...or,
Stupid, Stupid, Stupid
...or,
Thanks John You're a Star
...or,
Sorry Duncan that you Missed Your Beer Festival
...or,
A Great Day Out Despite My Troubles
...or,
The Drugs Don't Work
I could go on with the alternative titles, but I'll stop there.
As the actual title suggests, today I went to do the Spring in Lakeland LDWA run with John Swift, as he missed out on it when it actually took place.
We started from Elterwater instead of Ambleside as it's easier to park there in the National Trust car park and it wouldn't be as busy on a bank holiday weekend. I had met John in Bamber Bridge, where he left his car and I drove up to Elterwater.
We arrived at about 8.45 and got ourselves ready for the off. It was a beautiful day so we slathered on the sun cream and away we went. All was going really well and I climbed up Tilberthwaite much easier than I had done on the actual event so I was feeling great and John was on good form too. When we got about a mile from Coniston though, I started to get stomach ache (what is with my stomach?). On arrival at Coniston I decided to use the public conveniences to try to alleviate the problem but, you know me, it didn't go to plan and my body didn't seem to want to relax. Why, I have no idea as I'm not at all prudish about poo and will chat about it to anyone who'll listen but it appears my body thinks otherwise.
Anyway, we carried on but my stomach ache got worse and worse and was causing me to really slow down. John, as usual, was on fire though, motoring up the hills with me trailing behind him.
Once we got to Skelwith Bridge I decided that I really had to 'go' so I went into the pub there and I managed to relieve myself, although I did end up buying a Coke because I felt too bad just going in there, causing a stink and leaving.
Feeling much better, we continued on our way up to Loughrigg. We managed to find the path which Gordon and I had missed last time, coming down from Loughrigg Tarn and heading into Ambleside. We didn't bother going into Ambleside though as that would be an out and back so seemed pretty pointless and we just continued along, heading back to Skelwith Bridge.
It was just before we reached Skelwith Bridge that my foot suddenly began to throb. It wasn't painful as such, just aching but it got worse and worse to the point that I could no longer run and, by the time we got back to Elterwater, I could barely even walk. The worst came after we stopped moving though. It just completely seized up and the pain got unbearable. So much so that I felt sick. I walked along to the toilet block but felt like I was going to pass out and twice on that very short walk, I had to stop and bend right over to try to avoid fainting.
I knew I needed to eat something because, due to my earlier belly ache I hadn't felt like eating all the way around and hadn't eaten much but because of the pain from my foot making me feel sick, it was really difficult to get the tuna and sweetcorn sandwich I had in the cool box down.
Eventually, I decided to set off. John had a meal planned this evening and I really didn't want him to miss it. I started driving but the pain on pressing the clutch to change gear was so intense that it was making me dizzy and sick. I feel like such a marde arse but I really have never had pain worse, aside from the pain I got when I smashed my front tooth when I was 15.
On arriving at Windermere I had to admit defeat and ask John to drive because it was just too painful. John obliged and we had to try to put a plan into place for when we arrived back at Bamber Bridge. John offered to swap cars, drive me home and then take Duncan back to Bamber Bridge to pick up the car but I really didn't want him to have to do that so I spent the journey massaging my foot and holding my cold can of Coke to it in a bid to ease the pain a little. It did work to a degree but it was still terribly painful and swollen up. I insisted I was OK to drive when we reached Bamber Bridge though as the majority of the drive home was on the motorway so I wouldn't have to change gear much.
Getting off the motorway in Horwich was awful and I cursed out loud when I pressed the clutch. Usually, I drive along Victoria Avenue to get home but I decided to carry on along Chorley New Road in third gear hoping that the traffic lights at Aldi would be kind to me. They weren't and I had to stop, causing lots more pain. After that, I carried on along getting into third gear again and thankfully managed to turn into Lever Park Avenue and then Fearnhead without having to change gear. When I arrived at my house I waved at Duncan through the window to get him to come and park for me as, by then, I really had had enough. I'm currently wandering around the house with my foot strapped up and using Duncan's old crutches to take the weight off, seriously, that's not overkill! I've had Paracetamol and Ibuprofen which have helped a little but not a lot.
