Trail running trials and tribulations : Getting nervous

Ultrarunner fighting Atrial Fibrilation (AF)

This blog has pretty much always been about running ultras, mostly Hardrock. It still is but now it is also about running after AFib. I was forced to miss Hardrock in 2011 due to the onset of AF but my long term goal was to get back to running milers. And hopefully help any other runners with AF who stumble upon this site. I never made it into Hardrock in 2012, or 2013, or 2014. I didn't have a qualifier for 2015. I ran Fatdog in Canada instead. That was tough. I finished my 4th Hardrock in 2016 and now I'm back to try for the magical number 5.

If you want the history of my AF the heart problems all started back on May 25 2011: http://howmanysleeps.blogspot.com/2011/05/out-of-hardrock.html

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Getting nervous

I have had a pretty average week. Coming off a 4 day weekend that allowed some extra mileage I have been run down all week. I skipped my planned run on Wednesday opting for a steady 5km walk instead. No stairs. Struggled on the few runs I did have and took a couple of kilos out of my training pack. Woke up yesterday with a really sore lower calf. Damn. Not sure what caused it but my 3:45hr run at the You Yangs yesterday was really painful. Coupled with the low energy I was getting worried. After a really painful massage yesterday ( I think there are teeth marks in Bengt's table) the leg felt fine this morning. Went for a very easy 10km this morning with W and L. Then backed up for an hour in the Ironbark Basin with T. I felt great. I was flying down the hills, getting big air off the ledges and jamming it in the gullies. I ran all the uphills, even with the weighted pack. I can't remember the last time I ran the big hills out of the Basin. It was the confident booster I needed and reassured me that I was just having a bad week. I even missed Spud running in Poor Mans Comrade I have been so focussed.

This time next week and I will be in the air. Only 27 sleeps.