ITB Blues

Training has frustratingly come to a halt due to me suffering with ITB syndrome AKA runners knee.  I'm no doctor so here's a wiki lesson on what it is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliotibial_band_syndrome

The upshot is that I'm currently taking 2 weeks minimum off from running.  I'm 10 days in and getting frustrated.  It feels much better but I know I can't rush it.  I've been foam rolling, K Taping and taking glucosamine  in an effort to heal it.  I will also be running with an IT Band above my knee to help prevent it from returning.

This has made me realise how important it is to get everything right for New York, so maybe it was a blessing in disguise...  I've been and had a gait test at Sweatshop and bought some properly fitted running shoes.  I was very interesting to see how my feet and ankles aligned and moved around whilst running, I'd recommend a proper gait analysis to anyone who is thinking about taking up running seriously.

Fingers crossed my first run back this weekend will be ok, I'm taking it back to basics and starting at week one of a half marathon training programme.   One step at a time is the key to this from here on.

Beacon Easter Bunny Run 10k

A bit late blogging this one, didn't get round to it for some reason...

The Beacon Easter Bunny Run was my April leg of my 2014_10kChallenge.  I entered this back in December knowing that the start of the race was at the bottom of a hill which led to the highest point in Leicestershire, Beacon Hill.  I naively thought one climb of the hill would be all that was included, that would have been enough for me....

The day came and I arrived at the site to be greeted by the local scout group managing the car park, I couldn't believe how many people were there!  I'd read during the week leading up that it was a record entry for both races, the 10k and a 3k family fun run.

The race was well organised, plenty for spectators to do.  There was a coffee stall, BBQ stall doing bacon and sausage sandwiches, there were a few brave runners tucking in.  They even had a massage tent giving free leg massages to runners, I figured they would be busy after the race so I took advantage and had a free pre run rub down.

The race was soon underway, and after a 100m start straight we were heading upwards, one full mile of incline got us started, followed by nearly a mile downhill, we then turned back up the hill....

2 climbs!

I reached the summit for a second time, this was hard work.  We then headed downwards again, I was hoping that things would soon level out for the second half of the run.  No! We turned uphill again!

3  CLIMBS!!!

The third assent was in stages but not enough time between them to recover fully.  I was on for the slowest 10k I'd ever done, but this one was strangely satisfying.  The last couple of miles were downhill/flat and quick, in fact mile 5-6 was my quickest segment of the race!

59:19 is a shocking time for a 10k for me, but this was probably the most enjoyable 10k I'd ever done.  A very well organised event hosted by the Loughborough Beacon Rotary Club in only it's 3rd year, this event is sure to become a well attended regular on the East Midlands calendar.

Next up Leicesters Big 10k in May.