Injury Worries, but weight continues to drop.

This week has seen me nursing my Hamstring along, with controlled running rather than anything too dramatic. The hamstring is still very much a concern, as it isn't healing up - realistically, I need to stop running for a week to see how that helps, but with my timescale being tight, I cannot afford the break. I am alternating my running, with a harder/longer session, followed by a very light session the following day. The one thing I can say is that the injury does not actually affect me running, it's the hours following that is filled with discomfort.

On the plus side this week, I had two sessions which clearly indicate improvements all around. On Tuesday I ran a 10Km route, almost a minute faster than I had previously run this route, in under 53 minutes, without feeling any strain at the faster pace, and without increasing the pace as I would in a race situation approaching the finish. And on Friday, I used the gym to check if any speed had come back to me as I progressed with the increased distances. I ran a timed 4Km run on the treadmill, recording 19:51 for the distance, my fastest over a 4Km time trial since August 2009, so things going well on two fronts - distance and speed.

And finally, the icing on the cake. My weekly weigh-in saw the scales reach their lowest point in many a year - 87 Kgs., which is just under 192 lbs. I still have a way to go to get to my target on April 1st of 80 Kgs., but I am very happy with this progress, and it makes the sacrifices all worth while.

A Mixed week - Up and Down

Whenever you start training specifically for an event, you start a countdown in your mind. On a good training day, the time to go to an event seems an age away, and when things don't go so well on a run, then the countdown clock seems to be running faster. This week, my clock has been speeding up and slowing down, all in the same few days.

I started the week with a good run with the Hash on Sunday. For many months I have been treating the Hash runs as simple jogs, with little effort, but this week, I ran with the front runners, and enjoyed a good 10Km run in the sun, albeit a little stop and start, but an enjoyable run, where I knew afterwards I had been running hard.

Monday is usually a rest day for me, but I jogged out and did 3Km in the sun, trying to get accustomed to the excessive heat, without pushing the body. Tuesday morning I was out early and had a good run down to Parque Dominico, where I extended the run to 10Km by running three circuits of the park, and feeling excellent - thinking the Santiago Marathon is a long way away...

Working on my alternative strategy, the following day was another "Run in The Sun" day, and an easy run to a nearby plaza, which is around 250 metres around, where I ran laps on the clock to see how I was doing, with the intent of using this plaza as a place to carry out interval sessions next month. I again ran out in the heat of the day, and certainly felt it, but was happy with the session.

However, Thursday, my left hamstring was feeling very sore, and although my plan was for a longer run, I decided to simply loosen the leg out and jog a short run. This I managed, using the Plaza Circuit again, and felt the tightness, so took things very easy. When I got home I iced the leg, and that countdown clock seemed to be rushing all of a sudden...

I decided that rest may be the best for the leg, so took Friday off, and on Saturday, the leg was feeling a lot easier, having had no hard run since Tuesday really, so took an easy jog to test. This morning, I decided to go for another 10Km run. With 10 weeks to go on that clock - 70 Days - I need to maintain these runs and extend them weekly to get the mileage in the legs, while balancing the tight hamstrings by stretching out. I ran 53:53 for the 10Km run today, not particularly fast, but I hope to race a 10K before the Marathon to judge the speed in March, we shall see.

So, up and down week, but satisfied with the running, just not happy with the hamstrings which I have to hand hold as I progress. We shall see..... On the weight front things are going in the right direction, which will obviously help the stamina, and will also help the hamstrings as I will have less weight on them :)... 2 Kgs lost so far, and creeping under the 90 Kilo mark, and with 10 weeks to go on that target as well, need 1 Kilo a week over the period.

Must tell you about this Madman....

Mad in a nice way that is.

Last year I was contacted by the Irish Embassy here in Buenos Aires, to see if I, or people I knew here, could help an Irish Runner who was attempting to run around the world! Naturally, I said I would see what I could do, and I discovered the exploits of Tony Mangan, an Irish Ultra Runner, who I had come across some years ago when he was attempting a World Treadmill record for 48 hours at the Dublin Marathon. Well, now he is running around the World, and after finishing a leg running around Europe he was completing his North American part of the journey, pushing a stroller with his kit. Unfortunately, the terrain in Central America and into South America was not conducive to pushing a stroller and he was looking to ship it to Buenos Aires to collect when he reached here. I managed to help him with his request, by contacting another Irish ex-pat here who has a storage business here, and all is awaiting his arrival.