The annoying thing is, the other week on a Saturday, I put on a pair of heels and the pain in my foot was terrible and I had to change shoes but the next day I ran the 22 mile Todmorden Boundary Run injury free but today, having had no pain for about a week and having stayed off the hills, this happens.
I'm quite angry with myself to be honest as I'm worried that I've now really damaged it to a point where it's going to take a lot of fixing. I'll try to be optimistic though whilst I want for the scan results to come back, hopefully it won't be as bad as it feels.
Huge thanks to John for driving my van back down to Bamber Bridge, I don't know what I'd have done otherwise.
Also, sorry to Duncan who was supposed to go to a beer festival tonight which he wanted me to pick him up from but unfortunately, that ain't happening!
Total distance - 22 miles
Saturday, 28 May 2016
Thursday, 26 May 2016
MRI Scan
I went to Breightmet last night for my MRI scan which I've been really looking forward to because I can't wait to find out what's wrong with my foot and work on fixing it.
I went into the mobile MRI wagon behind the health centre and it kind of felt like being inside an aircraft with all the noise. I was really surprised that I only had to take my shoes off and not my socks or any other clothing, I thought it was like an x-ray where they'd make me wear an arse exhibiting gown. Thank goodness it wasn't!
It also took much longer than I thought it would. I didn't have to go all the way into the tube and only went in to my waist but I was in there for about half an hour. There was a little countdown timer on the machine which at first showed 2 minutes 30 seconds so when this counted down to zero I thought we had finished but then it reset to 4 minutes 16 seconds. Again, once this was over it reset itself again and did this about 12 or so times. I started to really need a wee so every time the timer got to zero I prayed it would be the last time because I couldn't even cross my legs or anything.
When I first went in, they gave me some headphones to block out the noise and when I put them on, I felt like I had gone deaf and couldn't hear the nurse speaking to me. When the machine started working though, it was still really loud and I kept wondering how loud it would be without the headphones. It was so tempting to lift one a little to see but I knew I probably would end up deaf if I did that!
After what seemed like hours, it was over so now I just have to wait for the results. Apparently the MRI scans go off to a radiologist and the results will be turned around within 72 hours and provided to my GP but it could take a couple of weeks before my GP gets around to letting me know. Hopefully it will be sooner. Watch this space!
Today's run was an easy 5 miler around Rivington. I wanted to go to the hill session but, as I'm doing a 24 miler on Saturday I thought I'd save myself and, most importantly, my foot as the pain is worse when I do hills and aches for a couple of days afterwards so I opted for an easy flat run instead. I just ran from home, down to the school and along to the barn, then along the side of Sheephouse Lane, trying to dodge the tree roots whilst the sun was blinding me. I then went through the kissing gate opposite Rivington Green, through the field and down the steps to Dean Brook. I then turned back on myself and ran along to the Bowling Club then followed the edge of Rivington Reservoir to Liverpool Castle. It was then back to the school and back home.
Total distance - 5 miles
I went into the mobile MRI wagon behind the health centre and it kind of felt like being inside an aircraft with all the noise. I was really surprised that I only had to take my shoes off and not my socks or any other clothing, I thought it was like an x-ray where they'd make me wear an arse exhibiting gown. Thank goodness it wasn't!
It also took much longer than I thought it would. I didn't have to go all the way into the tube and only went in to my waist but I was in there for about half an hour. There was a little countdown timer on the machine which at first showed 2 minutes 30 seconds so when this counted down to zero I thought we had finished but then it reset to 4 minutes 16 seconds. Again, once this was over it reset itself again and did this about 12 or so times. I started to really need a wee so every time the timer got to zero I prayed it would be the last time because I couldn't even cross my legs or anything.
When I first went in, they gave me some headphones to block out the noise and when I put them on, I felt like I had gone deaf and couldn't hear the nurse speaking to me. When the machine started working though, it was still really loud and I kept wondering how loud it would be without the headphones. It was so tempting to lift one a little to see but I knew I probably would end up deaf if I did that!
After what seemed like hours, it was over so now I just have to wait for the results. Apparently the MRI scans go off to a radiologist and the results will be turned around within 72 hours and provided to my GP but it could take a couple of weeks before my GP gets around to letting me know. Hopefully it will be sooner. Watch this space!
