I've been.......dead......
Training was going fairly well, so well in fact that when the chance to take a challenge presented itself I took it! I'd taken my bike to work as it had a puncture and I couldn't find my puncture kit or tyre levers. Mooey, one of the lads at work lent me his so I took the bike to work and fixed it up there. I then had a daft idea. I wonder if I left my bike at work whether I could run in the following day and then ride it home after a nightshift? Course I could...Imean...it's only 21 miles. Silly sod.
So that was it. The bike was left at work and the next day I was to run in. I'd had a grumbly headache that day but I shrugged it off and besides, I was committed. My bag and bike kit was left at work so the following day I had to pack what I needed (which was a lot more than I thought!) into a draw string bag and then fashion a way to tie it off on my back. I also took a drinks belt. Sunglasses on and I was off. I'd not gone further than a few hundred metres and the drinks bottle pinged out and rolled along the floor, feck. Not a good start. I picked it up, put it back in the belt and ran on. It wasn't the only time it fell out. The final time saw me retracing my steps and picking up a broken bottle which then had to be carried in my hand throughout the run. Bloody awkward but as it was sunny I just couldn't do with out it.
As it was a long way I'd brought a few energy bars and managed to chomp my way through them fairly well so felt OK on the nutrition front. The first 10 miles or so felt alright and even heading down from Ripley it wasn't too bad. Psychologically, it was tough to keep going as the route was...well...boring! Once I hit Coxbench area, about 16 miles in?, my hips starting screaming but this was exactly what I needed a tough run. The kind of run where you want to stop but you find yourself locked in that internal battle to try and keep yourself going no matter what. It was this I needed to practice in. It's this that I'll be needing during Celtman.
Surprisingly, apart from the aching hips I was surprised by what came next. No DOMS!?? No soreness in my legs but strangely a headache I just couldn't shift? Which was strange as I'd ensured I was hydrated and was obsessively inspecting the colour of my pee on a regular basis. All was good except that bloody headache. Unluckily for me, we had a busy night at work so rest was a no go. The ride home was tough to start but quickly I was back into it and was surprised to find it pretty easy. I think this was part of the reason for no soreness in my legs as it was a gentle movement for my legs which I think helped (That and the compression kit and recovery drink).
Although the body felt well after the run/ride, it wasn't. What followed was quite possibly one of the worst nights of my life. It was a night of hot and cold sweats, aching limbs and a pounding headache similar to the soul destroying headaches found at altitude. 8 days later and I'm still suffering. Gone are the achey limbs, headaches. The mouth has been filled, and then emptied, of ulcers. The nose blocked with blood and the agonising ear ache has now taken the place of the sweats as interrupter of sleep. I still feel rubbish but I'm due to run with Wingerworth Wobblers on Sat and believe it or not I have a race on Sunday (Duathlon). Hopefully, everything will settle by Saturday and I can get myself back on track.....I hope....
Another added decision has been made also, I've now made the major decision to leave MAD swimming club and return to my 1 to 1 coached sessions with Gary. The first of which is also...Saturday! I've just GOT to be better for the weekend!
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