Groan! - Groin!

When I completed my long run on Sunday, I felt this dull ache in my groin, reminiscient of my debacle in the 2009 SCMM. I wondered with increasing trepidation, as I walked home, about my fate in the coming months. I am now a seasoned runner to realize that such an ache is a real sign that my injury is rearing its head up again.

I went out for my 'up tempo' run today and could complete 80% at target pace and this had more to do with the heat and humidity than my condition. However, the alarming symptoms of the groin ache recurred and caused me to sit on my haunches, after the run, and comtemplate the fate of my future runs, shaking my head with rising depression. Stand up at the count of eight, Dan! Practice what you preach!

The learning process

As a runner, you learn a lot of things as you go thru' the process of training over the years. You learn about what work outs work for you and those that don't; you learn that haste (in training) makes waste and you come down with injuries; you learn from your every race. Today I learnt that coke mixed with water and salt does not work for me:-) I was in a hurry and could not prepare my usual cocktail of 'Tang' with salt and water. I opened a coke and prepared 3 liters of the stuff! I should have had the good sense to bring along some plain water. The result? I could not take in enough of the obnoxious mixture that I'd got along for this long run and got progressively dehydrated.

This had a deleterious effect on my system cause I could feel three things happening at the same time; one, the sun came blasting out and the humidity was way high; two, the lack of replenishment of water lost thru' profuse sweating caused my pace to take a beating; and three, the coke has caffeine which hastened the process of dehydration!. Nice experience for a fitness instructor:-) Don't let anyone know you have saw dust in your head:-)

Anyway, I survived (there was a moment when I thought of throwing in the towel) and completed my long run short by 2K, which wasn't too bad. I have to factor in the hectic travel of the last 4 days, combined with inadequate food intake as well as sleep. I had predicted that my glycogen stores would not be at their optimum and that this run would be affected. Little did I realize that I'd compound my misery by committing another folly, by carrying along coke and water - yucks! Also, I did the first 6K at tempo pace which Ol' chap, is certainly commendable. Well, the nice part is that I finished 3 hrs+ of running inspite of the 'tempo' circuit and that has its own effect on spiking my endurance. Live to fight another day Dan.