The Best Laid Plans Of Mice And Men - 1

Whilst bollock-sweating in the sauna yestereve after gym, I decided to pass the time, by mentally planning my running events for the next year or so. Naturally, all is contingent upon my getting back into a full training programm once my leg is fully healed.

Plans, of course, are not necessarily cast in iron, so changes are very possible, two of the major factors in this respect being future injuries, and, of course, finances!!!!

Anyway, here goes:

2008

2nd March - Semi-Marathon de Paris - had to cancel because of the leg injury.

20th April - International Zürich Marathon - ditto.

26th April - Frühlingslauf, Thusis - Chur. 25 km.

10th May - Grand Prix Bern, Bern. 16 km through the town.

June - sometime in June, I plan to do a solo run of about 50 km from the north of Liechtenstein, along the Rhein, over St. Luzisteig, and back to Chur through the Bündner Herrschaft.

27th July - Königsschlösser-Romantik Marathon, Füssen, Germany. This will be my first full marathon, seeing as how Zürich in April is not to be for me. Also known as the King Ludwig Marathon. I know this area, and it is extremely picturesque, lying about a two-hour's drive from Chur.

http://www.koenigludwigmarathon.de/

August - sometime in August, I want to try a solo run, with rucksack and provisions, from Zürich back to Chur, a distance of about 125 km. I'd do it over two days, although I am already fantasising about trying it in one, even if I have to run late into the evening. Dreams, but we will see.

27/28th September - the Berlin Marathon. Apparently one of the best marathons in continental Europe, and highly recommended.

http://www.real-berlin-marathon.com/events/berlin_marathon/2008/

November - early November - Maratona Ticino in Locarno. I ran the half-mara in 2007, and would be keen to do the full one in 2008. Only problem is, that it's a double loop, and I am not too keen on that. Maybe I will just do the half-mara on this one.

http://www.maratona-ticino.ch/index_en.htm

14th December - 32. Zürcher Silvesterlauf in Zürich. 8 km through the city - a 4 x 2-km loop. Back to those loops again (!!!!), but it is a great run.

http://www.laufkalender.ch/cgi-bin/laufkalender.pl?language=1&fs=2&page=weiterleiten&mode=homepage&lid=122562

2009

March - Semi-Marathon de Paris - this time, I'm not missing it!!!!!!

April - International Zürich Marathon - ditto!!!!!

September - Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon in South Africa. 250 km, very similar to the Marathon des Sables. A must-do as a "gentle warm-up" for the MdS.

http://www.extrememarathons.com/augrabies/

2010

March/April - FINALLY - the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert of Morocco!!!!! This is the ultimate.

http://www.darbaroud.com/index_uk.php

Of course, there will be other races and lots of training. Well, that's the plan. Now to put it in to action.

Medical Update - back and forth 3

It's been a week since I last blogged. I had hoped by now, that I would have good news about my running. Hmmm? Good news I do, indeed, have, but not yet about running.

The fact is, my Ilipsoas tendon is improving markedly; I have no pain whatsoever anymore, and can walk without a limp. It really feels great, and I feel the need to get out there and RUN!!!!! However, I went for my second corticosteroid injection from Dr. Hasler yesterday, and we had a chat about my running. My disappointment at what he said, must have been very evident. Whilst he's very happy with the progress I have made, he feels, that a return to running at the end of this week would be foolish, as the tendon is still very tender, and stressing it with running could possibly cause a relapse, which would knock me back another several weeks/months. Logically, then, I should further desist from running for another two weeks. I know he's right, but I felt very low after that news. I have got used to the idea since then, though, and am now HOPING for a return to running from Saturday, 9th February. I see the good doc again next Monday, and trust his news for me will be what I want to hear!!!!!

In the meantime, I have been putting in a lot of time at my gym, doing upper-body and core workouts (not allowed to do legs, yet), and, I have to say, I feel great, and will make sure I keep up the workouts even when I do start running again. Instead of like before, when I was pushing to increase my muscles in the face of genetic impossibility, I am now doing workouts with stamina in mind - lower weights and many more repetitions - as well as concentrating on building up my lower back, abs and obliques, all of which will stand me in good stead when I am on my feet again. It's a good feeling

So, another two weeks of no running. OK, I'll be good and stick to the doc's orders!!!! Of course, this precludes, that I will not have enough time to train for the Zürich International Marathon (would have been my first full mara) on 20th April, let alone the Paris events. Fortunately, when I registered and paid for Zürich, I also took out an insurance against injury, so my place in the 2008 event will now be put forward to 2009. As regards Paris, however, I failed to do the same, so lose a rather substantial amount of Euros on that score - one lives and learns!!!!!! This morning I wrote to both organisations, cancelling my participation, and it hurt like merry hell to do so, but I shall be sensible.

