So, there is some good news and some bad news to report since my last post. Basically, I got the results back from the MRI scan of my ankle and the verdict is pretty much as expected; I have an extra piece of bone in the back of my ankle. My physio Mark was right as usual (and bless him, he only gloated A LITTLE). This isn't particularly good news; the good part is that the consultant says that he should be able to fit me in for surgery in December as NO ONE wants surgery on Christams Eve (Merry Christmas Hayley, have some PAIN and some CRUTCHES and perhaps some extra strong painkillers to go with that...you've been a REALLY good girl this year). I'll stop being sarcastic, compared with the 2-3month wait I was expecting,this is good.
The bad news is this: NO RUNNING until after surgery. Apparently, the MRI showed some additional inflammation in the ankle that was most likely due to compensation and told me to stop running to prevent damaging other areas. Ok, i'll admit, I had a little cry over this; sorry, to the customers of Runner's Need who I may have offended by sniffing on their shoes (and thank you to James and Dani for making me tea, which is the universal cure for everything).
Once my minor sulk was over, I emailed coach Nick about a hard cross training plan involving lots of cycling, swimming and aqua jogging to do until the op and then as soon as possible after. Simple, right? However, having been previously lucky with injuries, i'm not exactly experienced in that area. Therefore, I have decided to share with you my cross training intiation. Hopefully, it will be helpful to anyone who is injured and if nothing else, it may provide some comedy...
Cross Training Lesson #1 - The Exercise Bike of Doom...
By the end of 2.5hours, I don't know what was more annoying; the biking itself or the 7th episode of Friends. Either way, I was drowning in my own sweat (seriously, that amount cannot be healthy) and swearing at the TV. But me being me, I wanted to do everything right. According, to some cross training guidelines from a secret (forgotten) source of mine; when you cycle to replace running, you should remember the following things:
1) It should be 1.5 times as long or four times as far in distance
2) You should keep heart rate no less than 15-20 BPM lower than during a long run
3) RPM should be 90-100
Doing these things, it turns out, actually requires a fair bit of concentration. My heart rate doesn't seem to want to go up at all on the bike but my poor little legs start to suffer very quickly. Innovative as ever, I discovered some interesting and probably pointless cross training tips;
1) If you use cans of rice pudding to do 'running arms' your heart rate gets higher (and it's more running-specific, which is a GOOD thing, I hear). However, you do get complaints from your boyfriend who apparently owns the rice pudding (although considering the length of time it has been there, does not plan to eat it). You can alternate and do other arm exercises with cans whilst cycling with your legs (this helps to alleviate the boredom and adds a mental training component but do be careful not to fall off...)
2) Add reps - this really helps to make the time go quicker and got my heart rate up. I did 5,4,3,2,1 off 1 min in the last 20 mins but will probably incorporate more earlier in future.
Planned Cross Training Lesson #2- The Aqua Jogger of Agony
My next plan is to reintroduce aqua jogging. I've done this before but never really felt I have been doing it right so I have once again sought out some information and I came across a really good article - Aqua Jogging for Injured Runners I'm particularly intrigued by the bit about using a sprint training resistance bungee cord and I shall be purchasing one of these Resistance Trainer's and trying it next week. However, this is likely to end up with me getting tangled up, drowning or being snapped back to the poolside in the style of some cartoon character...Being freed by an attractive male lifeguard whilst wearing my sexy new goggles and swim hat is probably not a great way to start. No fear though, I'm sure they will remember me from last month when I tripped over with my foot stuck in my resistance band and got the cable pulley stuck on my shoe laces...I'll just have to remember not to do my 'Baywatch' run...
Planned Cross Training Lesson #3 - Bike Ride to Bermuda
Cross Training #3 will hopefully be joining the Clapham Chasers for a 4hr cycle ride (on an ACTUAL BIKE!! My lovely new second hand road bike I have called Lady). I am surely going to get lost, get a puncture (according to my dad, my mum can no longer ride due to them, it's probably in my genes...), hit a particularly agressive squirrel, etc... By the way, just in case my castastrophising is bothering you, I do accept, it could also go perfectly well and I could find excellent ways of training/ decide to become a triathlete. But that wouldn't be half as funny would it?
I'm going to show you a picture of my new road bike, that I love, and who now lives in our flat (No Bryn, you are not putting her in the shed, she would get cold!!).
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| My Lady friend... |
Coming soon...The Perils of Cross Training # (if I make it)...And for now, another amusing video, I also like...
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