tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29546921527302594142024-03-05T08:12:27.177-08:00Pint Sized Runnerdk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-31966439996265619682015-07-05T08:32:00.001-07:002015-07-05T08:32:47.280-07:00A tale of two races...<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For me, racing is the best part of running; it's the culmination
of all your training and hard miles you've put in and for the chance to push yourself against like-minded
individuals. On occasion they can be the worst part of running, as I discovered
this weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the last two weeks I 'completed' two
races; a local club organised 10k road race, and an independent company
organised 10k tough mudder type race.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One cost £12.50, was extremely well
organised with excellent marshalling, water on route as well as being chip
timed and having a great technical t-shirt on completion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The other cost £30, had no sort of
organisation about it, with close to no marshalling and no form of signage to show the
route you should take (pretty important given the course took you through wooded
areas with multiple tracks) and the tackiest, cheapest medal at the finishing line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Probably not surprisingly, the cheaper, well organised race was the
Penny Lane Striders 10k, for which I couldn’t commend, or recommend enough. It
follows a route along the Otterspool promenade before looping back and diverting on to a paved, wooded section. It was a tough race with a strong head wind on the return leg of the promenade, but one I thoroughly enjoyed. I completed it in 42:19, and despite wanting to go under 42 minutes I was happy given <em>that </em>head wind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The independent company organised race, titled ‘Total Grit Xtreme’,
was clearly just set up to be a money maker. For £30 it was a cheap version of
tough mudder (other obstacle races also available), and whilst my expectations weren’t
high, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> expect a race to start on
time, and to ensure I get round safely. Not the case; I and over 20 others got
lost due to there being little marshalling and no signs, and spent a good 15
minutes running around a wooded area just trying to get back to the start.
We eventually did, but only by running alongside, and eventually crossing, a
main ‘A’ road.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, in the last two weeks I’ve seen the best and the worst of
running; a running club organising a fantastic race for the love of running,
and an independent company organising a ‘race’ only to fleece and make money
out of people who just want to do an activity they love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Final Race Stats<o:p></o:p></u></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Penny Lane 10k:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Garmin <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/817359114">Here<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Strava <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/334734129">Here<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p>Cool technical tee:</o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tdMji0gtZvQcbepBvK5RtVLPfOnirgULENrm8xBLpG9vLt4G8HEILUXZsvfmoAsrlS2kUWerkCWtSNbGI44VazJ17p2UzDoQ4T61vGtp1Rl-oSzqrqwMSknOVNE1EBQ5BIIV3Y7rcDyr/s1600/IMG_0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tdMji0gtZvQcbepBvK5RtVLPfOnirgULENrm8xBLpG9vLt4G8HEILUXZsvfmoAsrlS2kUWerkCWtSNbGI44VazJ17p2UzDoQ4T61vGtp1Rl-oSzqrqwMSknOVNE1EBQ5BIIV3Y7rcDyr/s320/IMG_0887.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p>Excellent photography skills here showing I am, in fact, winning the race (!)</o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwFk1P5TQ3NFVN5mFTBXNRVNvbFRmV53QhbI3szI8LtyIxGdvXvoj_4xQAiFzi8BftXYDBFyOWw7FAvVGUz8PhP5NS4wGXRzPFU6Uz6QaODmJ5S-9TmA7kwVLdFSiPTYC7kYSRkEy6ThH/s1600/19074772700_19eac09304_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwFk1P5TQ3NFVN5mFTBXNRVNvbFRmV53QhbI3szI8LtyIxGdvXvoj_4xQAiFzi8BftXYDBFyOWw7FAvVGUz8PhP5NS4wGXRzPFU6Uz6QaODmJ5S-9TmA7kwVLdFSiPTYC7kYSRkEy6ThH/s320/19074772700_19eac09304_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/davepinno/">David Pinnington</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Total Grit Xtreme:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Garmin <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/823236746">Here</a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Strava <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/338925634">Here<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">The 'medal'</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhYpazC9Od41cp_7esnA6g4xbcV8x9UO-ZCs4OuuzRq_4ghTYdEn8iw7mGrtEa1iiBf0sdlKJqhaIixwimogYHdfWIZ_0bjeZY321iAYvJfsPnnDigZmNswnhB71UwguPTBBLHg8cRVX_/s1600/IMG_0889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhYpazC9Od41cp_7esnA6g4xbcV8x9UO-ZCs4OuuzRq_4ghTYdEn8iw7mGrtEa1iiBf0sdlKJqhaIixwimogYHdfWIZ_0bjeZY321iAYvJfsPnnDigZmNswnhB71UwguPTBBLHg8cRVX_/s320/IMG_0889.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Before getting lost; a tunnel, and bales of hay obstacle.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92CpAfQLnGARaBAuaH_Fi6m6XwM_StdflcY3ZyUOmpnJ89qR2wZue-5g5ZYDckssjmGzustyOT4QFV40xG-9DPMkYdorA9olBm58Ah2aKqzZVbccMSEQYcF2-1TUQGRyzCfD9uZBNNW5c/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92CpAfQLnGARaBAuaH_Fi6m6XwM_StdflcY3ZyUOmpnJ89qR2wZue-5g5ZYDckssjmGzustyOT4QFV40xG-9DPMkYdorA9olBm58Ah2aKqzZVbccMSEQYcF2-1TUQGRyzCfD9uZBNNW5c/s320/IMG_0881.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></div>
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</span>dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-18075018524074615022015-06-25T12:46:00.000-07:002015-06-25T12:46:51.378-07:00Active Knowsley 5km 2015 Race Report<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This was my second race within a couple of weeks, and another race which I'd
completed before, so knew what to expect. Set in the luxurious grounds of
Knowsley Hall (the ancestral home of the Earls of Derby) this 5km race was the
first time I'd competed as part of a team. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Having cooked up some interest in work we had two 4-person teams entered,
with my team including one of my best friends who I’d completed the <a href="http://pintsizedtorpedo.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/mersey-tunnel-10k-2015.html">MerseyTunnel 10k</a> with a few weeks earlier. He’d never ran a 5k race before and so had
no idea how to pace it, consequently he wanted to do his own thing. That suited
me fine as I wanted to go for an ‘official’ sub 20min 5k.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The race started at 7.15pm on a very warm and sunny un-British summer’s evening.
I wanted to head out fast to try and maintain a steady pace throughout.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first half of the run I managed to complete fairly comfortably, and whilst
a team mate had stayed with me for the first kilometre I was subsequently running
alone – none of my ‘rivals’ had passed me at any stage.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rather than helping me to relax, it did the opposite; I no longer had someone
pushing me on to maintain my pace, which suffered slightly in the 4<sup>th</sup>
kilometre as my time dipped to 4:08. The last time I completed this course the
same 4<sup>th</sup> km dip occurred and meant I missed out on my sub 20min 5k. Would
this time be the same?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I pushed on using the runners ahead of me to keep going and was pleasantly surprised
when I saw the finish line approaching. A little dash to the end and I hit ‘stop’
on the Garmin…</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">..19:45, yippee! Officially back in the sub 20min club for me!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was then just a case of cheering on the other 7 runners as they all came
in. It turns out I get way too excited doing this and was soon bellowing each
runner’s name to help them across the finish line (or scare them into thinking
they were being chased by an axe murderer…)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My mate came in second out of the group with a great time of 20:53, very quickly
(i.e. 2 seconds later) followed by our opponents’ first runner. The rest of the
runners came in and it was fairly clear that my team was the winning one, but
so made up was I with my mate’s time it really didn’t matter. “I’m so proud of
you” I may have muttered more than a few times!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Final Race Stats</u></span><br />
<u></u><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">19:45, a time I am elated with, and a time that makes me feel like my
fitness is returning, albeit slowly!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Garmin <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/806170487">here</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Strava <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/326840262">here</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Final Notes</u></span><br />
<u></u><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The race was great, well marshalled and a nice medal for a very cheap £7.50.