Looking on the bright side, there is a nice 25-kilometre race from Thusis to Chur here in our canton on 26th April, which I will (hopefully) attend; I have also registered for the GP Bern, which is a 10-mile (16-km) race through the centre of our nation's capital city on 10th May. And there are many more marathons coming up in summer and autumn, so I shall take my pick of a few of these, and register, but not until I am sure, that my tendon is in perfect working order!!!!!!!

Thank goodness Paris and Zürich will be there next year, because, other than the MdS in 2010, these were the "biggies" for me this year. C'est la vie.

Power Music that motivates me

Since I've had my 2GB iPod Nano, I've been uploading songs that inspire me when I run, and now have quite a selection. I already have a playlist called "Morocco", ready for the MdS in 2010!!!

I have a few favourites which I listen to often when I run (and when not), and I thought I'd list them here, with their YouTube links in case anyone wants to listen to them.



Alphaville: Sounds Like a Melody (my absolute favourite at the moment)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xxmBD904pVU

Alphaville: Forever Young
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=n7CuJ8cR9sg

Peter Schilling: Major Tom
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KoidJVAMAVE&feature=related

There are many others, but these are my favourites, and I try to listen to them at the end of a race or training (in the past tense - I'm still off my feet for another eight days). They give me some kind of deep energy as I race for the finishing line or simply arriving home.

Medical Update - back and forth 2

My leg seems to be healing!!!!! On Sunday and today, I had very little pain and did not have to use crutches at all. I was very tempted to go running this evening, but thought I'd wait first, to discuss it with Dr. Hasler during my appointment at 1 o'clock this afternoon.

The medical man was very pleased with the bone scan images, and also told me, that the blood tests were all negative, as well as kidney and liver tests from the blood. That's a good sign. The injury is most definitely localised in the upper leg where the Iliopsoas muscles insert into the Femur.

The procedure is now this: continue, with no breaks, on Ecofénac 150 as well as a "stomach protection" med (Ecofénac is apparently a killer on the stomach!!!). I received a corticosteroid injection in the butt. No running/stretching/cycling/swimming until the 31st January, and then we will re-examine the situation. I receive a second cortisone injection on Monday next week. He is quite confident that all will be well by the end of the month.

The Semi-Marathon de Paris is definitely out, but the Zürich (full) mara could very well be on, but with a slower pace than originally intended - I had hope for 3h45', but will reduce this to 4 hours or even slower - Zürich will be there next year, too, and I can go for a faster time then.

Anticipating a quck recovery, and good re-introduction to training, I have made a list of several marathons I'd like to run this year; however, all being well, I shall only choose two (including, hopefully, Zürich), and perhaps three half-marathons, plus my planned solo run from Zürich to Chur (about 125 km) with rucksack.

I'm very excited again, and feel motivated, especially as the pain has subsided markedly, and the results were encouraging. Here's hoping. I shall really be good for the rest of the month, and only train my upper body. I shall have to watch my calorific intake as I won't be burning many calories now - vineyard owners all over the world will have a sleepless night!!!!!

We had a strongish earthquake in Chur this evening. It was certainly the strongest I have felt, and we've had a few here over the years. It registered 4,2 on the Richter Scale - not Tsunami-generating stuff, but scary nonetheless. The whole house shook twice in succession. The noise was like what I can imagine bombs exploding to sound like - damn frightening. I was sitting in my study at the time, and jumped up and stood under the doorframe in case the whole place came down around me. Kurt was walking to his wellness, and saw the railway lines of the Arosabahn train actually moving in the ground. There is no evident damage in our apartment, and we will inspect the house tomorrow. A 'quake in the early nineties caused some large cracks in the apartment right upstairs.

Tomorrow I am taking the body of a dead Portuguese man down to Zürich Airport for transport back to his homeland. It'll be nice to get out of the business for a morning, even though I am still "doing death".

Medical Update - back and forth

Well, what a week!!!!! Business-wise, we had far too many bodies in five days for it to be manageable - but we managed. It's been a hell of a week.

My leg/hip problem has taken on saga proportions, and is becoming very interesting (for me and the doctors, at least) indeed. It was diagnosed as Iliopsoas Tendinitis last week. The Iliopsoas is a double muscle which comes from the lower spine, sort of through the hip, and connects with the top of the main thigh bone (the Femur). It’s main function is to assist in raising the knee. The MRI I had, showed inflammation of the insertion point where the Iliopsoas joins the Femur. The meds I was given (Ecofénac 150) should have sorted out the inflammation quickly, but, in fact, the ailment worsened to the extent where I have recently had to resort to crutches for any distance of more than about ten metres, with concomitant pain and leg wobbles!!!!

