Not gonna lie, I’m getting bored with this rehab malarkey. I have been a good soldier, I’ve done the required gym work, and this last week I have even avoided picking up a new injuries (progress!), but I would very much prefer to be out running. I quite like running at this time of year. An extra layer, a warm hat, possibly some thin gloves and, in extremis, running tights are all that’s needed to make winter running a joy rather than a chore. This coming week should see the start of the training for Brighton Marathon, but for now I am in limbo. I am seeing the physio this Thursday for a progress check. I am trying not to let myself get carried away, but really I have all digits crossed in the hope that he says I can start to up my running volume again. I have no real pain in my achilles, an occasional twinge is all really, and my knee is manageable. That’s what I’m telling myself, I guess we’ll find out.
In other news, I took delivery of some new trail shoes. I’ve been a strictly road guy till now, but next year I hit the trails big time and I need to be shod accordingly. I have been dithering about what to get but eventually settled on HokaOneOne Challenger ATR5s, a trail shoe that can handle a bit of road thrown in, good for running to the trail in the first place and also for where the trail turns into road from time to time.
They won’t handle really technical trail but for what I have ahead of me they should be ace. I ended up ordering both the standard fit and the wide fitting to see which worked best. I’m glad I did as the standard fit were a bit snug. I kept the wide and sent the others back to Hoka for a refund. I don’t actually need to use them till the spring, but I’m excited to have them.
Anyhow, this is how the week shook out.
Monday – Core and posterior chain. Core workout for me includes plank, side plank, supermans, metronomes, crunches and glute bridges, and the posterior chain is kettlebell swings and goblet squats. I can probably add to this with some other body weight exercises – push ups, for example, I’m rubbish at those.
Tuesday – Bike commute and gym session focused on my gammy leg. I’ve been increasing the weights fairly consistently and am now at reduced reps. Seems to be doing the trick.
Wednesday – Bike commute & core/posterior chain
Thursday – Runch! My weekly run ration, a nice 8km along the Thames near my office in Richmond. I gymed it again in the evening, more focus on the dodgy leg.
Friday – Core and posterior chain.
Saturday – an early morning gym session, leg leg leg.
Sunday – epic 33km bike ride. To my mind this is still the poor cousin to the long run which it replaced, but it’s better than a poke in the eye. Best of all the second half of this ride was the reverse of my favoured long run route which meant I got to bomb down the steep hill I usually struggle to run up. I have to report, it’s a lot more fun downhill! I did almost end up in the hedge at the bottom, having forgotten to brake, but I was smiling when I did. I have not yet cracked the cold feet problem, they were still blocks of ice. If I am still bike-bound, my next tactic will be clingfilm.
So, we wait with baited breath to find out what the physio says.
I’ll be back next week with what will either be a rehab update or, we fervently hope, a training update.
unwilling veteran 