The Ultimate Goal

This last two months off running has not been without its frustrations. I would give anything to be able to be out there running again injury free. I just have to remain positive and look forward to the day when I will be able to do just that.

I still don't feel that I'm ready to start back running. I'm still carrying a bruised heel which I think I picked up when I was trying out some exercises to strengthen the ankle/shin muscles.

I may have been guilty of slacking off slightly from the routine which I set for myself at the start of this rest period. Going away last week put a dent in the routine also and pretty much wrote off that week. The weights workouts have tended to be one a week rather than two, I've opted for stationary bike ride in the weekends rather than getting out on my mountain bike and I've missed a couple of pool sessions. I have enjoyed the Body Balance classes I've attended at the gym and this has given me incentive to look for a yoga room to attend once a week now that my one month gym membership is up.

What I have been able to do over the last few months is continue to catch up on your blogs which helps to keep me inspired and gives me hope that one day I will be able to achieve what some of you do (well if I can even achieve half of what the likes of Eric and Rob are doing then I'll be happy).

The terrain that these guys run in is amazing and has really got me interested in the idea of running trails. We've got some equally amazing backcountry trails in New Zealand and the idea of running some of these really appeals. Even in the Auckland region we're blessed with Waitakere Ranges, less than 45 minutes from my home which has trails galore.

Undoubtedly some of the best scenery and back country trails are in the South Island and that is where most of the classic adventure races and trail races are held. As far as trail running is concerned two races that are right up there are the Routeburn Classic and the Kepler Challenge.

The Routeburn Classic is a 38 K mountain/trail run along the popular Routeburn Track, which has traditionally been one of the country's most popular 2-3 day hikes located in the Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks.

Perhaps even more testing is the Kepler Challenge a 60 K mountain run which funnily enough, follows the Kepler Track, near Te Anau, Fiordland.

These two runs would represent the ultimate goal. Let me say right here that I would love to one day run these races.

I know that I've got a long way to go before I could even rightfully take my place at the start line for one of these events, but its big goals like these that will hopefully keep me motivated and on track to getting injury free and running again.

Happy running.



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Still waiting to Run

The long wait continues as I am still not ready to lace up the running shoes, well not to run anyway. I won't go on about all the boring details but let me just say this rehab thing is a slow process. Nothing happens quickly.

I started the week with two nights down in far south of the country in Dunedin and Invercargill, two cities I had never been to before so that was something a bit different.

The temperatures down there were verging on zero, a good ten degrees C lower than what we usually get up here in Auckland at this time of the year. On my drive down to Invercargill on Monday afternoon the roadside and surrounding hills were blanketed by a good covering of snow from the night before. Here are a few photos from the trip.



Tahakopa Bay, Southland. Almost as far south on the NZ mainland as you can go. Looks perfect but imagine it at almost zero degree C with a brisk southerly blowing (read northerly for any northern hemisphere readers).



Catlins River mouth, Southland.

My only workout this week has been while in Dunedin on the hotels elliptical trainer and bike.

Monday night I saw Die Hard 4 in Invercargill. I always have been a keen Bruce Willis fan and this movie didn't disappoint. Lots of action filled with unbelievable stunts.

Tuesday afternoon /evening I was stuck at Christchurch airport for five hours after Air New Zealand decided to cancel two flights back to Auckland. Eventually got home at 10.30pm.

Wednesday night Michelle and I watched a movie at home, Michelle's choice this one, The Holiday with Cameron Diaz & Kate Winslet. Not quite Die Hard but it was okay I guess.

Thursday slept in so missed morning workout then left my gear bag at home so couldn't swim at lunch time, not that I was too fussed to be honest.

Today, another rest day.

The weekend, I will go to the gym tomorrow. Not sure yet whether I'll do Body Pump, Body Balance or just go on the bike. Sunday I'm playing a game of golf.




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Heading South

I have not done much in the way of training since my last post. Just a Bodypump class at the gym on Thursday morning.