My only (slight) gripe is that the race wasn’t timed with a chip, all by hand,
and so subsequently I haven’t got the final team times, but I can live with
that.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoOEq_qQpXbBXykBYp37bDUErudQmWxA4fdvBY3uSUcMq_oDuERIJtQdYVto352I7xQsP7Yv9cFamkXSWkbimw3mrwFrHTk-gtG4h0L0O3MKtkMLRwXYpFq7wooPMsYAQ_GVlRABPEfBN/s1600/Knowsley+5k+medal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoOEq_qQpXbBXykBYp37bDUErudQmWxA4fdvBY3uSUcMq_oDuERIJtQdYVto352I7xQsP7Yv9cFamkXSWkbimw3mrwFrHTk-gtG4h0L0O3MKtkMLRwXYpFq7wooPMsYAQ_GVlRABPEfBN/s320/Knowsley+5k+medal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Kd2PXAsGNYJrEW5iGbHUPywoooV2c4SwpyHKIAY1-fQs0XNWjDGgN6a3_e4o2TPoxJDsLCpIqFKqKZNChy6-svr5tScrr3HbDoMXAdLMqoy8IxS0r_781fSObGFifPniWGiRF0y27vCi/s1600/knowsley+5k+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Kd2PXAsGNYJrEW5iGbHUPywoooV2c4SwpyHKIAY1-fQs0XNWjDGgN6a3_e4o2TPoxJDsLCpIqFKqKZNChy6-svr5tScrr3HbDoMXAdLMqoy8IxS0r_781fSObGFifPniWGiRF0y27vCi/s320/knowsley+5k+selfie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whilst we’d light heartedly gone ‘into battle’ with personal pride being the
prize, it was fun and camaraderie which were the real winners (major cheese fest
I know!).</span>dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-358081132909409222015-06-11T12:32:00.005-07:002015-06-11T12:32:57.078-07:00Mersey Tunnel 10k 2015<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
3<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>rd</sup> times a charm… Or not<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday 7<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> June 2015 was the third time I took on
the Mersey Tunnel 10k, which is usually the race I look forward to most in the
year, and the course of my 10k PB. I knew I wasn’t in PB condition, but wanted
to get round in a progressive time compared to my previous 10k races.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I didn’t really pay much attention to the race instructions as
I ‘knew’ where it started. After I parked up I watched a few runners walking
the wrong way to the start line; ‘look at them’ I thought, 'going the wrong way,
obviously newbies to the course'…<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">…Soon what can only be described as huge swathes of runners
were going the wrong way to the start line; it was at this point when I started
to doubt myself about knowing where the race started. Turns out you should
always read the race instructions in case the start line is moved compared to
previous years.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After consulting the race instructions and <s>following
everyone</s> making my way to the start line I warmed up and got ready. I was
running this race with a mate whose first race this would be.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you haven’t read my previous report on this race (I
wouldn’t either) then you’ll know that the route takes you from Liverpool,
through the Wallasey tunnel and into… Wallasey...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s the tunnel-y bit which is essentially the pull &
appeal of the race.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately, the moving of the start line, which was to a
very narrow side street, meant once the 2,800 runners were sent on their
marching orders, caused a very congested opening several hundred metres. Added
to this was that the tunnel was right after these opening several hundred
metres.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The tunnel starts off as a downhill before levelling out and
then turning into an incline. Congested start and downhill = lots of runners
racing ahead, but slowing down when they hit the incline, which = a lot of
dodging if you don’t slow down with them.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After getting out the tunnel the route opened up on to the
streets before tracking the prom for the final half of the race. It’s always a
nice view looking back across the Mersey to The Liver Birds and all the other
great architecture in Liverpool.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I'd lost my mate in the tunnel, but we'd agreed if this happened to just meet up at the finish line.</span><br />
<br />
Having conquered the toughest part of the route and being on the prom allowed me to focus on maintaining the quickest pace I could through to the finish, which wasn't that fast at this point.<br />
<br />
I was however given somewhat of an adrenaline rush at around 7km when my name was screamed in a somewhat satisfied tone* by a race marshal. The marshal in question was a young lady, and as I'm not used to young ladies screaming my name in a satisfied tone (or any kind of tone if I'm honest), I was flooded with a surge of adrenaline which allowed me to (try to) raise my thumb in thanks, smile, and up my pace for about 20 seconds.<br />
<br />
Following this encounter I plodded on and having turned a dog leg corner to face some headwinds the finish line was in sight; I upped my pace and crossed the finish line, absolutely knackered.<br />
<br />
<u>Final Race Stats</u><br />
<br />
44:25 - slower than my previous two 10ks this year, but a very much tougher course given the congestion at the start and profile of it.<br />
<br />
The medal was, as usual, excellent. A decent technical tee and one I would wear in the winter months to be seen due to its fluorescent-ness (if I were to not horde my race t-shirts away), and a nice little goody bag:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRbg-kK492hUVsTF4HrZE5EaUpReXdTYNOQ5RySCe62tXU9HijorppnTpcHEnmCGBPeyIMukFXgCN2DZzCwIQJpXFWoyyAi7m4hADDaBYryfSIyMrDxjRKbjEpSmnbSzYXC6dskB0Teu5/s1600/Mersey+Tunnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRbg-kK492hUVsTF4HrZE5EaUpReXdTYNOQ5RySCe62tXU9HijorppnTpcHEnmCGBPeyIMukFXgCN2DZzCwIQJpXFWoyyAi7m4hADDaBYryfSIyMrDxjRKbjEpSmnbSzYXC6dskB0Teu5/s320/Mersey+Tunnel.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Garmin <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/796809847">here</a><br />
Strava <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/320334872">here</a><br />
<br />
<u>Final Notes</u><br />
<br />
I'll continue to run this race every year because of the opportunity to run through the Wallasey tunnel, but unfortunately I don't feel its the same as it used to be given the moving of the start line.<br />
<br />
* this is total embellishment on my part in an attempt to be funny (I know, I should leave that to the hilarious Jay at <a href="https://borntoplod.wordpress.com/">Born to Plod</a>)dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-41902151949500279572015-05-30T07:20:00.000-07:002015-05-30T07:20:00.909-07:00Enoying the good aches......and hating the bad ones.<br />
<br />
When you're flying with your running, you forget how long it took to get to that level of fitness and focus; the long runs in the sweeping rain, the tempo runs in the boiling heat, the aching joints afterwards. They were nothing, something that came with the territory, and only added to the feeling of invincibility having completed your run despite those conditions.<br />
<br />
When you're returning from a break, whether enforced or not, that's when you realise how difficult running actually is - routes that would serve as a mere 'whip round the block' you suddenly have to psyche yourself up for. That hill which you could bosh out at the end of your run you haven't quite got the spring in your step to conquer.<br />
<br />
Having had plenty of 'bad' aches over the last 18 months, I've learned to love the good ones over the last few weeks. Sure, I'm not as fit as I was, and I'm needing to stretch a little bit more post run, and the morning after, but I relish all of it. It means I'm getting fitter and stronger, and I definitely appreciate being able to run more, and looking forward to upping the distance.<br />
<br />
I'm focusing on the 10k distance at the moment and improving my time, towards the end of the year I'd like to get back to half marathon distance and see where that takes me...<br />
<br />
I don't like the bad 'aches' though* - like when someone logs a cycle as a run on Strava...<br />
<br />
Running along the Liverpool - Leeds canal there are plenty of segments and so opportunities to work up the leader board, or just generally track how you're getting on speedwise run to run.<br />
<br />
There's one segment which I'll complete pretty much every time I lace up my trainers. Earlier in the week I decided I'd put my foot down during the segment and see how quickly I could complete it (without killing myself).<br />
<br />
Back from the run, I uploaded my route, and like a kid opening his presents on Christmas morning I was <strike>almost unable to contain my excitement</strike> looking forward to seeing how I'd got on... 4th, a highly respectable 4th place. However, when I inspected my fellow segmenteers (proper word), one of them had logged a cycle as a run, usurping my effort.<br />
<br />
