Sometimes you have to put up with the downs to really appreciate the ups. After going into the OMM with high hopes only to crash out near the end of day 1 in a state of hypothermia, helped off the mountain by my understanding but obviously frustrated partner Rob Baker, I threw myself stright into the next challenge: training for an off road marathon in the US. Just one week after the OMM I completed a weekend of 40+ miles training and noticed a dull ache in the outside of my foot. The next day I could barely walk, let alone run.
I was lucky, as it turned out. I had severely aggrevated the peroneal tendon insertion, but there was no sign of a stress fracture. Cross training ensued but with little improvement to the tendon I had to call off the marathon. I was in the States, anyway, so I took the chance to indulge in a bit of tourism, limping and biking around New York and filling up on all sorts of unhealthy and oversized food. I went along to the race--the Northern Central Trail Marathon near Baltimore--where I helped out at a drinks station and watched with envy as the runners cruised along the compacted gravel trail of an old railroad. I would love to come back and run this one day.
I had a lot of time on my hands to think about the mistakes that led up to the OMM incident and this self-inflicted injury, but the conclusion I came to was that it is all part of the game. Sometimes you have to take risks in racing and training; sometimes they don't pay off. The day you stop taking those risks is the day you settle for mediocrity. I'm building up the running again and although it is dark, cold and wet and I am beset by niggles, it couldn't be more fun. Next up is the Trigger, the new incarnation of the legendary Marsden to Edale Fell race. I hope I can make it to the start line in one piece...
0 comments:
Post a Comment