One more step....

Life's a funny thing at times.When I say at times, I really mean often. Funny strange. And funny ha ha too. But definitely strange. Do you ever feel that despite doing all the right things, you just don't get the breaks? It may not be of any consolation, but it happens to us all, and probably more often than most will admit.

This week has already been a rollercoaster ride and it's only Wednesday!

Monday I chased up a contract that should have been in the bag (and the bank!) about a month ago. No news. Nothing I can do to speed it up so it's a waiting game.

Monday I also went to the physio (finally) to get my knee looked at. Not just for the hell of it. That would be weird! I went because I've had to lay off the running due to knee pain. I'm not used to getting anything other than the odd twinge so this is new. And unwelcome.

The good news is that the physio identified the problem. The bad news I have patellar tendonitis and this means another 3 weeks off the road and the only cardio I can do is swimming. Oh joy.

Tuesday I came home from a day on the road seeing potential customers to find water dripping through the kitching ceiling. No sign of anyone so I put the buckets down. Ceiling stayed put - bonus! - but that will be a plumber and associated costs....

Today one of the laptops went pop. No warning, no obvious issues, just checked out, took it's ball away and went home in a sulk. As I write, it's being taken to computer hospital and a new laptop is being sought to replace it. No small expense there then. Although the kids will be grateful to have a hand-me-down to replace the ones they broke/abused/infested with numerous viruses. I'd like to add 'delete as appropriate' but it was all....

However, on a rollercoaster you get as many ups as downs and so the week has been. The upside of the delayed contract is that it hasn't gone away, it's in the ether being signed off by the man with the big pot of cash. This is a good thing..

The knee thing is really annoying but the good news is I have a diagnosis, it'll be treated and I'll know how to avoid it in future.

Yesterday I had a great meeting with a prospect which I know will translate into business and spawn more contacts and additional opportunity.

Last evening I went to watch my eldest son, who is 10 years old, in his end of term play and as usual he left me amazed at this confidence and bursting with pride. He only had one line, but then the I guess the Mayor of Munchkin City never was one for big speeches.... That said, he sang really well. I clearly don't remember the Wizard of Oz particularly well.

Today, having finished the proposal for the above business I took myself off swimming for the first time in I don't know how long. Back in the day I was a competitive swimmer and today reminded me just how long ago back in the day was! But I also know that I'll end up fit and healthier and with luck I may have inadvertently rediscovered a sport about which I was once passionate.

Today I've also discovered some other opportunities with great potential and reconnected with some old friends.

I think overall the week is evening itself out. No matter how bad we may feel about a situation, it can get better. But you have to take one more step. Or you'll never know....

Mission Accomplished!

Event 1 of 5
Yesterday I completed the longest and toughest competitive running event I've attempted so far (I've only ever done 1x 10K road race, officially). 20K (approx 12.5 miles) is quite a long way but yesterday was a different challenge altogether. I knew it was off-road. I expected hills and was prepared for some of them being steep.

The race consisted of 3 events in 1: 10K, 20K and 30K races. The clues were there. It was called Mid-Summer Madness and it was organised by a company called Go Beyond Ultra whose strapline is 'Human Endurance Defined'... That should have served as a warning!

10 laps of 2K each. Forget undulating, this was steep gulleys and and old railway embankments thrown in for good measure to the point where many inclines were just too steep to run up. The 'easy' elements of the course were clearly used by mountain bikers, given the number of ruts in the ground. About the only flat, proper path is pictured above...

As early as the first lap I was wondering what I'd let myself in for. Within a couple of minutes of starting there were a couple of heavy fallers. My turn was to come on lap three. Note to self... Don't lose concentration on a steep descent with loose gravel and earth underfoot!

By lap three I was feeling the pace but had joined up with a 'buddy' who informed me that the previous year he'd dropped out of the 20K and so this time around had entered for 10K only. Not exactly what I needed to hear that this point! We chatted and drove each other on for 3 laps until he finished then it was 5 laps on my own.

Strangely, it took me 5 laps to learn how to run some of the trickier parts of the course, having never experienced anything like it before. All of a sudden I seemed to find my pace and was feeling better about the world.

By the end of lap six I was aware that my troublesome left knee was starting to ache. Not a good sign. At the start of lap eight I was in genuine discomfort and the difficult terrain was taking it's toll. This, combined with the temperature starting to creep up and the lack of fuel except water and jelly babies, meant I was getting very tired and I was occasionally light-headed.

On the final lap, knee pain aside, I relaxed and enjoyed the ride. There were several times during the race when I'd have liked to have stopped and I thought by the end I'd collapse and maybe have a little cry! I had people waiting for me at the finish line and there was no way I wasn't going to make it to the end.

And make it to the end I did in 2 hours, 27 minutes and 28 seconds. Not a bad effort for a first attempt!

So thanks for your support, it's always much appreciated. If anyone would like to start the ball rolling, I'm raising money for 3 very worthy charities through these 5 events. See here for details.

Keep on running....

So this week I managed a lunchtime 10 miler and although cardio-wise all seems well, the knees have been somewhat raw afterwards. So the question is, how much of a run should I do between now and Sunday's 20K off-roader? I'm thinking maybe a gentle 3-4 miler tomorrow (Friday) just to tick over.

Anyone with a better idea, please do let me know.....!

Short Video Update on Training Progress

I recorded a short video by way of update report on training for the upcoming events. Here it is....

Break, Fix, Improve

For those of you who don't know, I like to run. I'm not saying I'm any good, I just enjoy it. Outside or on the treadmill, running enables me to clear my mind and to stay fit at the same time, as well as catching up with my iTunes library. Just recently I've had a niggle in my left knee. Nothing too bad to start with, but I ignored it and it got progressively worse. A few days ago I was running on my treadmill (thinking this would be easier on a sore knee!) and I had to stop. It suddenly really hurt and I slowed to a walking pace. After a few minutes the pain had cleared and I upped the pace once more. For a about 5 seconds, and BAM! My knee just gave out. Finally, I took this as a sign to get off, apply ice and to check out symptoms, diagnoses and suggested treatments.

So here I am needing to train for a 20K off-road event next month and unable to run. I need to rehab my knee first before entertaining serious training. I ignored the warning signs and I'm now paying the price.

The good news is that I've established that I neglected some things in my training which, along with just plain doing too much too soon, contributed to the injury. So along with fixing this particular problem, I now know how to improve my fitness regime.

I will come back stronger.

Business parallels? You bet! One for next time.....

Joanna's Marathon Journey

There are lots of great things we can do to motivate ourselves, information to gather, nutrition plans to follow etc.. But, you know sometimes, there's nothing for it but to gut it out in order to achieve your goals.

Have a look at this video. I find it really inspiring and I hope you will too.