robin Hood Marathon.

A windy Saturday morning saw a great turnout at Oldham parkrun with 49 finishers and 24 PB's which was a great result. As you can see I was well wrapped up against the cold wind, complete with hat, shades and 5 o'clock shadow... meanwhile runners we in shorts and t-shirts!
I will be back at the track this week to give the legs a test and hope to start basic training if all goes well!

Have a great running week

Mark K