Another Newbie!

Where is everyone?  Are you all on hols?

 Doris - have you had your MRI results yet?  How are things?

I've done hardly any running lately, but am still doing other exercise.  Have decided not to do the September duathlon, but instead concentrate on losing a bit more weight and getting better at running.  Have got my Jeff Galloway book out again for motivation and guidance.

Was planning on spending today in the garden chopping back all the shrubs that have gone mad in the wet and warm weather we've been having, but of course it's raining again today!  Will do some mucking out indoors instead then.

Hi Everyone,

Glad things are moving Doris and hopefully you are well on recovery, strange experience the MRI, I think i fell asleep when I had one!

Congratulations on the Duathlon BG.

It's been a long time since I've posted as been travelling with work and then on holiday for 2 weeks which was great apart from the great British weather especially as camping in Devon. All in the past now as back to work .

Hi guys,

Been on holiday; only got back yesterday.  Stayed in a lovely cottage on Devon/Cornwall border.  Were very lucky with weather and had some beautifyl days.  Actually came back with a good healthy glow (plus little sunburn on my back, oops). The journeys were uncomfortable as the sitting for long periods made me stiff & achey..

On the MRI front.  Good news in that nothing sinister was found and that its definitely not a disc problem.  Am being referred to neurology consultant.  GP was gob-smacked.  She was convinced it was a spinal/disc thing (so was I).  GP discussed full report on MRI.  Said it could be a nerve problem eminating from higher up ie. within the brain or still could be sciatic nerve being irrtated from time to time.  Was lovely and said not to be alarmed at the fact that she mentioned the brain, could be something to do with the receptors and getting mixed pain messages??  All way beyond me but hopefully will get a better explanation when I get new appt through.  Meantime, things have been much better.  Still get a bad day now and again; usually know its going to be a bad one when I get the tingley foot and/or hot prickly legs in the morning when I first wake up.  The worst is over but the GP still wants it all investigated in case of a reccurence.

Hi Doris,

Sounds like you had a lovely holiday with better luck than I did with the weather. Glad things are moving along with the treatment hopefully you are not too uncomfortable!

I did another HM yesterday Newark which was my first HM so a PB to beat. I had a great day although my official time was 2.43, this was due to spending 20 minutes with someone who collapsed at between mile 7 and 8 due to the heat although he did admit to not doing any training, I did stop my watch but not immediately and not sure exactly when.

After leaving him I continued towards the finish and everything was great until about 400m from the finish when I got cramp in both feet. I have never experienced cramp in the toes before but it was painful and I was unable to weight bear at all, it is as if the toes were curling into a fist and not releasing. A steward and St. Johns came to my aid and made me stop although I was trying to continue by clinging to a fence, they made me drink some water and wait until the cramping had gone and then start walking slowly. I did not stop my Garmin for this and my finishing time was 1.26. I think that without the stops my time would have been between 2.10 and 2.15 so would have been good.

I enjoyed the day if not the experience of cramping toes!

Brilliant effort at Newark Richard, well done you.  Very good of you to stop and help the other runner.  Bit silly not to train for a HM; you have to respect the distance, its big race.  Even with your stop, you've got a respectable time there.

Im still doing the walking, interspersed with a little bit of slow running.  Did a 3.3 mile walk/run (g.mapped it) which took me 39 mins.  Took it easy, but the main thing was I really enjoyed it.  Felt good to be out and about.  Will be a long gradual recovery but I'll carry on at my own pace and maybe by next year I'll be somewhere near where I was before.  Would be nice to enter our local Friday 5 series next spring (5 m races organised by local running clubs).  Long term aim is to resume 10k running in under an hour.

Hi Doris,

That time is good for run/walk sounds as if you are improving be careful not to over do it though. I'm sure that you will be doing those 10kin sub hour next year.

Hi, its me, Doris the snail, anyone about?

Still plodding on very slowly.  Managed to 'run' 2.6 miles tonight; took 31 mins.  Some days are better than others.  Bit disappointed but can't force it too soon.  At least its a bit cooler now.

Got my fell walking/climbing trip in north wales at the end of this month.  Checked with GP and hospital and both have said its ok but just to be careful; I know my own body and will have to stop if I get any signs.  Am trying to wear my walking boots for a couple of hours here & there to make sure they don't hurt my feet in any way.  Its something to look forward to.

Hi Doris,

Good for you getting out, don't get despondent your doing great and once you are 100% again you're going to love it. Great news about getting the all clear for the fell walking, have fun.

I had video gait analysis last weekend and my feet seem to have totally changed so no  longer a serious over pronator, since getting the new shoes my pace seems faster also so perhapes that's what caused the pain in the feet in my last HM. Got the GNR in 2 weeks so can't wait, feeling confident fingers crossed although got the dreaded 14m gthis weekend.

How is everyone else doing? Any more duathalons BG?

Will be thinking of you for the GNR.  Go speedy!

Went out for a morning run; 8.00am today.  Usually only run evenings but thought Id give it a go as time seems to be of a premium lately and finding it hard to fit in. Crept up to just under 4m but it was a struggle.  Sooo not a morning runner.  Body doesn't seem loose enough, dya know what I mean?  Stopped quite a few times. 

Sarah, BG, how you doing?

Hi guys

Good to hear you're getting some runs in Doris.  It doesn't matter how slow, just doing it makes all the difference.  It's great that you've got the go ahead for the fell-walking too.

Good luck with the GNR, Richard.  Sounds like the new shoes are working out well.

I've stopped running for a bit, been concentrating on other things.  No more duathlons - will be aiming for some for next year though.   My PT has gone travelling for 10 months, so I'm putting together my own weight/resistance programmes now, which is ok as I've learnt a lot over past 2 years with PT.  But I've never really enjoyed running on my own, much preferred going out with PT, hence the reason I've dropped running for now.

But I have started kickboxing, for fitness, not for competing.  Wow, it is such hard work.  Am having one to one sessions with a kickboxing trainer, who works me SO hard, but is very encouraging.  Wearing my heart rate monitor to do general CV work at the gym I'm usually happy to do 500 cals in an hour.  An hour's kickboxing training on Friday saw me burn 684 cals!!  It will be so good for my general fitness.  My weight is shifting downwards again now, so what with kickboxing and less weight, I am to pick up running again in a month or two and hopefully find it not so hard.

Hi Everyone,

Doris - Try the morning runs in the dark, cold wet winter that takes even more effort to get out of bed!

BG - Sounds like the kick boxing is good fun and intense, well done on the shifting weight. I'm sure it must really help build stamina which you will notice when running.

People keep commenting that I have lost weight and toned but the scales haven't moved, I know muscle weighs more but I want to loose actual weight so I am not carrying as much and can run faster.