The proof is below, however I've blanked out the name of the offender to protect his/her identity as I wouldn't want the guilt of the repercussions that they could face from the Strava community who I can only imagine are equally as affronted as I:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtka5MvPI22yHOWzgYriJ2_6OBvI06TJogGY4X6rSZ8u2C2Nf_kV98E7AE90Tq9UybKaOFZVA98gBOhYR5OcTdokEoQzsDj7ycEq2huUVENIuu4iCYsHOFQ3yIEk9TH5G1gmp1hsbC8D1J/s1600/Cycle+Segment.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtka5MvPI22yHOWzgYriJ2_6OBvI06TJogGY4X6rSZ8u2C2Nf_kV98E7AE90Tq9UybKaOFZVA98gBOhYR5OcTdokEoQzsDj7ycEq2huUVENIuu4iCYsHOFQ3yIEk9TH5G1gmp1hsbC8D1J/s320/Cycle+Segment.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proof!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So essentially, I'm 3rd on the leaderboard, and who knows, possibly even higher if other Strava users are so lax in their lack of regard for the running-cycle logging split. In all seriousness, I'm not <em>that</em> bothered, but it does grate against the OCD part of me :)<br />
<br />
Next up for me is the Mersey Tunnel 10k a week tomorrow (Sunday 7th June). I race which starts in Liverpool, goes through the Wallasey Tunnel, and ends up on the Wirral. Previous race report for it <a href="http://pintsizedtorpedo.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/race-review-mersey-tunnel-10k-2013.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
*Ok so it's not really an ache, but I've wanted to have a rant about this for a couple of weeks and never been able to fit it into 140 characters on twitter, or crowbar it into a blog.dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-40664577003060338642015-05-19T13:14:00.001-07:002015-05-19T13:14:17.054-07:00I've got all these tees...<div dir="ltr">
It's becoming more and more common for your race 'goody bag' to contain not just a medal, sweets, leaflets for other races, and water, but also, a t-shirt, and it's generally a swanky technical t-shirt too. However, what happens to all of these tees??</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<u>The "McDonalds Happy Meal toy"</u><br />
You get your happy meal and marvel at the little plastic toy* inside, playing with it in the car on the way home and then leaving it to gather dust in that bottom drawer of that spare room with all the other toys. It never sees the light of day until you're either having a clear out, moving house, or your parents decide that you don't need it anymore as you haven't played with it for months so it can go in the trash.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<u>The "badge of honour / iGrunters"</u><br />
This is mainly the tough mudder type races, and is generally, but not limited to, those blokes in the gym who strut around 'cause they lift and have completed an obstacle course. You'll often hear a low groan emitted from said t-shirt wearer when completing the last few reps of their set. You'll also often find yourself wishing that on this occasion they loaded the bench press with a bit too much weight causing them to 'follow through' on all that pushing. Heads up though guys, try completing a marathon and all the training that goes with and tell me which tee deserves more respect...</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<u>The "painter's tee"</u></div>
<div dir="ltr">
It's that bank holiday weekend when you promised yourself/the other half/that family relative who keeps pestering you/the parents you'd decorate the spare room which has been locked for the last six months to stop people going in and seeing the mess. You know, no matter how careful you are, you're gonna splash some paint on yourself. Well you can't wear your going out t-shirt or shirt can you?</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<u>The "I earned it so I'm wearing it"</u></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I'm surprised I don't fall into this category; when I buy/own/earn something, I feel it a waste to not get the most use out of it as possible - for race t-shirts, this would be wearing it until it's <strike>nearly</strike> falling apart, and even then I may just keep it.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<u>The "my precious"</u></div>
<div dir="ltr">
This. Is. Me. Ohhh, I've got <em>another</em> pretty race t-shirt, look how beautiful it is with its wicking features and colour scheme, I could frame it that's how lovely it is. I will keep my precious race t-shirt by ironing it, folding it precisely, and keeping it safely snuggled away with all of it's other brother and sister race t-shirts in its own dedicated drawer.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<u>The "creative"</u></div>
<div dir="ltr">
For those people who manage to find an obscure or slightly different (but amazing use) for just about anything; applications for race t-shirt can range from, bit are not restricted to, making a blanket to a funky outfit for their dog. Each a brilliant and novel way of using their goody bag gift.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<u>The "normal"</u></div>
<div dir="ltr">
The above are probably all figments of my imagination (with the exception of "my precious") to make myself feel better for what I do with my own race t-shirts and tell myself 'at least I'm not an "iGrunter" '.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Some of my collection (well I'm not going to get them all out and risk damaging them am I?!):</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
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<div dir="ltr">
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<div dir="ltr">
*Clearly showing my age here as they're not little plastic toys anymore, they're more like human teleporters nowadays...</div>
dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-29226793837745269032015-05-04T09:55:00.000-07:002015-05-04T09:56:17.545-07:00Race Report: Liverpool Spring 10km 2015It's always nice to get a bit of déjà vu when writing a race report; it generally means you've run the race before, and, chances are, if you've run it before and are willing to run it again, it was a good 'un.<br />
<br />
Rewind two years and I was participating in the inaugural Liverpool Spring 10k in Sefton Park - a brilliant local race which had a great turnout and atmosphere, as well as a not-so-nice steep set of steps mid-course. Lucky for me it took all the best bits from the last time I completed it, and left out the energy sapping set of steps.<br />
<br />
The weather on the morning was abysmal; heavy driving rain, the kind which makes you want to put the fire on and snuggle up on the sofa with a massive cup of tea and your <strike>favourite</strike> <em>any</em> DVD boxset...<br />
<br />
As I pulled up around the edge of Sefton Park the rain abated, bingo! I don't mind running in the rain, I actually enjoy it, but there's something a bit demoralising starting a race in the rain.<br />
<br />
I warmed up and headed to the starting pens. I always love seeing all the runners in their club colours - I renewed my membership for my running club last week so will be donning blue and white hoops soon :)<br />
<br />
The starter got us underway and off we set. I wasn't too worried about a time, but wanted to complete in a similar time as I finished the <a href="http://pintsizedtorpedo.blogspot.com/2015/02/mad-dog-10k-race-review.html">Mad Dog 10k</a> in; due to recent personal health issues I've not had a chance to do any speedwork.<br />
<br />
After several kilometres a running club buddy saddled up beside me and we had a chat about what time we were aiming for and what running we'd been doing lately - he'd completed the Manchester marathon a couple of weeks a go (awesome!). We were both using this race to get back in to the swing of things, though for obviously different reasons!<br />
<br />
The course took us through the park and out and around the perimeter of it, and it was only at the 6km mark did I realise there wasn't going to be any set of steps to climb. The route was undulating though so definitely tested the legs.<br />
<br />
Turning into the final straight I was feeling like I'd really worked over the last few kilometres and didn't think I could muster up a sprint finish, but it's funny what a guy dressed as a tyre (for 'dressed as a tyre', read compression skin tight clothing from head to toe - save it for later dude) can do for you.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpScJET1KqqcvdKily0cK2SPU7IJ733B0DJsXZtG9XUksF6l3pi-tSSrJ2nVwqmlgwa5aqJkGtecjSLo9aG64Uh-acisf_K4bx5mChfANEtN_eHqUn_UBau7SbfExUI1n-WM-Pab4HBmAj/s1600/Spring+10+2015+Finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpScJET1KqqcvdKily0cK2SPU7IJ733B0DJsXZtG9XUksF6l3pi-tSSrJ2nVwqmlgwa5aqJkGtecjSLo9aG64Uh-acisf_K4bx5mChfANEtN_eHqUn_UBau7SbfExUI1n-WM-Pab4HBmAj/s320/Spring+10+2015+Finish.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finish line, hey there human tyre behind me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u>Final Race Stats</u><br />
<br />
43:12 - Quicker than my Mad Dog 10k race, but I felt like I worked harder for it! I was happy with the time, but really want to get some speed work in to my legs to improve my time and fitness.<br />
<br />
The medal, t-shirt and goody bag were excellent, especially for a race which cost under £20:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
...And yes, that is a can of salmon with the t-shirt and medal!<br />
<br />
Garmin <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/763722645">Here</a><br />
Strava <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/297210999">Here</a><br />
<br />
<u>Final Notes</u><br />
<br />
