Cactus Flowers

BRRC 5k Champs 21:05 (2nd in M55-59)

I know it has been too long since I made a post to this blog. But the running has been very disappointing since my last entry and I have just not had the mojo to report on such going ons. I have been doing 40 -50 k a week but in terms of my RS Index (avg pace x avg heart rate) it has been a steady decline. Now this is quite disturbing. In the six years that I have been collecting my Heart Rate data I have never had a period when I have trained consistently and for that Index to show a steady decline. Basically since September my Heart Rate is around 15 beats/sec higher on a run than what I would expect and is steadily getting higher. This has been a major worry for me as it has been coupled with poor sleep and intestinal discomfort. My doctor is investigating varies theories. My recent CT scan showed no indications that my lymphoma has come back, so that is a relief but still the doctors have no real answer for what is going on.

On top of this I have had a right hamstring niggle that has stayed at about 95% recovered for the last month. As long as I didn't try to push past 4:45 pace it wouldn't trouble me on a run but I would feel it a little when I cooled down. In the last week this seems to have been better and after the run this morning I would say I am at 99% with that.

This mornings 5k was the first time in a couple of months I have pushed it at all and I was quite surprised to be able to run 21:05. I can certainly verify that I pushed it to my limit as I hit my  Max Hr of 187 in the last K. The most important thing though was that I was able to achieve my goal that I set at the start of the year to run all seven BRRC Championship events in 2010.  When I set that I had no idea if I would be able to achieve it and in reality I should be very thankful that I was able to do it.

In just over a weeks time I am having an operation to remove a skin cancer from my nose. I am not supposed to exercise for a week after this so will be having a short break from running. After that I will have to have a long think about what my next goals will be for 2011.

In the last few weeks one of my cacti has been flowering profusely. I have had this cactus for almost thirty years and I can't remember the last time it flowered.  It gives me hope that when all seems barren and prickly that there is always hope that something beautiful is capable of emerging.