My last blog post on HRV got a great response and I’m grateful for that. Measuring HRV has been an eye opening experience but I still felt it wasn’t answering the question as to why everything was feeling so difficult with my running, why was it feeling like I was wading through treacle?
On a separate health issue I am scheduled in for an operation that will incidentally probably see me sidelined for a while afterwards. This week I had to go in for a pre op assessment, part of which involved blood tests. A few hours after leaving the hospital I received a phone call stating that my blood test results have come back showing me to be anaemic and also with a marginally low white blood cell count.
Slightly on the back foot I didn’t have the presence of mind to ask many questions as to how anaemic I am. However, I am aware that anaemia and running don’t make good bed companions. It would be plausible to think that this has been an issue since the turn of the year, and a key reason in my underperformance in training and racing. Running has been a constant upward learning curve and part of me wonders when I will have “everything in order” for a good prolonged period. It just feels too stop start so far. Everyone knows improvement is all about building sensible training over days, weeks, months, years…
The next steps are to talk to my GP about what is causing this issue and try to resolve. In the meantime I’ll be stocking up on pumpkin seeds amongst other things! Obviously with my operation on the horizon as well I’m of the mind that I need to take a break from running and build back up again when I am in a position to do so.
This is certainly not the end of my running. Although I wouldn’t expect to be competing or running for pbs anytime soon this has at least given me some possible reasons and answers. I am confident if I can sort these issues out I’ll come back stronger and faster.
Running goal: ON HOLD
I probably won’t be updating the blog as often over the next few weeks/months but I’d like to think I can set a target of competing again maybe in September, and something like the next cross country season would be an exciting prospect.
In the meantime, enjoy your running!
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