'Mature' runners.

1529252935295529752985720

Comments

  • Brilliant Redhead well done, onward to next week. Forecast looks a bit cooler. Which start are you?
  • ColumbaColumba ✭✭✭

    Many congratulations to Tony H; hope he's pleased with his result (trying to envisage what "blow up" may mean... presumably just another way to describe hitting that wall?)

    OT - good that your ankle is so much better so quickly

    Red - well done you, and in all this heat as well. Liked the foam-bricked wall, and the Alzheimer's lady was a real bonus. 

    Does that really say you were knitting on the back of a tandem? In what other unlikely situations have you turned out lengths of knitting? (knitting while ice-skating; knitting while sky-diving; knitting with waterproof yarn while swimming...?)

    What length of knitting do you have to beat, in order to beat your own world record? 

  • ColumbaColumba ✭✭✭

    Mum seemed quite agitated when I saw her today; trying to get her head round the hospital stay, why she was taken in, what was wrong with her, etc. She complains that no-one explains anything to her, but when I try to explain she gets more worked up.

    Went for a run of between 4 and 5 miles after I'd visited her, to make sure I didn't get agitated too. 

  • Well done, Redhead. It was hot! I went down to Brighton for the afternoon to support, and saw a few forumites. I hope it isn't that hot for London
  • 3hrs 35 is a good time in ANY conditions in my opinion
  • Redhead, well done a great effort in the warm weather, lets hope it cools down a bit for next week. I'm stopping in London for 3 days and taking in a show. Are you doing anything similar ?

    Chris, i'm at Blackheath on the Blue start.

    I've been able to follow my training schedule again today, 9 miles in 1-46-17 and the ankle has held firm, i'm astonished that a trapped nerve can cause so much discomfort and then be dealt with so easy.     

  • RedheadRedhead ✭✭✭
    Morning all,

    Glorious day down here again and have already been for a short walk of about 2 miles. Will probably trot off for a 3 mile plod across the fields later. Quads are a bit wibbly and hip flexors sore (as usual for me) but otherwise feel great. Very sunburnt though and sporting multi-coloured legs with short and sock lines!

    Columba, glad mum is being discharged. You often find that the elderly become disorientated when removed from their familiar surroundings so don't worry unduly. Her insistence that nobody has explained anything to her is just a pride mechanism to hide the fact that she really can't remember. Hope she settles down again soon and continues to recover.

    LOL at the knitting suggestions. I knitted my way round the Isle of Wight as the stoker on the back of a tandem in the IOW Randonnee in 2009. My that was hilly! I have been contacted by several people suggesting odd things for me to do (well, I am the Extreme Knitting Redhead after all) but this is the only offer I have accepted..........so far image

    TE, thanks for the update on Tony. What a brill time for a hot day.

    Hi Froggy, I didn't spot you in the crowd. Hope you get your pb at VLM. Don't forget to say hi if you go past me.

    Chris, I'm at the Green Start. You may pass me at some stage because I'll be going n ice and slowly and aiming to finish just under 6 hours.

    OT, glad the ankle is feeling OK. My knees both held up fine yesterday yet last week I was considering pulling out of Brighton! We'll be travelling up on the day, really early, but can't stay over as we need to get home for the animals. Which show are you hoping to see?

    JJ, sorry I won't see you at VLM. Maybe next year.
  • Good luck Columba, your mum should settle after a bit. There are some advantages in 'normal' short term memory loss.

    OT and Redhead the folks from VLM first timers are meeting here.

    Sunday morning!!! - Meet at the Police Park Building on the corner of Charlton Way and Blackheath Avenue. There is a Police and Parks building on the corner apparently? It's between the starts. What time? 8.00am for a quick cheers to all, couple of photos then off to our areas? How that sound?

    smilies/smile_smiley.gif

    <img title="Click image to view full size." src="../members/images/273426/Gallery/Marathon_meeting_point.jpg" width="350" height="289" />
     IM Blue start no 18652, Cadburys themed top. Hoping to go 12 min miles for as long as possible then just get to the end. Anything short of 6 hrs will be magnificent. Mentioned was thinking of maybe going for a time 'next time' last night, was met with horror all round! Hilarious. But just noticed the GFA time for 65 yr old women is 5hrs 30 Wow I could do that with another years practice! Mind not 65 til then but hey, to be aimed for.So if youre about would love to say hello.
    ../t.gif








    ../t.gif

    <img title="Show/hide user stats" src="images/arrowRight.gif" />
    ../t.gif




    ../t.gif









    ../t.gif















    ../t.gif

  • so sorry.

