Bearing my soul on week nine

Firstly, I should apologise for not blogging on week eight.

It’s not that I didn’t want to, I just wasn’t sure if anyone wanted to hear what I had to say.

I’m aware I’ve been harping on about this injury for weeks now and it’s not the most inspiring thing to read about over and over.

But the reality was I’d reached breaking point and that’s why I decided not to post.

My left leg had completely seized up and the pain down the front of my shin and foot was unbearable.

Frosty park run

I couldn’t point my toes or pull them towards me. It was as if I had a wooden leg.

It was stiff all the time, constantly exasperated by walking to work in the frosty mornings and challenging training sessions in the cold evenings.

On top of that, interval running was killing me. Despite advice from my physio to train this way, I didn’t feel like it was helping my shin splints.

For three evenings in a row I fought back tears mid-run and yelled out in pain.

I began to consider pulling out of the marathon. It was only six weeks away and I just wasn’t sure if I could manage it.

As sad as that made me feel, running is something I hope to continue doing for as long as I physically can. The last thing I want to do is push on and cause permanent injury.

On Saturday morning I went to see my physio and told him my thoughts.

He suggested an acupuncture session instead of the massage therapy he had been giving me, and I agreed.

In all honesty I wasn’t convinced before trying it, but I haven’t been feeling very positive about anything these last few weeks so I thought it was worth a go.

My leg didn’t really feel that different after the session but the next day it felt strange.

Camperdown Park, Dundee

The pain down the front of my shin and foot had disappeared.

The sharp pain in the side of my leg (the original pain) was still there, although it was much less severe.

My leg has felt floppy and weak since the acupuncture. It’s still not strong enough to run on but I am happy with the improvement.

I’m going to cross train with swimming until it feels back to normal.

—

I’m running London Marathon 2016 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in aid of my gran who has dementia. Please sponsor me. All donations, no matter the size, extremely welcome via my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheanneMulholland

xxx THANK YOU!! xxx

—

Shin splints on week two

The pain in my shin started during the first week of training. It wasn’t agony, it was just a wee niggle.

I could feel it down the inner side of my left tibia. It felt a bit like something was gently being pulled inside my leg.

It disappeared when I stopped running so I didn’t think much of it, believing my legs were simply adjusting to the increase in mileage.

Then I made the mistake of mentioning it to someone in my work on Monday morning.

“Oh, that’s shin splints!” the now self-professed doctor exclaimed.

“I got them too,” he said. “I had to give up running because I was getting them every time I went out.”

Woodlands run

And his diagnosis was echoed by other friends who are more experienced in running than I am.

The most common cause of this type of injury in runners is too much, too soon – whether that be increasing mileage too quickly or abruptly changing a usual workout regime.

Other factors, such as repeated running in one direction on a camber or wearing old or the wrong type of shoes, can also come into play.

A minimum rest period of two weeks is recommended when shin splints occur.

I rested for three days and on the fourth day (Thursday) I decided to do some cross-training.

For the first time in more than three years I donned my swim suit and headed for the pool, swimming 25 Olympic lengths.

By Friday I was itching to get out and attempted a slow paced three mile run, which turned into more of a walk with short burst of jogging.

Running with shin splints

My leg was simply too sore to run for longer than a few meters and my heart sank deeper with every step.

I could feel my eyes welling up and inside I was screaming: “I can’t do it, my leg’s done in! This is the end of my marathon mission.”

But I don’t give up that easily.

Saturday I went out on a six mile run. The first three miles were pretty sore and I alternated between walking and jogging as I warmed up.

Then I managed to run the following three miles without stopping to walk but the pain in my shin became more than a niggle.

On Sunday I decided it was wise to rest and therefore finished week two of my training plan having ran a total of nine miles.

—

I’m running the London Marathon 2016 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in aid of my gran who has dementia. Please sponsor me. All donations, no matter the size, extremely welcome via my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheanneMulholland

xxx THANK YOU!! xxx

—

A dook in the River Tay

T-shirt, boardshorts and flip-flops – probably not what most people would choose to wear on a frosty Scottish New Year’s Day.

But at 10am on January 1, I stood in temperatures of 3C wearing exactly that, waiting to run into the icy waters of the River Tay, at Broughty Ferry.

Ready to dook

It’s a tradition that started around 130 years ago when swimmer John Barrowman encouraged members of the community to join him for a morning dip.

Now scores of locals take to the waters in his honour every New Year’s Day, organised by Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association, as hundreds watch from the shore.

For me it was more than that. I saw it as a chance to wash away my sins of last year and start this year fresh.

New Year, New Me. I don’t remember when or where I heard this saying for the first time. It’s one I’ve never taken to before.

But for some reason in the weeks leading up to this New Year it was looping round and round in my head.

New Year’s Day would mark the beginning of an intense 16-week marathon training programme for me, which involves running six days a week.

I knew that to be in the best possible shape for it I would have to change a few things in my lifestyle. I’d need to cut out alcohol, eat well and look after myself.

And I couldn’t think of a better way to kick-start my new way of thinking than by taking a cleansing dook.

Onlookers watch

Dook at Broughty Ferry

That was, until I was stood shivering at the water’s edge waiting to take the plunge.

I would’ve liked to jump in but it wasn’t deep enough where we were so instead we had to slowly wade through the shallow water.

It was freezing. Much colder than I had imagined. Most people slowly walked around in it, or ran in then straight out again, but one brave young lady was actually swimming.

A few people behind me were dooking their heads in and laughing hysterically. Although I wanted the full experience, I just couldn’t bring myself to put my head under the water.

I went as far as my neck and then swiftly got out. I couldn’t bear any longer than a few minutes.

As I walked up the slipway I pulled my shorts free from sticking to my numb legs then tenderly put my flip-flips back on, which proved a struggle as both my feet and all my toes were numb too.

And then I raced home for a warm bath and a cuppa.

After the dook

—

I’m running the London Marathon 2016 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in aid of my gran who has dementia. Please sponsor me. All donations, no matter the size, extremely welcome via my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheanneMulholland

xxx THANK YOU!! xxx

—