Friday 9th December 2011 - 8 miles tempo

After the weekend's exertions and Tuesday morning's 10 miler I started to feel sharp pains in my lower legs.  This got worse through Tuesday until by the late evening I was getting stabbing pains through my legs with every step.  It was a little better on Wednesday morning but was still painful so I decided to bring forward the Friday rest day.  It seemed to work a little but Thursday also was painful.  This, coupled with an inconvenient work schedule, made me decide to take a further rest day.

I'm a little sorry to have done it because it won't be easy to make up those miles but I think it's important not to push myself over into an injury that might leave me unable to train for weeks.  I fear that I'm flirting with the dreaded shin splints.  If I got those now it would knock me out until after Christmas and I definitely can't spare that time!

But tonight I felt a little more confident and decided to do the 8 miler that was in the schedule for Thursday.  This way I will end the week just 6 miles down on the schedule and having effectively only missed on training session.

I did the route that I've favoured lately, down the hill to Tallarn Green, on a bit further then turn around and back the way I came.  Up the hill.  I'd set myself a goal pace of 10 mpm and although normally the Thursday sessions would include some speed work I had decided not to bother with that because of the continuing pain in my shins.

My first mile was 9:45 and felt tough and slow.  Also slippy on the ice that was forming on the lanes.  I picked up a little in mile two (9:04) and decided that although I wouldn't do any speed work I would run up all the hills.  This would a) give me some strength training and b) get me to the pub earlier.

Mile three was 8:45 as I felt some strength come into my legs.  I felt like pushing it a little to see how much strength really was there and I got to mile 7 without having dropped over 9 mpm since mile two.  With one mile to go I decided to test my determination and my ability to push forward even when tired and I upped the pace once more with a last mile of 7:55 mpm.  Which is like lightening for a tortoise like me!!

I've still got a lot of pain in my lower legs.  I fear at some point I'll have to take a full week out to let them recover properly.  But not yet eh?

Peace, out.

JUST THE FACTS!!
Weight: 79.6 Kg

TODAY
Distance 8.03 miles
Time  1:10:59
Kcal  919
Press-ups 0
Swimming 0 m
Sauna  30 mins

TOTAL
Distance 271.61 miles
Time  46:47:51
Kcal  29,186
Press-ups 380
Swimming 8000 m
Sauna  3:35 mins

FUNDRAISING
The fund is at £486.53.  Thank you Olly for the generous donation :)
If you haven't already donated then take a look at http://www.justgiving.com/pitymyfeet and help the wonderful work of MENCAP.  Thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored already. I respect and love you all!!! 

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