How are my Newtons.... ?

So three months on.... Just how have I got on using these Newton trainers? If you want my honest answer and current status, rather badly actually.

I can see the logic and advantage of running mid/forefoot, which is exactly what it says on the box of this marketing. They do not hide away from the fact the changes needed to make in your own running style to make these trainers work for you, with the enclosed ten-point leaflet!

OK I was prepared to try this. It's just as you may have seen in my other blog articles, I'm getting a bit long in the tooth now and probably the saying you can't teach an old dog-new tricks is a real lesson to be learnt?

I train regularly running to my latest music playlist and trying various routes and trying interval training etc. I can comfortably now manage to run or at least get around various 10K and Half Marathon events and have taken part in the Flora and Virgin London Marathons. My next aim is still too improve on my current times and now eagerly await the 2012 London Marathon Ballot result, which will mean slowly increasing my mileage between now and then assuming I can find a way into this marathon.

As you know increasing mileage can increase the chances of injury anyway but using these Newton's now with this in mind for me is going to be a huge risk to take to run in next years London Marathon which is now seven months away. Since June, I have worn these trainers (drum roll) two or three times PER month and afterwards suffered such shocking calf pain that it actually has stopped me running. I really have tried to stretch out my calf muscles, use a foam roller very regularly, and have a sports massage monthly and even cheated before runs applying some sort of deep heat rub to warm up my calf muscles allowing them to be more forgiving.  Still the pain experienced after a run makes me walk with a hobble and the pain is too the extent that I cannot stand on my tiptoes let alone walk on my toes. The calf failure is that severe.

I ran a Dartford half marathon in July and I felt... OK(ish), allowed myself time to recover and started my training again for a 10 mile race in Stevenage in September. This race obviously being shorter than a half marathon I had high hopes for this race. A) To perform well for our team to win its category. B) To race and beat a friend. I prepared for this event as per normal and was actually quite confident too as in myself I felt well. (Even Achilles tendonitis has been behaving). Alas on the day it was a complete disaster! After four miles, I knew something was wrong. One lap down and 5 miles to go I knew my race was over as I ran with a hobble and my mind switched to willing the mile markers away. The Garmin beeped every mile reminding me I was well off my usual pace.

Needless to say, my team contribution on the day was rather shocking and I am sure our team captain and manager will reflect back and think twice now for selecting me for the team. They do not need to say anything to me, as I know myself I am disappointed with this effort and my mate beat me with ease. I finished in 1hr 9 minutes where as a ten-mile course in February 2011 (Sidcup 10) I had finished 1hr 4 or 5 minutes. I keep getting told you can't always run as fast as your last race or get PB after PB but I've kept on running all year I felt well and the only difference was just in wearing these trainers (through the pain(. I came home cursing these trainers! And contemplated burning them. I took pictures of them to shove them onto eBay as they still look new! The mileage I have run in them is actually still quite low. I looked at Sweatshop's website to resort back to my old faithful Asics 1160's before they bring out the 1170's at full price.

I had thought trying Newton's in June would be ample time for me to get used too and hopefully run a marathon in them next April. Three months later, I'm sorry I have to admit but I have absolutely no chance of running the full 26.2miles and I'm going to jump ship now and revert back to my usual running style and reliable Asics. I don't think I will sell the Newton's them but keep them for maybe 4k sprints I have at Bluewater's Saturday 4K meet ups because at the moment that's about as far as i could comfortably run?

Am i getting too old for this Malarkey?

My body clock is ticking and I am now edging closer to the big Four O! Good health permitting what would this new decade bring me running wise? I cannot emphasize how I am sooo looking forward to being classed as an official "veteran" runner! In fact not just running into my forty’s but to continue running strongly until it’s officially not possible for me to put one leg in front of the other. This determination in my ‘mind’ appears now to come at a price as my body is not as strong as the determination in my head. The best example of this mind Vs the body is when you’re planning for a marathon and you know things will get hard and you may even admit to hitting “the wall!” Do you tell yourself prior to this race, I’m going to push through this and keep on going? [Laughing out loud] Really now because I’ve tried this two or three times now and found out the hard way when the body says NO it means it! Know matter how determined the mind is the muscles in your body have put down their tools and are on strike! They’re not going to help you one bit, your race is now over!