He has now completed North America, and is presently in Colombia, having just started the South American leg, and he is recording his exploits on his fantastic blog CLICK HERE - THE WORLD JOG and I recommend it as a great read, and also if you want to support his run in any way you can. There are some who might question his sanity in attempting such a feat, including himself, but I admire him for this, and his many other feats of endurance. Next time I find an 8Km run tough, maybe I should remind myself about Tony's Run, and zip my own man-suit up. Check it out......

Cooler days, no alcohol, good run, and YES, we have electricity!

After 90 hours, we finally got the electric back on, amazing what you take for granted, and miss like mad when it goes out, at least for a day or so, then you get used to dealing without it - Having said that I am glad it's back on again.

Thankfully the last few days have seen cooler temperatures, with the hottest part of the day only getting into the high 20's - and never did I think I would be saying that the high 20's was a cool day! Compared to the 40 degrees it hit at the beginning of the week, it was almost time to pull out the thermals......

With the weather having drained me, and tight hamstrings I decided to take a rest for a serious run on Thursday and Friday, with just a coaching session on Friday as a modest run for me. So, Saturday morning arrived, after a night out Frinking, where I spent a great evening in the bar with friends, drinking Aqua sin Gas, and surprising a few at my determination on this front. Two weeks into the regime now, and all going well on that front. So, Saturday, and up for a morning run, with the temperature around 23 degrees, excellent running weather. the sun high in the sky and at 11am I was off. Ran the same as Tuesday, the trip to Parque Dominico, and two laps around the park. This time, no worries with the heat, and ten minutes faster for the 8.7 Km run. Felt freer and lighter in the legs, and very comfortable at this pace of around 5:15 per Km.

Heatwave and No Electricity

Phew! What a scorcher!!!!

Well, the first couple of days this week have been unbearably hot - Temps hit the 40 mark on Tuesday afternoon, certainly not conducive for running. To make matters worse, our electricity went out at 10:22 on Monday night, and with midnight temperatures still around the 30 mark, and no air con, it was a very difficult nights sleep. But I managed to get up and out for an early morning run. I would have liked to have got out an hour earlier, but at 8.30 I was out - with the temp already reaching the 30 mark.

I had planned a 10Km run, using a regular route to the park at Villa Dominico, and instead of the one circuit I have been doing, I would make three laps, with each one being 1.3 Kms, hence my 10. However, the temperature was climbing rapidly as I ran, bit the air, and mine, and by the time I got to the park I was feeling the heat. I had tried to run in the shade on the road to the park, but once I arrived, there was no hiding place. I managed two laps, and was feeling the heat, so decided to live to fight another day, and cut the run short to 8.7 Kms, feeling terrible by the time I got home. The day got worse with the heat, and still no electricity!

Wednesday morning and, thankfully, the temps had dropped to the 20's, after some rain overnight, which had allowed a decent(ish) sleep, but still no electric! I was feeling the effects of the run from yesterday, so went for a short recovery run of only 3.25 Kms, and legs were feeling heavy, as one would expect at present. Clearly have to take consideration of the heat this month, as I build the daily runs, and the stamina in the legs, but happy enough with the progress being made.

First week of Santiago Training.... Great

Despite the unnatural temperatures down here, I managed to survive the first week of training for Santiago, and it more or less went according to plan. I went dry from last Monday, and I was to be tested at the weekend, as a group of us from here were off to San Pedro, a county town on the River Parana, about 160 Kms from BsAs, where one of our group has a house. It was an extremely hot weekend, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees on Friday, not exactly conducive to running, and with the party atmosphere around, it was likely to be hard to sustain the alcohol free time, and get some runs in. But I managed both.... easily to be honest.

Saturday and Sunday mornings, Marlo, an Australian running friend who was with the gang, and myself were up at 7 and out with a run down to the river in the early morning heat (still around 25!), but before the day really heated up. Both runs were between 6 and 7 kms, with Sunday being slightly longer. One great thing about this run, was the long gradual hill back from the river, and while I am still in the early days of re-training, given there are no hills in BsAs to run, it was great to actually get a hill run in.

So the first week has been completed with 6 runs, and 35Km completed. Nothing fast, but the aim for January is simply to run 6 days a week and build the distance gradually, trying to ensure no injuries. Doing a body check today, I have a few aches, understandably, and quite tight hamstrings, but nothing too severe, so I can chalk week one down to a success. Now for week two, and with today my official rest day, thankfully, as it hit 40 degrees this afternoon, I look forward to tomorrow mornings 10Km run, along with the forecast for the week with temps dropping back to the high 20s, relatively cool.

