Weekend Chuckle: Running Motivational Posters

So the other day I came across some really funny motivational posters by Runners World. You can check out the full set here, but here are some of my favourites:

No-Run February

I know, I know, I keep going on about it. But this dang ankle is getting me down. It's been five months, and still very little improvement. When you like to run as much as I do, having an injury like this is very frustrating.

Just to be clear, I haven't been sitting on my backside idly waiting for it to clear up. I have tried loads of things, including regularly seeing a lovely physio in Edinburgh called Liesel. Her treatment has been great, but while it helped greatly in the beginning, I've seemed to come to a bit of a plateau.

Luckily, my ankle isn't so bad that I can't run AT ALL - just not very far. 5k is my absolute maximum distance. I suppose that is better than nothing at all, but I am really keen to get back up to 100% so I can start thinking about doing longer distances again.

Unfortunately, as my physio puts it, I am a "biomechanical disaster". I think a combination between unlucky genes and 22 years of slouching around has turned my legs into a pair of haphazard drumsticks. Basically, I have flat feet, weak inner thighs and knees that refuse to take their fair share of the impact when my foot hits the ground. That can be a fatal combination - as the last few months has shown.

However,  my physio says that I am actually really lucky. This injury has drawn my attention to all my biomechanical faults and as a result I can work on them, so I will avoid something much more serious cropping up further down the line when it is too late. Every cloud and all that...

I got running again as soon as I could - I think I was out of the game for about 6-8 weeks when I got the go ahead to start going again. My first run was only about 2k, and boy I suffered for it afterward. But I persevered and am now at the stage that I can run about 5k and only suffer minor pain afterwards. It's great, but I'm getting to the stage that even this (in my view) half-assed attempt at a running regime is nearly frustrating as not having one at all.

So I have made a resolution for February: no running. At all. Now that doesn't mean no exercise - far from it. In fact, I have found some amazing yoga, stretch, and pilates programmes online that I intend to do, as well as carrying on with my old faithful swimming and my favourite Jillian Michael's DVD. This month is going to be all about the strength and stretch.

On top of that, I am going to show my ankle some SERIOUS love. I have my various physio bands at the ready, so I am going to do my physio exercises with even more vigour. I'm even experimenting with cod liver oil - I'm a bit of a cynic when it comes to supplements but I'm at the stage where I have absolutely nothing to lose.

So here goes, fingers crossed these measures will heal my ankle once and for all! We will see, though.

Have any of you suffered an ankle injury? I am desperate for hints and tips, so please share them with me in the comments!

Sorry

Wow... I can't believe I let this blog die.

I remember when I first started my blog, I was scoping out other health/fitness feeds and came across a fair few that had been abandoned. Immediately I assumed that the authors had just thrown their dumbbells to one side with an almighty "fuck it" and decided to drown themselves in pile of Ben and Jerry's and Doritos instead.

So I will forgive you, dear reader, for thinking that the same fate had become of me. Let's be honest, I freaking LOVE B&Js.

I'm pleased to report however, that it has not. I'm still running (kind of), swimming, lifting weights and being sensible about what I eat (although not immune to the odd Dorito binge - everything in moderation and all that).

So why did I lose momentum? Well, the previous few posts should probably give you a clue:

And yes - I am STILL co-ordinating with my toenails!

That freaking ankle.

It has been around five months, and it still hasn't fixed itself yet. I guffed it, and I guffed it good.

So there were several reasons why I couldn't bring myself to write on the blog:

• I was feeling pretty miserable at times, and who the hell would want to read my emo whiny shit about a twingy ankle when there are people out there much worse off than me?
• This injury has just gone to confirm that I am indeed an idiot. I have so much more to learn about sport and fitness, so why should I go preaching to anyone else about it when I know naff all?
• And... er... laziness.

I have even abandoned my wonderful Twitter account... the account that showed so much promise (a retweet from Ellen Degeneres? Hello!). But, the other night I decided to idly browse my feed, and I came across this tweet from one of my heroes, Linford Christie:

A LIVING DOG IS BETTER THAN A DEAD LION
— Linford Christie (@ChristieLinford) January 30, 2013

I decided to take those words to heart. I am not perfect "lion", I get that. But I love what I do and try to do it with gusto. And this blog has become a part of that. So, I am going to revive this "dog".

