2014 was awesome, 2015 could be even better...

A belated Happy New Year from me.

Its been a while since my last post as not a lot has been happening, well not from a training point-of-view.

My last update was man-flu related.

I ended up losing 25 days to whatever the hell I had over December.  It wasnt much fun.  Even after a course of antibiotics, a 7 day dose of additional steroids followed by a super-strength course of antibiotics, I was nowhere near 100%.  At one point I ended up in Queen Mary's at Sidcup for a Chest X-Ray, just so that the GP could rule out possible Pneumonia or some other nasty.  I cant tell you how relieved I was to find the X-Ray was all clear.

Thankfully, the almost constant coughing and wheezing has now stopped which has allowed me to start training again, all be it very slowly.  I'm now religiously taking my steroid inhaler, something thing I've never done since my teens and I'm carrying my Ventolin inhaler around with me everywhere.

As you'll see from my Strava feed, my first run back was on the 29th December.  That was a huge eye opener for me.  That ended the longest break I've had from training since I started taking my fitness seriously and it has affected me badly.

My stamina has gone, my leg muscles are aching after each run, so much so that my quads have felt bruised upon return and stretching and my HR, both active and resting has gone through the roof.

I've since run 5k on Jan 1st, 5k on Jan 2nd and then what I would call a very conservative 10k on Jan 5th, despite my average HR being much higher than it should be for a run of that pace.  However, that is to be expected after the time off.

As I build up my training again, no doubt my HR will come back down again.

It's disappointing and very frustrating to know that I ran my quickest 10k in almost a year in my last run before coming down ill but its one of those things that you just have to accept.  Illness and injury will occur and there's not much we can do about it.  We need to manage our bodies and try to look after ourselves as much as we possibly can.

I ended 2013 with a review, so I really should officially end 2014 in the same way, all be it a week later than it should have been.

2014 was pretty awesome.  Here are my final stats:

Not only did I run my first marathon in April, I ran another three, making it 4 in a year.  I managed a fraction over 1,016 miles for 2014, a little less than the 1,055 I racked up for 2013.

In terms of my 2014 targets, I achieved #1 (successfully running Paris all be it not sub 4hr as planned) and #5 (running more marathons). Target #2 of running a sub 50 min 10k totally evaded me as I didnt actually run one competitive 10k in the year.  I'll leave that one as a work in progress.

As for Targets #3 and #4, neither really happened.  I think my cycling days are well and truly over, if I'm being honest with myself.  Although I enjoyed a few of the rides I had last year, cycling doesnt physically challenge me any more.  I cant be hassled with the maintenance required for a decent road bike and I certainly cant be hassled with traffic.  The last two rides I had ended up with me getting a sh*t-load of road rash, thorns and my life flashing before my eyes.  I've got an 8 year old daughter and I want to see her grow up.  I know I can trust myself on my bike but sadly I cant trust other road users.  As much as cycling is becoming popular, the roads are becoming unsafer.

As for social life, mixed really.  Hopefully that will improve in 2015.

However, totally out of the blue I met a woman and she's put a smile on my face.  Its a  pretty tough thing to do in all respects so 2014 has been a pretty decent year.

Unlike NYE on 2013 when I went running just before midnight to totally forget the New Year was coming, NYE 2014 was spent partying.  Talk about a change lol.

So on to 2015.  Hopefully it'll be even better than 2014.

As for objectives & targets, I'm going to leave them as open as I can...

1) Achieve a new marathon PB.

2) Achieve a new 10k PB.

Stating numbers is counter-intuitive.  I'd desperately like to run a sub 4:00 marathon and a sub 50min 10k but until I actually do it, I wont know if I can.  2014 taught me a lot about my body and a lot of the time is down to timing.  I was in decent shape ahead of Amsterdam but being ill the night before the race ruined the run for me.

If its going to happen, it will.  Of course, we need to train to give our bodies the best chance of making it happen but I'm going to try and run this year without putting myself under any pressure.  I want to enjoy my hobby and not get overly compulsive about my targets, although I intend to train as hard as I can.

To give my body the best chance to succeed, I've now knocked the booze on the head for the foreseeable and I'm back to counting the calories religiously again in an attempt to drop a few more pounds (25 days of no training over the Christmas period is not a good scenario as you can imagine).

