Nine and a bit foot track (70km)

A quick update (I promised I’d stay off the computer for most of mothers’ day). Keen followers will note that I have been having all sorts of problems with my left ankle and arch. My (newish) podiatrist seems to have correctly diagnosed the problem.

I have been on a massive strengthening program combined with the (responsible) use of NSAIDs and a new pair of firmer (inov-8) shoes that don’t roll around too much. (Podiatrist didn’t recommend these, too hard) and the re use of some old orthotics that provide arch support.

It’s too early to say I’m out of the woods but yesterday’s 70km session on the six foot track where I really hammered the downhills and pushed as hard as I could in the rough and up hill was certainly an encouraging improvement.

The ankle ached but not to the point where it hampered my progress.

As for the session on the six foot. I ventured out with Mister G and Nathan around 7:30am on Saturday and went to Deviation and back. It was a hard and rewarding session in perfect conditions.

The six foot track was as severe as ever. I pulled up with a little soreness but I expected this because I was really going for quad trashing. I’m sure the harder shoes have contributed slightly to the soreness.

When we got to Deviation, Mister G announced that we had only run 34.5km. SO we left our packs at the campsite and ran another 600m down the track so that we could say we had done more than 70km for the day. (ultrarunner fuzzy logic).

Of course I had forgotten the run to the explorer tree which was one km or so.

So I’m pretty happy with that as an outing. In terms of injuries.. The left ankle niggle feels better than it has felt in years, the legs are sore. I have a bastard of a blister under the thick skin on my left big toe. It split and seems to have gone septic. I guess it’s because I waded through cox’s river which is full of Lithgow effluent. (should have rock hopped like Mister G and Nathan).

By the way the river is waist deep on me at the moment.

Next week I’ll take it easy to recover and I’ll probably head down to the SMH half marathon on Sunday to cheer in some CoolRunners because there is no scheduled Sydney Striders training run next week

I’m not as quick as the rest of the Mellum and GBH crew, but I’m starting to think that I may well finish this Western States 100 mile race within cut-off unless I make stupid mistakes.

There are still a few weeks to go. Looking forward to the rest of the preparation.

Hope all the Mums had a great day today.