    Just look at VLM First timers in Spring Marathon. pg 219, about half way down in MIss Knees. Wont cut and paste.

  • ColumbaColumba ✭✭✭

    OT - it's already cooled down here. Misty and damp with it. Would be just the thing for a marathon, but who knows what it'll be like in a week's time on the other side of the country.

    Ran down to the town lake this morning, 3 times round it fastish with 3-minute walk breaks between.

    Red - I suppose the success of the tandem knitting was because it allowed you to put in the physical effort with your legs while leaving you sight and mind clear to concentrate on the knitting. Maybe there are other, similiar activities, done in pairs or small groups, where someone else can be the eyes.  

  • Very well done Tony and Redhead - anyone know how Helegant got on, I kept looking for her and sproglet but never saw them even though I ended up nearly at the back of the field. Sorry not to have seen anyone yesterday.  It was much too hot for me and as I had feared my bad leg did let me down, I walked/shuffled nearly all of the race and am quite sunburned. Need some time to digest it all, but I have to say I was disappointed in both the course and the spectators, wasn't nearly as great as I had been led to expect. I hated all those out-and-back stretches especially the one round the power station, surely they could have found something a bit more attractive. Surprised to see on the news that nearly half of the registered runners didn't start - do you suppose they had entered Brighton as a backup and then got into VLM so just didn't bother to turn up? Far too few timing mats out there, it would be very easy for someone to cheat by cutting across the course as there's no timing checks except for the start, halfway and finish. You could go straight from around mile 5 to the halfway point!  First city marathon I've ever been in where anyone could (and did) join the competitors - my niece accompanied  me for the last 3 miles and across the finish line and nobody said a word. My brother went alongside me on several stretches including along Madeira Drive, good job he did actually because we passed a woman crying and in obvious pain, I asked what's wrong  and she said she was in bad trouble with her injured knee, so I told Chris I would go on and asked if he would encourage her to the finish, which he did. She had said she was doing it in memory of her parents so didn't want to drop out. We saw her being bundled into a wheelchair at the finish and hurried away to be worked on. I do hope she was ok.

  • At this point if anyone asks if I would do Brighton again, the answer's a resounding "no".
  • HelegantHelegant ✭✭✭

    Hi all. My marathon wasn't. I also suffered breathing difficulties just after half-way, and was out of the event from mile 14. Sproglet did very well to go on and finish on her own; I am unspeakably disappointed not to have been able to finish with her, but she did it.

    Anyone could have cheated by simply crossing the road at any of the many switchpoints, and in parts the crowd control was poor. Sproglet said one pedestrian just walked in front of her as she was running the last mile (faster than her first, I'm amazed at her pulling that one out of the bag), and she had no choice (tired, hurting, disorientated) but to run through her. I found it annoying to have to queue for the runners portaloos with the general public.

    However, these are minor niggles, and I did enjoy the bits of the event that I saw, and have nothing but praise for St John Ambulance people and the A&E department of Brighton Hospital who looked after me very well.

    Today my lungs hurt more than my legs, and I'm planning ways to improve my preparation for the next marathon.

    Well done to all who ran in the heat. Does anyone know the actual temperature?

  • 23.5c Helen. Hope you are feeling better. I am struggling to walk today.
  • IW well done for finishing the race in the circumstances!

    Helegant, sorry you were unable to finish, but you were sensible in not trying to carry on and possibly ending up in hospital.