The Spring 10k is a brilliant, friendly and well supported race - there is always a crowd and entertainment around the course to help you along the way. If anyone local is considering it, I would urge you to take part!dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-21668854795026059512015-05-03T12:44:00.001-07:002015-05-03T12:58:13.632-07:00Words, Hands, Hearts<p dir="ltr">This is a bit of a prelude to my race report for the Liverpool Spring 10k I 'competed*' in today...</p>
<p dir="ltr">I've steered clear of all things social media lately as I've had some health issues - not due to running for a change. I'm not going fo go into it in detail but suffice to say that I've had ECGs, chest x-rays and blood tests to rule conditions out, and that I can, thank goodness, still run, pending more tests and results. If nothing else I got to be a 'secret shopper' in the NHS, and it is a bloody brilliant institution!</p>
<p dir="ltr">Anyway, on a slighlty lighter note, and to sign off this post, im sure you'll agree I look dashing in a hospital gown...</p><p dir="ltr"><br></p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4DTwZQJPwU2jnlvNXhx1jby2-gCGpi6MBv8TuPjWhhUHGSU57HSe8Bm1RB78yXQGV-PLUCMQXA736jYfRLDsLbTGuRyst-Hak5EfRq8D2E_FWeQO2W16VZTZHrKo7eHwa7Yw56Ayt89y/s640/blogger-image-462864273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4DTwZQJPwU2jnlvNXhx1jby2-gCGpi6MBv8TuPjWhhUHGSU57HSe8Bm1RB78yXQGV-PLUCMQXA736jYfRLDsLbTGuRyst-Hak5EfRq8D2E_FWeQO2W16VZTZHrKo7eHwa7Yw56Ayt89y/s640/blogger-image-462864273.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p>
<div><br></div><div>Competed is such a loose term, only used loosely when participant is gravely unfit and has forgotten how to pace their exertion levels.</div>dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-7570328830517579142015-02-13T13:14:00.001-08:002015-02-13T13:14:53.653-08:00HRM - you and me need to talk<p dir="ltr">My watch of choice when running is the Garmin 305; despite it looking like you may be able to land a helicopter on it I absolutely love it...</p>
<p dir="ltr">Sure, I probably don't use the full functionality of it the way I should or could, but it has never let me down for my needs. The Garmin 305, as well as tracking my runs (and the occasional cycle) has a Heart Rate Monitor. I generally always wear the HRM, as, despite not doing any specific heart rate training, it's always interesting to see how my heart rate is after certain sections of runs. -Plus, I love having ALL THE DATA!</p>
<p dir="ltr">However, HRM and I haven't been getting on so well lately; we've been drifitng, or, more precisley, its been drifting, down my body whilst I'm running to be precise, ending up around my midriff. I've tried tightening it pre-run, pulling it up like some dodgy bra during run,  and today, tried something totally new...</p>
<p dir="ltr">...Today I went for the 'wear it high' approach. If you don't know what my 'wear it high' approach insinuates, well, basically, I wore it AN (above nipples).</p>
<p dir="ltr">Now, for all I know that <i>could</i> be the way to wear it anyway, but it had disastrous results; it still slipped down to my midriff, but clearly had to get past two, um, 'obstacles' on the way. I can only describe the sensation as being cheese grated, it wasn't pretty, and whilst there was no blood, there was a stinging sensation afterwards in the shower - before you ask, no it was not a pleasant stinging sensation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So, HRM and I will have a chat, and if it doesn't behave, it's going back in the box.</p>
dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-86641949357817936122015-02-09T11:50:00.001-08:002015-02-09T11:50:32.638-08:00Mad Dog 10k Race Review<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Woof woof!! Sunday
8th February 2015 saw my return to racing for the first time in (a long) 18
months. The race took place on a darn cold & freezing morning in Southport,
a race I'd signed up for twice previously but hadn't been able to compete in
due to injury. Southport being the place where, as a high school student, you
either went here, or to Liverpool, for a drunken night out***</span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway,
everything I'd heard about the Mad Dog 10k race was positive, and it certainly
didn't disappoint; great organisation from the car parking and bus to the
start, baggage facilities, and entertainment on course. -The worst part was the
shedding of layers and stepping out into the cold February air to warm up.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Warm up I
didn't, not until about 4km in to the race anyway!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The out and
back course saw the run start off along the Southport promenade before turning
back and heading into Southport town a little and past plenty of fantastic
singers and those awesome drummer gang/groups.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Despite
having a large proportion of the run on the prom, the wind wasn't strong and I
only once felt the need (but didn't) to shove my hands down the front of my
shorts to warm them up (and before you start frowning, it definitely works -
though is somewhat of a skill to keep your balance at times).</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With having
done zilch speed work, I was aiming for a steady 45 minutes, I even managed to
not get caught up in race fever until about 8km in when a lad wearing what can
only be described as flip flops made out of car tyres (think Born to Run by
Christopher McDougall) decided that he would be posting a faster time than
me... That wasn’t going to happen.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In true
<insert your running hero here> fashion I tailed tyre feet until the last
200 metres then put on a Mo Farah like dash to the finish line to dip (didn’t
really dip) to beat him by milliseconds (wasn’t really milliseconds).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Final Race
stats</span></u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My time was
43:36 – a time I’m really happy with considering my lack of fitness, and I
didn’t feel like I really pushed myself the way I normally would in a race.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bling
and ‘doggy bag’ were excellent; a good quality technical t-shirt, a pair of
running socks as well as the usual pens, highlighters and flyers:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
</span><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8j8zpRp8cTfKHPyrIPoyNvSidC1yXB4ag2v_C5yyvhTlbn6TCTfvr19azuKD3SrI05lTRnP2gvHURp9oZeh-LZxnsElB5ibKREM4mbdxN8__chYkUxtls2zK2E9NOGZItvO_1kLOOLXjb/s1600/Mad+Dog+T+Shirt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8j8zpRp8cTfKHPyrIPoyNvSidC1yXB4ag2v_C5yyvhTlbn6TCTfvr19azuKD3SrI05lTRnP2gvHURp9oZeh-LZxnsElB5ibKREM4mbdxN8__chYkUxtls2zK2E9NOGZItvO_1kLOOLXjb/s1600/Mad+Dog+T+Shirt.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Garmin <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/692732267">Here</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Strava <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/252112227">Here</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Final notes</span></u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Mad Dog 10k made me realise
just how much I've missed races; from the camaraderie, to the nerves
before the starter gun despite knowing you can run the distance and
the swell of adrenaline as you muster up a sprint finish.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My only slight disappointment was
not running in my club’s colours; I’m not ‘officially’ a member of the club at
the moment – something I’m goin to remedy soon </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">***Alternatively
you didn’t go to either of these places for a drunken night out as no false ID
would convince any bouncer you were of drinking age.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-83962426453123932262015-01-24T09:50:00.000-08:002015-01-24T09:50:18.443-08:00Being scared… And looking like Edward Cullen*
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*but not looking like Edward
Cullen because of being tall / handsome / mysterious / pale… Well, maybe pale…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My running has been going pretty
well lately, I wouldn’t say my legs are completely back to normal; I’m still
susceptible to a tight IT band in my right leg. For anyone who has ever had IT
band problems, then you’ll know how mind numbingly infuriating the pain that
goes along with it is…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This has meant that whilst I’m
increasing the number of times I’m running each week, I’ve been stuck on 4
miles… I’d set myself a target that by the end of January I would be running
10km again. I’m in danger of making the completion of this distance more of a
mental thing than a physical thing. However, having struggled for so long to
return to running pain free I’m bound to be a bit scared of breaking down
again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, it’s been pretty cold
these last few weeks when I’ve been heading out, so, earlier in the week I dug
out my running tights from the bottom of my draws and ‘suited’ up… Problem is,
anything tight around my right knee causes IT band unhappiness, bummer dude!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, I had a cunning plan; Vaseline!
