Running Comeback Week 1 Day 1

 

running, carnivore, diet, return, Campylobacter, fitness, parkrun, PB, 

Every setback is a chance for a comeback - Campylobacter

Campylobacter infection, fun times. Feels like ages ago now but it was just 3 weeks. I started to come down with having to tun to the toilet, I felt hot and cold at the same time and a little sick and weak. I had actually just beaten 2 guys that I normally battle with at parkrun and felt a sub 17 was close. Sadly the diarrhoea just kept coming and coming until I have to go to the doctors. 

Over the last few weeks I have been sat at home, in lovely running conditions, as the people I was beating have been breaking the times I want to break. And with my fitness down the drain, my weight increasing, the summer coming, a holiday coming and an op coming I am looking to next week now before I can get anything like back to where I want to be. Anyway, I have ended up having numerous blood and stool tests and finally it was found that I had a nasty Campylobacter infection. 

As I say it started out with be getting worse and worse diarrhoea and generally feeling naff. It peaked with me going to the loo over 20 times a day, for a week, and feeling so run down, so much so that we can to call in support to take my daughter to school as I couldn't manage the 1km walk. After the week of 20+ times a day I had a week of around 10-12 times a day and then another 4-5 days of 4-5 times a day and so far a few normal days. 

I did slip from being completely carnivore as I couldn't bare meat by itself. I have been ok with pork belly but not burgers, instead I have been cooking some mince in tomato passata and putting some cheese on top. So heavily meat based but until I am back to full strength and fancying full carnivore I am going to stick with this. 

I am hopefully in the final stage of recovery now and I have managed to do a few short runs, that being said I am still very fatigued and my bloodwork suggests my kidneys are still far from right. Hopefully that will rectify itself over the next few weeks. 

So with all that being said, every setback is a chance for a comeback. Life will be getting in the way over the coming months and then my local parkrun moves to the slower summer route.... So I am setting up sights on next winter and how I can best prepare for that? I have a few things I want to take to target this, and ideally smashing my goals next winter by being aggressive but without compromising my core values.  

1. Use ActionCam to record my return to fitness as a series - This will keep me accountable

2. Different speed sessions

3. Consistent and better strength training including Plyometrics 

4. Back to the mental training - Confident mind etc.

5. Stricter feeding window - start with 6 hours to get weight under control.

6. Do challenge parkruns- slightly dehydrated, too many clothes - overheated, post intervals on the way down, long run Friday.

7. Consistently / Vlogging Blogging again

P2 This morning, again in 17:30 ish

Still waiting for the official time to come through but I was somewhere around 17:30, which would be my joint 5th/6th fastest time ever. No excuses really for being nearly 20 seconds down on last week, that being said if I had I did have some good reasons for a slower time: 

1) I did not sleep well the last 3 nights, last night was especially bad and I had been awake since 3am. 

2) I had a slightly dodgy gut last night, might be the cause of the bad sleep. I think I shouldn't have taken the magnesium that I did. 

3) I did run hard up a 1km hill, one that is very steep, on Monday, maybe I hadn't fully recovered. 

4) Whilst I didn't think it was too bad the forecast was for 20 mile  per hour wind with gusts up to 40. 

Whilst I felt good I do think the above all came into play, that being said I think this was a good run and look forward to seeing the Run Britain rankings as. 

1) I paced myself well and flew along the 2km again. 

2) I beat someone who usually is close to me by 30 seconds. 

3) I beat someone who I have never finished in front of before, last week he was inside my PB. 

So overall it was a good run, with a decent time but not quite what I was hoping for. Had my breakfast and wondering when to tackle that steep hill again... Maybe this afternoon? 

 Ah there we go, 17:29. Decent enough, surprising number of PBs, though it was pacer day so will be "interesting" to see how Run Britain ranks it on Monday.

Altra Vanish Carbon

Shoe: Altra Vanish Carbon

Reviewer: Gary Manley, experienced runner, England Athletics Qualified Coach, Obsessed with running.

Date: April 2024

Summary: A quick shoe but arguably not a super shoe.

In a Nutshell: 

• It is great for runners who want a quick shoe that is zero drop. 
• The Vanish Carbon offers a partial carbon plate and super foam but probably not up to the level of some brands.
• It is quick but there are concerns around comfort and durability. 