    Today was much cooler and I did another interval session. My total mileage was 8.25 and in between, I ran 12 x 440 yds with 2 min jog recoveries. I did the intervals on a footpath off of the large field where I usually do them. It was challenging, as the path was like a roller coaster, up and down all the way. I got up a good pace on the down slopes, and pushed hard on the up slopes. The path was mainly gravel, but there were lots of tree roots stretching right accross the path. It made me lift my legs higher than usual, which must help to strenghten them. It made me think of the early days when I started running, when kids would shout out "get them knees up!"

  • RedheadRedhead ✭✭✭
    Evening all,

    (((Helen))) that was a horrid thing to happen to you and I'm so relieved you are feeling a bit better today.

    IW, poor you. So sorry you were disappointed with the whole event and that your leg caused trouble.

    I think that a forumite I know must have slipped under a barrier to cut her mileage as I spotted her twice on the out and back bits and estimated she was at least 30 minutes behind me. I was, therefore, somewhat surprised to find her in the finish area before me as I know that she hadn't gone past me!

    Quite agree about the crowd control as I had a cyclist run across the road pushing his bike in front of me causing me to swerve. The whole crowd booed him!
  • HelegantHelegant ✭✭✭

    For the insomniacs amongst you, here's a cut'n'paste from another site about my day yesterday.

    "1. Residual cold virus affecting my lungs (no, I didn't know about that one)
    2. Tree pollen in the air (irritates my lungs, but I have been managing that for years - normally doesn't stop me running)
    3. High temperatures (again, not normally a huge problem, I quite like warm weather)
    4. Anxiety/adrenaline of a big occasion - this event had a huge emotional tag for me, although I didn't explain that to the medical staff.

    The FS2 (no idea what that means, but there was a chart on the wall telling patients what the different colour uniforms meant) said that she thought I could have coped with any of the above, but not all four together.

    It felt a bit OTT to be shipped off to the hospital after an hour in the St John treatment centre, but I can understand that they needed to be extra sure.

    What happened:
    4am alarm call and drive to Brighton
    Checked Peak flow before I left and it was down to 500 (normally 650-700). I felt fine, so took ventolin as a prophylactic measure before the race and thought no more about it.

    Race started.
    I felt strong and comfortable until somewhere near Rottingdean. Airway started to close, and I noticed lots of trees with buds on. '****' thought I. Used ventolin, all returned to normal. I had to repeat this several times over the next few miles, but all was well (I thought)

    Strapping fell off my knee - that's never happened before, so a quick stop at the roundabout to be fitted with a crepe bandage. Stopped again 100 yards further on to refit it so that bloodflow could be re-established.

    During the repeated asthma episodes I was struggling to run - it was all beginning to feel like much harder work. Yet, when my lungs were clear, I felt as if I could run forever.

    Up the hill, turn around, back down the hill. Under the half-marathon archway, ran past our friends, 'make it look easy'.
    And then bang.
    Just around the corner, major breathing problems, ventolin no longer working. Coming in waves, with some ability to breathe inbetween. During those times I was convinced I could carry on and finish. During one of the other episodes I told Pink Sparkie 'Go', and eventually she did.

    St John volunteers helped me to their treatment centre, which made it up to the 14 mile mark on my Garmin and then I was out of the event. Another couple of episodes when 'at rest', and I was working really hard not to panic, to breathe slowly and deeply, to hold an 'in' breath etc. They said I was tachycardic, whatever that means after running all morning, and later on they said my colour was 'better'. At the SJA stop, they gave me more drugs in a nebuliser (a first), and I exhibited/experienced major ventolin OD symptoms - deeply unpleasant.


    St John staff transferred me to hospital, which worried those (including Mr) who had read that only the most serious and urgent cases would be sent there. Mr spent a while trying to phone PS to let her know that her mother was actually fine, and eventually we were re-united on the seafront in the charity tent for a photo.

    We went back via the finish to drop off my timing chip and collect my bag, and I was given a 'finisher' t shirt. I'll donate it to PS instead who finished the race for both of us, and in honour of her Gran
    ."

     Red, I'm glad you had the crowd on your side.

    IW, I may have seen you, but would I have recognised you?  We were making good time (for me) and were ahead of the 5:30 pacer for most of the first half. She passed us at the loo queue.

  • Thanks folks, but I think my days of marathon road running are over. I can barely walk due to pain and stiffness in my hip and groin - just as the doc warned me. 3 years ago he said quit or nothing will work any more.

