New Year, New Running Me!

Hello there! Well it's 2012. I hope you had a great New Year and are are raring to go!

When I sat down to blog, I was thinking I was starting the year on the wrong foot - correction - on no feet. I am still 'in recovery' with my foot up a lot of the time.  But, thanks to various Tweeps and others, I am working on my running, preparing for a marathon - I'm having a running makeover. I'm going to use this time to make myself a better runner.  I'm beginning to see opportunities and possibilities rather than a massive gaping running shaped hole in my life.

I needed hope and I got it via great advice and support from @GlasgowOsteo. Daniel helped me get my head round what might lie ahead, and raised my spirits by reminding me that I'd get a personal best however slowly I ran! Thank you Daniel you gave me great advice and that chink of light I needed to see a way through and to start looking ahead.

Then a visit to my lovely local physio - PhysioPlus in North Berwick.  They got me back to running before my half marathon and nipped what could have been a nasty long term Achilles problem in the bud. I knew if I had a chance, they would help me get there.

After the usual prodding and questions, the calf tear is confirmed, but the good news is that it's already started healing and I did the right thing with the RICE - thank you Google!  The site I used was www.sportsinjuryclinic.net. I got some treatment and exercises to keep my ankles from sticking and to keep my proprio-receptors in good working order. I can't do much of anything just now, but I can swim - hooray! Then in a week or so I may be able to do some cycling and then some walking and then.......

It feels good to have a diagnosis and something active to do to aid the healing process, even if it's just to limit the damage that inactivity is causing. It's the passivity of waiting and resting that drives me bonkers - I want to do things and make myself get better and I want to be better now!  I am not a patient person and the weather here is great for running.

I got some very useful advice from @Pyllon, a running hero of mine and a totally great guy. Paul recommended Chi Running as a way to help me get better at running.  As I looked at stuff on the web, it dawned on me that whilst I'm a big believer in running being about the whole body and being in balance, I've been making it up as I go along. I need to learn about running and I know that Chi running is definitely going to help me run better. That made me realise that this is another way I can use this time to run better, longer and stronger - I can learn - and I've time to read the book thanks to the calf strain. Thank you Paul!

So, I am now training with my feet up and a book and an i-pad in my hand! I've my Women's Running and Runners World mags next to me and Chi Running winging its way to me. I have universes full of tweep-wisdom at my finger tips. How can I fail!!

Just like running, recovery is better when you recover with others. Too many tweeps have injuries just now and I really wish I had a magic wand to make them better.  We keep each other going. @RunningJoeInJax and I have been chatting about our similar injuries and how we're getting on.  Joe runs in Florida and is a bit further on in his journey, but it really helps to share the pain and the joy of recovery and keep each other on track. Thank you Joe, I'm right behind you, we'll get there!  Thanks to the many many Tweeps who've been cheering me up and commiserating too.

I do believe that everything happens for a reason and I'm going to use this time off my feet to make me a better runner. Some of it I know already. I need to re define 'rest' more robustly after long runs. I'm  going to try some post run compression and I've  had a very kind offer from @tryingtriathlon to share his compression tights with him, thanks Miles! There's things I can do to reduce the risks that build up round cold weather, long runs, the ageing process and being very busy. But I need to look more deeply at my running and I think the Chi Running will take me to that new level of runner hood.

I'm a little bit optimistic about Barcelona, even though my time would be much, much slower than I was originally hoping for. I'd settle for just getting round. But I'm not going to build up my hopes too much. As they say - blessed are those who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed. There will be other marathons, but I've only got one right leg and I want to run until I drop!

As well as reviewing my running and my training, I can do other sports and this is a last opportunity to have a non running life before the end of March. I must make the most of it!  In particular, although Ali and I can't go for walks, we can swim together and go to the pictures. We've really got into board and card games this winter - anyone who crosses our threshold has to play at least 3 games of Uno and Stramash!  I can blog (don't worry, I don't want to bore you all too much!), and I've been catching up with Tweets which has brought me much laughter and support.

Plus, I've some great books to read - I think I've read 1.5 books this year - shameful! I never get enough sleep (and for some reason I am really tired since the injury which is weird, endorphin withdrawal I assume).  So I can get some zzzs in. I have some unfinished cross stitches somewhere too.  So I've got plenty to do until I can get back to training - a nice mix of running/marathon preparation and making time for other things.

There's a Shakespeare quote that often springs to mind: I wasted time, and now doth time waste me (Richard II).  I might not be able to hold back time, but I am determined not to waste this time with 'what ifs' and regret and focussing on the one thing I can't do. Life's too short and none of us can afford to waste a moment.

So here's to a fantastic 2012! I hope it brings happiness, health and joy, and you are blessed with family, friends and whatever you need to get you through.

Take care

Suex