So, it was back to Dr. Hasler (my orthopaedic specialist) who investigated the whole thing from the beginning again, and came up with the theory, that it might actually be reflective pain coming from inflammation of the Sacroiliac joint in the hip area. To make sure, I was referred to the Nuclear Medicine unit of the Kantonsspital (Cantonal Hospital) here in Chur for a bone scan. This all took place this morning. Kurt dropped me off there at 7:45 a.m., and by 8 o’clock, I was on the gamma-ray scanner table, being injected with a nuclear tracer called Technetium, which is absorbed by the bones, and reveals any skeletal abnormalities to the scanner.

While I was on the table, the ‘phone rang, and the radiologist answered to find Dr. Hasler wanting to find out if they had discovered anything yet about me. The radiologist expressed amazement at this, because Dr. Hasler has a day off today, but wanted to know results as soon as any were available!!!!!

It started off with a ten-minute scan of the hip area, and then I had to wait for two hours while the skeleton absorbed the tracer. I went down to the restaurant in the hospital, which affords the most spectacular views of the Rhein valley and mountains around Chur. I was to drink a lot so that the excess tracer would be flushed out of my body – I did think of wine, but decided I’d better stick with water and coffee.

The two hours went by very quickly. I had taken with me a book I had just bought called Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes. It’s about a man who decides in his thirties, that he wants to run, and, like me, is not just satisfied with marathons, but has to aim for the ultramarathons. In so many ways, I can identify myself with this author, and it’s most gratifying to know, that I am not the only nutter in the world!!!!!

At 10 o’clock, I was back on the gamma-ray table, and the photo shoot began in earnest. First of all, a ten-minute scan of the hip area again, followed by a half-hour full-body scan, and then a scan of the hands alone. I could see the developing images in a screen in front of me – all most interesting!!!!

After that, there was a short wait for processing, and an interview with the nuclear specialist, whose wife had practised for a year at the Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town a while ago. Before he even began discussing things with me, he pointed out, that I must be a very special patient, as Dr. Hasler has never given out his mobile ‘phone number before, nor, indeed, ever insisted upon results being made known to him as soon as they become available. All the staff in the unit also referred to me as “the marathon runner”. I felt so special!!!! Obviously Dr. Hasler had mentioned it in his letter. I did point out, though, that my first full marathon was to have been in Zürich on 20th April, but that I have had to cancel my participation on that due to my not having been able to train enough, thanks to my leg.

Anyway, I had a long chat to the nuclear specialist, and he showed me, that the source of the pain is, indeed, in the leg in the region of the insertion point of the Iliopsoas muscle onto the Femur, but that there could possibly be a small inflammation of the Sacroiliac joint which is not visible in the scan images (I guess the latter is just to support Dr. Hasler!!!!). It was all very interesting indeed. He told me, that if he had his way, he would have me in a cast from toe to hip so that I could not move!!!! – doctor humour, I guess. I tittered a little, and then the casualty people came and took him off to intensive care to have pieces of furniture removed from his skull – one just does not make jokes like that to a runner!!!!!!

On Monday at 1 p.m., I have an appointment with Dr. Hasler, and then we will see where it goes from there. At least, as far as I can see, we know now exactly where the source of the ailment is, and can concentrate the healing process on one area. I’ll keep you informed. There is definitely mini-series-potential in this case!!!!!!! My rôle, of course, will be played by Brad Pitt.

Here is part of the bone scan from the back of my body, which clearly shows the red, inflamed area on the lower right side, corresponding to my problem point. I just hope the healing can be achieved quickly so that I can get back onto my feet and train for the 2010 MdS!!!!

Pumping iron - sounds impressive - 1

I guess "pumping iron" is part and parcel of training for the MdS, but I thought I'd place it in a separate category.

I had my second day of workouts since my decision to stop running until the Iliopsoas Tendinitis clears up. The ailment is now most definitely affecting both legs. I can't say which is worse at the moment, but I just wish they'd get their collective act together, stop being inflamed, and allow me to run!!!!!!!

I sent my orthopaedic specialist a fax this morning, informing him of my decision to temporarily stop running, and that my left leg was now suffering from the malady. I aslo asked for a repeat prescription of Ecofénac, although I did point out, that the effect of said medication is lessening. I now have an appointment tomorrow evening at 17:30 to see Dr. Hasler.