Increasing the distance

After my four days in a row, I needed a rest yesterday, my ageing limbs aren't used to all this exercise, so I put my feet up, and allowed the muscles to adjust. This morning, I woke early and checked the forecast for today, with a Max High of 33 showing, so after taking in some fluids, I was out on the road just after 8am, even though it was already up to 23 degrees.

Obviously, I need to increase the mileage, and as previously suggested, it's a balance to daily running and distance, without overdoing it. One of my difficulties for running from the front door is the lack of green space nearby. All runs have to commence with a fair amount of roads, and as the sidewalks/pavements here are terribly maintained, it is the road that I hit.

Today's run took me to the park, but it also takes a 3Km straight run along a main road to get there, and, naturally enough, it's 3Km back. But it is worth it, and whilst I don't plan to simply add laps of the park to make distance, it is easy enough, and won't get boring for a while. A lap of the park is around 1.25Km, so easy enough to build up distance by using this park. An alternative is to head to the Capital, and Puerto Madero, the modern docklands of the city, where there are loads of runners, and open spaces, without vehicles, but again, it's a long urban run to get there, around 5Km, so those runs will be a few weeks away once I start getting up into the high teens and above. But there is hope...

Back to today's run, and despite the heat, I ran steadily, enjoyed the lap of the park, also seeing a few other morning runners, not a common sight locally, and headed back as the intensity of the sun increased. No wild animals to report, a few urban ones, and a siamese cat who gave me an evil eye as I approached, and scooted off in front of me, looking back, before darting into a doorway - Oh well.... managed the run at a pace of a tad over 5:30 per Km, not feeling too bad, although the legs needed some good stretching when I got back.

Already 22.5 for the month, which is way ahead of last year - The pace may be slow, but the miles Kilometres are getting there...

Four days in a row - I must be getting serious...

Day 3 of the year, and my fourth run in a row - It's been a long time since I wrote that. And to make matters better, the temperature had dropped a little this morning, and at mid-morning it was only around 23 degrees, so instead of a trip to the gym, I managed to get outside and enjoy a run I call Belgrano 4100, which is 4.2Km long, an out and back street run.

Pleased to report that although my legs could feel I have been running regularly, they eased into the run, and I reached the turnaround point without feeling any discomfort at all. I increased the pace a little on the return run, and, although breathing heavily, I finished strongly, and recorded my quickest time on this route. Now, whilst it is important not to be timing every run, or trying to beat my best time, what is important is to gauge the feelings of my body as I run. So, if I keep a check on my times for the distances, I can compare how I felt for each time I run a particular course. So, today, I went out easily, increased the pace a little on the return, and noted my breath levels, so I can judge in a week or so, when I do this route again - Today I ran 21:49, we will see what happens next.

Here is a picture from Sunday, which makes me look pregnant, something else I can compare with in a few weeks - Hopefully, just like my times, this will be coming down as well!

New Year, and here we go again....

Well, I have started the year with confidence, if not fitness. 90 days to go to the Santiago marathon, and no target set, simply get to the start line and, all being well, to the finish line. So, with this in mind, I should report my main training resolution - I am off the pop for three months. Years ago, when I was running seriously, this was a regular occurrence, but in recent years I have failed to keep this up, but this year I have good reason. My weight at the start of the year is hovering around the 92 Kgs, and by the race I definitely want to be under 85 Kgs, and if I can get nearer 82 Kgs, I would be even happier.

With all this in mind, Sunday saw me running the first 75% of the Hash as a FRB (Front Running Bas***d), which was around 8Km, and at a healthy pace, given the temperature was over the 30 mark. Obviously the summer weather here does not make for ideal training conditions, so today, an even hotter day, I went to the gym, and did an easy 3Km run in 16:11. I aim to use the treadmill four times a week, with two longer runs outdoors, either early morning, or evening, to turn over a 6 day a week regime. Easy at first, and then adding a hint of speed work as the stamina increases.

No easy tasks over the next few weeks, but lets hope this years beginnings can be maintained over the 13 weeks left to me. If all goes well with Santiago, and that simply means a finish, then Rosario in June may be on the cards, and Punte de Este in Uruguay, come September, when the winter temps here are more conducive to training, should me races that I can target with a degree of confidence, ending with the plan to run the Dublin Marathon back home at the end of October, along with my son.

That's mapped out the year, now, on with the training.....