50k: 5 days to go and marathon 1 year on: how's the toenail?

A badge of honour so say some, my right foot's big toenail ran into trouble at last year's Calgary Marathon. Here it is a couple of weeks later, being inspected by a cat at a bookstore in Seoul, Korea. 

My toe became swollen right after the race, bled underneath the nail and became detached. Advised to leave well alone, I did. The new one has slowly grown behind, and partially over it. 

On the eve of my first 50k exactly a year later, the old nail is just about gone, no longer a double nail. What's waiting for me next? Just like the race itself, it's a mystery. In a race, we all experience many sensations, including discovering something unknown of oneself. 

"No race begins at the startline," as Haile Gebrselassie once said. Toenail trouble or not, it will confirm another of the great man's adages, "running gives you everything". 

Toe-Watch! Beijing-Reggae-Back strain! (& next race)

Toe job

3 months after the Calgary Marathon, I thought my toenail would've dropped off by now. The bottom half is all that remains discoloured. Is that the new nail growing? Or is it the clotted blood moving up as the original nail grows? I will just leave it alone and wait for whatever, er, awaits.

Beijing reggae in Calgary

I went to Reggae Fest a couple of weeks ago. Running wise, I strained my lower back from too much sitting down on a downward sloping grass bank. Nothing too serious. 

I was there to see a favourite band of mine. Collecting Chinese music is a hobby of mine, so it was wonderful that Longshendao, China's only reggae band, would come to play in Calgary. They were a bit bewildered by me, the Canadian superfan. Most of the crowd were there to see the much better known Jamaican bands. 

Best moment: the smiling festival organizer and in turn shook hands with all the band members and myself on hearing me speak mandarin to them: "I don't think we've met?" "Peter... oh, I'm not in the group, just came to say hi to my favourite band." Upon hearing those last 2 words, they all paused and looked at each other. 

Just for a few seconds, I was "with the band". 

Hard training

Half marathon training never stops, doing the Hansons' half program for my annual 100% effort in the Harvest Half. Some of the workouts are close to that level too. Wednesdays are various 10k race pace intervals for a total of 38 minutes - i.e. matching my 10k PB with a few breaks added. 

Fridays are race pace runs, with 1k warm up and cool down either side. Not easy when part of a 70-80k week. 

I could do the ice-bucket challenge after everyone of these high speed sessions.

Calgary Corporate Challenge 10k

I was talked into this one to be honest, though I hear it's a fun day. The course for this coming Sunday's race is a bit Mickey Mouse with its bridges and inclines. I'd like to dip under 40 minutes for a second time, but that's a tall order. If I get a PB (39:23), I've probably cheated. 

Marathon afterglow; bye bye toenail

"Ow" sung to the melody of the 1812 Overture while walking downstairs? Sharp intake of breath when sitting down? Missed that bus or train because "leisurely stroll" is your current top speed? You must have recently run a marathon. 

The aftermath is always about dealing with the resultant soreness, and assessing your recovery and consequent physical state. 

Along the way, you might tell willing and unwilling listeners alike about your race. They tend to be compliant when you make sure they see how slow you move, along with your ultra-grimace. 

The price paid for a marathon is the worst part for me. So how have I been paying off this special GST (Grunting Sinews and Tendons)?

Monday: Who the hell invented stairs is a common question the day after. Instead of lying around as I've done before, I went to work the next day. I gave myself an extra 2 minutes to get the bus stop, and treated the commute and getting around the office as a recovery workout. Less stiff by the end of the day, though only a bit. 

Tuesday lunchtime, and a leisurely walk to the gym. 20 minutes turning the legs over on the bike followed by 10 minutes walking around the track. Anyone who's been distance running for a few years will have strong powers of recovery, and this workout was enough to stimulate that. I felt a big difference afterward by the time I went home. Could you say that too much total rest is bad for you? 

I did similar things the next few days, along with some weights and balancing. 

During the week I have noticed the big toenail on my right foot looking bruised. It is a little loose too, so it looks like I'm on my way to losing my first one. My right foot is slightly smaller than my left, so more shifting in its shoe along with high temps and swollen feet by race end probably caused it. I will document what happens (maybe take a few photos too). Cue excruciating puns, such as Hell Toe Pay, The Phantom Pumice, "I nailed that run", etc. 

7 days since the race, and first run back. A slightly sticky Sunday afternoon, I did 9.5k. Down on power, though not on speed. Perhaps due to muscle memory, I found myself doing marathon pace on the flatter parts. Up Sikome hill in Fish Creek Park, I overtook a bicycle. Surprisingly good to do a hilly 9.5k in under 47:30, though I was definitely ready to stop at the end. It was great to put an end to a week without running. 

On monday, I did the old downtown Calgary boilerplate Crowchild loop, around 9k. Once again, I found myself going at a higher speed. I even gave myself 20 seconds at 5k pace. Very pleasing to see my garmin saying 3:50/km pace. Perhaps I've found the right marathon recovery formula? 

One of the runners originally from Kenya whom I met at the marathon cocktail party, Nelson, texted me about his race. He finished 5th in just under 2:35. His aim had been 10 minutes quicker. but thinks he over-hydrated 48 hours prior. He felt "like an elephant" for much of the race. Telling him about my 2 walk breaks he said "keep the spirit". That will be my mantra from now on, along with "I run for the old me and the new me."

Has it really been 10 days since the marathon? Next up is "Run the Runway" at Calgary Airport. Runners get to do an out-and-back on the soon to open 2nd runway. A one-off, and one for the gopro. 

A week later I'm off for a holiday to China and Korea. I will also run with the gopro, which worked out really well last year in Japan and Taiwan. I am especially proud of the Kyoto video: http://youtu.be/5jbhm4B8w8A