So here's so a happy, successful and most importantly injury/incident free 2015.

JB.

Still Struggling

Unfortunately, I now havent run for 11 days.  I'm still struggling.

Having spent the GDP of a third-world country on Asthma medication, along with Cold & Flu remedies and a tube of Deep Freeze (I'll come on to that in a mo!), I'm still wheezing.

How much Asthma medication can one man take?

Let me take you back a week.  First GP appointment.  Dr Adams checked my chest with the stethoscope and he said it was reasonably clear although a little crackling suggested a the beginnings of a chest infection.

He prescribed a 7 day course of Antibiotics and recommended I start taking my Becotide inhaler, 4 squirts twice a day.  Ok.  Up until yesterday morning, I was getting a little better.  The cold symptoms seem to have cleared up but I was still waking up in the middle of the night having coughing fits and again first thing in the morning.

Yesterday, even numerous squirts of Ventolin couldnt control the coughing kit.

So, much to my disappointment, I found myself agreeing with Alison that I really should go back and see my GP.

On the drive to Canary Wharf, I managed to get an appointment for 5:45pm.  I was to see Dr Stoate (former Labour MP for Dartford for the record and an eight-time marathon runner so I heard last night - he couldnt believe I had ran 4 in one year!)

Anyhow, went to see Dr Stoate and he recommended a 7 day course of steroids which should calm the wheezing in my chest.  Fingers crossed it does the trick.

Despite not being able to run, at least I'm back at work now and burning some calories with the usual amount of walking I do every day.

Steps as per my iPhone 5s - calibrated to my Garmin Forerunner 620

Sadly, however, my lack of running and current state of health means I'm missing the annual Plumstead Runners Santa Run tonight.  I'm absolutely gutted but there's always next year.

The M Word

I said dont mention the 'M' word.  Too late.

I've been off work sick for the last four days and I dont seems to be getting any better.

I seemed to be on top of the sniffly nose last week by popping the Lemsip max tablets and I ran Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

For the record, Saturday I ran the quickest 10k in well over 6 months...

I was well chuffed with that. I was pushing a little but not too much and I was plugging away at the 3:2 breathing rhythmn and it all started to come together nicely. However, it was cold that night. Really cold. The pavements were beginning to frost up and so were my lungs.

After a shower and some pizza and sitting on the sofa for an hour, I was still wheezing like hell, so I went to find my Ventolin pump.  A quick press on the top of it and nothing came out.  Panic.  A quick phone call to my bruv to confirm he had a spare and I was off down the road like a shot (in the car!) to go pick it up.  Within 15 mins of getting some Ventolin into my lungs, I was feeling much better.

Sunday was ok.  Monday I felt naff.  The cough was coming on and I was wheezing again.  The Ventolin wasnt touching the sides so I called in sick and visited the GP.  Diagnosed as a Chest Infection.  Antibiotics was the result.

Its now Friday.  I havent run in 6 days.  I'm still coughing and wheezing and my cat allergy seems to have kicked into overdrive.  I cant stay in Alison's house without wheezing, the only relief I seem to get is when I'm not there, sadly.

I've also developed a really badly swollen bottom lip.  So swollen it looks like I've been in a fight...

Swollen bottom lip...and I'm not even turning it outwards!!!

I feel like sh*t quite frankly.  I cant breathe and I'm feeling beyond knackered through lack of sleep.  My legs ache now more than they do at the end of a marathon.  I'm now 4 days into the course of Antibiotics so I would have thought I would have started to improve a little by now but it doesnt look like its the case.

Fingers crossed this lurgy clears up soon.

Dont mention the "M" word...

Yes, FFS dont mention the "M" word but I've just walked back from the Chemist and I'm knackered...

Other cold and flu treatments are available from all good Chemists (and not so good ones too)...

I had some pretty bad sniffles when I got back from my run last night.  I put it down to my cat allergy.  Only I could date a woman with two cats when I'm allergic to the fluffy cherubs (one of which, Gangsta - yes, thats its real name, ask Alison if you dont believe me scratched me to near death last night after I thought I'd pick it up and give it some loves, as you do!)

Anyhow, I'd put it down to that.  However, I woke up at 4am sneezing my head off and was totally blocked up.  When I woke I felt better but still felt sneezy on the way in and havent improved.  I didnt think much more of it until I went to get up from my desk at lunchtime and then realised my legs were really sore and I feel like a big pile of poop.

