I was in position 5 for my main keywords but the Google Penguin Update threw my site back to position 48 for my main keywords!……..today i have jumped back to position 7 for those keywords but that is the only improvement i have seen……….i am still not ranking where i was pre-penguin for hundreds of other keywords(many were number 1 position)!
I am expecting another major penguin update very soon when Google has finished re-indexing websites….as that process takes approx 6-8 weeks so i am told!
As for asking for a reconsideration…….Google have stated that you cannot request that if your website has been hit by Penguin as it is an algorithym filter and you have to just make changes and wait to be re-indexed!