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Also
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June
2010
Good and bad
news to report this month. The good news is that my annual bone
density scan revealed a massive increase in bone density by 8% that
now puts me in the normal range and so my bones are much stronger
for the challenges I want to compete and will stay on medication
for another year to see if there is any more progression. The bad
news - I am still not running. The MRI finally revealed no stress
fracture but identified an area that was causing my problem. Mr
Adedapo from the James Cook Hospital then referred me onto the Freeman
Hospital at Newcastle. Mr Gerrand was great (amazed he even looked
at my website and so knew how important my running was to me), he
requested a CT scan that revealed the problem precisely, and am
now being referred to an ankle surgeon to hopefully correct the
problem.
Bill
seems to be taking up the mantle with running, throughout last month
he improved his pb at 5km nearly every week in the regular park
run at Albert Park, now well under 22 minutes and this led to him
winning the Sweatshop monthly prize of a pair of shoes for commitment
and improvement (thanks Andy Fisher). He also did the Redcar Half
Marathon in 1 hr 45 mins, still 20 minutes off his best time but
considering he is restricted to what running he can do this was
a superb achievement .
On
the racing front I have now withdrawn from The High in July and
the UTMB (ultra trail du Mont Blanc) in August and will re-assess
my running and racing once this problem is sorted.
May
2010
After Darren
Cooper advised this looked like a bone problem I was referred and
then awaited an MRI scan and ceased running completely until the
problem was solved. The MRI did not come in time to make an informed
decision on whether or not to compete in the IAU World 24 Hour Championships
this month and so had to go on the side of caution and withdraw
based on the information to hand and listening to the experts. I
have now been walking around with an Aircast Boot on to support
the bone. I am maintaining some fitness with cross training but
it was a hard decision to make, 18 weeks into a 20 week program
and all of the hard work was done. There were only 3 women selected
for Great Britain and it takes 3 to make a team so it was not pleasant
to take away the potential opportunity for the GB team to get on
the podium as well as a potential individual medal. Watching from
the internet I was still listed in the top 5 of the world going
into the race, but was nice to see my great friend Julia Alter (Germany)
run such a controlled race and take the bronze medal. Our GB men,
6 of whom had been selected collected a bronze medal in the European
Champs at the event.
I have been kept busy supporting though – one of the highlights
of May was witnessing Dave and Andy taking part in a classic LEJOG
journey “support our troops” raising thousands of pounds
for their efforts. They did so much beforehand to raise the profile
for their charity and it was an honour to watch their efforts in
their 1,200 mile journey, 12 marathons, 12 X 60 mile cycling in
12 days. Attached is a photo with their vest they donated to me.
Their website is at www.yorkshireduo.co.uk
for their journey and details of how to donate at www.justgiving.com.
April
2010
My fitness this
month was excellent, some really good runs, improved my speed and
got some long runs in. My races were not so good. I didn't enjoy
the Crawley 12 Hours early in the month with the marathon runners
sprinting around shouting "track" after we had been circling
for 3 hours and found this difficult to concentrate and got a sharp
twinge above my left ankle and withdrew rather than risk anything
so close to the World 24 Hours. Later that week I was pleased with
an excellent run around the Preston Park trail event and left ankle
was fine again. That weekend it started grumbling again after around
16 miles around the Wolds and again cut the run short there rather
than cause problem, but needed to get to the bottom of the cause
of the pain. I had not turned my ankle and it was a short sharp
pain, quite intense when I felt it but not there at other times,
almost as if a nerve was being touched. Flat footed running on a
good surface was fine but gave pain when on my toes. Darren Cooper
from Teesside University took a look as there was little muscle
damage to be found. An x-ray revealed nothing but was referred on
for further diagnosis and awaiting an MRI to confirm suspicions
as to what it may be.
March
2010
There
are quite a few announcements to make this month. Firstly, Vitabiotics
have generously stepped on board to help with the build up the “The
High” and some much needed financial help. This event is in
the Himalayas in aid of Climate Change. Do take a look at their
website for the various products to keep you healthy (www.vitabiotics.com).
After
two new hips husband Bill is back racing fit and well, and has already
felt many of the benefits of the Jointace products. The van has
already been decorated courtesy of Signz of Skelton (thanks Terry
and Lesley – hope Charlie and Peanut are recovering well).
I must also mention Ian Johnson in Marske Industrial Estate that
has been keeping my van on the road, through free servicing and
more recently the work needed to pass the MOT. Many extremely generous
gestures from the people I meet that want to help me on my way.
I am still continuing with my excellent Spira shoes and Mannatech.