So before the "M" word takes over my body, I'm fighting back.  Popped into the Chemist and bought a packet of these Ninja warriors.

It would be a real kick in the you know whats should I be struck down by the dreaded "M" right now.

Final January Update (still man-flu ridden but double chest/abs session)

I'm still man flu ridden.  I cant breathe, I cant walk very far and I'm sounding like an old man with COPD.  However, because I'm so bloody bored sitting at home doing nothing, I've forced myself to do two of my chest/abs routines today to at least burn some calories.  A litle burnt off is better than none at all in my eyes.

So, at the January, the stats for the month look like this...

...pretty impressive when you think back that I lost the first week of January to man flu and I've lost most of this week to it too.

Now, I've done 22 sessions of either Gym or my home routine, with a minimum 400 sits up session.  So a quick calculation, 22 x 400 = 8,800 sit ups.  What with my efforts to eliminate as much saturated fat out of my diet as possible, this is what I'm looking like now...

 

Apologies for becoming one of them tossers who takes photographs of themselves semi-starkers but if you look closely, some abs are forming.  Obviously I cant pull my shorts down any further otherwise I'd be in danger of making the lady readers blush but there's the hard evidence that my body is beginning to look like it should now.

From 18st and not being able to run more than 100 yards without stopping for a break, to attempting to run a marathon and having these things called abs.  Who would have bloody thought it, eh?  So bloody proud :) 

Tuesday - Thursday Update (Chest infection...again!!!)

I have not run since Monday evening.  I feel destroyed again.

I cant stop coughing and I'm wheezing like nobodies business.  I went back to the GP yesterday and he diagnosed a reoccurence of a chest infection, although he said I wasnt wheezing and I knew I was (grrr!), so he's prescribed another 7 day dose of antibiotics.

I dont feel totally drained of energy but my lungs feel sore from the coughing, so have been in no fit state to go to work, let alone go running.

I have forced myself through the pain barrier to do my home chest/abs routine for the last three days despite feeling like sh*t as I really want to see some further progress this year and as most of you lot out there have realised by now, I'm not a good patient and I dont do rest!

By looking back at the calendar, I've now done 20 sessions involving my abs with a minimum 400 sits ups a session.  So by my reckoning, I've done 8,000 sit ups now this month alone!

Monday - Wednesday Update (Chest & Abs / Muscle Build Session 26 / Plumstead Runners AGM)

I really am getting frustrated now.

How long have I had this cold/man flu for now?  It just doesnt seem to be getting better.  One step forward then two steps back.

As for Wednesday night, I've still not run outside since NYE, which makes it exactly 1 week, the longest break I've had since I first started having knee trouble back in the summer.  To say I'm p*ssed off doesnt even cover it right now.

However, all is not lost.

Limited by the chest infection I seem to have now (treated by antibiotics), I know I cant do any significant cardio otherwise I'd put myself in trouble, so I've been concentrating on strength training.

Monday, I done my chest & abs routine to keep things ticking over...

10 sets of 20 swiss ball sit ups plus 20 swiss ball sit twists.  400 done in no time.  

10 sets of 10 chest press with 9kg dumbells plus 10 chest fly.

Totally shattered afterwards but feeling good.

Tuesday, I braved the Gym for Muscle Build session 26...

Warm Up 
 

1km gentle treadmill 

  

TRX

Crucifix (3sets x 10reps)
Shoulder Press (3sets x 10reps)
One Armed Press Ups (5sets x 10reps)
Bicep Curl (3sets x 10reps)
Tricep Curl (3sets x 10reps)

Abs

10 sets (20 SB sit ups + 20 SB sit twists)
 

No leg weights
 

Cool Down

1km gentle treadmill.

I know it sounds a lot for a man suffering but hey, I felt reasonably ok, before and after.  Probably a little bit more tired than usual though.

Then Wednesday evening I went along to the Plumstead Runners AGM straight from work.  I have to say, health-wise, Wednesday was the worst I'd sounded all week.  Chest was crackly, throat was hoarse, I was sounding awful.  My voice was on the verge of going.

The AGM dragged on and on and we didnt get out until gone 9:30 but all is now sorted.  I have to say I was losing the will to live by the end but all done for another year.