I miss my running so much, and am sore at heart, that I have to forego my places on the Paris and Zürich marathons in spring - even if the tendinitis clears by then, I would not have had the training, so I'd probably injure myself again, were I to run anyway. I cannot see me participating in any marathons until summer at least. I have been scanning the websites to see which would be suitable, and will list these at a later date.

My workout this evening comprised back, shoulders and abs, and felt good. It's amazing how quickly the body actually does practise muscular dystrophy when it's not working out. I know I am deliberately reducing my weights compared to former days, but take, exempli gratia, one exercise called upright rows. A year ago, I was pushing 35 to 40 kg in this exercise (I know, not Arnold Schwarzenegger standards, but, for me, not bad!!!). Today, I was straining with 15 kg!!!!! OK, straining is exaggerating - I felt it!!!! I probably could have lifted about 22,5 kg, but resisted the temptation due to fear of injury!!!!! I have become very injury conscious. Nonetheless, it was a good workout, gievn the current circumstances.

I can still feel the effects of Sunday's chest/biceps session, but it's a great feeling. The thing is, how to pick up muscle, but reduce fat so that my overall body mass can reduce another three kilograms to my desired weight of 70 kg (I know, weight is not quite the same as mass, but I use the terms loosely). The question is: now that I am pushing weights again, should I take protein drinks/bars to feed the muscles, or not? Protein does result in an increase in body weight. Not too sure what to do. Is there not a simple pill for all this????????????

I recently ordered six books on ultramarathons and/or the MdS, plus the DVD of the 2007 version of the race. They should all arrive this week, and I can hardly wait. I have several books demanding my attention, but I have no desire to delve into them, as I am eagerly in anticipation of the ordered works.

Tomorrow, after the medical appointment, I'm off to Bener Park again for an evening of wellness and, perhaps, swimming. I am tempted to go to gym first and do some tricep workouts, and more abs stuff. Since my renewed interest in weightlifting, I have started doing a lot more abs workouts than ever before. I'll get that six-pack yet, even at my generous age!!!!!!

Stretching is going well, too. I'm slowly getting into a daily routine of it, and it feels good. I had physiotherapy again this morning with Josef, my torture master (in German: Foltermeister), and he is very happy with my decision to desist from running for the time-being. I'm glad someone is happy!!!!!! He keeps encouraging me to take up chess, but then reminds himself, that the more sport I undertake, the longer I will be coming to him, and the sooner it will be, that he can retire. We have a love/hate relationship.

Why did I not discover running when I was about 18 years of age?????????????????????

I had resolved for 2008 not to drink wine during the week. Today was an emotionally tenebrous day, and I am allowing my spirits to be lifted a little with the juice of the grape - fermented lightly, and aged well.

Training towards the MdS 2010 - 6

Well, if I can't run, then I can still do gym, and workout my upper body. Went off to gym this afternoon, and had a good 1:30 session.

5 minutes warm-up on the stationery cycle
25 minutes full stretching programme
1 hour chest, biceps and abs workout

It really felt good. Until about 18 months ago, I did a lot of weight-lifting, and, whilst I did not achieve the bodily results I had hoped for (I am a hard-gainer, and my bone structure does just not allow for a big muscles!!!!), I did get some good definition. However, around then, things started to go wrong. Disc hernia, shoulder operation, elbow operation, and do on, and I neglected my training. In May 2007, I turned instead to running, and, well.... the rest is documented here.

I enjoy working out very much indeed, but was just getting frustrated with it as I was not getting "big". Today in gym, I looked at myself in one of the mirrors, and thought to myself: "You look like a runner now" - thin!!!!!! It's not a complaint as I want to lose more weight (but fat, not muscle!!!!) for my running when I am able to re-start. However, I have lost the upper-body defintion I had before. Oh, well, one can't have everything, and, until I can run again, I shall concentrate on working out, cycling and swimming.

I realised today, that stretching is most beneficial, and, if I'd done it before, I might not have ended up with this injury I have now. I'm going to try and do a good twenty minutes of stretching (at home) every day from now on. It felt good at gym, but at gym I'd rather work out!!!

So, today I don't feel as usueless as I did yesterday, and it's a great feeling; not nearly as great, though, as running. I miss my running already!!!! Patience, mate!!!!! It'll come back, and this time, I know what to do - slower and stretch!!!!!!!!

Merry Sunday.

Iliopsoas Tendinitis

After my run on Tuesday, and lower-body workout on Wednesday, my leg/hip has become progressively worse. Alarmingly, it's started in the left leg now, too, but not quite as bad as in the right.

