Since I can't run.

I've been absent from running since last February, and am still injured (physio reckons it will take another 2-3 months of rehab).  Since I can't run, or blog about running, here's a poem I've written about being injured and not running!

Since I can't run,
I'll watch my boy learn how to walk.
The waddle.
Then run.
I'll listen to him wah.
Then woggle.
Then word.
I'll fit his first shoes on his feet.
And chase him out the door with his unpaid-for clarks.

I'll step him up to bed, one step at a time.
And step down again silently an hour later.
And up again five minutes later.

Since I can't run I'll pass each animated phase:
First Raa Raa, then Olly, then Fireman Sam.
I'll read him every Thomas book that ever was written.
Then I'll read them all again.

We'll visit our neighbours pony and feed him carrots and apples.
And clunks of grass.

We'll laugh like eejits while I purse wind against his neck.
Then I'll worry about paying his keep,
When I know that he'd live in a cave beside us.

Crocked Runner Needs Advice on Other Ways of Keeping Fit!

Happier running times with the brothers...

Since starting this blog back in 2010 this has been the longest period of non-posting.  It's also been the longest period of non-running, and of course both are inextricably linked.  I've been too fed up of this situation to even post about the state of my injured leg.

As is often the case with the male of the species, I've been guilty of putting my head in the sand and hoping the knee problem would sort itself out.  I've also been flat out with work - running my own business now really does mean that 'time' means money!  

There were two physio visits... one convinced me that the swelling would go down and I'd be back running in a month (swelling went down but I can hardly walk upstairs three months later).  The other physio directed me towards a doctor who would refer me for an MRI scan to see what exactly was wrong, and what could be done.   And that's where we are at right now - awaiting a scan.

In the meantime, I've lost a lot of fitness and it has dragged me down.  What to do when you can't run or cycle?  Press-ups and sit-ups don't really cut the mustard for me....

 I may well need some kind of surgery to sort this out, which means that I may be looking at the rest of the year without a run.  Still, I'm a little closer to the scan, so it's time to get positive.  Any ideas on ways to keep fit in the meantime that doesn't involve use of the knee

?

First Three Pints, and a Damn Injury.

The dreaded medial ligament...

I've not blogged for nearly two weeks, though much has happened, and at the same time, little has happened!

First of all, I took a tumble on the treadmill on Tuesday and ended up damaging my medial ligament in the left knee... an old injury and an extremely annoying one.  How could this have happened on a treadmill, I hear you ask?  God only knows... a momentary lapse in concentration and I stepped on to the non-moving part of the treadmill and took a bad tumble.  I'll be out of action for another couple of weeks (serves me right to use the treadmill instead of the road, but the weather has been terrible).

Then, on the following Saturday, I drank the first three of my twenty-four pints for the year... Tasty they were too.  I was in the good company of Benny, while we watched England play France in the Six Nations.  We put a little wager on England to win after they had fallen two tries down and would have collected good money had a fiendish Frenchman not touched down in the very last minute.  Mugs game that aul gamblin'. 

It is frustrating not to be able to get out and run, but I'm due a visit to the physio tomorrow and hopefully that will accelerate progress.

Hopefully.

Swirling Wind.

It's wild out here in the west.  Trees are toppling like dominoes, it's bordering the ridiculous.  I did manage to get out on the road a few days last week in slightly stiller weather.  Nothing too strenuous - a leisurely 6 miler and a stroll of a four miler.  An then a gap while I took the cowards route of staying in curled up by the fire rather than getting out into the wilds. 

My vegetarian diet is still on track - as is the 24 pint plan.  So far I haven't had a pint at all, and I'm aiming to see January well gone before I even think of lifting Arthur's sweet tonic to my lips.  

We've been busy playing... 'drama' that is... Prior to the Christmas break I wrote and directed a comic 'panto' called 'Enda Lofa & Róisín Bán', and God knows we had some craic performing.  We took the play on the road this weekend to Gaoth Dobhair in beautiful Donegal, as our band 'Rís' were performing at the Cabaret.  Bhí an-time go deo againn, mar a bhíonn i gcónaí. 

Back to the 'running blog' side of things:  must do better, must not be a coward!

Going Veggie, Back Running, and Back to 24 Pint Plan!

Big Ron and I take a 'selfie' after the Park Run 5k

2014 has started with a ferocious bang.  Storms have lashed the west coast of Ireland - flooding the dock area in Galway, uprooting concrete promenades along Salthill, Spidéal and further west, and causing untold damage right around the country.  Doooomsday scenario!

Time for a change.

So, I'm going veggie for 2014:  no meat, poultry or fish!   

And, I'm going back to the 24 pint plan... that's right, circle the year on a tiny alcohol allowance of only 24 pints of Guinness!

On top of this I mean to get back running in a meaningful way.  To emphasise the point Big Ron and I left the house at 7.30am on Saturday morning to make the trip north to the beautiful town of Westport, where we participated in our first official race of the year, the Park Run 5k.  Just 5k I hear you ask?  Well, the small ones can be the toughest, especially when you are not, I repeat, NOT, fit.  I started off briskly, running at the low 7 min mile pace, but I died a death at the 3k mark and slowed considerably, coming in at 23.46mins, and nearly vomiting!  Big Ron was miles ahead in the low 20min mark.  Still, I have my barometer for the year and can only get better.

Delicious veggie burger I prepared on Friday night.

As for the veggie diet - why I hear you ask?  Well, I've always wondered about going vegetarian, for all the health and morality reasons, so this year I'm plunging straight in and so far enjoying it.  

Health and happiness to all in 2014.

Back on the Road.

Following my longest absence from running in years (over two months), I took to the roads yesterday evening as the sun was setting.  A beautiful evening it was too... strange days for November.  The route was simply down to the pier, up to Cóilín Daddy's house and then back - three miles on the dot.  To be honest, I thought I would suffer a bit more for my absence than I did, but having said that it was still tough enough from the two mile mark onwards.

Why did I abstain?  I wasn't carrying an injury, I wasn't sick and I didn't have a death threat hanging over me from the anti-running terrorist group.  Simply, I felt like taking a wee break.  Hopefully this has enthused me to get back in love with the open roads.

Now I'm targeting the Tombrack 4 miler in Wexford, on December 14.  Away we gooooooooooooo.... 

Stabannon 10k

My blog posts have been running low of late, and I'm considering that it may be time to call time on this project at the end of the year.  I'll continue to check in with all the great running blogs that I've grown fond of these past years - especially Old Running Fox, Coach Dion, Giorgio, Will from an Ultra Runner's Blog, Ian from Just us and a Few Friends, and many more.  I've enjoyed the experience of being in the running blog brigade, and I intend to post about races run, but only that I feel.

My last race was the Nicola Barry 10k for Cancer Care, in my wife's beautiful home village of Stabannon.  It was a great event - extremely well organised and with a great spirit of togetherness.  Nicola Barry, a local woman who has made a full recovery from that dreaded illness, was the instigator and inspiration for this event.  Teresa, my sister in law, was chief organiser - no one does it better!

As for the run itself, I just jogged it with Benny and came in around 56 minute mark.  I know I could have run considerably faster, but the day called for an enjoyable trot and it certainly was that.  I hope to take a short break from racing between now and Christmas in order to get the spirit going for a good year of running in 2014... this past year has been a disappointing one on the racing front.