Wednesday - Saturday Update...

As I told in my previous post, I have been struggling with man flu.

Unfortunately, the symptoms were getting worse.  By Friday afternoon, I'd spent the best part of 24hrs shivering.  The cold/flu moved down from head to chest and within 24hrs had gone back to the head again.  Blocked sinuses, headache, the lot.  Severe lack of energy.  I seemed to have hit rock bottom.

As of Saturday evening, I've recovered a little.  Dont get me wrong, I still feel like shite but I've got some energy back.

From an fitness point of view it hasnt been great but because I havent been able to exercise because of having Izzy, its not been a total disaster.  However, from a parenting point of view, it has been a disaster.  I've been a right grumpy sod the last three days with Izzy and we havent quite been able to do what we were planning to do.

However, I have managed to fit in three sessions as such...

2 chest/abs circuits at home, consisting of:

10 x (20 SB sit ups + 20 SB sit twists + 10 chest press* + 10 chest fly*)  * 2 x 9kg dumbbells.

I also did manage a 1.5 mile walk with Izzy on Friday morning over Oxleas Woods through the mud and puddles.

Wednesday Training (Happy New Year 10k with man flu)

I've pretty much felt like death over the last 48 hours.  I picked myself up enough yesterday afternoon to do a very slow trail run and I hoped I'd be able to do the same today.

It didnt quite work out like that.

I hate New Year's Eve with a passion.  I'd rather just get on with things and let it pass me by.  When I got back from my parents this afternoon and realised my neighbours had visitors which highly like meant yet another party to contend with, I thought to myself enough was enough.

I dosed myself up, I soaked myself in the hottest steamiest bath in history to clear my nose and sinuses and I got in my lycra and I forced myself to run 10k at about 11.20pm on NYE.  That way, I could avoid midnight altogether.

Its absolutely no fun being billy no mates and I'm certainly not going to subject myself to having to listen to others having fun.  So off I went...

I took the run very easily. No effort at all. A nice slow constant pace, ensuring I was only taking shallow breaths so as to avoid drawing the cold air on to my lungs which could cause further chaos later.

You may notice that the average HR is much higher than it would be for a run at a much quicker pace but that is easily explained by the several gallons of Diet Coke I've drank in the last 12 hours and the various medication I've been taking (nurofen cold and flu tablets, benilyn chesty cough, subutamol etc).

I felt pretty good considering.  No coughing or spluttering.  The sinuses remained clear until I got home in the shower.  So first 10k of 2014 completed within the first half hour of the new year, although the first 3 miles occured in 2013 :)

At least I can have a lay in and not feel remotely guilty in the morning.  Roll on Izzy o'clock, I've missed the little lady like mad!

Monday Training (7 mile trail run at Oxleas Woods)

Sadly, by the time I woke up Sunday morning, I was suffering from a cold so I decided to give the KFL Cross Country race at Avery Hill Park a miss as I didnt want to stress my body too much and risk losing training time during the up coming week.

Instead I had a day of rest and spent most of the afternoon mainly watching football and dozing on the sofa.

I didnt sleep that well on Saturday or Sunday evening so by the time I woke up Monday morning I was feeling very tired indeed.  I had to pop in to see my parents in the morning but was back home by 3pm.

I felt better so I made the decision to do a gentle trail run over Oxleas Woods.  The weather had certainly brightened up after this morning's downpours...

Although the skies had brightened up, the ground was totally waterlogged and was the muddiest I've ever known the woods.  Here's the garmin dump...

Slow pace, low HR. Just about spot on for a leisurely run (well, more like jog/walk as you couldnt run in places...and you almost had no choice but to walk in other places).  Despite the slow pace, it was one of the more enjoyable runs I've had.  I cant begin to tell you how wet and muddy my feet were...

Saturday Training (Muscle Build - Session 24)

Warm Up 
 

1km treadmill > here

TRX

Crucifix (3sets x 10reps)
Shoulder Press (3sets x 10reps)
One Armed Press Ups (5sets x 10reps)
Bicep Curl (3sets x 10reps)
Tricep Curl (3sets x 10reps)

Abs

10 sets (10 SB left-one-footed sit ups + 10 SB right-one-footed sit ups + 10 SB Sit Twists)

No leg weights (ahead of cross country tomorrow morning)

Cool Down

1km treadmill > here

Was a decent session today.  The Gym looks seriously different after the extension has been opened and the refit but I dread to think how busy the Gym is going to be with newbies over the next few weeks as more people join for their New Year Resolutions.

