RETURN OF THE KING - December 3rd 2009

The time has come to get my a into g, not only get back to fitness and into a decent routine, but to reclaim the title that has been lost....to Mark in Melbourne this year!
Have managed three runs this week, and for the first time in 2 years I am feeling no pain in the right knee and ankle, right and left hamstrings, left knee and left calf, or the right calf....though nursing a slightly sore shin! Has been a terrible couple of years, but now hopefully the worst is behind me.

Tuesday December 2nd - 9kms
First run home from work in months - and to commemorate it absolute monsoonal London downpour. Had neglected to, and after much discussion prior, to bring my gloves or jacket. But thankfully wasn't too cold and got on with the job. Nice to be back into it, and running past the London landmarks, London Eye, Big Ben, both looking dazzling with Xmas lights. Really really really heavy rain, but sort of took me back to why I used to love it, in nature and not urbanised like often have been running on the treadmill last couple of years. Started off pretty slowly, but coming up to Chelsea Bridge still felt pretty good and picked up the pace slightly to home. Final time, 36:40 or so - happy as larry as roundabout 2 minutes off standard time and didn't push at all. My left inside quad/knee that has been persistently troubling me the last couple of months came through very well, and didn't really feel it at all on the run, or later that night. However I iced it for about half an hour plus took some ibuprofen, and it does appear to have settled down finally. Watched Saving Private Ryan for first time, very good.

Wednesday December 3rd - 9kms
Second run home in two days, this the weather could not be any more different, a tad cold but clear and no wind. Once again lacked my gloves or jacket, so pretty chilly, but had brought the Ipod. Started off nicely, no pain in left knee which really happy about as could push a bit more. Nice and easy down to Westminster Bridge, 14:30, and very easy. Decided to push it slightly after that, negotiated the usual crowds along the Embankment, but once to Lambeth Bridge could stretch out. Up to Chelsea Bridge in 28:07, then really pushed on, still cruising though, down to Battersea Park in 32:26 then wound it up all the way home to finish in 35:13 - extremely happy, since 35:00 is a time that I used to be doing when fit. Augurs well for the next few weeks. By the end of the year should be ready to really springboard into a solid 12 week program and launch my assault on Mark's time of 2:52:21.....need to get through the next week of madness, Xmas party Monday, Agassi evening Wednesday, Dept drinks Thursday night, Xmas lunch Friday, then Moose's party Friday night and Blair's party Saturday night, madness, but nothing to bad...Then only 9 more days of work and into Xmas holiday, not back to work till Jan 4th, these 7-8 days will be the crucial point in my training. Bring it.