Shin Splints Pt.2

So the agony continues, today having just meandered around town and the shops I find my self in pain again. Out with the compression bandages and ice packs it is and it looks like it'll have to bee a quiet week on the roads and trail until the pain disappears.

Luckily, it's £1 a swim week at the local pool and I'm on lates so an early AM start in the pool before work most days and maybe a bike ride or two should keep me from wallowing around. On the topic of swimming and trying to improve I took a trip to the local outdoor facility today to scope it out. Jackdaw Quarry plays host to Capernwray Dive Centre with a 500m swim course around the perimeter:

Also on the upside I have entered my 2nd motorcycle race on the 10th August - all I have left to do is put the bike back together!

A busy ol' week & shin splints

It's been a few days since my last post but I have packed in a couple more activities through the week. After the epic uphill journey on Tuesday I thought I'd have have a swim on the Wednesday for a bit of a rest - swimming not currently my strongest suit!

Another run followed on Thursday with some more hill work which in comparison to Tuesday felt like a walk in the park (well nearly!) Choosing a shorter run I hoped to save myself for my 1st 15k on Saturday sadly by the end my legs were in tatters and I am now suffering with shin splints.

So shin splits to one side Friday brought about an impromptu bike ride - nothing too mental or stressful but parts were ridden in anger whilst parts were ridden at chat pace.

The White Stones 10k

With the previous post in mind and the fact the weather had apparently cooled off I thought tonight would be ideal for a new uphill, field run WRONG!

Despite living in the area all my life I somehow forgot how long an steep the first 3.5k are not to mention the sun decided to pop his hat back on for the me!! Uphill done into the fields and tracks - this bit I bloody loved (and it helped I knew I was on the way downhill now too!)

After the downhill I hit my familiar 5k stomping ground of level tarmac track and I felt surprisingly fresh adn in good form or was it just  that it was now flat? Either way on I pressed to my 3rd sub 1 hour 10k which I am again proper chuffed with  considering the new route.

Will Power.....

As I mentioned in my Bio page competitiveness is something that never really leaves you once you have been involved in sports, however will power is a completely different beast.....

....You may recall the Outlaw Triathletes I mentioned, well one of them has already decided on his next event

The only down side to this post is that many other people are also friends with Richard and as such see his status updates - they are also free to comment on them:

Now whilst I'm aware I am no where near a marathon let alone an ultra marathon my curiosity got the better of me so off I went to investigate the Gower Coastal Ultra Marathon only to find a 10k Coastal Trail event too.

Well, I thought, this could be right up my alley a 10k trail challenge before the years out should give me plenty of focus and something to aim at, then the goading began:

So back to the original topic will power, do I:

A) Have enough will power to rise above the goading & competitive streak, or

B) Collapse under the pressure and enter this!

For those of you that know me I think we all know where this is heading!

Color Run Manchester 2013

BEFORE:

The Color Runners

Well that was an eventful day! Approx 6000 runners/walkers/strollers all covered head to toe in a plethora of powder. As if a 5k run and being dusted in a different color every 1k isn't enough the finishers then get into the powder party at the end.

Everyone enjoyed it by all accounts - however they may still be cleaning the colour out for the next week!!!

AFTER:

The Colored Runners

The Color Run

Good luck to everyone running in Manchester today at The Color Run. My Color Runner is super excited!

Never drink & run!

Well today is the day of The Color Run so we are all up early as Helen is giddier than giddy kipper on Christmas morning! With the prospect of being out all day I decided to motivate myself for a quick run this morning, however, all that sunshine cider is definitley having other ideas!

Saturday + Sunshine + Cricket = Cider

Cider + Sunday + Morning + Run = A little green around the gills

That said I'm up, the run is done & I am literally sweating cider. Plenty of re-hydration thanks to @nuun and a load of laughs in Manchester at the Colour Run.

To run or not to run...

Well it was a Hot Sunny Saturday and having taken the car for an MOT it got to mid-morning before I was good to go and to be perfectly honest it was too feckin' hot so a swim it was! And as everything seems to be at the minute it was bloody hard work!

Events

Well after a quick scour of the internet I have found some events to whet my appetite!

Sadly there are a few this month and I don't feel I'm prepared enough to do them justice but I've included them anyway more so to remind me to aim at them next year!

One event not on the calendar is the Runners World Trailblazer as they have already been this year - but keep an eye out for me for next years dates!

As I have only recently taken back to the pool and never swam in open water I think this years Cockerham Sprint Tri is ambitious - god knows I could do without drowning!!

Thursday 8K River Trail

Well tonight was bloody hot but strangely enjoyable! A tricky bit of woodland in the first couple of K followed by some welcome shade along the old railway track. Follow these guys @nuun to keep hydrated peeps!!

Run History

Whilst all my new and current events will be published individually you may like to check out my history here Bob's Runkeeper History - all events prior to 18.07.13 were completed with my trusty HTC phone and runkeeper app. I now have a shiny new Garmin GPS watch!!

Chillin

With a day off from any exercise im just chilling tonight with the prospect of an 8k tomorrow.