I last updated my blog almost a month ago to the day.
In the last month, very little has changed since my last post. Well, actually, that isn't strictly true as so very much has changed but I think that's fairly symptomatic of me, my life, my family, my work and the dramas that I perhaps invite into my life! Having said that, so many of the changes are just life experiences: half-term holiday (not that I actually felt the 'break' in anyway), 10 days of Shanghai experiences and the usual parenthood and being part of an extremely large family. All good though! :o)
... and there's the running! So, I'm still under the care of the docs and not allowed to partake in any endurance running. Now that I've got my head around it, I'm appreciating the fact that by ignoring the advice is not only ill-advised it's also incredibly selfish considering that I have two beautiful princesses at home. So I am being good (ish), by not pounding the roads or treadmill for hours on end. I am still running and probably pushing myself a little harder than what the doctor suggested but I've capped myself to 40 minutes (5 miles) but typically am working at 4 miles (30 minutes) sessions on the treadmill followed by low impact cross-training (stair master, rowing machines etc). Basically, I think I'm maintaining a reasonable level of fitness although any modicum of marathon fitness definitely appears to have gone by the wayside!
It's now only 13 days until the Hereward relay that I have spent almost a year thinking about. Something fairly meaningless to perhaps so many people but it has been an incredible driving force for me. An event that both filled me with utter dread but also instilled a sense of excitement, anticipation, pride and determination in me. A challenge that amongst so many of my commitments, seemed nigh on impossible but was the one challenge that I was hoping to be able to tackle. I can't say that there isn't an impending sadness that I will be reading results from perhaps 30-40 runners who have completed the 2012 event and thinking that perhaps it will be me one day. Just not this year, it would seem.
My next tests are in 5 weeks from now (not that I'm counting). I'm being so good with my vitamins, my diet and my medication... and desperately hoping that my red blood cell count, cell size and haemoglobin levels are all 'normal' (Not that I could ever claim to be normal!) and that I can then begin planning my 'redemption' event. I'm focusing on being able to plan for something else albeit from an unknown quantity. I'm yet to start looking into events for next year as I don't want to pin my hopes onto something if my physical state and lack of training isn't conducive to marathon success - I need for my physical state to be a known quantity before I begin committing to anything.... frustrating but sensible!
In the meantime, bring on the gym and low impact training. :o)
