In the aftermath of Ribble Valley, a race I got away with in hindsight considering the problems I have had since then, I got floored by a bout of flu and was unable to run throughout the final days of 2016.
Frustrated by the inactivity and determined to try and kick on in the new year, I forced myself to go out for a run on the morning of New Year's Day. I probably wasn't quite right still, and should have taken an extra day off, but I went out anyway and coughed and spluttered my way around a 7.5 mile loop. I actually thought that by taking it easy the run would do me good, as I brought up a whole load of phlegm and nastiness! And I did feel good as the run went on, but cooling down and stretching off afterwards, I had another coughing fit and doubling over I tweaked my back.
This is the third of fourth time I have had problems with my back now in the same place, so although at first I was gutted and worried about the damage another lay off would do, I now am starting to understand how to best help facilitate the recovery. I blasted the area with heat (thanks moll for the hot water bottle!) for a number of days and arranged a massage as soon as possible (thanks Vicky for fitting me in so quickly!) and as a result I was back up and running within a couple of days, rather than a full week as was he case last time.
None the less, following on from missing the best part of a week of training due to Christmas and illness, it was another couple of days I could have done without having off.
I knew that I wouldn't be in any sort of shape to race at the Lancashire Championships crosscountry, and despite being tempted to run anyway, I listened to my body, my brain and my coach for once and took the sensible option of cracking on with a training week and ploughing some much needed miles in instead. I am hoping that this will benefit me more in the long run and see me return to form as soon as possible. Despite having missed Monday and Tuesday, I actually managed to end up with a 61 mile week, which was an achievement in itself considering being crippled at the start of it!
I am hoping to push on now and get some proper sessions in again, as it is a few weeks since I did any proper speed work. I did manage 4 miles at 5:35 with Rob on Thursday, but it felt much tougher than I remember for that sort of pace!
The rest of my running has been pretty steady, but consistent with 10 miles at 6:16, 15 miles at 6:25 and 10 miles at 6:18 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Total mileage for the week: 61
Average pace for the week (m/pm): 6:29
Total mileage so far this month (January): 68.5
Average miles per day 2017: 8.6