Here goes!

I'm back... Kind of

Just a quick update for you -

The ankle is still giving me jip. It has cost me both my 10k races, so I'm pretty devastated. I would never have guessed that the little twinge two months ago would have had me off my feet for so long.

But I am tired of sitting on my backside and feeling sorry for myself. My physio has given me the green light to run, albeit for very short distances, so I am slowly easing myself back into it.

She reckons that my ankle is just complaining after months of hard training in worn out footwear. So, I got a new pair of trainers, and while they aren't the comfiest, they certainly provide my feet with lots of support.

My foot is getting better. Just very very verrrry slowly.

But I refuse to give up. Watch this space.

p.s: Mr MFC completed his marathon in 4 and a half hours. What a mancake.

Spectator mode: Engaged

So this weekend is hardly shaping up to how I envisioned it a couple of months ago: I'm currently sitting on a bus to Inverness, trundling through the gorgeous Scottish highlands in the gentle autumn sunshine, but the last five weeks leading up to this point have been terribly bittersweet.

My weekender bag feels dolefully light without my running kit in it, and my running number sits untouched in my bookcase back home. My ankle is still twinging and strapped up like a candy cane, yet I am still making my way to the River Ness running festival. Mr MFC is running is first marathon, and of course I want to be there to support him.

It's probably best this way. Perhaps the universe thought that I would be needed more on the sidelines than on the running track. I may not be running this weekend, but there will be other races. This is the only opportunity I will have to watch one of my favourite people cross his first marathon finish line, and that is priceless.

You know what they say: if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. So, I am taking my role as supportive spectator with as much gusto as I would if I was actually running the race.  

Clapping hands at the ready...

Still Guffed

So in case the three week long silence hasn't given it away... my ankle is STILL giving me bother. I haven't been out running in about a month now, and it's really starting to get me down.

I have been to the physio, who says I have tendonitis. The really bad news is my River Ness 10k is looking kind of unlikely now. :(

However, I do have mighty colourful strapping!

So yeah. Kind of gutted at the moment if I'm frank with you. The fact that it is dragging on so long is frustrating, however I'm still doing everything I can to get back on track. I'm still swimming and doing the bikes, plus fitting in easy weight training and yoga when I can.

I have another appointment on Tuesday, where I will be fitted with some fancy insoles for my trainers to stop this kind of injury happening again, then I can probably go out running for short distances. But as I said, the 10k next week isn't looking good. Pretty devastated.

Anyway, I'll keep you all updated....

FFS

I really only have myself to blame. Yup, my ankle is playing up again.

I went on it too much, too soon, and now I am suffering the consequences. Again. Sigh.

So its back to cross training, which means more bikes (YAWN) and more upper body focus than you can shake a stick at. I'll start looking like Jodie Marsh if I'm not careful *shudder*

Image via

Okay, okay, not quite. But still, I'm sitting here on the couch looking longingly out at the wonderful sunshine and wishing I could go out for a dash.

All is not lost though, I've been using this injury to get into my swimming again. There's a pool near where I live that has recently reopened after a fairly hefty refurbishment, and I must admit it really is quite nice. I went with Mr MFC this morning and busted out a few lengths, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The pool opens really early too, so I might be able to get a couple of pre-work sessions in later in the week, assuming that my ankle doesn't decide to get its act together.

Ho hum, anyway we'll see.

Oh yeah - one more thing. I'm logging again.

Sorry folks, but my holiday blow out has kind of caught up with me, and early last week I hit what I call my "alarm bell" weight, which is basically 5lbs over my target.

Yes yes, it was probably all water weight. In fact, I KNOW it was mostly water weight because after only a week I have nearly lost it all again, but I still think I need to step back into line a bit.

Everything had been going really well up until the holiday though, so logging again is just a temporary measure to get me back down where I want to be. Once I've done that, I'll be back off it again. Hopefully for good.