    Helen what an unpleasant time you had, it must have been a bit scary, glad you're ok now.

  • RedheadRedhead ✭✭✭
    Morning all,

    Touch of DOMS for me this morning so have been for a nice long walk to stretch out my leggies. Off to search Garden Centres for large pots this morning image

    (((IW))) oh dear. Sorry to hear that. Road marathons do make everything hurt more than off-roaders don't they as I rarely feel as beaten-up after the downland marathons. Are you back in Deutschland now?

    JJ, that would be an interesting ride wouldn't it!
  • Ultra Ironwolf wrote (see)
    At this point if anyone asks if I would do Brighton again, the answer's a resounding "no".
    That was my feeling after the first one, but I do like Brighton as a place to visit, and there were so many forumites and friends running it, hence why I wanted to be there and support
  • Oh I like Brighton ok, just not the race course.

    Yes Redhead, I'm back in der Vaterland, sitting at my office desk - it's lunchtime. April showers today - now why couldn't I have seen some of those yesterday?

  • Oh boy that all sounds horrendous. Helegant, that must have been such a scary experience, and IW so disappointing.Theres conflicting weather reports for next sunday, trying to keep positive for LOndon but frankly 23 degrees wouldnt be great for me. However made it this far and hoping to finish come what may.

    Happy recovering to all. xxxxxxxx

  • HelegantHelegant ✭✭✭

    Looking forward again now, with some ideas about how to get fitter and become more resilient on this 'comeback' road. I still have a lot of scope to improve.

    IW, so sorry to hear that your post-mara pain is so great. If road marathons are off the agenda, do you have an idea of what you will do to replace them?

    Red, good to hear you are mobile already, and I'm sure you will do something noteworthy at London. You could sit in a basket on the front of a tandem and knit

    Chris, I hope the weather is kind, but you are determined, and I look forward to reading about your finishing time.

  • Hello Everyone,

    Just back from Brighton and wow, what a weekend that was!

    Firstly - well done to everyone who ran the Brighton Marathon (from this forum) and I enjoyed reading your reports and I'm sorry to hear about the 'pain' on the 'road to hell'.

    Thanks to my good friend Terry (TE) for 'posting' my time!

    Yes - My race plan went great until 23 miles and then the 'wheels just fell off'. I missed my target time (3:30) by 5 minutes so was a little fed up but soon got over it as I'll work harder in Berlin in Sep. The heat just got to me in the end and the uninspiring course in places so agree with you IW about some of the 'out and back stuff' (boring!!!!!).

    Overall, I think I enjoyed it but I'm glad it's over!

    I'll write a more in-depth report tomorrow.

    Well done again everyone!
  • yep Helegant. Im sure you all know anyway but I just saw that the good for age time for women over 65 is 5hrs 30. Now thats me next year (age not time) and I reckon with proper speedy stuff and another year starting from level of fitness now I could do that! Hm. I could go straight from Plodder to Good For Age. LOL
  • ColumbaColumba ✭✭✭

    IW and Helegant - oh dear, what a horrendous experience for each of you. Many many commiserations.

    IW, don't despair; when you've recovered a bit, take stock, I'm sure you'll find something interesting and challenging waiting for you - though I realise that you're so accustomed to extreme challenges that you may not feel enthusiastic about the less-extreme ones. 

    Helegant, that sounds really scary, especially when you got carted off to hospital. My brother sufers from asthma, and has had some very nasty moments. 

  • ColumbaColumba ✭✭✭
    Gentle little just-under-3-miles this afternoon. Scarcely worth mentioning.
  • Sorry that it didn't turn out to be an enjoyable day for IW & Helegant. One of my friends was one of the Super 6 running Paris, and also had to pull out part way round, after training really well - the marathon can be a hard taskmaster. Do I really want to do another one???

    Breathing difficulties are always so unpleasant and scary, Helegant. I'm glad they didn't last too long, and that you were reunited with Sproglet and Mr before too long. Well done to her!

    Hill reps on a forest trail last night - hard work!

Sign In or Register to comment.