If it can protect my lips in these cold temperatures then it should help
protect my legs from the chilly winds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So on I smothered it, feeling
very pleased with myself (not because it felt good to rub on, but because I was
just a few wax on, wax off motions away from potentially being freeze proof).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Feeling satisfied that I could
just as easily slide along the pavements as run, out the door I headed… I have
a look down at my legs mid-flow and as the lamp posts emanate their luminous
yellow-ness I’m glowing like a vampire from a teen movie! Granted, this could
be a combination of the sweat and Vaseline, which we won’t dwell on for too
long, but glow I did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The good news is that Vaseline can
officially be used to stop your thighs being turned into a white wind chilled
set of ice blocks, and with that success under my belt, fingers crossed I’ll
soon be glowing from having completed a 10km run before the month is out.</span></div>
dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-77762801409760741412015-01-15T11:59:00.000-08:002015-01-15T11:59:02.441-08:00The NHS and what us runners cost<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
I work,
for the NHS, I've never hidden away from that and I'm proud to say I'm employed by
what I think is a fantastic establishment. I'm not clinical, so I wouldn't be
able to tell you symptoms, tests, or treatments to diagnose any weird or
unheard of diseases (except for feed a cold, starve a fever maybe !). However,
being a finance and performance employee I can tell you things that not many
people know, as well as knowing things which everyone should know, but probably don't...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
You'll all be aware of the A & E 4 hour wait time, and
that hospitals must deliver this for 95% of their patients? That's a pretty
standard one which is currently getting a lot of media coverage. Read headlines
such as patients rocking up at A&E who don’t need to be there/should be
going to their GP or Walk in Centre instead…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
How about the 18 weeks referral to treatment rule? This one
doesn't get the coverage I think it deserves... Every patient across the country
has a statutory right under NHS guidelines to receive the start of their treatment
within 18 weeks of their initial referral to be treated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
But what
does that even mean?! Well, it means that if you go to your GP and they send
you on to hospital, you must receive the treatment to whatever your ailment is
within 18 weeks. Note the word TREATMENT here, tests & diagnostics do not
constitute treatment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
So, if you end up being referred to hospital and require an
operation, if your operation is not within 18 weeks from your initial referral
to hospital, then the hospital has an obligation to move your operation date
forward at their expense (this includes having your operation at another hospital
if needs be in order to meet the 18 weeks target).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
I find this extremely interesting and probably take waaaaay
too much pride out of telling everyone I know about it. I get the same reaction every
time though, glossed over eyes because they’re so busy concentrating on listening to
what I've got to say <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
The way the cost of your stay at hospital is calculated is equally as
interesting; it’s unsurprisingly, based on your diagnoses and any procedures
you have, as well as whether you attended A & E, you were
admitted (be that in an emergency, or if it was planned), or if you 'simply'
turned up for an appointment for a diagnostic test / examination from a
doctor or consultant.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
The combination
of this ‘care setting’ you are treated under, and what your diagnoses /
procedures are get mashed together into a magical algorithm to determine what
your hospital stay costs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
So, what
do runners cost? I’m just providing some generic, run of the mill costs which
will likely be the pathway a runner would follow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
David
goes to his GP with a hurty knee and is referred to hospital, where he is seen
by a consultant. This will cost £119. If the consultant decides that David needs
a scan, (likely a MRI scan), this will cost between £138 and £188 dependent on
the number of areas scanned.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
Following
a scan, David goes to get his results, this will cost £70, as will every
subsequent attendance with the consultant whether a scan has occurred or not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
If David
is then sent for physiotherapy, this is where it gets a bit complicated; it
doesn't cost the same at every hospital. Hospitals are generally paid a ‘block
contract’ for physiotherapy, that is, they will employ a certain number of physiotherapists
and be expected to treat all patients sent to them. These physiotherapists will
often be expected to complete a patient's course of treatment within 4 – 6 visits. This will cost in the range of £25 - £65, but is different at each hospital, and should be used as a guideline only.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
If, as I’m
often reminded, that running ‘ruins your knees’ and a knee replacement is
required, you’re looking at £9,000.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
Now you
have an idea of what runners cost, it realistically, is not huge sums of money,
and will be little in comparison to other ‘self induced’ medical conditions…<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
One final note, none of the information I've posted, particularly around the costs above are a secret or confidential; they are free to view by anyone and everyone. Yu could just Google (other search engines available) PbR (Payment by Results) National Tariff and find the information.</div>
dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-84061967895409450602015-01-01T03:18:00.000-08:002015-01-01T03:20:25.618-08:00Running in to the new year - Part 2Happy New Year! We've <em>finally</em> entered 2015 and with it will mark my 30th year on this planet... Every time I think of turning 30 I'm always reminded of this:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoj9w1fWB9fxOujbutoi2XxxHqXSGEaU07nxnJC4iHddKSviN8zi41fB6B6Mm2p0qxgzosuBhCXqltZbumhtMSkKbGw6SIxSmrU2uMyVWRLMyGXqFX8n-6VeIKt2tH42mHV2jTflVa0l1l/s1600/Friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoj9w1fWB9fxOujbutoi2XxxHqXSGEaU07nxnJC4iHddKSviN8zi41fB6B6Mm2p0qxgzosuBhCXqltZbumhtMSkKbGw6SIxSmrU2uMyVWRLMyGXqFX8n-6VeIKt2tH42mHV2jTflVa0l1l/s1600/Friends.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fffriends.tumblr.com/post/181092219/7x14-tow-they-all-turn-thirty-joey-why-god">Source</a> Joey: Why God?!! Why?!! We had a deal!! Let the others grow old! Not me!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Mr Joey Tribbiani had it right!!<br />
<br />
Anyway, moving away from the inevitable day of when I get old... I did manage to 'run' in to 2015. I set out 11:55pm 31 December 2014 and finished 12:09am 2 January 2015. It wasn't fast, it wasn't long, and it was over quickly (*insert your innuendo-laden joke here*):<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziIeFNaqgRJi3NOghkro7OsoJK9199KFIKWsDREMnDahan9N3mX9A3H-HKUHyMFTJVVzMQdgB7bNrpQuiSD0x8ZOpJMm3le5c7JQjxLrLLFtAQPVEOKKcgjDosJ4aKBH-A-POZWpXmzfk/s1600/running+in+to+2015+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziIeFNaqgRJi3NOghkro7OsoJK9199KFIKWsDREMnDahan9N3mX9A3H-HKUHyMFTJVVzMQdgB7bNrpQuiSD0x8ZOpJMm3le5c7JQjxLrLLFtAQPVEOKKcgjDosJ4aKBH-A-POZWpXmzfk/s1600/running+in+to+2015+2.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I'm really glad I laced up and saw out the New Year this way, as it can come off my bucket list, but it wasn't quite what I thought it would be, or built it up to be - I would definitely recommend the getting drunk with family and loved ones. Unless of course your family and loved ones joined you on the run!<br />
<br />
So, on to 2015, I don't really make resolutions, but I find that the start of a new year helps to focus my mind and think about what direction I want my life to go in. For me, it's simple, have an injury free year and get back to the level of running I was at a couple of years ago...<br />
<br />
...And if possible, not turn 30.<br />
<br />
All the best for 2015!dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-13990088965470672012014-12-26T13:42:00.001-08:002014-12-26T13:42:29.789-08:00Running in to the new year<p dir="ltr">For the last couple of years I've really wanted to run in to the new year; that is start a run on 31st December, and finish it 1st January.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It just sounds so... cool...</p>
<p dir="ltr">Unfortunately, due to some form of injury or another I've never quite managed it, and the romantic notion of it has never slipped my mind or left me (or how back to the future-esque it MUST feel)</p>
