The return of the grumpy knee!

Ack! Well I managed to run almost to Brent Cross. Then someone tried to prise my kneecap off with a screwdriver. Or at least that's what it felt like anyway. Gah!

We have a combination of factors that might have caused it.

1) Unsupportive Cat boots that I was wearing yesterday.
2) Worn-out trainers - I've had them over a year and I trained for my half-marathon in them, so it's probably time they went in the bin.
3) Downhill running. I'm not particularly good at this and I felt like I might've put more pressure on my knee than it could've coped with.
4) I started off rather fast...

But apart from that, it was quite a nice run! I had my shuffle with me - I had Hanson singing MmmBop! to start off with! Makes me smile. Also made me run fast. Then we had the Spice Girls doing Spice Up Your Life for a little while and eventually when I wanted to slow down the pace I got Tina Turner doing Simply the Best! Simply the Best always reminds me of some stupid radio advert they used to play on my local radio station when I was 7... Simply the best, South Cleveland Garages, better than all the rest, South Cleveland Garages.... I think they'd probably get done for that now! South Cleveland Garages, off the trunk road, the difference is we care! Oh the susceptible fragile mind!

So I ran 2 miles before my knee conked out on me. Then I got LOST and had to walk back the way I'd come, but I made it to Brent Cross ok.

I got home and iced my knee and ate brownie. Well half a brownie. It didn't taste as good as I expected... I think I'm going off chocolate! Madness!

The first step out of the door is the hardest

Yesterday I ran again.

After a half marathon in October 2006 I hung up my trainers for a little while. I got married, I went on honeymoon and ate Scotland! Then Christmas happened, and I think I ate Christmas too! I did manage a small run with DH over the Christmas break.

I entered, and ran, a 10K in Battersea park in February. I ran it in my usual time. I was perplexed. At the end of the Battersea run, some irresponsible park users decided to let their dog wander in front of me, and I sprained my right knee in the process of trying to avoid it. I rested completely for a good week and it managed to heal ok. It still grumbles occasionally and for that reason I have been putting off the next run.

Yesterday was the day I took to the pavements again. I ran/walked a mighty 2 miles and it felt good. My knee managed it without support and my lungs managed ok when I remembered my odd/even footfall breaths.

So with that exceedingly small victory, today I have signed up for the ING Amsterdam marathon on the 21st October. Only 215 days, 21 hours and 37 minutes and counting.

Next thing is to join the running club type thing at Sweatshop on Wednesday. Thing after that is to buy some miadidas running shoes, specially fitted at Harrods Sweatshop. Thing after that is to go and run!