Hi all, I'm still running just, not quite up to the same level of fitness as before.  Currently working back up to 10km/6 miles using the One Hour Runner Programme.  I mainly listen to comedy podcasts now to help keep me motivated; currently Small Town Murder / Crime in Sports are my two favourites.

I tend to blog now on YouTube which I started last year which covers predominately my Photography experiences (Digital and Film).

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp4r7r07jdnfbYw6etV5yhw

Poor Health

Apologies for not publishing a blog for some time, its not through lack of trying but, I have been suffering from a number of ailments this year (way more than usual) which has stopped me from running for quite a number of weeks now (Mid Apr). I suspect a change in asthma medication (from Seretide to Fostair) last year is partly to blame; something I will be trying to rectify at my next review later this month.

I had hoped last week after a steady commencement of a few short runs that the tide was starting to turn in terms of my health and that I would be able to start gradually improving my fitness and reducing the weight that has piled on.  Frustratingly it wasn't to be as I was struck down with something horrid on Thursday and now any movement causes me a lot of discomfort even with just walking or trying to stand up straight so I think it will be a little while before I can resume running again.

In the mean time and when able I will continue overhauling my Bike as since my last blog (Nov 15), I have moved jobs and location but unfortunately this has reduced the routes that I can run in a lunchtime to about 2. Therefore to try and diversify my exercise and to improve the variety and number of routes I can gain access to at lunchtimes I have been trying to fix my bike.  I say fix as it was pretty much abandoned at my previous work location and has suffered from weathering for a good number of years pretty much outside with zero use as there were plenty of variety in my running routes compared to now.

The overhaul is going pretty well (thanks to YouTube) considering I had virtually zero experience and always gave it to a shop to deal with in the past but I fancied the challenge this time around. It's almost there I feel for a road test once I can get past my current bout of poor health and get around to fixing the gear cable that snapped last week during adjustment.

When I do get back into running (hopefully this year), I will continue to use the subscription of Zombie Run that I started this year; another iphone app to throw into the mix of music to try and help with my motivation.

I have also switched my main running app since my Nov 15 blog to Runkeeper, although I still use endomondo as that has my stats since I started running so I'm reluctant to stop compiling that data.  I'll cover this is a later blog to help me think through what I want out of an app to help me ditch one of them as what with starting Spotify, Zombie Run, then Runkeeper and Endomondo it take more time to start and stop running :).

Picked up another injury somehow...

After narrowly missing out on a cold at half term I've now succumbed to an injury, barely a year after my last one that is one again preventing me from running without enduring serious pain in my foot.  I have no idea what I did other than it was sometime just over a week ago now.  In fairness I have had a 'good run' this year where I have been able to run consistently and build my mileage base.  Best I can hope for now after is a swift recovery to allow me sufficient time to start running again in preparation for the Yeovil half marathon in March next year.

In terms of the injury itself, I think it's just some inflammation on the bottom of my foot or to a tendon although nothing is showing at present.  Although I ran that day it was pretty uneventful and my new shoes have finally worn in so I don’t think it was running related at this stage.  It is more likely to have occurred during some spring cleaning at home where I probably manipulated my foot into an unnatural position which may have resulting in stretching the foot too far during some protracted cleaning activity.  The pain builds as I walk to the point that I have to take the weight off to relieve the pressure/pain.  It also feels that a hard lump forms under my foot which further adds to the discomfort.  Thankfully walking on the front portion of my foot offers some relief at the moment and driving is relatively painless and unfortunately fortunately as my work is desk based it isn't stopping me from doing that!

I think in the interim I certainly need to be careful in what I eat as I do not want to undo all the good I've done this year in getting my weight down.  This may prove more difficult though what with the silly season coming up as I already have 3 Christmas lunches planned in addition to my leaving meal at the end of this month as I transition to a new job.  At least when I do return to running I will have some new running routes to try out due to my upcoming new job; my first new job in over 11 years!