I have found myself in a moment of quietness reflecting back what now find annoyingly painful or utter agony, twenty years ago or so, I would have brushed that aside running/playing through the pain. I could operate normally the next working after four hours of sleep. I could go out on an all day/night drinking session, smashing my liver to bits and perform normal activities the next day... And... Remember how I got home.

From this point things started to go downhill, getting worse but in such a subtle way just not enough for me to notice, slam on the brakes and make drastic alterations to lifestyle. I never gave a second thought of how I was already abusing my body and didn’t make any future sensible plans. I thought I was immortal and felt I was! Therefore, with this lifestyle I could continue it , no problem... Hmmmm

So, what’s gone wrong? What were the warnings my body was sending me that I blatantly chose to ignore? I started to need more sleep, get tired more quickly. Drinking the same amount on a night out with friends resulted in 2/3 days to recover and I admit at times locked in the bathroom… in pain! I missed out on much looked forward to weekend time, only for my working week to start again far too soon a classic sign of wearing down one’s body. What about my body mechanics? Well the biggest clue is finding myself constantly heading to the chemist to by paracetomol then nurofen, Ice sprays, ice packs and support bandages. When they didn’t work, I started heading to the doctors for advice who prescribed me very strong anti-inflammatory medication to which I still have availableon a handy repeat prescription, which I re order a lot more times than I should be. To be honest if I am, I tend to use them more just prior to races, you know to paper over the cracks after months and months I’ve spent training for a race I don’t want to pull out from. So to get me through the race day I find it easy to apply loads of ice and take my anti-inflammatory medication [Who's hitting the warning buzzer for me which says you really don’t want to do that!!] I know, I know *not* a sensible thing to do.

The next stage of my ageism is being called to come and play and kneeling down on the floor for a long time playing with my children. I’ve actually noticed I actually groan out loud more and more now just to stand back up from this playtime, maybe even using nearby furniture as leverage. (seriously, is this normal?) How about waking up in the mornings all stiff and sore hobbling around the landing looking down at the stairs thinking I’m about to descend mount Everest taking one step at a time. Research suggest this is a classic case of Achilles Tendonitis for the love of god, I’ve suffered from ITB, DOMS general aches and pains but good grief Achilles Tendonitis is my number one for suffering in pain. If anyone out there says such and such is a more painful injury? then for the love of god... I don’t want to suffer from it! Achilles Tendonitis *HURTS* (like a b*tch)!! and I’ve been getting this grief well over a year now which looks like it’s going to play a big and unwanted part of my life from now on. Rest it I hear people say, (I have, a little) stretch out your calf muscles, have Physio treatment I do! I do! Alas grief, grief and more grief.

Being totally honest If I could wind the clock back I really would. (Suppose we could all say that in aspects of our lives and rewrite our history) but for running my mind loves the feeling of pounding the streets, the feeling of doing something to help my health, fighting the evil of everyday stress but to help me wind down and de-stress. The is Me or my own personal time. Something I train hard for so I can achieve my own personal bests and get satisfaction doing so. I even enjoy listening to downloaded and created music playlists to which running along to my favourite tunes I’m having a party whilst I run! Answer the question just how fast can I run? Alas though all this comes at a costlyt price as clearly the slow realisation that my body is aging and I in fact am not immortal as I once thought. No I won’t be living forever as the alarm bells and warning signs are registering that my body is showing signs of wear and tear, weakness and you know what had better that looking after myself, quickly! The fact I’m writing this page on my Blogg I’m probably currently feeling a low point of weakness and pain which did prompt me into thinking recently “Am I too old to run?” Should I be slowing down?. Both my Achilles hurt, my calf muscles hurt, running up the same hill my heart rate is higher than it has been in the past, I’m puffing and blowing even harder now. Chaffing tender areas as the mornings are getting now darker and colder as the frost will now start to bite my fingers and nose. Soon i'll be yanking off wet clothes, tugging away, stretching and ruining my clothing, spending longer in the shower just in an attempt to warm up.

Slap me round the face what am I moaning for? Ive seen runners in their forty's, fifty's, sixty's and seventy's toe the line with me against those young whippets in their twentys. How have most of them done! Flippin well actually beating some and showing their body is stonger fitter, faster state! Really now well thats what I want! Pehaps I should shush up. Show my central governor who really is boss. Zip up my man suit and carry on doing something that I and many others adore!

I can only suggest you purchase some ear plugs. As when I return from my runs seaching for.the coldest ice pack and I look like i'm about to start moaning you can quickly insert ear plugs and ignore me!!

Cheers...