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Over 60's training (Part 2)
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TS, yes very similar though sounds like it was worse in your case. Mine improved by itself fortunately, albeit after 4-6 weeks discomfort & pain. My local doctor misdiagnosed it as sacroiliitis and plied me with Voltaren, then Prednisone for a few weeks, neither of which made any difference. About 5 weeks before I got to see a specialist - initially sent to a Rheumatologist for an MRI, who then sent me on to a spinal surgeon after the MRI pointed to a prolapsed disc, with a possible alternative of sheath tumour! (MRI showed no evidence of sacroiliitis). Another two weeks before I could see the spinal surgeon. He was fairly confident it was a prolapsed disc but because tumour had been raised, ordered a second MRI with Gadolinium. Had a meeting with the spinal surgeon this morning. He confirmed it was not a tumour and since the pain has largely disappeared, recommended against surgery unless it gets worse again. Very impressed by the specialists, especially the spinal surgeon. Explained everything very clearly. Meant I could see for myself how the MRI ruled out tumour and why the protruding bits caused the pain and other symptoms.
One advantage of the delays is that it had time to improve naturally. Maybe I would have had surgery if I had seen the spinal surgeon before the pain disappeared. But I am glad I have private health insurance. Likely would have taken months+ to see the specialists and get the MRI scans if I had to go through the public hospital system. Was told that even my initial x-ray could have taken two months (vs done on the spot privately).
I had a history of severe back pain going back pain going back a few years. the last episode did not improve with physio and my physio wrote a letter to my GP explaining the treatment to date and the observed problems including no reflex action in my right ankle.
GP was very good and I was having a MRI within 2 weeks which disclosed a disc protrusion which was causing a narrowing of the right lateral recess and disrupting and displacing the exiting right nerve root.
As there had been no improvement with conservative treatment and the nerve disruption was causing near paralysis surgery was the only real option.
Pleased that yours improved without surgical intervention. Core work is very important after such an event as the neural connectors into the small fast twitch muscles literally get atrophied by the pain and they need to be re engaged and activated. I have lots of exercises if you want them!
London was very hot indeed, blazing sun and warm buildings radiating even more heat. Pleased to get the train back and arrive just in time for a very pleasant Hash in cooler conditions over countryside that had been greened up by recent moisture - nice change from London!
Much cooler this morning as I did a sedate 3 miles - legs not recovered!
. . my "stop messing" schedule .. simply decided I needed to put a period of consistency in, rather than "boom and bust", so to speak. So I intend a 10 week block of 40-45 mpw (with 2 cutback weeks included). There will then be a week to the first XC of our County League series (South Yorks).
This week so far; Monday - track (gasp) - met my daughter there at 4:30 pm, so was very hot - 3 miles jogging, 4 x 800m (daughter 3 x 1 mile), then a mile jog. Rest yesterday, 16 miles this morning - was great to feel coolish air on my arms and legs . So far, so good.
I was amused by your story re the Stan Long comment - the other week, my clubmate's son said to him "Dad, don't you take your running far too seriously . . . . . . for someone of your ability"
Dave
I bounce well
Picking dried skin off my palm gravel rash as I type - too much info?
Track session/rest/long slow run/?? sounds quite sensible...for you
I hope your daughter didn't lap you!
Lovely morning for running and I went wild with 3.33 miles in 31:56
10:20 all uphill but only 65m worth
09:23 up - and down mainly
09:00 flat
03:12
impressive ...not
I thought I used to push hard but that was exceptional.
TS - did the 800's by perceived effort - I'll wait a while before I time them. I started each one as my daughter was on the back straight on lap 1 of her mile reps (which she did time - 6:25, 6:19, 6:22) , so I wasn't lapped
4 easy yesterday, 6 similar this morning - now viewing Euro Heptathlon
Dave
I'm still going ok and at least avoiding stopping in a 3 mile run. I've got a regular run of that length around Newcastle Town Moor which is almost entirely on grass. I've resumed keeping a diary of all my runs having stopped doing it after ten years when the foot thing was at its worst.
well done on keeping in front. Your daughter's mile efforts were very impressive indeed
You will have to beware that your clubmate's son's comments are not repeated!
Graham
yes - I still bounce! enough practice over the years playing sports of all varieties.
It's getting serious now - diary entries
I too, have two regular 3+ mile courses, one easier than the other in terms of altitude. I tackled the hillier one (89m of climb) yesterday on a coolish morning and ran the 3.15 miles in 29:28 (9:25m/m)
09:30
08:39
10:20
00:59
You can see where the lumps are!
Relatively speedy for me and I felt okish throughout which was a big plus
Rest day to day - looks like I will have to cut the grass again - second time since the beginning of June!
rain came last evening just after I had finished grass cutting- freshened it up nicely
This morning low, grey clouds kept all the moisture in and humidity must have been 100%. So I set off very slowly and kept it that way s increased distance massively to 4.53 miles in 46:46 - the average pace of 10:20 told its own tale but I did run over 100m of climb overall
DAS is quite quick isn't she
rest day today - lounged on sofa this morn watching the marathons from Berlin - exciting Women's race - though the eventual winner's nosebleed was quite alarming. Shame Purdue and Partridge DNF'd.
finished my week on 42 miles after 10 yesterday morning - accomplished in bright sunshine, but cool air - lovely.
