track | Keeping up with the Walkers…

I never get the opportunity to run with KK. At a relaxed pace, he runs almost 2.5 minutes per/km faster than me. But tonight was different. Tonight we got to run track together and I loved it!

Okay, a quick catch-up. KK is finally back at track. After discovering he had a fractured pelvis after Comrades and spending 8 weeks in complete rest and doing nothing (not even swimming), he has been given the green light to return to track. He is only allowed to do mini sessions of 100m light jog with 100m walk for now. The ‘bone doctor’ has prescribed some medication that he needs to start taking and then to monitor it from there.

We still don’t know what caused it. Initial reports about osteoporosis have been shrugged off by the ‘bone doctor’ but then again, he can’t say for sure how KK managed to get himself injured? Very odd. I think KK might have overdone the training a tad?

Every runner hates an injury and when you’re out of action for so long, it’s a death sentence no matter who you are and what pace you run.

KK is just thrilled to be back at track and has committed to taking it slowly. There’s no use rushing his rehab and injuring himself again. Especially since entries for Comrades have opened (he’s entered) and Two Oceans entries are around the corner. Mentally, runners start setting their 2016 goals now.

I don’t really mind how long it takes KK to fully recover. If he needs me to pace him, then sure, I’m available. 😉

Since committing to training with a running coach just over a month ago, I’m already seeing certain benefits. If I promise to pitch up at training and work hard, he pretty much takes care of everything else. In a way, it’s actually a relief.

For starters, my coach decides on how much running I do in the week. It’s such a weight off my shoulders knowing that someone else is watching my mileage. For a change, I’m not stressing over not having run really long LSDs on a Sundays. And it’s okay just to do 5kms twice a week. It’s in his hands. He has a plan.

Another thing I’m learning is what he means by consistency. It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality and learning to read my body.

Ironically, my coach is making sure I slow down a bit. *Wait a minute, I’m in this to speed up aren’t I?*. At the last track session, I felt strong. I’ve noticed that I’m doing a lot more running than walking. Just as he promised, I’m building that strong base foundation first. Speed work can only start once this is in place.

I must mention though that perhaps the biggest benefit is that I’ve learnt to run on grass! For me, the finish of any race is always the worst because it always feels like after running on the road, the grass on the field slows me down and sucks me in. Quite funny that where we train, the track is grass and it’s not that bad. Not that bad at all.