<p dir="ltr">Another thing I've been keen on is to run on Christmas day - get up, watch my family open their presents, and then go bounding out the door; rosy red cheeks glowing and white mist drifting upwards with every exhale, and a huge smile planted on my face...</p>
<p dir="ltr">Well, I managed the Christmas day run, and finally, finally, it looks like I'm going to run in to the new year - if I can stay awake!</p>
<p dir="ltr">It probably sounds like such a little thing, but in a year when I've not been able to don my running <u>club's</u> vest to race even once, I've learned to appreciate the little things.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone, I hope you all got exactly what you wished for :)</p>
dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-83561361278452208612014-12-07T13:17:00.000-08:002014-12-07T13:17:08.566-08:00Put downs to pick you up and other self centred sentiments<div dir="ltr">
I go to the gym, I go and I lift weights, I do it partly as a form of cross training to my running, and partly to try and put a bit of muscle on my waif like body... My gym has instructors who hold the full complement of Les Mills classes, I've done them, and have enjoyed them. They're a great way to workout without the need to think about what you're going to do in your latest workout.<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
However, a new Les Mills promotional poster has appeared in the gym; it reads: "Alone we're weak, together we're strong"</div>
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</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZRzVoeybckHmYtkNfAh1Au2hQJVMRqfV_N_uNfU1j9vMqEMU2oAe_n2xOetGjxiXkyo5tr1QJzsFP3s_scDfzJSIkspB0ubVkxdvUJeKwYOCmNvB2rsJ_6yQW2-U9KmSbb4D253SCwXB/s640/blogger-image--515504057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZRzVoeybckHmYtkNfAh1Au2hQJVMRqfV_N_uNfU1j9vMqEMU2oAe_n2xOetGjxiXkyo5tr1QJzsFP3s_scDfzJSIkspB0ubVkxdvUJeKwYOCmNvB2rsJ_6yQW2-U9KmSbb4D253SCwXB/s640/blogger-image--515504057.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: All the Les Mills</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />I'm sure this phrase has gone through all the usual marketing channels and was voted as the newest-and-bestest phrase to make you want to participate in a Les Mills class. However, I think it smacks of self righteousness and today's more and more apparent view of needing to put one group/person/thing down in order to make yourself feel superior....<br />
<br />
It's like the phrases "real women have curves" and "real men grow beards" - as if being anything different makes you less than everyone else. It (to use a possibly scouse phrase) does my head in; why feel that in order to make yourself feel better you have to put others down? I'm pretty sure Arnold (checks google for correct spelling) Schwarzenegger didn't regularly complete group classes on his way to becoming Mr. Universe at the age of 20, and then Mr. Olympia 7 times, but I'm sure the folks at Les Mills wouldn't call him weak!<br />
<br />
Similarly with the whole curves/skinny/beard/clean shaven 'thang, if you're happy with how & who you are, or take satisfaction in doing something which you believes makes you a better you, take your satisfaction from that, not from thinking you're better for doing something someone else hasn't, because, there will always, always, be someone who has done something more than what you have done or are doing...<br />
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<br /></div>
dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-56977543304125723332014-10-19T13:03:00.001-07:002014-10-19T13:05:28.169-07:00That was the week that was...<p dir="ltr">Every Monday morning when I was in primary school my classmates and I had to write a short summary of what we did over the last week, it was dubbed that was the week that was (or TW3 as the teacher liked to scrawl on the blackboard). So, for nostalgia's sake I thought I'd give a round up of my last 7 days of exercise - definitely my most demanding and varied on comeback from injury:</p>
<p dir="ltr">Monday - Suspension rope workout at gym followed by 20 min swim<br>
Tuesday - General gym workout followed by 6km run<br>
Wednesday - 30 min swim<br>
Thursday - General gym workout followed by 4km run, rock climbing in the evening<br>
Friday - General gym workout followed by 30 min swim<br>
Saturday - Suspension rope workout at gym followed by 6km run<br>
Sunday - Light gym workout, plus 2 hours of gardening (I'm counting this as a workout as I filled my recycling wheelie bin!)</p>
<p dir="ltr">So, quite a packed week, and whilst not running heavy, I'm definitly happy with the miles I covered and the general toil I put my body through. I plan on upping the miles over the next 4-6 weeks as I've got an early 2015 target in mind that I'm aiming for.</p>
<p dir="ltr">End note, I feel I should clarify that when I mention 'when I was in primary school' this wasn't just like last week or anything, it was when my age was in the single figures and <u>I</u> should have been there...</p>
dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-33555428106544898002014-09-28T13:25:00.001-07:002014-09-28T13:27:26.143-07:00Sometimes finishing last is ok...<p dir="ltr">I'm panting. 'This is is hard work, I want to stop, I want it to be over... Oh well, at least I'm not last...'<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">I look over my shoulder; 'oh god, I'm last... But... I wasn't earlier; there were at least 3 behind me before...'<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">They'd dropped out, quit; why? Because they couldn't carry on, or didn't like where they were in the field?<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">I wouldn't quit, no, I couldn't quit; my dad was in the crowd, how could I live with myself if I quit in front of him?<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">I was 15, running for the school in the cross country team - the 'weakest link'. It wasn't always like that, but it seemed in the last 6 months to a year the other boys had all had a growth spurt - I hadn't.<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">On I plodded, and approached the finish line, a cold, clear last in the pack. My dad decided to run next to me for the last 50 metres or so. 'A sprint finish isn't going to save me this humiliation, or running with my dad next to me' I thought.<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">I crossed the finish line, I didn't run for the school ever again after that experience... I didn't draw from it the lessons I perhaps should have.<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">That day will forever be etched in my memory - I should have used it as a confidence boost to will myself to keep with it because I didn't quit; I had the guts to see it through even though I knew I was the 'slowest' and 'worst' runner that day. Instead I walked away from running, and exercise in general until my university days in my twenties, which I'll forever regret.<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">My school actually finished second that year in the cross country; despite my last place finish, or because I managed to finish and provide a full compliment for team numbers? -I'll never know, but sometimes, finishing last doesn't always make you the worst, sometimes finishing last is ok...<br>
</p>
dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-84368692006266517382014-08-31T11:46:00.001-07:002014-08-31T13:13:36.437-07:00Song lyrics and running...<p dir="ltr">Its been a little while since my 'come back' post- slightly longer than I'd hoped / planned, and for one simple reason, I've had/having a little setback. Nothing major, but enough to make me ease back on my running. As ever, it's my own fault; trying to do too much too soon... It went something like this:</p>
<p dir="ltr">"Hey body"<br>
"Yeah?"<br>
"Now I know you've spent the last number of months healing and getting betterand all, but I think its time we do an inordinate amount of exericse, how's that sound?"<br>
"Um, I'm not sure..."<br>
"It'll be fine, I mean, we've been for a few runs but we're pretty much indestructible now aren't you?"<br>
"I really don't think that's the case..."<br>
"Nonsense!"</p>
<p dir="ltr">Well, it turns out it wasn't nonsense: runner in shocker of not listening to their body!!</p>