Upper:

• It's built on Altra's Slim Fit last, which means it's narrower than some of their other shoes known for a wider toe box. However, this doesn't necessarily mean it's narrow overall, in fact I can still fit in the 8 1/2. 
• The upper uses a thin, breathable mesh that conforms to your foot.
• There are minimal overlays or padding, keeping the shoe lightweight.
• While not ideal for the absolute widest feet, I did find the Vanish Carbon surprisingly accommodating due to the thin, flexible mesh.
• The tongue can be fiddly to get in place and is very thin, I have however raced my half marathon PB in this shoe and it was fine. I have also had a slight issue with the fabric at the tip of the toes, it seems to have a chance of folding down and rubbing against your toes. I have had 3 pairs of these (.thanks vinted.) in 8.5 and had that issue in 2 of them, the size 9's I haven't had any problems with. 

                                            

Midsole:

• Stack Height: The Vanish Carbon has a 33mm stack height in both the heel and forefoot, which falls into the category of a high cushioned shoe.
• Cushioning: It uses Altra's EGO PRO foam, known for being lightweight and responsive, providing a good balance between shock absorption and a propulsive feel. I hear others talk about their super shoes and although this is comfortable I don't feel a massive pop from it.
• Embedded within the midsole is a Carbitex carbon fibre plate. This plate helps with propulsion and energy return during toe-off, aiming to improve running efficiency. As I said I don't feel as much as others have reported but my feet are too fat to try other plated shoes so I don't have a comparison to make and do still love this shoe. 
• A core feature of Altra shoes, the Vanish Carbon maintains a zero-drop platform, meaning the heel and forefoot are at the same height. This promotes a more natural foot strike for some runners.

                                          

Outsole:

• Material: It uses a rubber outsole with a strategic lug pattern.
• Traction: The lugs are low-profile but strategically placed to provide good grip on dry pavement and light rain. However, they might not be ideal for very loose surfaces like gravel or wet trails. It is great for roads however it can be a little slippery in the wet. 
• Durability: The rubber compound is generally considered durable enough for high mileage road running. However, it does wear, especially in the heel and I am mostly a forefoot striker. 
• Flexibility: The forefoot of the outsole is designed to be flexible for a natural toe-off and a smooth transition during your stride and I haven't found the shoe to inhibit my normal running pattern. 

                                               

Performance:

• This shoe is best for races and speed work. I have set PBs at all distances from 1k through half marathon in this shoe. 
• It is actually a show that works well at slower paces but should probably be kept for race day. On the plus side you don't have to change between the warm up and the race. 

Value:

• Often on sale for around £100 and now the Altra Vanish Carbon 2 has been released there could be some good deals. 
• If you want a zero drop, high performance shoe this is great. Also consider the Vanish Tempo, which I might actually prefer, even if it is maybe sightly slower. 

Overall:

Overall this is a great shoe, especially for those that have wide feet and want to race hard. I have tried racing in the Altra Escalante racers (I had set my previous 5k PB in them) but honestly there is no going back. The shoe is fairly firm and I have raced a lot of miles in them but don't expect them to have the durability of a daily shoe and conserve them for race day, or once past it, speed sessions.

As I mentioned above the Altra Vanish Carbon 2 has come out and initial reports are promising that it is more like a traditional super shoe and maybe it will be quicker. 

I do love that I can buy pretty much any Altra shoe in 8.5 / 9 and sometimes 9.5 and they fit great and feel great. I have never had that with another brand, I have tried Topo and they have too much of an arch for me and with non zero drop I get injured and with proper barefoot I can't run as fast. 

                                                

The Latest Running News

Here are some of the latest developments in the world of running from the past week:

1. Runner Knocked Down by 2013 Boston Bombs Has Died

   • A runner who was injured during the tragic 2013 Boston Marathon bombings has passed away¹.

2. Jack Scott Wins the Montane Spine Race 2024

   • Jack Scott emerged victorious in the challenging Montane Spine Race, showcasing incredible endurance and determination¹.

3. Evans Chebet Aims for a Third Win at Boston Marathon

   • Elite runner Evans Chebet is eyeing a remarkable third victory at the prestigious Boston Marathon¹.

4. Female Participation in Ultrarunning Falls to 30%

   • Despite the growing popularity of ultrarunning, female participation remains at 30%, highlighting the need for greater inclusivity¹.

5. 2024 Boston Marathon Women’s Field Announced

   • The lineup for the 2024 Boston Marathon features talented female athletes from around the world, ready to compete in this iconic race¹.

6. Women’s Glucose Levels Affected More by Exercise

   • Recent research suggests that women’s glucose levels respond differently to exercise compared to men, emphasizing the importance of personalized training approaches¹.

7. Oscar Pistorius Released from Prison

   • Oscar Pistorius, the Paralympic athlete convicted of killing his girlfriend, has been released from prison¹.

Remember, running news is constantly evolving, so stay tuned for more updates! 🏃‍♀️🌟

For further reading, you can explore Runner’s World or other reliable sources¹.