Long time no blog...long time no run...

Its been a while.....a long while.

I have to say that my running this year has been fucked up. A combination of sickness, back injury, neck injury and another rolled ankle and my life turning into a temporary emotional train wreck has really made this one of my worst years for running so far (I've only been running for 3 years) I have entered 6 events this year, and out of the 5 that have happened I have attended 0. there is one left, the Melbourne 1/2 marathon in October which I am in no way prepared to run but I am going to give it my best shot.

But I can change that, I have one thing back that has been also lost, my motivation to run. I feel like I need it now more than ever, after gaining so much from running and losing it again, I know how much better a person I can be once I get back running. 

I have seen the light at the end of that tunnel though, my ankle has been cleared for some mild runs (strapped up to prevent rolling it again in its state of weakness) the weather is starting to get better, which always makes it easier to get out there and run.

Its a nice familiar feeling to want to be running, there is nothing worse than having an injury and seeing people out for a run, on a nice cool sunny day, it just emphasizes what you have lost due to injury.

I think part of my problem is a lack of discipline in my life. It takes discipline to get out there and run, to not eat crap, and to maintain motivation for change. Its easy to slip into a mode where exceptions are made from what you should be doing. You start to do the wrong thing occasionally and then it becomes regularly, and then its acceptable to do it all the time.

This lack of discipline and self control is one of the strengths I had, which I desperately need to get back....but that is achievable. I have broken the viscous cycle before and I will do it again.

Bouncing Back!!

Sickness is a bitch. the worst part about it is not being able to run, not having that outlet for stress and pressure.

A combination of training, annual leave and rather nasty throat, chest and ear infection had me off my feet for a few days, but unable to run for 3 weeks.

It feels like I have never run, like I have reverted back to the slack ass non runner that I was before. I missed out on running for the kids (although I don't mind that my entry fee became a donation to a great cause) which really sucks because running through the domain tunnel, and over the bolte bridge makes it one of my favorite runs....sigh.

The other thing that I have lost is the preparation that I have been building for the puffing billy run, the hill runs, and the speed that I had is gone.

2 runs back into it, and the remnants of the chest and ear infections, raise their ugly heads when I run, tight chest and ear ache. I am feeling the runs in my legs a lot more than I used to as well...

Because I need to focus on the upside, I have a goal, get speed back, run hills and beat that second train at puffing billy. And the best bit about the whole ordeal, is that I have dropped 3kg and managed to keep it off :)

This whole issue has also made me realised that I have not blogged anywhere near enough this year. Easy to remedy.

I will run, I will push it, and I will blog more often ;)

Daniel

Running 2011......and 2012

Its been an odd year for my running. This year running has become part of my life. Its routine, at work I get random people who have seen me get my running gear on and head out the door say "hows your running" etc not people I have spoken to, or know well, running is a good way to make friends.

There have been some other transformations in my running this year, for example my lunchtime runs have become a social event. I also seem to be holding up the motivation for our little running troop, yesterday when I bailed on a 5k no one went, which is kind of annoying. I don't want that much influence over peoples motivation.

I have had some injury and sickness issues, with hurt Glutes, and a bad back making running hard at times, and necessary in my back treatment.

But that was all last year.

This year has started well, a good 10k with the boys back at work, a 5k with my sister in law who is visiting, and a 2k run in my vibram five fingers.

I plan to do more in my five fingers this year, and would like to get to the point where I am running the majority of my runs in them, I really like the way that I felt connected with the ground without the cushioning of my kayanos. It was a strange sensation running in them, at first it was like I had forgotten to put my shoes on, then I noticed that I was kind of leaning forward more than I normally do, and then it just felt natural, and that is what its all about.

For anyone wondering why I would do this, here is the dot points on barefoot (minimalist in my case) running:

- The human body was designed to run without shoes.

- cushioning in shoes was developed by marketing experts who were trying to solve an issue that didnt exist

- by running barefoot you use your legs, butt and back in the way that nature (or you chosen deity) meant for them to be used.

- the impact on your feet is less than with cushioned shoes due to your brain registering something hard under your feet and stopping you pushing down harder.

So I have joined the group of strange people who own/wear vibram five fingers. For anyone who doesn't know what these are, they are a rubber sole with a lycra top and some bits of Velcro to hold it all together. see the below picture.