Yesterday (Friday), I decided to go for a short run, but did not get further than about 250 metres before the pain struck again, so violently, that I came to an abrupt halt, and whinced in pain. There was no way I could run home, so walked with a limp. That was the end of my run for Friday. Absolutely pathetic, and I've really had enough of all this.

I've been doing some research this morning, and have found, that the full medical term for my condition is iliopsoas tendinitis. I'm going to have to study some of the more fundamental medical terms associated with the malady, as used in my medical books, because there is a lack of knowledge on my part in some areas. However, the best Internet articles I have found thus far, are these:

http://www.emedicine.com/SPORTS/topic52.htm#Multimediamedia1
http://www.drpribut.com/sports/iliopsoas.html
http://www.physioroom.com/injuries/groin_and_pelvis/hip_flexor_strain_full.php#2767
http://www.aidmybursa.com/illiopsoas-bursitis-anatomy.php

Pretty comprehensive, and describe my injury accurately. Now to try and heal the wretched thing so I can get back to running. Lats night, we went out for dinner, and I used my crutches (which I still had after my knee meniscus operation in 1998) to walk to the restaurant. I don't know if the crutches help, but I think I will use them for a while, anyway, just to take some of the pressure of walking off my hips. Of course, the sight of crutches results in numerous, stupid questions from people around!!!!!

The Semi-Marathon de Paris is getting ever closer, and my training is virtually non-existent. I've got to the stage where I am already considering quitting the race, because there is no way I can do any training at the moment. The Zürich Marathon in April is also in question at the moment. Perhaps I really do need to give my legs a rest for a couple of months, and then start again. However, I must make an appointment to see Dr. Hasler again next week, as even the Ecofénac meds are not working anymore!!!!

The joys of running!!!!

Training towards the MdS 2010 - 5

My run on Tuesday evening was a good one, but I may just have gone too far considering the leg/hip problem. I suffered quite a lot on Wednesday, although I refused to admit it to anyone. I did limp quite a lot, and knocked back more Aspirin that is good for one.

Towards evening, I went to gym to re-start my training programme there, that I had designed last year with running in mind. Whereas during my power-training/weight-lifting days, I used to go to gym four times a week, I have now reduced this to twice a week, doing upper body on one day, and lower on the other. For the exercises I do, I have dropped my weights markedly, and am concentrating more on repetitions than weight.

Yesterday afternoon, as mentioned, I did lower-body - leg extensions, calf exercises, leg curls, hack squats, dumbbell lunges, lots of stretching for my Psoas muscle problem, and some abs work and pull-ups (the latter weight-assisted as I am still getting over my shoulder operation from 2007). It felt really good, and my glutes today are letting me know, that they were well-used. I'm glad to be back at gym, because I missed it, as did my body!!!!

Afterwards, I also re-started my Wednesday evening wellness, and returned to Bener Park where I have an annual subscription. It may be small, but is modern and immaculately clean. Wednesday evening is for men only, and I am usually alone there, which suits me fine. I made good use of the Finnish sauna, caldrarium and steam bath, and will start using the swimming pool again from week. In keeping in line with conditioning the body to withstand high temperatures in the Sahara Desert, I stayed longer than normal in the actual sauna. It's amazing how the mind works. Until yesterday, I could never stay longer than 15 minutes in the 85°C sauna; yestereve, I was determined to start heat-conditioning training, and easily managed 20 minutes.

After the exercise and stretching of yesterday, my leg is somewhat better than it was, and I will certainly get in a short run this afternoon. Planning on a long, slow run this weekend. One day, my leg will be fully healed, and I can really get into training in a big way. Until then, I do what I can, and when I can.

Here is my run route from Tuesday - discovered I could add it here. I use the programme "SportTracks", which I find excellent when connected to my Garmin Forerunner 305. Click on the pic for an enlargement.

The lure of the Marathon des Sables

What is it about the Marathon des Sables that lures certain people (me included) to such a great extent, that nothing else comes to matter in the world?

Take these three photographs above, for example (I have no idea who took them - I simply found them on the 'Net, but, if they're yours, and you don't want them here, just give me a shout; if you don't mind them being here, well, then, thanks): they're a fraction of the many pics I have downloaded onto my laptop, and which I look at on a daily basis, just LONGING to finally have my turn at the MdS. There are those who would look at these pics and would consider anyone wanting to do this as a complete lunatic, ready for the nut-house.

I have read all the blogs and reports pertaining to the MdS that I can get hold of, as well as the brilliantly-written book by Mark Hines of his March 2007 participation. The 37-page blog entry by Alan Silcock I printed out, and have read 3 times in the last ten days (see "Links to other loons" on the left of the blog page), and am about to start re-reading Mark's book after only finishing it last week. I just cannot get enough. This whole thing is possessing me, but it's a magnificent possession.

