Guest blogger for this week Alex MacNeil

Part 1

Rolling with the punches

 Hi. Me: 38 year old first time runner from Bath. You: Either bored @ work or putting off going for a run.

I have paused for thought.

This was not a choice. I have another injury.

After weeks of no running waiting for shin splints to heal, I now have a muscle pull on my lower left soleus near my achilles.

I’ve taken 2 weeks off running (no choice in that matter – muscles have a way of letting you know clearly when they need a rest. I can only liken it to having a toddler scream at you in the middle of Sainsburys – similar levels of discomfort and desire to M-A-K-E I-T S-T-O-P)

I have interesting chats about injury with folk who I love and respect hugely. There is a general, and I have to admit, fairly understandable concern that maybe I’m not cut out for running. That my body is trying to tell me something.

Like I said – understandable considering my luck over the last 3 months. But here’s the thing. I have gone to working out 3 – 5 times a week since October – from nothing. Before then it’s true – I never had shin splints. I never had a pulled soleus muscle (I didn’t even know what or where it is – frankly, soleus sounds more like a sun cream to me). But here’s what I did have; apathy, lethargy, relentlessly aching joints (especially my hips), and overweight bordering on obese. But we don’t talk about these “injuries”. We accept these as things that are an inevitable consequence of aging or things that we just don’t talk about. But these are the things that kill us. When was the last time anyone died of shin splints?!

So, blessed with the love and concern of my friends, I will continue to be sensible, take fabulous advice and do everything I can to cement running as a part of my long term plan for fitness in my life – above and beyond the Race. Injury is an inevitable consequence of getting and keeping fit. My plan is to not let it derail me.

10 weeks left of training at time of writing. I have only got my distance up to 4 miles before being stopped in my tracks.

And it gives me time to really think about why I am running. Why I feel so upset when I think I may not be ready or able to run (although my definition of “ready” is getting more and more flexible).

 To find out my reasons for running Cardiff half check back next week where I will be reflecting back on my story!

Cool running’s to you all

 Alex

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