First Trail Run and Bloody Calf Muscles......

So, when I signed off my last blog I had just ran my first (and only) half marathon in a training run and I had then "twanged" my calf walking down the stairs at home. However, I still wanted to run the Burton Constable Trail 10k (near Hull) were Shaun was part of the Organising Events Committee for the first time.

I actually pinged my calf on the Wed, it really hurt on the Thursday too but I kept stretching it out as we walked round Lincoln with Shaun. When I got up on the day of the race (Friday) it was a lot better but still painful.

When we got to the event, I tried to warm up but it really started hurting again and I suddenly got some knee pain thrown in too (was that just in the head though?). I decided (as I wanted to support Shaun) that I would give it a go but I was pretty sure I was going to pull up early on. I started really slowly and hoped it would warm up.

The knee pain eased completely after about 400 metres. The calf I could feel (and was thinking about constantly) but it wasn't getting any worse. The first 4k was a slow plod but I was just happy to be running. After the 4k mark I could still feel it but it still wasn't getting any worse so I started feeling a bit more confident with it and started to relax and enjoy the great scenery.

It was my first trail run and I would say the most difficult 10k course that I have done. Twice we had to run through a massive clump of sheep (and sheep sh1t) which was interesting but it was at the 6km point that I (and Sam) had the most problems - and that was partly Marfan related for me. As per my previous post, I have the gift of hypermobility too (often a problem with Marfan). At 6k we were running on this grass track but it was so uneven, so as my feet landed, my ankles kept ringing right over and I kept losing my balance. I had arms and legs going everywhere. Others were struggling but I was the only one that looked like Bambi on ice. My ankles were really beginning to ache between 6k and 7k. However, when we got back on to a gravel path I was fine again and confidence was good.

When I registered, I had stupidly put in my road time as a prediction (as I hadn't done a trail race before!!) and I didn't know I was going to have a dodgy calf and be taking it easy. Overall, I didn't overtake anyone in the first 6k (there were about 500 / 600 runners) but must have got overtaken by about 100 people in that first 6k. With 1k left to go I had overtaken 1 person! I did find a bit at the end (cheered on by Shaun) and managed to overtake about 4 more in the last 500 metres but overall I must have been about 150 places back on my start position. It didn't bother me, I was just pleased to be running it.

It was a great event and I would definitely do it again. Both Sam and I said we struggled on the course but 10 minutes after we had both finished we realised that we had both really enjoyed it.

Since then my Calf pain hasn't got any better - but hasn't got any worse. I did some stuff in the Hotel Gym (for my old Test colleagues info, we stopped off at Belton Woods for a night on the way home!) but mainly cycle and rowing. When I got home I just did one 26k bike ride. Yesterday it was still hurting but I just needed to run - I don't want to be losing any fitness at this point in time. It was a big risk running on it again but it actually feels more comfortable when I am running on it, rather than walking on it! Ultimately it was OK again. I could feel it at all points but it didn't stop me running. I did 13k which was all i could muster in the lunch time heat and wind yesterday. Not brilliant, I really wanted to do 18k but as I have said before, I really, really struggle in the heat.

What I have decided though is that I am just going to do plods between now and my first half marathon. Any time I try to go a bit quicker or do hills or the beach i just feel that I am risking injury more. So just simple plods to reduce my chances of injury from now on.

Luckily I am seeing my super Physio Vas tomorrow, so hopefully he can work his magic again......