My Forum

Windy - In short, No!

 Did a flat 10K 3rd October - 44.20

 Doing a 10 Mile race on the 24th October to gauge where I am, but hoping for a big improvement by 20th November at Brampton which I will pretty much base my aspirations for VLM 2011 on.  Starting my 18 week marathon schedule 13.12.10.  From now till then building a base.

Anybody tried rowing (machine rather than boat) as cross training?  How was it?

B&B At 13.5 stone what else could I wear but baggy trousers?  A small tent?

Keir, i'll try and keep this (relatively) short.  2002 Suffered from achilles tendonitis, saw physio, referred me to his friend a podiatrist, made me some orthotics.  Tendonitis went away.  2003 returned to podiatrist at his request, informed that new orthotics were needed although I wasn't having any problems.  Wore new orthotics, four weeks first calf tear, suffered another five calf tears over little bit more than a year before returning to podiatrist who'd been tweaking them every month with little effect.  decided to see another podiatrist who said the orthotics were wrong and made me some more.  Calves stopped tearing!  After six months started getting pain in glutes and hips.  Over the months got worse and worse.  Many physios/chiropractors/podiatrists later including some pretty big hitters in the world of physio, no better.  Got to a stage four years ago where I knew if I ran I'd be in pain after 15 minutes.  Kept looking for a cure.  In March this year told that I'd badly damaged my SI joint and must stop attempting to run or would be permanent damage. Stopped running did a bit of cycling.  Was helping out at a local fell race a couple of months ago and started chatting to one of the runners who mentioned he had been treated by a physio who had really got to the bottom of his problem.  Couldn't resist, made an appointment.  She told me what the problem was in the first 15 minutes of listening to my history.  Orthotics went in the bin, she gave me a few sessions of teatment, then told me about 8 weeks ago I could run for 10 minutes on the flat.

 Apparently I should never have had orthotics and the (highly respected) physio I went to see 8 years ago could have sorted it out then with some simple treatment of a muscle in my calf!

 Glad you asked?  Anyone still awake?

''Make some sense of these then...

Only included times since turning 40 (45 next year)

5K 19 mins dead
10K 42.10
10M 69.00
HM 1.30 dead

Never raced a marathon, ran FLM 2005 as my first run after having seven weeks off with a torn calf muscle in 3:36. (couldn't face defering I was so p*ssed off at having wasted six months training).''

That was one of my last posts on this thread in November 2006.  Since then I've had a few good days including managing the Three Peaks Race somehow in 2008, but most of the time I've spent injured and unable to run.  You will not believe how many specialists I've seen over the years in a bid to get 'sorted'.  Finally think I am, started running again about eight weeks ago thanks to a physio so good, yet so simple, it makes you wonder how the others could miss it.  Managed to build up to running 35 to 40 miles for the last three weeks, and had a 51 for the week finishing yesterday.  This coincides with an acceptance for the VLM next year, where I feel I have some unfinished business. That being a sub 3.15!

 So I'm 48, 13.5 stones (having dropped a stone in the last 5 weeks), slow , unfit but optimistic and willing to work hard.  Can I join in?

Hi Daniel

Up & Running would be as good a place as any to start.

 Free gait analysis.  Reasonably competitive footwear anyway, but very competitive footwear if you don't mind older models which have 'older' colours.

All the best. 

I am, sometimes a bit of a concern employing 25 people, but my main two worries are;

Not having enough work.

Having too much work.

At least I know where the buck stops!