You’re Riding High in April, Shot Down in May.
Frank Sinatra
Sums up my vibes about running at the moment.
Life rather than love though hurts without regular running at the moment, but things are looking up!
The Rollercoaster of Life
The past week has felt the best that I’ve felt in about two months, but it still feels like I’m a long way from getting to where I want to be. After getting my diagnosis last week I’ve been working hard through stretching and finding other avenues to move forward and get rid of this feeling I’ve got hanging over me.
What’s the feeling though? It’s perhaps a lack of confidence, a lack of feeling like my body will hold up if I push it a certain way. None more evident than going for what I thought today would be an easy recovery run after work, but getting 10 metres and calling it.
The old me would’ve pushed on and probably caused more damage, but I’m now thinking long term about what I want my running to look like, and perhaps it’s not going to be what I thought it was, perhaps Ultra Trail Kosciuszko will be the pinnacle, and if that’s the case I’m fine with it.
Prior to heading out for the run I sat in the car for half an hour with this sinking feeling that while I’ll experience highs throughout my return, I’ll also experience this rollercoaster of lows, almost as if I knew the pain would return. It sucks, being injured sucks, and there is no other way to put it, especially when you’re reminded constantly through what you were doing at the same time last year.
The excitement of training for something just isn’t there at the moment, and in it’s place is this caution that what I might do next could see me relapse back into more pain. It’s not an easy feeling and I wish it wasn’t there.
It’s hard psychologically to be in this situation. On Sunday I should be running a marathon and be weeks into my program for Sri Chimnoy, but instead I’m resigning myself to the fact that I’ll likely scrape through the first cut off in September, but have the chance to say I was in the same race as some of the country’s elite runners.
This is where my mind is at the moment, and there is no other way to put it. About 80 per cent of the time I feel good, and the last week has been filled with positive moments in running. My first 10 kilometre run in what felt like ages, a painless fartlek session, and some really good days in the gym.
But, then I’m reminded today that while I’m on the right track, I’m still a long way off, and the question is now in the back of my mind as to how long I’m going to have to be this patient in rehabbing this injury, and what does the future look like?
It feels me with a great unease, because all I want to do right now is rip into a longie for a couple of hours, knowing I can’t do that right now is a hard pill to swallow.
The Sweat Test
But while it does seem like doom and gloom and misery, I’ve utilised the last week to look at areas that will make me a better runner. The simple one is something that was organised by our coach Shiree and that’s a ‘Sweat Test’.
Basically the sweat test evaluates how many milligrams of salt we lose in our body per a litre of sweat. It’s beneficial because replacing the salt you lose because losing too much can be detrimental to your performance. Essentially, failing to replace the salt in your blood and only taking in water to rehydrate can dilute your blood.
It’s quite an interesting thing to learn and something I would’ve had no idea about when I first started running, but now know that I lose 1,290mg/L. How do I utilise this information now? I’ve gotta go for some runs and collect the data, but it looks like based on this information it’s no surprise that I absolutely relish cold conditions
Outside of the sweat test I’ve also been back in the gym, working on aspects I probably neglected through too much running. I’ve also discovered the ski erg, and perhaps as a result I’ll wind up a more complete athlete as a result of this injury.
The Race Across the Territory
Next Wednesday, arguably our best ultra runner Rob Mason is setting his sights on breaking the fastest time to get from one end of the ACT to the other end of the ACT. He’s using it as a warm-up to try and break the record of racing across New South Wales.
But why?
To raise money for the Burns Unit at the Westmead Hospital. Funds raised will be used for research and for support for kids affected by injuries sustained in burn's accidents. For many of these children these injuries will stay with them for life. Your contribution will help the hospital achieve better outcomes for these kids.
If you can help Rob towards his $120,000 goal you can donate here.
I’m hoping to catch the back end of the attempt, and hopefully be well enough to run some clicks with the great man. Rob will also be at
next Wednesday, so keep an eye out for him and say g’day.Peak2Soon Poddy
Absolute ripper with Alison To. I’ve been blown away by the response to the podcast, the following has far outreached this blog, and I’m so blessed to be making some connections with people I admire greatly.
I’ll keep cooking up episodes, but if you’ve got any suggestions I’m all ears!
The best trainer I ever had always said “Ben, focus on what you can do. Not what you can’t do”.
I’ve barely trained in probably a month. It’s been shit. I can barely move when I wake up in the morning. Takes me hours to fully free up and that’s with a solid 15 minute stretching routine every morning. Feels like I’m getting nowhere. I dunno what else to do other than keep doing what I am and trust that doing the work the experts have told me to will eventually start to pay off. Sucks ass, big time, but a tantrum won’t help me.
Hope you start to wind up in full again soon, mate.