Jeff Riseley Blog Update: Happy New Years

 Hey Everyone,

With Christmas and New Year's just gone  I thought it would be a good time to give an update of my progress. It’s been a rough year for me and many of my blogs/updates have rarely been positive. However I can assure you that this one will be quite the opposite as I’m back training well and getting very excited to put down a good training block and get back onto the track for a race or two. It sure has been a while.

 

In August this year I had a plantar fascia release ending any chance of making the Commonwealth Games starting line. Since that time I basically totally removed myself from the athletics world and when I did start running it was all rehab and running on the alter g and then progressing from that outside. The big step was doing my first session, which was on the Perry Lakesgrass track in Perth while on holidays rolling out 5x800m in 80sec laps. Even though I was back doing “sessions” I was from that and they were controlled and measured, taking small steps forward. At times it was tough because during this period I was doing a lot of running on my own and there were times where I didn’t really feel like doing it. Mainly because for me unfortunately it was the third time I had to do this kind of build in the previous 12 months.

 

I finally started feeling like a runner again when I returned to my old stomping ground at the Know Athletics track with my former coach Richard Huggins whom I have a great relationship with. I found running fun again and the excitement was back as I was running with a group and having that banter and sledging with fellow runners but then getting in there and working together to smash out sessions. Have to give massive thanks to Matty Beer and Jordy Williamz who helped me a lot during these sessions.

 

The body is feeling great, I have no pain whatsoever at the insertion of my plantar fascia and calcaneus, which has caused me all my trouble. I have give a massive thank you to my surgeon Mark Blackney and my physio Andrew Lambart who have got me to this position - running pain free for the first time in 18 months! I’ve been gradually building up my kilometers these past three months and adding different elements of training to the point where I’m back doing normal workload. I’ve been able to do good sessions on the track, knock out 1k and 2k reps over the hills, get out to 90min for long run at Ferny Creek and finally throw in a few doubles albeit on the alter g treadmill. I feel like i'm improving each week however still have a lot of fitness to gain before getting back to the position that saw me have a great season in 2009. I know this will come as I have 2 stints booked in at falls creek totaling 5weeks so I will either come down from the mountain either fit or insane.

 

I really want to use these next few months as a good foundation to get very fit, mix in a race or two and get ready for the European season. HOWEVER this is all just practice for the big show in 2012 and the main goal for next year is to stay healthy and look to London ready to do amazing things.

 

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

 

 

Also on a side note, my contact form on my website has had a bug and have therefore not been able to receive any feedback. However this is all fixed up now I will respond to any questions or anything in particular as soon as possible. I apologies for this inconvenience and if I have left anyone out there waiting for a response.