I know, it's not going to be a walk in the park. It's hard, it's tough, it's brutal, people have died on it; there will be times on the race when I question my very sanity, and seriously consider quitting; the thought of all that sticky suntan lotion being covered in Saharan sand - yuck, it's just not me; not showering for a week, and sharing a tent with seven other farting, snoring, filthy, sweaty competitors - it's just not me; depriving myself of a good glass (or more) of wine after dinner, as well as fine food - it's just not me.

But you know something? It IS me!!!!! It is me, because deep inside, there is an absolute craving for this - a craving, which has been lying dormant for most of my life, but which is surfacing now, and will come to the fore thanks to the MdS. Just looking at Alan Silcock's blog entry, I could list a hundred things that, in earlier years, would have convinced me this was not for me. Now, however, this is exactly what I am looking for!!!!! It really is hard to understand, but it just is.

More than anything else in the world, I want to (and shall) do the MdS, and 2010 just cannot come quickly enough for me.

Training towards the MdS 2010 - 4

How wonderful to be able to get out on the road this evening, and get in a comfortable 13-km run. No record-shattering paces, but a casual average of 5:06/km with a couple of spikes and a few slow moments.

It's funny, but pre-MdS-decision, my thoughts while I ran were mainly directed towards my upcoming first full mara in Zürich on 20th April. Now, each running step is a step towards the MdS - nothing else matters. I wonder if I really am a nutter. Who cares, though, as it's my greatest obsession in life, and I'm going to achieve it, no matter what. I have never been so motivated.

Something I am learning slowly, though, and that is, that "normal" people are as interested in the MdS as I am in politics (i.e. zero interest!!!), and I think it's time to confine my enthusiasm to my blog and the MdS forum, as well as a few people who really do show a fascination in what I am doing. My daily text messages and/or e-mails home to South Africa have also started taking on a less-MdS tone to save myself from threat of ex-communication!!!! Big smile. My friends and family all think I'm a nutter anyway, and I think the MdS has convinced them of the fact!!!!! My fascination with the French Foreign Legion and the US Marine Corps have also had them thinking about casting aspersions about me!!!!! Some things are best left kept to oneself, or to specific forums and websites.

Well, that's it for today. I feel excellent after my run, although do notice, that I have lost a fair amount of condition during this injury time, and have a lot of serious training to do before Paris on 2nd March, and Zürich on 20th April. Regretably, my 18-week training programme for the full mara has been shattered due to the leg/hip thing, but I will catch up as best as I can. All that matters for me is the ability to achieve the MdS - not to win (that doesn't even come into question), but to partake and enjoy it!!!!!!! I can hardly wait!!!!!!!

So, now for a relaxing evening, reading. Why haven't more people written books about the MdS? I got through Mark Hines's book in two days (because I was so totally absorbed in it), and am now gasping for more!!!!! Ah, well, I'll enjoy James Brady's new work Why Marines Fight - a quite intriguing look at the psyche of the US Marines.

'Til the morrow.......

The Final Diagnosis

Wow, am I relieved!!!!!!!! I had my appointment this morning with the orthopaedic speclialist, Dr. Hasler, and he assured me that my leg/hip problem is not a stress fracture of the femoral neck, nor do I have osteoarthritis. There are, indeed, two problems, but they will not prevent me from running:

1. I have a slightly malformed femoral head which rubs against the hip joint from time to time when I run, especially intensely. This is not an immediate problem, but will be watched because it could be a cause of future osteoarthritis. This is not what is causing me the pain from which I have been suffering, but rather ....

2. an infection of the Psoas muscle where it joins the femur (I think!!!! - need to research it more), also caused by intense running without stretching and warming up properly. This can be treated with continuing use of Ecofénac and Aspirin, coupled with specific stretching exercises three times a day. With time, the infection will reduce and the pain with it.

Most importantly, I can run again, although I will suffer form the pain for a while yet, and can use Aspirin during the day to alleviate it - Ecofénac only to be taken at night.

Once I had heard all this, my rather depressed and sullen mood of late, rose markedly, and I am ready again to take on the running world!!!!!! I really had feared that my running life would come to an abrupt end only a few months after it had seriously started.

So, from tomorrow (Tuesday), I am back into training. Was going to go for a run this evening, but it's pouring with rain, and I'm not in the mood for the dreaded treadmill at gym.

Training towards the MdS 2010 - 3

As the forecast foretold, we are in a situation of rising damp, and I have had to forego my running, and shall not forgive the weather its inclemency!!!!!!