<p dir="ltr">So anyway, whilst I kick myself for my stupidity (ok, my greater than usual stupidity) I realised that all, or at least most, songs are written about running. I know, most of them are written about love you're thinking, uh no... Take Paloma Faith's latest hit; 'Only Love Can Hurt Like This'. On the face of it, it's about love, but don't let the song title mislead you, I proffer:</p><p dir="ltr">"I tell myself, it don't mean a thing... <span style="text-align: center; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But when you're not there I just crumble"</span></p><p dir="ltr">And how about "<span style="text-align: center; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But it's the sweetest pain, b</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">urning hot through my veins"</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Running I tell ya! Although I think Paloma missed out burning lungs in that last line.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">...And just for conclusive proof, Ed Sheeran's 'Thinking Out Loud', the very opening lyric gives it away:</span></p><p dir="ltr"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">"</span></font><span style="text-align: center; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When your legs don't work like they used to before"</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="text-align: center; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">...Post marathon feeling yeah?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: center; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"</span><span style="text-align: center; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When my hands don't play the strings the same way"</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: center; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">By strings, Ed is clearly referring to his Garmin watch (other brands are available)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: center; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And don't get me started on Bryan Adams' 'Run to To You'</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: center; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So there you have it... The next time you're listening to your favourite song on the radio/mp3 player/music playing device, have a little smile that it's all about running...</span></p>dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-667326063423714722014-07-22T13:12:00.001-07:002014-07-24T11:45:44.319-07:00<insert deep and meaningful title here><p dir="ltr">Well, hello! Its been a little while, such a little while that I'm not quite sure how to go about this first-post-back, so I'll keep it simple...</p>
<p dir="ltr">I've been running again for around 6 weeks now, easing back in to it to build up my stamina and getting my body used to running (I have never felt so unfit in my entire life!). So far, so good, but about damn time if you ask me! I have plenty of targets in my mind but for now, it is amazing to feel like a runner!</p>
<p dir="ltr">I'll give a more detailed update over the next few weeks, right now my fingers are getting tired from not having blogged for so long ;) in the mean time, I hope anyone who previously read my blog is happy and healthy, and anyone who may not have, welcome!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><p></p>
<p dir="ltr">Btw, I have a new job, which I've had for around 6 months now and it is fantabulistic!!</p>
dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-87334689758959209602013-12-30T12:57:00.001-08:002013-12-30T12:57:24.794-08:00Bye for now<p dir="ltr">The last 8 months have been a very long 8 months for me, mainly due to my running injury, but also because of my job.</p>
<p dir="ltr">My injury continues to cause me pain, and stop me from running. For that reason, I am taking a break from this blog, and all things social media.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I am not doing this for sympathy or attention, but because reading about other runners and their adventures only adds to the despondency, frustration and frankly, despair that I feel.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I hope to be back one day, I don't even care about being back stronger, just, to be back, pain free.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I wish anyone who reads my blog all the best for 2014, and I hope you stay happy and healthy.</p>
<p dir="ltr">David</p>
dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-48129638486333481992013-11-07T07:53:00.002-08:002013-11-07T13:54:07.261-08:00All the rehab... ...and my inappropriate reference to Fifty Shades of Grey to my physio<br>
<br>
My recovery from <a href="http://pintsizedtorpedo.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/when-your-nerves-physically-stop-you.html">foot-gate</a> continues, and, I think, it is finally feeling like it is properly on the mend. However I'm not even contemplating running, or thinking this is over by a long stretch, I'm just enjoying not being in constant pain when I'm sat at my desk all day, or relaxing on the couch at home.<br>
<br>
I'm now using, as per the direction of the physio, an exercise resistance band - and a very dashing yellow colour it is too. It is the band that offers the least resistance, and suits my current foot strength, right down to the ground (way to ruin a guy's macho image).<br>
<br>
When the physio originally presented the band to me, and then started wrapping it around my foot, I may have said something like 'this is all a bit Fifty Shades of Grey isn't it?!'... I don't think she was too enamoured with my comment, and after back tracking slightly by saying what an inappropriate thought for a Thursday morning (yes, it was a Thursday morning) and that I'd never read the books ('quite rightly too, and neither have I', was the reply) she went on to tell me that in her uni days, on a night out, one of her mates was tied up with an exercise band.<br>
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I didn't ask her to elaborate; I'd have been barred from physio forever, and knowing my made of glass body I'm pretty sure I'll be wanting to go back some day after all this is sorted.<br>
<br>
So I'm merrily exercise band-ing away to strengthen the suspected ligament causing the issue... Below is a mid action shot of the 'swing' my foot must complete to really strengthen the aforementioned ligament.<br>
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRc1EyLQzSRUGD5QiM3k5IztzN1tLEe17cj8dKH57SuklmHLsTJcfn2KwVGkajGkLN8gZrRj4SjrbnJJXFrJz5qVFYoSCfd7rPfPrzGY9FnmRTTN4E9oyL9NpMd9Gi00i6rfCHSIdCqfC/s640/blogger-image-1441238717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRc1EyLQzSRUGD5QiM3k5IztzN1tLEe17cj8dKH57SuklmHLsTJcfn2KwVGkajGkLN8gZrRj4SjrbnJJXFrJz5qVFYoSCfd7rPfPrzGY9FnmRTTN4E9oyL9NpMd9Gi00i6rfCHSIdCqfC/s640/blogger-image-1441238717.jpg"></a></div><br><br>
Soon I plan to be able to pull a 4x4 car with the swing of my foot, and maybe run a bit too :)<br>
<br>
Bye for now !<br>
<br>
P.S Still can't do the splits... <br>
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P.P.S Does anyone else, when injured, get frustrated / annoyed at family / friends asking them are they running again yet? I've managed to resist retorting sarcastically 'if I was back running I think you'd know about it by now'<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-23936337448408092442013-10-15T13:03:00.000-07:002013-10-15T13:10:15.291-07:00UntitledWell, I'd originally planned that my 'come back' post would be about how I'm all on track with my running, how I was injury free, and how things were looking up.<br />
<br />
Heck, I'd even thought about how I would start it off; <em>'hello you, how was the rest, you made it through, but never the less...' </em>I'd then go on to say can anyone guess the artist or song (it's a song called 'Lights and Sounds' by Yellowcard), and how those opening words perfectly reflected the tone of the post...<br />
<br />
<br />
Of course, things; lives, jobs, relationships, very rarely go to plan.<br />
<br />
I've been wanting to blog for a while but with little running happening, it seemed pointless. Anyway, 'here' I am, and here is an update. Predictably I'm still suffering from the foot injury I've had for many months, though I feel like I'm almost better. Unfortunately, almost better in this instance is being pain free in my day to day life, rather than returning to running.<br />
<br />
I'm currently seeing a physio through the NHS every couple of weeks, and tonight I returned to acupuncture in an aid to help things along (needles in foot picture below)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCjay7QeTaKMoFMRq3VO8zZvo1yk9H9Mm7zmq_8Y9PVyG4O6Ie-bZ9xMnjUF0SU8lDn-NzVr-1UoXUfI-KviaftNzwkBOuHNJvnLEYkKAKFyr7YqHxM5GXQiwrOQiQQ1My7Gm9h28i6pN/s1600/IMG_0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCjay7QeTaKMoFMRq3VO8zZvo1yk9H9Mm7zmq_8Y9PVyG4O6Ie-bZ9xMnjUF0SU8lDn-NzVr-1UoXUfI-KviaftNzwkBOuHNJvnLEYkKAKFyr7YqHxM5GXQiwrOQiQQ1My7Gm9h28i6pN/s320/IMG_0057.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Having such an extended period off running has given me a lot of thinking time; have I missed running? What does it mean to me? Is there another sport or hobby I should take up instead?<br />
<br />
I have other hobbies, I do other things; reading, seeing my mates, playing guitar, (when I'm not snapping the strings on it - see below !) to name but a small handful....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkYIM1UYOTrFSWX9qBV4DxP9_cH3VzIkJtAyMyjL7Pou4Wo540FFz8cuq0CxIVNLDWL5gygrCpOOBtu9NQXBnTLRwEcdbbLWzqd23F7Nw4G5X8cnWJfAj0K8LVoyA4NcCaM2az_YlDy9j/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkYIM1UYOTrFSWX9qBV4DxP9_cH3VzIkJtAyMyjL7Pou4Wo540FFz8cuq0CxIVNLDWL5gygrCpOOBtu9NQXBnTLRwEcdbbLWzqd23F7Nw4G5X8cnWJfAj0K8LVoyA4NcCaM2az_YlDy9j/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
...None of these things though, are running.<br />
<br />
I read a post from another blogger recently discussing how they had fallen out of love with running, and how they were aiming to get back in to it for 2014... I could never fall out of love with running - for me, the top and the bottom of it is that I love running, and I miss it so much. I don't know about you, but I define myself as a runner, it makes me who and what I am, and to not be able to do something that I define myself by, is horrible.<br />
<br />
So, I will carry on doing what my physio says, hoping that acupuncture helps, and looking forward to the day when I can lace up my running shoes and go pound the streets, pain free!<br />