Hopefully, I wont find myself avoiding the Gym.

As of 8:30 Saturday evening as I type this, I'm feeling like I'm coming down with man flu again.  I've got the same discomfort I get in the back of my throat which normally means I've got a chest infection or similar coming.  I'm dosed up on nurofen cold and flu tablets and am drinking plenty of fluid in an attempt to stop it in its tracks.

As a result, I may miss the cross country tomorrow, pending how I feel when I wake up in the morning.

Man flu update

Overnight, it appears the little tickle I had has now turned into a fully blown chest infection. The lungs are crackling like hell.

So off to the GP to get some antibiotics.

Something so easy you would think.

112 redials, 15 mins left on hold...

"Hello, Surgery!"

"Hi, can I have an appointment today please"

"Sorry, we have nothing left for today whatsoever!"

Such a wonderful NHS.

"Is there anything I can do to get an appointment, I cant breathe properly?"

"Is it an emergency?"

"Well as I said, I cant breathe properly"

"Ok, I'll add you on to the end of surgery but you'll have to sit and wait!"

"Thank you".

So why the hell dont they just add a few more appointments on at the end of the day.  Like I have to if an academic comes in asking for financial advice.  GPs really shouldnt be exempt from working hours as required.

Tuesday Training (Slow man-fluey 7.5 mile run)

As yet no head cold whatsoever.  The Olbas Pastilles have done a fab job of keeping my head clear and a couple of extra strength strepsils have numbed the throat.  Yesterday I felt fluey and my legs felt very heavy all day but they felt a little better today.

Probably shouldnt have run tonight but I thought what the hell.

The aim was to run at a pace of what felt right to keep my HR around 150bpm thereabouts.  Shallow breathing was the choice of the day to attempt to stop the cold air being pulled deep down into my lungs.

Job done. Average HR of 149bpm for the 7.5 miles so was pretty much spot on. Wasnt quick by any stretch of the imagination but by running slowly and not needing huge gulps of air, I've kept the cold air off my chest. My throat and just below has felt quite raw for the last three days so I need to be very careful. A couple of doses of Ventolin when I walked in and straight into the bath and feel reasonably ok.

Legs are feeling very heavy though. I guess thats to be expected.

The dreaded man flu

I wondered when it was going to kick in.

I felt rough on Sunday but waking up on Monday, I could feel a slight burning sensation in the top of my chest, the first sign I usually get of anything untowards.  I started taking cold and flu tablets on Sunday but you never know if they do anything or not.

I got through Monday ok but by the time I got home, I felt zonked.  I had to go to Tesco do to the weekly shop and the three carrier bags felt so heavy as I walked to the bus stop, a weird feeling given the amount of weights I've been able to lift, push and pull recently.  My arms felt like they were being pulled from their sockets.

Dinner was an easy affair.  Lentil soup followed by some pasta.  Job done.

Chilled for an hour, done the washing up, cleaned my kitchen and bathroom then collapsed in a heap on the sofa and didnt move for a couple of hours.

Now that in itself is rare for me, collapsing in a heap?  Surely not.

The thought of running or going to the Gym was out of the question, sadly.  Bloody annoying to say the least when I've only got another 49 miles to run to hit the 1,000 mile target for the year.

Sunday Training (Pre-breakfast 8 mile run)

After two days off, it was back in training mode this morning.  Alarm set for 7.30am, out the door just before 8.  Plan was do to about 8-10 miles but didnt have a firm route.

It was always intended to be a slower run today but after my calf started nagging just past Crook Log Sports Centre on Brampton Road just beyond halfway, I decided to take the quickest route back. I made it back but the calf tightened up for the first time in ages and I'm just glad I got home without any major damage.

I can feel the beginnings of man flu coming as well, sadly. Not a surprise really, with the amount of time I've been spending outside recently, especially with not showering at the Gym and taking the lazy option of changing into a tracksuit before jumping on the bus home.

It was a good session but I know I can run much faster. Not a problem having the odd off day. I'm now dosed up on Nurofen Cold & Flu tablets with a hope to get this cold shifted ASAP.