Stability Through Motion

…apparently an African-American quote. Golly gosh is that a specific enough accreditation for you? I like it though. Peeled off half my foot yesterday and decided I probably shouldn’t run on it for a bit

Cross trainer it is then, but my quads are still moaning whenever I try to do anything strenuous like sit down or stand up. Somehow I’m going to have to try to fit in a 20 miler this weekend and finish before 9am.

It’s also that time of year when I get kit-hungry, scouring the magazines for new shiny or clingy stuff to buy. Mmmm, maybe I really need that bivvy bag for my next 6 mile run? You never know when it’s going to get dark these days.

Okay so I tried the running downhill thing. You know how you can get sore thighs (quadriceps) - from even walking downhill for a long time? Well, you need to induce those sore thighs to make them stronger, and a good way to do that is to keep running downhill fast about 10 times in a session. So I donned/doffed my pretty and lightweight Mizuno Wave Harrier off-road shoes (pictured, right*) and head for South Parks, a nice gentle grass-covered slope on a sunny evening. By the second rep I’m getting used to this idea of actually speeding up while going downhill, trying not to brake at all, and springing off the balls of my feet. Except the ball or my right foot is beginning to feel some chafing. By the tenth repetition there is definite pain down there, and it’s a bloomin blister - first one in a year!

The only thing I can think is that the shoes don’t quite fit me snugly enough at the front, so my foot was moving around down there.

Bah.

And to top it all, as a result of the pain I probably wasn’t going fast enough as I have no quad strain at all after that session.

And to top that top off I’ve had a bad neck since last Friday from some computer work that had me completely immobile for six hours a day. Thank goodness for this grumble blog where I can let it all out.

I’ve whacked on a blister plaster and stopped running for the rest of the week, as I’m still really keen to run in the Black Mountains at the weekend. As a result I’ve rediscovered the gym and the various sorts of chafing you can develop on the bike. I can also tell you that spending an hour on the cross-trainer is just about the most bored you can be.

*The Wave Harriers have amazing grip on any surface, and are lovely and lightweight. I had no problems in them off-road until now, but the front of the shoe is not very soft and a bit roomier than my other shoes. Why oh why do most road running shoes have to be in such disgusting designs - whereas the trail shoes are so much nicer looking?