Today's run was an easy 5 miler around Rivington. I wanted to go to the hill session but, as I'm doing a 24 miler on Saturday I thought I'd save myself and, most importantly, my foot as the pain is worse when I do hills and aches for a couple of days afterwards so I opted for an easy flat run instead. I just ran from home, down to the school and along to the barn, then along the side of Sheephouse Lane, trying to dodge the tree roots whilst the sun was blinding me. I then went through the kissing gate opposite Rivington Green, through the field and down the steps to Dean Brook. I then turned back on myself and ran along to the Bowling Club then followed the edge of Rivington Reservoir to Liverpool Castle. It was then back to the school and back home.
Total distance - 5 miles
Tuesday, 24 May 2016
Vernons 5k 2016 - Race 1
I've been wondering whether or not I should be doing this race, given my foot problem but in the end I decided to (in the words of Nike) just do it!
I set off from home stupidly early, or so I thought, at 5.25 for a 7.15 start but it ended up taking me an hour to get there. The traffic in Horwich was horrendous and by the time I had sat in it for so long I was more sweaty than I was at the end of the race!
The race itself went OK and my foot stayed pain free, although it was throbbing a little between the warm up and the start of the race.
Unfortunately, but as was expected, my time was a bit disappointing at 24 minutes 11 seconds, 50 seconds slower than my PB on this course. Ah well, it was to be expected given my complete lack of any speed work for months and my dodgy foot. Hopefully after tomorrow's MRI scan I'll finally know what's wrong with it and be able to start getting it sorted out. I'm feeling very optimistic that it's going to be something easily fixable. Fingers crossed.
Oh and I couldn't possibly finish this post without saying a MASSIVE well done to Erica who won the ladies race. That girl is on fire!!!
Total distance - 3.1 miles + warm up and cool down
I set off from home stupidly early, or so I thought, at 5.25 for a 7.15 start but it ended up taking me an hour to get there. The traffic in Horwich was horrendous and by the time I had sat in it for so long I was more sweaty than I was at the end of the race!
The race itself went OK and my foot stayed pain free, although it was throbbing a little between the warm up and the start of the race.
Unfortunately, but as was expected, my time was a bit disappointing at 24 minutes 11 seconds, 50 seconds slower than my PB on this course. Ah well, it was to be expected given my complete lack of any speed work for months and my dodgy foot. Hopefully after tomorrow's MRI scan I'll finally know what's wrong with it and be able to start getting it sorted out. I'm feeling very optimistic that it's going to be something easily fixable. Fingers crossed.
Oh and I couldn't possibly finish this post without saying a MASSIVE well done to Erica who won the ladies race. That girl is on fire!!!
Total distance - 3.1 miles + warm up and cool down
Monday, 23 May 2016
Turmoil
Today I just went for an easy short run and took Ruby along with me to make sure I went really slow. My foot is still not right (it's all I seem to talk about at the minute) and I'm supposed to be racing tomorrow night so I wanted to just have an easy one tonight to see how things went.
As well as having the pain in and around my big toe, I have also been getting pain in my ankle on the same foot which, as I have mentioned previously, I'm hoping is linked as that may mean it's muscular and therefore should be easily fixable.
On tonight's run, I got the pain in my ankle but no pain in my big toe. I just ran down to the barn and back but my ankle rolling on the uneven ground was causing pain on the outside, near the sticky out bone thingy (so technical!).
When I got home, I put some ice on it straight away.
I'm still going to turn up for the race tomorrow. It's a flat 5k and I only seem to get pain when running on uneven ground or up and down hills (which unfortunately is the kind of running I like!) so hopefully it will be OK but it's really difficult when you have an injury like this because you spend so long going over it in your head and trying to decide the right thing to do. Half of my head says 'don't run, you're only making it worse' but the other half says 'stop being a wimp, it'll be reet!'.
I've said it once and I'll say it again, I really can't wait for my scan on Wednesday!!!
Total distance - 3.25 miles
As well as having the pain in and around my big toe, I have also been getting pain in my ankle on the same foot which, as I have mentioned previously, I'm hoping is linked as that may mean it's muscular and therefore should be easily fixable.
On tonight's run, I got the pain in my ankle but no pain in my big toe. I just ran down to the barn and back but my ankle rolling on the uneven ground was causing pain on the outside, near the sticky out bone thingy (so technical!).