I have thus far had a productive morning, after re-watching Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring yestereve. Before I wax eloquent about my efficacious forenoon, I'd like to record something I heard from one of the chappies in LOTR: Decide what to do with the time that is given to you. I find this a most appropriate quote, especially with regard to the MdS. Thus endeth the philosophy lesson. Now to my fruitful matinal Sunday......

Whilst tidying out my study at home, I discovered a pamphlet I had picked up at my last race (31st Zürcher Silversterlauf) in December, and, lo and behold, it's something that got the gonads all agog, and literally lambasted the legs for their lax, layabout manner of late.

I present the Swiss Jura Marathon!!!!!!! See:

http://www.swissjuramarathon.com/5/Welcome.html

and, indeed, for the very last time (sounds very pythonesque, doesn't it? And now, for the very last time on television.....). Wow, I cannot resist this. Not quite the self-sufficiency, spartan conditions of the MdS, but certainly something to seriously consider, and on my door step - well, the other side of the country, but our Helvetic Republic is not exactly the largest country in the world. The course is from Genève in the south to Basel in the north, and covers some 350 km over 7 days, through (and this I can confirm) some of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe.

What to do? Quite simple - overcome two major hurdles.

1. Get the leg/hip problem sorted out - tomorrow I see the specialist.

2. Convince our employee, who always takes his summer holidays in the first three weeks of July, that this year he can't.

Oh, and run more!!!!! Damn this rain!!!

Training towards the MdS 2010 - 2

Well, couldn't wait for my clean running clothes of yesterday to dry, so donned some skiing underclothes and a track suit, and set off. Never again. The track suit irritated me from the start, and the underclothes seemed to become saturated in sweat - no wicking potential!!!! - and within minutes I was not happy!!!!!! The Föhn was strong, and made running tiresome. I decided to quit whinging, and persevere - on the MdS, whinging is not an option, so why should I allow it here.

Good excuse, but my leg was still hurting, and my overall run was slower than yesterday's. Managed an average pace of 5:10/km, and covered 8,72 km. I noticed a discrepancy of 0,5 km and concommitant pace difference between the iPod/Nike+ and Garmin 305 - the latter displaying the more conservative values. Somehow, I trust the Garmin gadget.

I doubt if I will be running tomorrow - not only the leg pain, but the Föhn is expected to collpase, and cold, very wet weather is on its merry way to our neck of the woods 'til Monday. I shall spend the day reading and slothing.

Here is the graph of my pace for today's run - certainly not an elite runner's pace, but I am injured, after all - huge relived smile!!!!! The very slow bits are where I had to stop at traffic lights - annoying!!!!!!! To the right is anothere slow part - nose bleed!!!!! Not too sure about the two rather fast parts towards the beginning - don't remember sprinting.

Training towards the MdS 2010 - 1

Decided I'd seperate these blog entries into Training and Countdown - the former, obviously, being my training blog, which will cover over two years; the latter, a blog of general ruminations and thoughts concerning the race, as well as diverse matters such as shoes, equipment, contact, etc., and, finally, the blog of my participation in March/April 2010!!!!!!!

Today's training blog actually pertains to yesterday. I hadn't run since 26th December (and before that, the last run was the Zürcher Silversterlauf on 16th December!!!). This leg is really getting to me. There are times when I have no pain at all, and other times when I can hardly walk. The frustration is telling, and I'm becoming really aggressive because I am not able to run. Anyway, yesterday was a good day, leg-wise, so I decided to hit the road towards evening. I dressed in my running gear, did some stretching first, set up my iPod/Nike+ gadget, and attained satellite connection on my Garmin Forerunner 305.

I planned on a short run, no more than 5 km, but, once I had got going, it felt so good, that I deviated from my planned route, and ended up running down by the Rhein (Rhine), and through the military area. The mild Föhn wind was blowing quite strongly, but my spirits were high, and my leg/hip felt good. I didn't once have pain in my body, and could easily have run a half-marathon distance, except that it was getting dark (I had no light with me), and it may have been foolish after having not run for so long.

Back home after 7,84 km, I downloaded all my data, and was pleased with my results, given the circumstances. Managed a 5:05/km pace on average - not an elite, but not bad for an injured old sod of 51 years of age.

I did feel a fair amount of pain in my leg/hip once I'd had a bath, and we had walked into town to do some evening shopping - but nothing that Aspirin and, before I went to bed, Ecofénac couldn't mask!!!

It's now Saturday afternoon (5th January), and the Föhn is still blowing, keeping the temperatures far milder than would normally be the case for January, so I'm going to go off for another run, being suitably dosed up on Aspirin. Mental note to self: buy another pair of long running tights!!!! Have to wait for my longs to dry after I washed them late yesterday evening (and forget to hang them out to dry!!!!!).