<br />
I've not been keeping that up to date with the blogs I follow, simply because I can't bring myself to read how much others are loving their running, (envious, not jealous!) but I'm doing my best to start going through them and catching up on them.<br />
<br />dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-89274344879150153472013-07-27T14:48:00.001-07:002013-07-27T14:50:01.972-07:00Splitting in two...... Not literally, but actually, yes, nearly literally.<div><br></div><div>I saw the picture below a while ago:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPCrTeURX4kzizXSxNhyTf192k5-x9pk8wZUFo4LUdT6ZSk18CNZshg389NF5HaZrQBUAb1a_amtTf3jk_bTt0hcIiHaJ_kz27VqB4cXPr-Dr-eRI539GxVYyvSynZ9MhlDJG2crQcErU/s640/blogger-image--526351503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPCrTeURX4kzizXSxNhyTf192k5-x9pk8wZUFo4LUdT6ZSk18CNZshg389NF5HaZrQBUAb1a_amtTf3jk_bTt0hcIiHaJ_kz27VqB4cXPr-Dr-eRI539GxVYyvSynZ9MhlDJG2crQcErU/s640/blogger-image--526351503.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>I thought "I'll have to do that at some point" but, as with anything, it's difficult to split the time so you can focus on doing it twice a day.<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "> </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">(See what i did there? -Ok i'll get my coat!)</span></div><div><br></div><div>I've decided I'll try and do this. In two weeks I'll obviously be super flexible and have the ability to do the splits at the drop of a hat.</div><div><br></div><div>I've just done the first set. Guaranteed I'll be walking like I've got a bottle shoved... Yeah you get the picture don't you?!</div><div><br></div><div>Feel free to join in and let me know how you get on :)</div><div><br></div><div>P.S. Foot still not better, but getting there I think. Seeing GP on Tuesday; going to ask to be referred to a Physio.</div>dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-14010497733656763092013-07-11T14:12:00.000-07:002013-07-11T14:12:18.969-07:00Foot fetishesJust to confirm <span style="font-size: large;"><u>I do not have a foot fetish</u></span> -it appears however, that some people do...<br />
<br />
Following my slightly moany (ok, very moany) post about my foot injury, everyone's favourite Lucy, <a href="http://ironlucy.blogspot.co.uk/">IronLucy</a> gave me some advice; "Youtube ballet foot strengthening and exercises" ... "Ballerinas have rock-hard kick-ass feet, toes of steel, man."<br />
<br />
So YouTube I did...<br />
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If the agonising looking shapes these ballerinas contorted their feet into didn't sit well with me and made me a little queasy, some of the comments along side these videos made me throw up a bit in my mouth...<br />
<br />
..People have foot fetishes and aren't afraid to shout about it! Below are a select few comments alongside the videos. (I've obviously taken out the user names, and I've not put in some of the more explicit ones)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D6xZy6KpNjIxDzKXq-Qf252iQMvZsaJ9s_jxanebryUuz5bnCFH7cmzWeU3ftSyG2mxNVaP6ei_57KX3iTv0Uulw1tWcPZbYJGYg7PQovsXAAJ-wXfPU0HKmZMrcKcEG6YOrjQHzPOM6/s1600/feet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D6xZy6KpNjIxDzKXq-Qf252iQMvZsaJ9s_jxanebryUuz5bnCFH7cmzWeU3ftSyG2mxNVaP6ei_57KX3iTv0Uulw1tWcPZbYJGYg7PQovsXAAJ-wXfPU0HKmZMrcKcEG6YOrjQHzPOM6/s320/feet.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proof is in the 'pudding' (ice cream, pudding, no?)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As well as these exercises I've seen on YouTube, I've also set a reminder on my calendar in work every hour to tell me to go and stretch...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh5wdZIQPl-6j26wAcx74Nx91P_XMUQIN2UHfmnhOJybKakxqqMQTRY3z0t_eIZiWSRXYaFuA_JNs4Fn_2p1TGRdJH2jmSQyRFZnahf8WQdYS3in5iVClLh8X9E8Z7LjE6RF8BUXessda/s640/blogger-image--1619735234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh5wdZIQPl-6j26wAcx74Nx91P_XMUQIN2UHfmnhOJybKakxqqMQTRY3z0t_eIZiWSRXYaFuA_JNs4Fn_2p1TGRdJH2jmSQyRFZnahf8WQdYS3in5iVClLh8X9E8Z7LjE6RF8BUXessda/s320/blogger-image--1619735234.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can spell 'Stretch', I promise!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So every day this week whilst in work, every hour, I've taken 2-3 mins away from my
desk to walk up and down 3 flights of stairs, and to stretch out my
lower extremities. It <i>feels</i> like it's helping - I just hope that it is...<br />
<br />
Do any of you have any <strike>weird fetishes</strike> unusual likes/guilty pleasures? -Actually, don't tell me, I'm not sure I want to know :p dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-67329819969909994202013-07-04T12:55:00.000-07:002013-07-04T12:55:33.183-07:00When your nerves physically stop you...I went to see a physio today about my foot injury... Whilst talking through the injury and how it has developed, it made me realise I've had the problem for over 10 weeks.<br />
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10 weeks man!<br />
<br />
That's a long time...<br />
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Turns out it's a nerve issue; something* is causing / putting pressure on the nerve in the top of my foot, giving me the numb style pain I'm getting.<br />
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At a bit of a loss as to what to do, she ultra sound-ed the foot, then went even more high tech and used interferential therapy - it's basically a small scale slendertone system (you know, the electrical pulse belt that gives you rock hard abs?!) and can be applied to any area of the body (careful !).<br />
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Then ensued the thumbs, which didn't hurt too much compared to my previous dealings with elbows and IT bands...<br />
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So, I'm not to run whilst I still have this issue, and I'm to do foot stretching and strengthening exercises.<br />
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I'm pretty gutted - I was feeling positive going to the physio thinking lets get an action plan for getting back to running, but right now, I don't ever see a time when I'll be able to run pain free, or not be in pain because I've run.<br />
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So for now, running will need to take a back seat, maybe I'll just get a load of cats and be a crazy cat guy.<br />
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"Down, Down, <strike>but definitely not out</strike>" - You Me At Six<br />
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Disclaimer: There is nothing wrong with cats, or people who have them.<br />
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*but the physio doesn't know what, how it would be best treated, or had treated a condition like this before, yaaayyy!dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954692152730259414.post-22294100173769606312013-06-18T01:37:00.003-07:002013-06-18T13:24:47.181-07:00What makes a good blog?I feel like all I've done for the last month is write race reports, and lets face it, there's only so many ways you can say 'I ran this bit quickly', 'this bit slowly', and 'I finished the race in this time'.<br>
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-My posts feel a little monotonous of late, but then, it's a running blog, so race reports are bound to feature heavily, right?<br>
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Anyway, this got me thinking; what makes a good blog? Well, I probably like blogs which are similar to mine - or what I try to deliver with mine:</div>
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Those that don't always take themselves too seriously, focus on running but throw in other subjects, as well as having<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"> a bit of witty humour to boot (ok, so maybe mine doesn't have all that much of the latter category !)</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">I sometimes think I post too much, but then, I really like <a href="http://ironlucy.blogspot.co.uk/">IronLucy's blog</a> by Lucy Nickells, and she blogs everyday... (Of course Lucy does wear superhero underwear, something my under garment collection sadly lacks)</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Blogging about running and chucking other bits of life in mixes things up nicely, and <a href="http://goldilocksrunning.blogspot.co.uk/">Goldilocks Running's blog</a> by Sarah Marsden does this excellently; check out her thigh gap post <a href="http://goldilocksrunning.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/f-you-thigh-gap.html">here</a>. (Somehow I don't think I'd have thought to write about this subject)</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Finally, getting quite technical about their running as well as humour-filled is something the <a href="http://dreamingoffootpaths.blogspot.co.uk/">Dreaming of Footpaths blog</a> by Sarah Fry has got down to a T, shes also a little bit famous due to her escapades as part of Asics Target 26.2 (not jealous, honest)</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">So, with those 3 blogs in mind what makes a good/interesting blog for you, and whose do you enjoy?</span></div>
dk_knowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099200110517424012noreply@blogger.com2