My ‘running free’ came to an end not long into March 2012, as I developed an overuse injury of my
tendons at the juncture of the top of my foot and shin, which caused a dull, deep pain anytime I
moved beyond walking pace and the injury lasted until May of 2013, sadly forcing me to miss the
2013 MDS.
The shear insignificance of my disappointment of missing a running race in the desert was brought
into reality when on April 14th 2012 during a yacht race in San Francisco, my good friend Elmer
Morrissey was sadly lost in a yachting accident in San Francisco. In his memory I will write a
separate piece after this post.
In May
2012, the hockey team I coached, Cork Harlequins, won the Irish Senior Cup in
May 2012,
which brought a little positivity back during a difficult time.
which brought a little positivity back during a difficult time.
On the 9th
of October my wife gave me the best present ever in October 2012 when Kate
Oakley
arrived on the planet, bringing a whole new challenge to our lives altogether.
arrived on the planet, bringing a whole new challenge to our lives altogether.
Some trial runs while on a short break to
Lanzarote in January 2013, gave me little comfort, despite
some early promising signs.
some early promising signs.
February of 2013 brought a thankful piece of
news from Running the Sahara in the UK, who
confirmed that I could transfer my entry to 2014 without any penalties, giving me a new target and
new motivation.
confirmed that I could transfer my entry to 2014 without any penalties, giving me a new target and
new motivation.
In May 2013 and on the back of our 2012 success, my Cork Harlequins HC side graced
continental
competition as we travelled to Vienna for the European Club Championships. Even though that
much to our disappointment things did not work out so well on the pitch, I began to run again
without pain, all 13.5 stone of me through the morning streets of the Austrian capital in a pair of
Vibram Five Fingers. It was a case of taking some positives from the trip.
competition as we travelled to Vienna for the European Club Championships. Even though that
much to our disappointment things did not work out so well on the pitch, I began to run again
without pain, all 13.5 stone of me through the morning streets of the Austrian capital in a pair of
Vibram Five Fingers. It was a case of taking some positives from the trip.
The summer saw a return, a gentle return, to
running (still in my Vibrams) and I began to accumulate
mileage as I thought about the Dublin City Marathon (DCM) in October.
mileage as I thought about the Dublin City Marathon (DCM) in October.
Disaster struck on a morning run in early
September when I felt a slight pain in my left Achilles,
which then quickly became a pain and then a very sore pain. So I did what I usually do, kept training
and made it worse ruling out the DCM and the Clonakilty Marathon.
which then quickly became a pain and then a very sore pain. So I did what I usually do, kept training
and made it worse ruling out the DCM and the Clonakilty Marathon.
 |
| Saucony Kinvara - 4 mm Drop |
This resulted in an October trip to a ‘running
re-educator’ named John Foster in Dublin, who advised
me on footwear, orthotics and running form. His advice included running taller with less of a leg
trail, moving to minimal shoes with a 4 mm drop as opposed to Five Fingers with their 0 mm drop
and exercises to help with the Achilles. He also gave me a new perspective on wearing orthotics.
me on footwear, orthotics and running form. His advice included running taller with less of a leg
trail, moving to minimal shoes with a 4 mm drop as opposed to Five Fingers with their 0 mm drop
and exercises to help with the Achilles. He also gave me a new perspective on wearing orthotics.
Some weeks later and a 100 euros worse off from
buying 4 mm drop shoes (Saucony Kinvaras, more
later), I was still in pain and decided my best option was to get some physiotherapy. Step up Sinead
and Sarah at Performance Physiotherapy Cork – there is nothing like someone squeezing your
Achilles and using friction to treat a problem to make you realise you should not have kept training –
I was learning lessons. To facilitate my fitness, I re-joined the pool and began swimming and aqua-
jogging regularly. The float belt became my best friend!
later), I was still in pain and decided my best option was to get some physiotherapy. Step up Sinead
and Sarah at Performance Physiotherapy Cork – there is nothing like someone squeezing your
Achilles and using friction to treat a problem to make you realise you should not have kept training –
I was learning lessons. To facilitate my fitness, I re-joined the pool and began swimming and aqua-
jogging regularly. The float belt became my best friend!
 |
| My New Best Friend |
Sarah had me in pain on numerous occasions
during November 2013 and was always realistic about
my prospects of running. On December 1st I took to the treadmill and ran a minute on/a minute off
for 3 miles. I WAS BACK (sort of anyway)!
my prospects of running. On December 1st I took to the treadmill and ran a minute on/a minute off
for 3 miles. I WAS BACK (sort of anyway)!
December brought a good target as I managed to
get in to the January 2014 55km Art O’Neill
Challenge (more on this later),
which I thought would act as my acid test for the MDS. Complete it
and we’re good
to go! The month finished with some good runs and a lot of calf raises in my attempt
to solve the Achilles issue and I was left with a new sense of optimism coming into 2014...
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