Saturday - Sydney10 disaster

Up nice and early for the drive out to Homebush with Darren. Felt quite good - that residual soreness post massage had all but gone. Went for a solo warm-up about 30 minutes before the start, but just couldn’t get fully firing. Did a few short efforts and felt marginally better. Lined up at the front as we waited for the final two wheelchair athletes to cross the halfway mark (they started half an hour earlier). Not long after the gun went off and we were straight into it. I tried to go out solid but not too hard. I just couldn’t shake that lethargy I felt during the warm-up. The first kilometer wasn’t bad at all (3:07 I think), but it wasn’t long after this that I really started to slow down. I have no idea why, but I was just progressively getting slower and slower. The second kilometer was miserable, the third was worse, and the fourth was just downright embarrassing. I was getting passed left, front and center by absolutely everyone. I had no idea what was happening, so at the end of the first lap I decided to wave the white flag. A few walking steps into my retirement I noticed a sharp pain through the top of my left forefoot. I had noticed 5e same discomfort yesterday, but it went away after a few steps. Today it didn’t. Not overly concerned at first, I annoyingly walked back to grab my bag from the stadium before venturing to the car to get out there. This was when I became more concerned, as the pain wasn’t going away - and it was actually really hurting! The entire drive home I was palpating through the forefoot trying to convince myself it was my extensor tendons - not a metatarsal. As the day progressed, the latter became more apparent. It was a second metatarsal stress fracture in the end, putting me out for 6-8 weeks! This was devastating! I tried to be as optimistic as possible, but deep down I just had to accept it and move on. I had to find some form of training to maintain my aerobic base that I’d spent the past 6 months steadily building - but I had to make sure it was something that I would enjoy this time around (I still have nightmares back to my last injury two years earlier where I was replicating my running sessions on the rowing ergo). I’d only heard positive things about deep water running (positive in terms of training effect, not so much in terms of fun). So I found a generic program on the internet (Ptzinger’s 9 week program looked the goods), went out and bought a flotation device, and planned to officially start my deep water running venture on Monday. A change in scenery may be something to look forward to.

Thursday - 10km easy

An easy 10km before the Sydney10 on Saturday. Had a massage yesterday, so that likely explains why I felt like rubbish! Just stuck along the beachfront for two laps. Stunning morning!

Tuesday - 15km

Feeling pretty ordinary this morning, but just persisted through it. Like yesterday, I was really just lacking that extra gear to push that extra bit. Up to North Head and back, getting home in 56:13 (3:45’s). Again, nothing special but certainly not terrible either. I’m now debating whether to take an extra rest day tomorrow? I’ll take it easy on Thursday regardless with the Sydney10 on Saturday, but am unsure whether there is any benefit in trying to push for another 15km effort tomorrow or not?

Monday - 15km

I lacked that extra gear today, so just got out and ran at my usual intensity (although slightly slower). Out along the Shelly-Fairlight Loop on a cool and windy morning. Apart from the council workers closing the pathway underneath the Queenscliff Bridge (in the space of literally one minute, as it was open when I ran underneath it for the third time [before shortly turning around for the final 800m back to North Steyne]), nothing to interesting to report apart from the GPS under-reading by 100m (yes, I ran the extra 100m to ensure that the Garmin read 15.00km). Got back to North Steyne in 55:03 (3:40’s), nothing special but nothing horrible either.

Sunday - 30km

Fantastic conditions for a run around the lake this morning. The first time I’ve worn a top (just a singlet) by choice since about September last year. A slightly moderate southwesterly was the only complaint, otherwise I felt really good. The effort felt much easier than the past few weeks, which is always a good thing. Got back to Harris Farm in 1:56:43 (3:53’s). Time for breakfast and a coffee!

Saturday - Parkrun

I was quite surprised to see that none of the fast guys showed up, especially considering that the Sydney10 is only a week away. That left me solo out the front on what was a slow, wet and windy morning - completely different conditions for a change, and arguably for the worst. I made sure that I didn’t go out too hard this week (much more respectable first kilometer in 3:07), but after that it was a struggle. Running into a headwind through puddles and mud wasn’t much fun, then it poured! Then on it was simply a battle of finishing. The time was terrible, 16:50, but the intensity and effort was definitely there. Not sure how much slower the conditions made it, so I’ll look at the positives and know that at worst I still got a great workout out there. I’ve had one of my fastest and most consistent week’s of running, so it’s not like I’ve suddenly lost it. A slow jog back home through a few more down pours. Glad I’m done for the day now!

Thursday - 15km

Up to North Head once again on a very foggy start to the day. At least the crowds were down compared to yesterday. Quite nice conditions, although a touch humid (very sweaty now, although that may be due to the fog). Felt good, which is unusual for a Thursday. Got back to North Steyne SLSC in 55:08 (3:40/1’s), happy with that. Now back to reality!