Glute force….less

I haven’t blogged for a while.  Partly due to injury and partly due to my complete lack of interest in running of late.  Over two months ago I injured my back. Another setback in 2015.  I can’t quite put my finger on the incident but I turned up at the club session with a stiff lower back.  I did the session and the stiffness was worse afterwards.  I ran the day after but ended up almost limping.  The following day I couldn’t put weight on my right leg, the “nervy” sensation like being poked with a cattle prod – not that I’ve been prodded before but I imagine it would have similar symptoms.  It emanated from the right lower back area which was around the Sacroiliac joint/lower vertebrae.  I sought advice from my physio and even visited a chiropractor for some manipulation.  I was limping into work, walking the dog, even around the house.  It took so much time to settle down. I’m very grateful to Keith from Synergy, he has been tremendous in treating me with everything from acupuncture and shock wave to ultrasound.  Top bloke.

It was touch and go for a while whether to call off the CCC (which is at the end of August) and defer until next year.  All the preparation and organisation, not to mention the financial outlay, was hanging in the balance.  I gave myself a deadline.  If there wasn’t a significant improvement before mid June then I would throw in the towel.  I had to miss some of my favourite races, watching on the sidelines with envy.  Blaydon, the Chevy Chase, Windy Gyle all cancelled.  This was a huge blow having just returned to fitness following surgery earlier in the year and the boost of the Anniversary Waltz race.

Nobody likes to be injured when all you want to do is pop out for a run.  It is even more frustrating when you have plans which have been on the horizon for almost three years.  It’s like a kick in the nuts.  The most common diagnosis for all of my recent woes come down to lazy glutes. 

So, although my back still niggles and my glutes are still not firing properly, I am in a better place and am looking forward to participating in the CCC.  I will make the most of the experience and just hope I get around in one piece.  I am also looking forward to getting it out of the way.  It has been at the forefront of my life for too long and I won’t be planning anything like this again after the troubles I have had.

After the CCC, who knows.  I’m definitely not as passionate about running as I was and realise that there is so much more to enjoy in life like savouring the little things and making the most of living in the moment.  Clichéd, maybe.  But it is fact. I’m not worried if I miss a session or a run and I’m out of the “routine” by fitting running in around life rather than vice versa.

So, I’m off to Borrowdale this weekend for the fell race.  I intend to use it as a training run and will be carrying all my kit needed for the CCC as a tester.

Post CCC – no plans.  A few people have mentioned a Bob Graham attempt but I’m not sure. I might fall back to shorter races, I still have some pace…