UTMB – 2013 (Race review)
Yep, I know. The race was the end of August. But time has just flown past with training, racing and work. So here it is – some words about UTMB 2013.
For anyone who doesn’t know anything about the race it’s probably the premier mountain ultra in the world. Certainly Europe’s most prestigious. All the best ultra-runners normally attend and this year was no different. UTMB is made up of 4 x separate races, 3 of which are solo events: The CCC (just over 50 miles), the TDS (just over 70 miles) and UTMB (just over 100 miles). No fun-runs or relays here. (more…)
Post race blues?
Thought it about time I actually posted something. Been keeping my head down after the WHW race. It’s been a strange month and I’ve had a few injury concerns, but building back up to peak training weeks.
First things first – a question!
Post race blues – is this a recognised condition?
It doesn’t seem to be talked about much. Maybe it isn’t real? Or maybe it doesn’t affect the full-time athletes as much as there is no ‘normal’ to return to after the event. Most of us anyway have to return to our normal day-to-day working lives only days after a lengthy physical event like the West Highland Way race. I was back in work a couple of days after and whilst I expected it to be ok (at least for the first few hours) I wasn’t really prepared for the slump that followed.
I know it was only a race but I did learn a lot about myself and where I want to head. (more…)
Knee’rly in with a chance
As I said yesterday I managed to get an appointment with Glasgow’s finest Osteo last night. Was a pretty thorough session and as expected was an Ilio tibial band issue. He already knew that I was racing on Saturday regardless and after a fairly detailed examination didn’t waste any time talking me through his treatment recommendations to get me to the start line for 9am on Saturday (and fingers crossed the finish line in Edinburgh the same afternoon). Yep, you know what’s coming – I did too, and just to confirm the impending pain he stated that it’s normally “a pretty aggressive treatment, and when I do it , it can be a little uncomfortable.” Yeah right. IT Band release? It’s up there with child birth I’m sure of it 😉
To be fair to him, at the point where I actually stopped breathing whilst chewing my arm he did remove his elbow from my thigh for a minute before returning to the scene. What a gent 😉
So now it’s no running until Saturday which isn’t ideal in any way but my knee is feeling better – just have a thigh that’s a little tender. Still, should be feeling a lot better by tomorrow.
Roll on Saturday.
No Knee Never
On Saturday night following a 35miler my right knee was troubling me. Sharp pain down the right side of my knee-cap. I went through my normal post-run recovery – the right food at the right times, plenty of fluids, ice pack on my knee etc. Throughout the night the pain in my knee kept me up. I took painkillers, applied ibuprofen gel and desperately tried to sleep convinced that it would be fine in the morning. It wasn’t great when I got up. But moving it certainly helped. Sunday was a rest day anyway, so with luck I’d be fine by Monday. As I’m tapering the training a little for the race on Saturday and with sore knee in mind I decided before bed to ignore the #444alarm for once and sleep a bit longer. Figured I could do a lunchtime run and all would be good.
Lunchtime came and I was convinced that after a few hundred metres it would ease off and the world would continue spinning. It didn’t.
So, tonight instead of running and swimming I’m heading into town to see a man who I’m hoping can do something for me. Either way – I’ll be on that start-line on Saturday.
Fingers crossed.
Pyllon - ultra runner 