I must also admit to starting to get a little lazy with my stretching routine. I seem to have dropped the daily stretching in favour of two to three times a week, plus the Body Balance class.

I would estimate I'm still several weeks away from running again, so I can pick this up again later if I feel more is needed.

This morning started with a fine 2-0 win for Jack's Soccer team. The team has really come on strongly in recent weeks. From out last six games we have four wins, a draw and a loss. We have scored ten goals and conceded two. Overall for the season to date we have played 13, won 5, drawn 4 and lost 4. It's amazing the improvement some of the kids have made since our first few outings. From starting out with two or three stand out players we now have a team where everyone is contributing which I think has been the reason for the success in these last six games.

Today Michelle has left for a bit of a girls weekend with her mum and some work mates to Waiheke Island for the night. After seeing her off on the ferry the boys and I went up to Mairangi Bay beach for a picnic before heading home for the afternoon.

Tomorrow afternoon I am heading off to Dunedin on a work trip for two nights. I've never been to Dunedin before so it will be a good chance to have a bit of a look around. I have meetings Monday morning but the afternoon will be spent driving the Southern Scenic Route to Invercargil, the southern most city of New Zealand. Again I've never been this far south so I hope to take in a bit of the scenery on the way.

Again, as with my last trip, I will hopefully be making use of the hotel's gym facilities.

Have a good weekend.

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Training this week

Here's what i have done this week;

Thursday - Bodypump
Friday - Swim 1100 meters
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - Stationary bike 50 minutes
Monday - Elliptical trainer 40 minutes
Tuesday - Swim 500 meters (goggles must be getting old and could not fit them so they wouldn't leak).
Tuesday PM - Bodybalance

Two more weeks of 'rest' before i contemplate running again. When/if I do it will be short and slow to start with probably with some walking breaks also just to ease back into it.

As i said last post my shin still doesn't 'feel' 100% right so i might even end up extending this rest period until I'm totally satisfied that it's okay. No point coming back too soon is there!

The knee pain i mentioned last post has gone. I'm thinking i must if hurt the knee when doing one of the exercises aimed at strengthening my shin/ankle muscles which involved rapid jumping. I stopped that last week and within a few days the knee came right.

Later.




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Injuries, Beach Fun and Sick Kids

It's three weeks to go until I even contemplate running again and to be honest I'm not even sure that I'll be ready then.

My shin still doesn't 'feel' 100% right. I'm sure you will know what I mean when I say that. Some how you just get that feeling that it's not fully healed yet. I've also got the slight bruising on my heel and somehow I've picked up a bit of a knee strain, I'm guessing through the increased weight training I've been doing in recent weeks as there's nothing else I can really put that down to.

It seems I'm going through more ice than ever before on the heel and knee together with the shin when that flares up. How ironic. During my rehab I manage to pick up more injuries!!

I know they're only minor annoyances that I probably shouldn't bother too much about (who doesn't carry injuries right?), but I would have liked to come out of this period injury free if at all possible. My one major goal remains to get on top of the shin splints as I know that once I've beaten that anything else should clear up in time.

Here are some shots of Takapuna Beach taken on the weekend. It's a superb beach right in the heart of Auckland's North Shore great for walking, running or just lazing in the sun. The weekend brought us two contrasting days from a mostly fine Saturday to Sunday when the wind and rain got up. It didn't stop the boys though from having a great time playing at waters edge chasing the waves. The island in the background is Rangitoto an old extinct volcano that last erupted around 600 years ago.







This week both the boys have been home sick. Michelle took Jack to the doctor today and evidently he has a swollen ear drum which was very close to bursting. He's on antibiotics now which will hopefully settle that down.

As a result of a few unsettled nights I've missed my early morning workouts. I did make it to Body Balance last night however and am loving that. It's a mixture of Pilates, Yoga and core strengthening and I can really sense the benefit I'll be getting from it.

Monday lunch time I got to the pool running session and tomorrow morning hopefully I'll be up early and into the gym for Bodypump. Friday lunch time will be a swim.

Have a great rest of the week, happy running.




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