Dave
That's a good weekly total.
TS
Couple of decent runs there,think we were rather fortunate to beat Newcastle.
Only 22miles for me this week will have to step it up I think.
good way to do a marathon
The nose bleed was alarming wasn't it? I recall having one before a HM and ran the whole race terrified of sneezing!!
A good start to your "no messing around" schedule
Ray
entertaining game - both sides need to sharpen up quite a bit
I have to smile when I see "a decent run" against my 4.5 miles
No run today as I was on the road to a meeting at 0630 - probably just as well as it very humid and the A/C in the car was rather nice - bit of a shock when I got out at my destination! pouring down now with occasional rolls of thunder so my grass cutting was not in vain
On Sunday I did my longest run since December, 3.9 miles through Jesmond Dene. One instance of the toe curling but again no stop needed. Weekly total was a modest but encouraging 16.4 miles. I don't want to be tempted to increase that by much for a while after such a long virtual lay-off.
I didn't get chance to watch much of the athletics. It does seem farcical though to see a Kenyan running in the European Championships (for Turkey of course). Although time scales are a little longer it seems to be as easy for an athlete to switch allegiance to another country as it is for runners like us to move to a new club, with no family or residential requirements to be met as far as I can see. It's a joke.
16x200m tonight with 45 secs recovery all done on grass.Average pace was in the region of 6:30mm which felt tough on the hard ground.
Ray - tough session of 200s - I rested yesterday, and replicated your 6 miler today
Dave
more good news on the toe front
i believe that the IAAF have now put a stop to passporting athletes - it was getting silly when Kenyan's and others were being transferred for big signing on fees and citizenship.
Ray
16 x 200m sounds brutal! I always used to hate 200m reps as they were within my sprinting range and I always ran them too hard
Even your 6 miles sounds pretty fast afterwards!
Dave
6 miles is always a good distance - far enough to feel like a good run but not so far as to take the edge off the next day
Tuesday night found me in Nidd Gorge at K'boro and of course a route that led up an down the infamous steps on the side of aforesaid gorge. I didn't make it up running!
4.5 miles done some of it on ground softened by rain which was a pleasant change - even more pleasant was it being followed by award winning pork pies and beer!
Knees had great difficulty moving this morning so I eased off the run quite early .............
The regular dog walkers that I see were dressed for winter and I was still in vest and shorts!!
I haven't been doing much running - mainly dog walking or going to dog parks so our pup can run free.
I've been doing a few Park runs too, Ran Cornwall Park run this morning 28.09 which was AG 75.37% which I was happy with.
Neat that a lot of you were able to meet up for LFOM Hyde Park 5km.
Hi Ahmed.
Good to see Alehouse posting on here too.
the good new is that you can build up over a long period of time and not have to try and cram it in - and then make a decision later on - turn of the year time?
You are right - pork pies and beer need big miles - which I can't do!
Another 3 miles yesterday after another heavy carbo loading evening with the "boys" out in town including a visit to a brand new Indian "street food" restaurant which was very lively but very chaotic! Rejoiced in the name of "Cat's pyjamas" for reasons which we could not discover..................
In fact I do seem stuck at the level I am at - any attempt at increased distance or speed just wipes me out. I have a doctor's appointment in a couple of weeks when the basic question will be - "is this as good as it gets?"
NZC
no running but parkruns at +75% AG - wished I was doing such non-running
It was good to meet up with folk after not seeing so many face to face for a long time
which reminds me - where is Mick and Columba?
Ray, well done on the 16 x 200s. Really hard work from the sound of it but great to keep the speed in your legs going.
TS, I hope the doctor has something to offer you regarding your lack of energy when running.
Dave, nice 6-miler.
I'm also wondering where the absentees are.
I did the faster parkrun course yesterday of the two I especially like near here and ran it quite hard. Quite pleased with the time of 25m 46s and the legs did feel a bit more responsive until I inevitably tired near the end. 1st M65 - not too many more runs for me now in that age category
Well done yesterday, Graham: much more like it!
parkrun for me as well yesterday, running one of the slower local courses for my century of parkruns. 26:12 or thereabouts for 1st M60 although one of my M65 friends was some way ahead. Nevertheless I was pleased as that was the longest run since mid-June. Not too long before I join him in that age group.
Dave
I might do a track session for the first time since last autumn on Wednesday though. Just a light one but it will be good to do one again and meet up with a couple of friends.
very nasty experience for your friend - dealing with the aftermath an be just as bad when insurers get involved
Alehouse
well done - a good return to running and a very respectable time for benchmarking in the future as well.
Don't hurry too much to move up and age group
Graham
good to hear of your parkrun as well and also your long run.
Taking it easy and track session and not good bedfellows!
If it was just running that knackered me it wouldn't be so bad but in truth any physical exertion leaves me struggling.
Talking of struggling I spent Sunday putting together some Ikea wardrobes