Curious Incident of the Mouse in the Nighttime

My foot is feeling much better, but I can still feel the pain point in the midsole area. Unsurprisingly, I have not ventured back to the treadmill yet let alone the outside world - running wise. So, this week, it's been Zwift, Zwift, Zwift and more bike Zwift. A couple of zone 3 rides and two interval sessions. I'm sensing..... more Zwift tomorrow....

Anyway, onto the not so curious incident... It's been a while since I've received a nighttime delivery - and that's a good thing - but this morning, circa sometime when it was still pitch-black outside, I heard a curious squeaking which stirred me from my sleep. After finding my bearings I realised the cat had brought in something. Something live. Something live, which the damn cat had thought a good idea to drop amongst my shoes under the bed. Queue a 'little bit' of swearing followed by chasing the cat out of the bedroom and then attempting to catch the mouse...

I'm pretty pro when it comes to that - I've had a lot of practice. So, with its tail sticking out, the mouse was mine. The little bugger then dug its teeth in. I wasn't going to gift it back to the cat, so I shot down the stairs stark naked and out into the front garden, mouse still clamped soundly onto my finger. The mouse extricated itself from my finger once it sensed freedom. A happy ending. It scampered off and I'm probably going to die of the plague...

I Think I Broke My Foot...

Not really, it just f*(%ing hurts, and I can only hobble. Although that was Saturday, and it is feeling a bit better today.

Having twisted my foot during last week's return to racing, I couldn't run Monday or Tuesday, but it wasn't too painful and by Wednesday I headed to the treadmill to reduce the impacts by way of a tester. There were no repercussions from that, so I thought that was the all clear. Thursday, I headed out for a short blast after work on the Hobbs loop. That went well and I moved up to 2nd in the A40 climb KOM rankings on Strava - that is now officially my target for claiming my first KOM for over a decade....

Then it all went a bit wrong Saturday. I was going okay despite being hellishly hot. I improved my time on the central Flaxley climb KOM - I'm only 18s short of my all-time best from nine years ago - so I'm going to be taking that down imminently. Then, about 4-5km in, my foot went again. I slowed and got home but the foot was knackered. As I said, it is feeling better today, and it doesn't seem to affect me on the bike so it's going to be a week of Zwifting and then some gentle treadmilling into the weekend.

Up today was a pretty solid 30-minute tempo on the Zwift with Mathieu van der Poel. More bike tomorrow and then some more Wednesday and then.... some more Thursday....

First Race Complete

So, there it is. My first race of the comeback is officially complete - and I've the T-shirt to prove it. As I sit and type this, I am thoroughly knackered, and I've twisted my left foot so I'm expecting that to hurt tomorrow. Who knew a simple 10k could take such a toll? I guess with 220m of ascent, rutted ground and some lumps and bumps along the way, it wasn't your typical 10k. It was also very hot and muggy. Which was less than ideal for me. I've never run well in the heat. I had a run out midweek in the heat and did not enjoy it but despite that, I was still really looking forward to it...

My aims for the race were simple, make the top 50% and clock inside 55 minutes. I was confident of the first count but less so on the second, on account of that damn humid, muggy heat. Anyway, I spent last night (well, twenty minutes of it) looking over the route, to work out my tactics. With a steepish lumpy (descent) start and then some steady climb in the second half I decided my best tactic was to go hard and hang on. I knew I'd wilt in the heat, so if I went off steady, I'd never make anything back. So that was the tactics set.

I stuck to the plan. Murdered myself in the first half to get some time in the bag and then hung on as best I could. It was not pretty but I did make it across the line with both goals met. I actually made the top 25% which was a surprise and I clocked 54:15. My next race is a flattish road 10k in a few weeks which will be far more conducive to running at an even pace - or trying to...

The race was the Magic Roundabout 10k, organised by Hay Hotfooters. So big thanks to them for putting such a well organised, marked and marshalled race - if you could arrange for it to be a little cooler next time though, that would be great.

Not Long Now...

Just a week away from my first actual race since the return began. I think I'm ready and my aim is pretty basic; finish in the top 50%. It's a far cry from the top 10% of olden days, but you've got to start small...

Anyway, it's been another decent week of training. Zwift intervals on the bike. A set of intervals on the treadmill and a long run - although it was not quite as long as it should have been on account of taking a wrong turn and missing 2km. Despite that, it was a good run. With every passing run, I feel I'm getting my old climbing legs. There is still some way to go but I'm getting there.

That was yesterday, and today I ran a recovery 8km and my goodness was it ever hot. Finished with a 20-minute cool down on the bike. It'll be another run and bike tomorrow and then it's time to taper into next Sunday's Magic Roundabout - where hopefully Zebedee won't overtake me...

Starting to Register Some Gains on Strava Segments

I ran some short treadmill reps Friday at a pretty good pace, but I had my eye on Saturday's long run so didn't do too many. Talking of the long run, it was a tad under 15km and the hilliest so far at 450m of ascent. I stayed local as it's hilly enough round here to get some good ascent numbers. Not mountain ascent numbers but it's still pretty solid.

I've missed a few weeks of the long run and I felt pretty knackered in the last the last few kilometres, but I didn't have any aches today, so I still feel on track. I'm not saying I felt fresh, mind. Today's 5k Hobbs Quary loop with it 150m of ascent was hard work. My legs didn't have any power but having said that, I still ran that ascent the fastest I have since 2014 so I mustn't grumble.

Fitted a couple of short Zwift's after yesterdaay's and today's runs by way of a bit of active recovery. Definitely a rest day tomorrow though, as my quads are shot but it was a good week of training which saw me get a couple of honourable mentions on the Strava segment rankings. I've got my sights set on those local segments....

Entered Another Race and I've Not Even Run the First One Yet!

So, I'm up to three races booked in and I'm yet to run the first one yet. Although it is getting closer. As to today's entry, it seemed rude not to as it is practically on my doorstep. Not 3km away. However, I have realised I now have three activities in four days in July. The newly entered 10k road race is on a Thursday, marshalling on Fan Llia Saturday and Waun Fach Sunday. Going to be knackered come the Monday...

Other news, it was the 2nd work lunch run yesterday. I used the facility on a Garmin watch to run against a previous activity with the intension of pacing things the same, to stop us getting competitive. I shall definitely use it more in the future. It worked a treat, as we covered the 5.4k route spot on pace, just 1.5s quicker. It was an improvement though, as it felt much easier. That's 'easier', not easy. We'll probably have to have a crack at smashing it at some point in a month or two...