Mission abort and #projectsub20

After 9 weeks I was slowly getting back into marathon shape and my fitness was feeling good...BUT...my Achilles were feeling far from good, and I've finally realised that training for my marathon in September is going to be aborted.

I'm disappointed but in a way it's been good for me because it's forced me into going to get the injury properly sorted by the professionals. I've suffered with my Achilles in the past and had some Physio at the time along with rest and some off the shelf orthotics and it all went away for a few years.

But now the pain is back with a vengeance and I've let it go way too far pretending it will not get any worse but obviously now it has, and not only has it got worse in one tendon but the other is now just as bad....Stupid me!!!

This time round it all started from wearing my Solomon trail trainers at the beginning of the year. In no way am I blaming the trainers in design just the fact they are a totally different shoe to what I'm used to and with not as much support as I'm used to.

Greek hero Achilles

I could feel the problem beginning and should and could of nipped it in the bud there and then but having spent so long out last year with my busted ankle, there was no way I was going to stop running again....Stupid me!!!

I'm sure my running biomechanics are totally wrong also, there's always some ache or pain after running for a period of time. So I'm off to Finefettle next week in an attempt to be fixed once and for all!

3 is the magic number

So I've decided, when I return to running, I'm no longer going to train for marathons. The big miles don't suit me and I've completed 3 marathons (3 is my lucky number...3rd child, born on the 3rd month, 3 letters in my name) with a PB of 3:58 so I've achieved the goal of a sub 4 hour marathon.

Running marathons take a lot of time and dedication especially at weekends when I'd rather be having quality time with the family. I could get up early enough and run for 3 hours, be back by 10am and then have the rest of the day to do whatever, but I'd be so tired that I wouldn't want to do much more than have a big nap!

My new running goal is going to be attempting to achieve a sub 20 minute 5K time, currently my PB stands at 22:04 so I need to try and knock over 2 minutes off my time which over 3 miles is not an easy feat. 

To do this I need my running form to be correct, introduce a lot more speedwork and I reckon I need to  lose some extra timber along the way!

Parkruns will become race day and I plan to run 5 days a week, mostly at lunchtimes at work freeing up weekends to relax more.