When I got home, I put some ice on it straight away.
I'm still going to turn up for the race tomorrow. It's a flat 5k and I only seem to get pain when running on uneven ground or up and down hills (which unfortunately is the kind of running I like!) so hopefully it will be OK but it's really difficult when you have an injury like this because you spend so long going over it in your head and trying to decide the right thing to do. Half of my head says 'don't run, you're only making it worse' but the other half says 'stop being a wimp, it'll be reet!'.
I've said it once and I'll say it again, I really can't wait for my scan on Wednesday!!!
Total distance - 3.25 miles
Saturday, 21 May 2016
Long Run Turned Short
I turned up at the UTUP today and met up with EtU, YJ and TF. EtU had mentioned on the blog that he was only having a short run but that YJ was hoping for a long one. I was just going to play it by ear, depending on what my foot wanted.
YJ announced at the start that he didn't think he would be having a long run after all as he was feeling tired after Wednesday's Jubilee. We decided to see how it went and all headed off up through the terraced gardens. TF left us in the gardens as she was intending to do some hill reps and then head home.
EtU, YJ and I carried on and headed up the Pike. I said at the bottom that I wouldn't be keeping the promise I made to myself today of never walking up the Pike, as my foot would probably hurt too much, however I set off running at the bottom where it is only a gentle ascent. When I got to the steeper part though, underneath the steps, I carried on going and, weirdly, got no pain at all. Nor did I get any pain running up the steps on my toes. I would be pleased about this, however, driving to the barn this morning, my foot hurt just pressing the clutch pedal so I know that the problem hasn't miraculously gone away. There's just no rhyme nor reason to it. Going up the diagonal with John Parker the other evening caused terrible pain but going up the Pike this morning caused none. It really is a bizarre injury. Can't wait to find out what it is!
After descending from the Pike, EtU left us and YJ was struggling so I said that I didn't mind if he wanted to call it a day and head back. He said that he would go on a little further and see how he felt so we carried on and ran up to Two Lads. Again, I had no foot pain.
From Two Lads, we ran up to the mast then to the top of the mast road and down the diagonal. This is where I did get a bit of pain, but it wasn't in my toe, it was in my ankle of the same foot. This has happened the last few times I have run downhill (pain uphill, pain downhill, lovely!) and I'm hoping that it is linked to the pain in my toe. If it's linked that (to me, but I'm no doctor) means it's muscular and therefore easily treatable. Not sure if that's just me being optimistic, but better to think positively.
At the bottom of the diagonal, YJ decided to call it a day and we headed back to the barn, via the 'sheep's back'.
I toyed with the idea of carrying on for a bit but thought I might be better not pushing it with my foot the way it is. I really don't want to make it worse so am going to take it easy until my scan on Wednesday when hopefully I'll find out a bit more. Saying that, I have a 5k race on Tuesday night but at least that will be on a flat, even surface so hopefully will be OK.
Total distance - 6.4 miles
YJ announced at the start that he didn't think he would be having a long run after all as he was feeling tired after Wednesday's Jubilee. We decided to see how it went and all headed off up through the terraced gardens. TF left us in the gardens as she was intending to do some hill reps and then head home.
EtU, YJ and I carried on and headed up the Pike. I said at the bottom that I wouldn't be keeping the promise I made to myself today of never walking up the Pike, as my foot would probably hurt too much, however I set off running at the bottom where it is only a gentle ascent. When I got to the steeper part though, underneath the steps, I carried on going and, weirdly, got no pain at all. Nor did I get any pain running up the steps on my toes. I would be pleased about this, however, driving to the barn this morning, my foot hurt just pressing the clutch pedal so I know that the problem hasn't miraculously gone away. There's just no rhyme nor reason to it. Going up the diagonal with John Parker the other evening caused terrible pain but going up the Pike this morning caused none. It really is a bizarre injury. Can't wait to find out what it is!
After descending from the Pike, EtU left us and YJ was struggling so I said that I didn't mind if he wanted to call it a day and head back. He said that he would go on a little further and see how he felt so we carried on and ran up to Two Lads. Again, I had no foot pain.