On the running side it’s been an indifferent month, some good
runs; some bad ones. The first off-road marathon was Troller’s
Trot at the end of a very heavy week of training and very stiff
from starting up weights again. Next up it was the Barry 40 and
this was the down one. A few days later I came down with a cold
and took a very steady run around the Ashby 20 to take the club
record, my heart rate was still very high with the virus, around
52 in the morning compared to my normal 38 ish. I opted not to do
the Compton 40 as planned, my breathing had still been poor with
the cold and had some asthma problems doing speedwork on the track
and so worked on my speed with three short sharp runs over the Easter
weekend on consecutive days. I reached my planned target times in
both the Mermaid 10km and the Albert Park 5km the next day. The
Helmsley trail race was the third and feeling rather jaded tried
to enjoy this one – as much as you can with the first 2 miles
all uphill.
Plans are
well underway for the JOGLER (John O’Groats to Lands End Relay)
that will happen in June. There are various charities that will
benefit from this with the 16 runners taking part. The website has
been set up for donations at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/JOGLER2010
February
2010
Many thanks to all those that followed and supported my recent run
in the winter edition of the Trans-Slovenia ultra run 220km over
4 days. The weather in the north east prepared me well for the freezing
temperatures and heavy snow, and was extreme even by Slovenia standards.
It never stopped snowing from the time we arrived until the end
of Day 1. Temperatures were reported to hit a high of -6 and a low
of -12 on the last day, so this was definitely my coldest ever run.
I kept many layers on and wore a face mask throughout to try to
keep my asthma under control. Although this restricts my breathing
it was better to go slow and finish rather than not finish at all.
The report is done for detailed enthusiasts among you, but I ran
a steady and contolled pace throughout the 60km, 55km, 58km and
34 km stages, winning the ladies race on all 4 stages with a total
time of 19 hours and 19 minutes. I hate the cold but managed well
throughout and was good to have support from Andrew and Caitlin
Webb-Ellis from who are doing a documentary on ultra running and
me. They have put together a short youtube film to give a little
idea of the event:
Video highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib0iovFYYtE
Race
website: http://winter.trans-slo.si/en
Full
report: trans-slovenia-report-2010.doc
(63kb)
I came back in good shape to the news that my selection has come
through for the World 24 hours in France in May, along with a female
team. A mens team has also been selected. I have heard 4 women and
6 men. I have several long races in this country to contest over
the next couple of months to continue my preparation. Trans-slo
was 8 weeks into a 20 week program to build me up for this event.
Being ranked no 4 in the world at 24 hours last year in no way guarantees
a medal and will have to be at my best to be in with a shot of a
medal and improve on my 226km (140 miles).
January
2010
Nearly all
of my planned races have either been postponed or cancelled this
month. Since the snow began before Christmas I have had 7 planned
races that suffered because of the weather. The parkrun at Albert
Park of 5km continued whatever the weather and managed to get a
new personal worst by some considerable amount, my only consolation
was that the mens winner was 3 minutes slower than my best time
for the course, just to indiciate how bad conditions have been.
The last race of the month was the first race to be postponed due
to the weather and that was the Loftus Poultry Run. It was still
a snow covered, icy course thanks to another covering the day before
and freezing overnight temperatures, but it is called the Poultry
Run for a reason and I came home with two rather large turkeys,
courtesy of a Vet45 and team prize. We are now living off turkey
sandwiches.
I have completed the planned mileage this month but not with much
quality work. What outdoor runs I have done have been very slow,
hampered by snow and ice and have to run slowly in the bitterly
cold conditions to control my breathing that can easily turn asthmatic.
Most runs have been done on the treadmill in the garage with the
heater on to help my breathing. There was a one week reprieve in
the weather where some road running could be done (the hills were
still far to deep in snow) and mangaged to get within a few seconds
of my pre-Christmas 5km times.
I had a slight re-occurance of a knee problem that I "tweaked"
about 4 weeks before the Commonwealth 24 hours last year. Back then
I had an injection in the area to help me on my way. This time it
has been diagnosed by Darren Cooper at Teesside University, basically
a knock on effect from last year and I have not been extending my
knee properly trying to nurse it through that has created other
problems. Poplitieus (at the back of the knee) was the damaged muscle
and having identified this the job of fixing it has been accelerated
enormously and feel as though I am running much better, although
there appears to me some weakness in my left leg still.
The Trans-slo Ultra run is fast approaching, I have just mananged
to squeeze this into the reading week at University so I am not
in lessons, so if you want to follow this 4 day stage race of 220km
(www.trans-slo.si/en from 10th - 14th February). I will be treating
this as a long training run, I have many long races planned, some
I will race, some I will run, this one is to run.
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