It's been a funny few weeks... lots of things are happening, and I think I just need to step back a bit and work out whats best for me.
First off, the knee has not sorted itself out. I went for a run last Monday, and at 6 miles it started to seize again. This is the longest-lasting injury I've had, so I've taken drastic measures (for me) and sought out medical advice. well, to be more specific, I have registered with my GP and coerced him into a referral to a Sports Physio, which my medical insurance are happy to pay for. I have the first consultation on Tuesday. As of right now I'm not sure I will be running the Grim, which is going to really frustrate me, however, I have to be careful to make sure I am fully fit for the Tough Guy and Reading Half next year.
So instead of running I've been pushing forward with the swimming. I have now finished my course of lessons, and now have targeted myself to get up to swimming 1km non-stop. My current record is 500m, which is up a fair step from 8 weeks ago, when 2 lengths would destroy me. More and more I'm realising it's as much about being comfortable in the water and technique as strength and power.
The big thing floating about right now, however, is my job, or more precisely, the potential loss of it. My company announced a series of redundancies about a month ago, and as of today we were advised of some of the specifics. My team of 18 is losing 4, and as of today I am officially "At Risk". I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this...it's all very new and very strange, and quite apart from myself it does rather kill off the office atmosphere. I've been at the company for 11 years, and my understanding is that a redundancy package would be fairly impressive... I have to be honest, there is a part of me willing to take it and move on. Quite aside from the mercenary temptation, there is a fair argument that the place is turning into a career dead-end. Six months ago I was in a good position to push for promotion, however now that is simply not a realistic possibility...redundancies and promotions do not easily share a bed in business.
I have a couple of weeks to think about it...as I have officially been told I'm under threat I will automatically get a quote about the redundancy package, and I suspect my next move will very much be dictated by how large it is. I have to be impressively selfish, and determine the best course of action for me. Take the money, or stay in the box?
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Falling to Pieces
After almost a year of getting away with being injury-free I've managed to go through a series of issues in the last couple of weeks...
First off, I came down with a cold for 3 days, the first time I've taken time off work for illness since 2005! I spent the time playing Fable 2, and generally being frustrated at not being able to train. I felt ready to get back into training on the Friday, and went out for a run (I'm missed my Monday long run, as well as Wednesday's track-training session). I sorted out a 12 mile route, and polished it off with what felt like ease...however the next morning there was a sharp pain on the side of my right foot, stabbing every time I put my heel down. I did a little bit of research into this (I have a huge pile of running magazines which have health and injury advice), and quickly determined it was an issue called Plantar Fasciitis, where the muscle that links the heel to the forefoot becomes strained, ripped or swollen. The end result is that for the next 2 weeks at least I'm not running...indeed, just walking normally has been painful, and I've been limping and favouring my left leg, despite having plentiful strapping around the arch of my right foot...
...and of course the strain on the left leg has led to a knee issue. I'm a little more used to these, as I had similar issues a couple of years ago. That knee now has a support, and fingers crossed that's keeping the issue at bay.
So while my various aches and pains sort themselves out I'm limited to cycling and swimming (and I still suck at swimming...). While it's frustrating not to be able to do road training, I have Grim Challenge in 4 weeks time, and I have to be injury-free by then. I suspect I'll be heartily sick of spinning bikes by then...I've already spent over 3 hours on one this week, and while I have a couple of rest days ahead, with just a swimming lanes session before Sunday I'd far rather be outside doing my proper training...
Fortunately I don't have many races planned at the moment. There is the Grim Challenge at the beginning of December, and then a gap until Tough Guy at the end of January. I may do one of the Hampshire Cross-Countries at the beginning of January to give me a bit of off-road practice, and to keep some short-term targets around. After Tough-Guy it's distance-training all the way to the Reading Half, where I plan to break my PB (fingers crossed)...of course, I need to make sure I'm injury-free to do something like that...
First off, I came down with a cold for 3 days, the first time I've taken time off work for illness since 2005! I spent the time playing Fable 2, and generally being frustrated at not being able to train. I felt ready to get back into training on the Friday, and went out for a run (I'm missed my Monday long run, as well as Wednesday's track-training session). I sorted out a 12 mile route, and polished it off with what felt like ease...however the next morning there was a sharp pain on the side of my right foot, stabbing every time I put my heel down. I did a little bit of research into this (I have a huge pile of running magazines which have health and injury advice), and quickly determined it was an issue called Plantar Fasciitis, where the muscle that links the heel to the forefoot becomes strained, ripped or swollen. The end result is that for the next 2 weeks at least I'm not running...indeed, just walking normally has been painful, and I've been limping and favouring my left leg, despite having plentiful strapping around the arch of my right foot...
...and of course the strain on the left leg has led to a knee issue. I'm a little more used to these, as I had similar issues a couple of years ago. That knee now has a support, and fingers crossed that's keeping the issue at bay.
So while my various aches and pains sort themselves out I'm limited to cycling and swimming (and I still suck at swimming...). While it's frustrating not to be able to do road training, I have Grim Challenge in 4 weeks time, and I have to be injury-free by then. I suspect I'll be heartily sick of spinning bikes by then...I've already spent over 3 hours on one this week, and while I have a couple of rest days ahead, with just a swimming lanes session before Sunday I'd far rather be outside doing my proper training...
Fortunately I don't have many races planned at the moment. There is the Grim Challenge at the beginning of December, and then a gap until Tough Guy at the end of January. I may do one of the Hampshire Cross-Countries at the beginning of January to give me a bit of off-road practice, and to keep some short-term targets around. After Tough-Guy it's distance-training all the way to the Reading Half, where I plan to break my PB (fingers crossed)...of course, I need to make sure I'm injury-free to do something like that...
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