Did I really last post in July?

POSE forefoot running technique: Had MRI scan on the dodgy knee in August and finally the prognosis is in:  Chondromalacia patellae after all! Dr mystified why it has started to manifest only now, even though I have been an active cyclist for the past 16 years, but anyway, visiting the physio will be of no use and a radical change in style is agreed by the consultant to be the most viable long term solution. Hence I have adopted (albeit not very religiously!) the POSE technique. Running now in Puma H-Streets (goodbye hideous Brookes!) and took time to build up tolerance and distance to change in biomechanics.

Harvest Trail: Royston, Herts, Sept o8:  Decided to run this on the morning of the race, relatively little distance training over the summer due to the start of the house renovations, so ran the baby 10K rather than the 10miler. Was absolutely gorgeous, the 10K was very under populated so mostly very quiet (after the 10milers peeled away over the hill) but the early race congestion meant I got in at 1:01. Bah, but a large part of the early race was over newly ploughed furrows so not easy going at all! Had a lovely time.  POSE technique is hard to maintain going down very steep muddy rough tracks so did switch to heelstrike (was running in the Inov-8) and definitely felt clumpy doing so, but otherwise didn’t struggle at all.

Hellrunner – Hell Down South: Hants Nov 08:  Appaulling lack of proper training, all time taken up with house renovation work and finally moving in but M was up for it and despite only having done around 6-7miles as a longest run, managed it with absolutely no trouble at all.  Perhaps because M was even less prepared than I and I had to pause often. Came in a VERY SLOW 2:20 *hangs head*, but completely covered in mud and a stupid grin on my face. Brilliant!

Didn’t run Gatliff Ultra 20K in December, the weather was completely awful and we were desperate to get the bathroom tiling completed :(

2009

Good News: I’m expecting! Not due until Sept so still very early but determined to continue to run as and when I can. This doesn’t actually happen until today, due to a combo of morning sickness (oddly absent today, trying not to feel anxious), snow, sleet and of course the ubiquitous renovation work. Went for an early morning 1miler to start me going again. So this will become a non-racing, running though pregnancy blog instead :D

1miler route: house to Vauxhall Station via Oval, down to Vauxhall Park, Fentiman Road and home

Felt very good to be running again, but concerned as to how to stretch out without over stretching now my ligaments are softened.

Here is a good article from Runner’s World: Two for the Road

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=286