Countdown to the Marathon des Sables 2010 Part 5

Today, it was business as usual in our small company, after the Festive Season break, during which we did work quite often. My ailing leg is still playing up, but the appointment with my orthopaedic specialist comes ever closer (7th Jaunary). Today, however, was a good one, and I experienced very little pain indeed. Took my Ecofénac tablets yestereve, and then Aspirin at lunch time today, with the intention of a short (5 km) late-afternoon run to see how my leg would perform. Regrettably it was not to be as several business factors got in the way, and I got no run yet again today. If it goes on like this, I may as well burn my running shoes, and resort to chess.

One good thing happened, though. I had been given the mere surname of someone from Chur who, apparently, ran in the MdS at some stage, and that this person works in a bank in Chur. I duly 'phoned the first of several banks, and hit the jacktop. This fellow partook some ten years ago, but is still very active in marathons and ultras, and is very keen to meet me. Swiss TV did a reportage of his participation at the time, and he's going to post me a copy of it, and then we will meet next week. I never thought I would meet someone in this small town who is as mad as me!!!!!! I look forward to next week.

In a way, I am almost glad I couldn't go running today - not only will it give my leg yet another day to heal (hopefully), but there is a Föhn storm blowing today, and, whereas the temperature reached 6,6°C this afternoon, the windchill factor made it certainly feel like well below zero - I hate running in either wind or cold (better get used to extremes before I hit Morocco), but the two combined are anathema to me. I would have gone, however, had I had the chance - or not? In a way, I think I am putting most of my training on hold until I have seen the specialist - probably a wise decision, but it's frustrating the hell out of me.

So, tomorrow is another day.

Countdown to the Marathon des Sables 2010 Part 4

So, it's 2008 already. I remember thinking about how I would be "old" at the age of 43 when 2000 started, and now I'm already in my 50's, and am planning for a major event in March/April 2010!!!!!

Had a brilliant 6 days down in our holiday house in the village of Carona near Lugano in the south of Switzerland. Carona lies above the Lago di Lugano, and it's a 155-km journey by car right through the Alps from Chur - Chur itself lies deep in the Alps of south-eastern Switzerland, in the valley of the Rhein (Rhine). Whilst enjoying the peace of Carona over New Year's Eve, I thought a lot about my hopeful participation on the 2010 MdS race, and also considered some training ideas over the next two years. Presuming that my leg injury heals soon, I'll do my planned two full marathons, three or four half-marathons, and a few other races in each of 2008 and 2009, but also want to get in at least two long solo, multi-day runs.

One of them would involve taking the train from Chur down to Zürich, and then running the 130 km back to Chur over two or (more likely) three days, carrying a rucksack with all provisions (including light tent) with me. Zürich lies at 408 metres above sea level, and Chur is at 600 metres a.s.l., so it's a 200-metre rise in elevation over the 130 km - I cycled it a few years ago, without any training, and it's a nice route, with one small, sharp incline about halfway to Chur. The mountain bike trip took me about seven hours; the running will be considerably longer. I shall plan it for in summer, of course, when, by the way, the temperature in the valleys here in Switzerland can reach up to 38°C at times, and even higher in Chur.

In 2009, I plan to do the same thing, but this time from Chur to Carona. This is far more strenuous. Chur lies at 600 metres, as mentioned above, and Carona is at 602 metres, but in between, on the route I'd take over the San Bernardino Pass, I'd reach an altitude of 2065 metres a.s.l. before the long descent down to Lugano at 280 metres, and then, the very last stretch would be a 320-metre climb over 6 km from Lugano up to Carona - the bastard at the very end - and this is not to mention the climb from Bellinzona (at 227 metres) over Monte Ceneri (at 534 metres) before the secondary descent to Lugano, and the final ascent. My partner and I want to do it by mountain bike as well (perhaps in 2008), but I can't wait to run it over about five days, camping next to streams on the way, and carrying all my food (water en route is not a problem in Switzerland!!!!).

My partner is also keen on the idea of a Nile Cruise this year, followed by a week in Sharm al Shaik (spelling?) - my first thoughts were that this would be a good idea, because then I could get in some desert running behind the sea resort. It's amazing how the mind of a running fanatic works - others would be thrilled at the prospect of the clear sea and reefs; I turn my thoughts to the mountainous area behind the resort and imagine running into the desert!!!!

At the moment, there's always the first consideration: what will be the diagnosis of my leg injury when I see the specialist on Monday next (7th January)??????

Anyway, Happy New Year to whoever reads this, and all the very best.