From Two Lads, we ran up to the mast then to the top of the mast road and down the diagonal. This is where I did get a bit of pain, but it wasn't in my toe, it was in my ankle of the same foot. This has happened the last few times I have run downhill (pain uphill, pain downhill, lovely!) and I'm hoping that it is linked to the pain in my toe. If it's linked that (to me, but I'm no doctor) means it's muscular and therefore easily treatable. Not sure if that's just me being optimistic, but better to think positively.
At the bottom of the diagonal, YJ decided to call it a day and we headed back to the barn, via the 'sheep's back'.
I toyed with the idea of carrying on for a bit but thought I might be better not pushing it with my foot the way it is. I really don't want to make it worse so am going to take it easy until my scan on Wednesday when hopefully I'll find out a bit more. Saying that, I have a 5k race on Tuesday night but at least that will be on a flat, even surface so hopefully will be OK.
Total distance - 6.4 miles
Thursday, 19 May 2016
Aborted Hill Session
I turned up in the rain tonight for the Harriers hill session and was joined by Gary, Doug, Jonathan, Joe, John and David. And of course Steve. The session was loops up to the pigeon tower using the 'rocky road' and the slippery path underneath the tower.
As it was raining and very wet underfoot, John didn't really want to do the session as he was worried about slipping and falling. I also didn't want to do the session because, as mentioned in previous blogs, my foot hurts when going up steep hills.
After climbing to the Pigeon Tower with the others, John and I decided to do our own thing and we ran along George's Lane in the direction of Belmont. We then started to climb the diagonal but I had to walk due to the toe/foot pain. I managed to walk quite quickly though so John wasn't hanging around at the top waiting for me.
From there, we ran all the way down the mast road, something which I have never done before (nor have I ever run all the way up the mast road), coming out onto George's Lane and heading back along to the Pigeon Tower.
We went back down the slippery path and arrived back at the car park but everybody else had already left.
Despite not having completed the actual session, I still feel like I got a great workout. John is an excellent coach and is really motivational and inspiring, always a pleasure to run with. This must be a trend with 75+ year olds named John!
Total distance - 6 miles
As it was raining and very wet underfoot, John didn't really want to do the session as he was worried about slipping and falling. I also didn't want to do the session because, as mentioned in previous blogs, my foot hurts when going up steep hills.
After climbing to the Pigeon Tower with the others, John and I decided to do our own thing and we ran along George's Lane in the direction of Belmont. We then started to climb the diagonal but I had to walk due to the toe/foot pain. I managed to walk quite quickly though so John wasn't hanging around at the top waiting for me.
From there, we ran all the way down the mast road, something which I have never done before (nor have I ever run all the way up the mast road), coming out onto George's Lane and heading back along to the Pigeon Tower.
We went back down the slippery path and arrived back at the car park but everybody else had already left.
Despite not having completed the actual session, I still feel like I got a great workout. John is an excellent coach and is really motivational and inspiring, always a pleasure to run with. This must be a trend with 75+ year olds named John!
Total distance - 6 miles
Wednesday, 18 May 2016
Bleugh!
Right, I really do need to get back to some serious training. I've entered a 10k later in the year (yes, you read that right!) so I want to work hard and get a decent time for it. The issue with my foot is obviously hindering that but I have a scan booked for next Wednesday so I'm hoping I can finally find out what it is and get it fixed so I can crack on with my training.
I'm not too bad when I stay on the flat so I decided to go for a fast road run this morning. The intention was to do a mile warm up, followed by four miles at an 8.06 pace, with a mile cool down.
It didn't quite go to plan though as I felt really sick whilst doing the tempo bit. I'm not great at running hard first thing in a morning and it really showed today. I did manage to keep a decent pace for the four miles, however I can't really call it a good session because I did stop a few times to try to stop myself chundering so I feel like I cheated myself.
Ah well, better luck next time.
Total distance - 6.75 miles
I'm not too bad when I stay on the flat so I decided to go for a fast road run this morning. The intention was to do a mile warm up, followed by four miles at an 8.06 pace, with a mile cool down.
It didn't quite go to plan though as I felt really sick whilst doing the tempo bit. I'm not great at running hard first thing in a morning and it really showed today. I did manage to keep a decent pace for the four miles, however I can't really call it a good session because I did stop a few times to try to stop myself chundering so I feel like I cheated myself.
Ah well, better luck next time.
Total distance - 6.75 miles
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