Life is an ultramarathon

I am still recovering from the PTL to some extend. A new-grown toenail replacing the one lost during the event is now slightly in-grown. I've already stopped climbing a while back. And now it looks like I'll have to take it easy on the run too... With the Hyde Park Relays and the Cambridge Boundary run planned in 2 weeks. Grumble, grumble...

To occupy myself and change my mind, a few pictures from the Giro Di Sicilia with Valentina last Autumn. The route is available on GoogleEarth or GoogleMaps.

Ultra idle...

View from Whiteless Pike (photographer: Dan)
10 days ago, during a hike in Lake District, I slipped on wet rocks and fell on my behind (I didn't have my poles). I heard and felt a little "crac", and immediately thought I broke my coccyx. But the pain was not that bad actually, so I came to the conclusion that it was probably something in my bag.
Today I'm no so sure anymore about that. Most of the time it's not painful but some motions, such as jumping, still give me a sharp pain. It can also be a bit achy while lying down in bed. Sometimes I feel some sort of cartilage cracking in the area when I sit down.

Obviously I could go and see a doctor, but I know that he won't be sure of his diagnostic. Even if he is, I'll get some general advice and anti-inflammatories anyway. There's not much to do to help with a fractured coccyx. So, why bother?

Ultra minor fall.

Quick news. I've been feeling a bit of chest pressure lately, particularly after the 3 Forts Martathon, and decided to see a doctor. I then did various tests including an ECG, blood test and chest x-rays. Apparently everything seems normal, and the doctor reckons that given the amount of exercice I'm doing, I'm probably just over-conscious about my health. In other words, an hypochondriac ...

Ultra sort of not so well defined medical results...

While taking my medical certificate for the UTMB, the doctor measured a relatively high blood pressure given the amount of exercice I'm doing. It was something like 138/89 mmHg, which is at the high border of the high-normal range, sometimes also referred to as prehypertension. She started to make me feel worried about having high blood pressure. I'm not such an hypochondriac as Jerome in Three Men in a Boat, but this was told to me by a doctor...

I then bought a blood pressure monitor to control by myself the variations over the day. First test this morning, after 1h brisk walk: 118/68 mmHg. This is well in the optimal range. Hmmm, do I really have high blood pressure, or the high speed registration and doctor's stress made it higher that day ?

Ultra not so high blood pressure.

This could nearly be the headline of some British newspapers ;)

A week and a half after the big day, my ankle feels much better. For two days it was actually pretty bad (and even getting somehow worse). I let you imagine (and particularly those who know me...) how I could feel frustrated when I couldn't even walk more than 10 minutes ! It started to heal relatively fast the following days. I then realised my knees were not very happy with me either, in particular the right one that had to absorb all the extra load I couldn't put on my left ankle during the descent. Now I can walk more, I can even run a bit when I need to catch the bus, but I think long walks and awkward feet positions are still to be avoided. I may try to go swimming this week-end. Gentle runs and climbing sessions later on, depending on how it goes. It may not be healing so fast after all.

On the longer scale now. I think it'll be hard to remain on what I still consider as a half a failure. So I've pretty much made my mind: I'll try the UTMB again next year (if I can register), although I realise it'll never be again like the 2005 edition, my first ultra and a finish. Anyway, I hope I'll be able to train more, particularly for the 'quality' sessions at specific speed. I think I'll need at least 3 to 5 proprer long distance runs (over 42km) in the hills (North Wales and Lake District) to strengthen my ankles. In fact, I started to come to the conclusion that the very rasing stride developped by running on flat surface probably shortened the ligament at front of the lower leg down to the ankle, or at least made it weaker. I may register for a marathon in early spring and a trail (most likely in the UK) a bit later. A 100km would be nice to test myself on a long but relatively fast race - any idea welcome.

I was also thinking of building a team for the UTMB 2007. It's much better to share advices and not to be stressed on your own the days before the race. Also if we register the team, we can be ranked as such, which is symbolically pretty cool.

Ultra recovery.

Context flashback:

After a 90km run from London to Brighton on my own at the beginning of November, I started to feel a kind of ache/pain in the right hip. It sometimes starts as soon as I wake up, sometimes I have to walk a bit. It's mostly located in the hip, but sometimes runs from the lower back down to the foot. I thought it could be a sciatica. I've got the impression I'm healing very slowly. Running is still not a good idea. I can now swim 2km without feeling too bad. However, the following morning is usually slightly achy.

During the Yuletide period, I went to see my GP in France to sort it out. He advised me some x-rays. These may show a slight discopathy L5-S1, but nothing really clear. My GP came to the conclusion it was either a tendinitis or a contracture. Appart from seeing an osteopath, he gave me a bunch of general advice.

On top of my standard resolutions for the new year (namely: back to swimming, start climbing and find a decent girlfriend), I've then added most of them:

• Physical
  • practice various sports, including circuits training and swimming to force all the muscles to work and avoid disequilibrium
  • stretch a lot, with focus on the lower back
  • rather short training sessions
  • run only one ultra in a year
• Alimentation
  • drink a lot (of water)
  • lots of veg & fruit
  • dairy
  • fish & seafood
  • drink a little alcohol as possible (to avoid dehydratation)

I've started to follow all these rules. I'll see how long I'm going to stick to them :) . I hope to be progressively back to running by the end of the winter. I may train for a spring marathon if everything goes right, to be back to fitness. Then trail-specific training. UTMB is not that far away ....

Ultra resolutions.