Decision made.

Well after a week of deep thought I have made my decision and yes its a final one. ....its a no to a marathon.  There are a few reasons but my main one is stamina. Due to medical conditions I cannot have caffeine it irritates my stomach causing my hernia to bleed which in turn burns my vocal chords.  As every single energy drink or gel contains caffeine some in mammoth proportions I dont use them. I rely on water over distances of 10km but much more than this distance I begin to lose energy quickly. I soon discovered this on the GNR and by mile 10 I had no choice but to take a powerade I managed to sip it the best I could but eventually I had to let it go I could taste the blood in my mouth. This simple little thing means that the chances of me running double the distance without any of these aids are very slim I simply don't think I could push myself that far without causing myself further problems. So I have decided that my maximum distance will be 13.1 I dont feel that I have failed myself by not doing a marathon. I am hoping to enter the Leeds half marathon in May to keep my interest in the distance,  then if the stars are with me then the GNR will be on the cards. I intend to run for Sue Ryder Wheatfields again raising money for them was never going to be a one off. I would like to improve my time over the half but I am only testing myself there. Only the top 3 in each catagory get a different medal to me regardless if I finish 4th or 54444th so why set myself a challenge that could finish my running for good. If I train well and keep healthy then me raising money for an amazing place will be on the cards for many years. That is worth more to me than any marathon run.

Happy 2014

Its the start of 2014 and a dilemma is already upon me.  To marathon or not to marathon. 
I did quite a few events during 2013 but I had my first half marathon and as much at the time I thought I was going to die, I cannot wait to do it again. I also ran with my Grandson in the Leeds Santa Dash this was a very special time for Leo as he has wanted to run with me for a while.
My running is important to me not only for my own wellbeing and fundraising but it gives me my time out, its the only time I need to concentrate on something else. I will never break any records or smash any barriers but I love the time I spend on my running/plodding.  This is where my dilemma lays. After I did the GNR my body was in complete and total agony. However,  it transpires that my running style and posture were much more to do with the pain than the distance.  After meeting the 'Guru' and changing my running style. Having Bowen treatment helped every single ache and pain I had. With the combination of these two influences my aches, pains and speed improved (the latter only a bit). With the added investment of a proper pair of running slippers all looked good. I did the Leeds Abbey Dash to test myself with the new technique and it was hard work on my toes over 10km but I completed it. No aches or pains the following day in fact I went running that morning which was a first. Then with the onset of the cold winter months it spells very little running for me. Due to the condition with my vocal chords I cant breathe.  The cold air tightens my vocal chords meaning very little air enters my lungs it feels like the air stops in my throat. But due to another complication of rhinitis I can't breathe through my nose this therefore causes a major problem.  I have to pick my days carefully and limit my distance but it can be very difficult.  To try and balance this I bought a cross trainer which has and will be a huge help.
So as we enter 2014 my desire to do a marathon is there the marathon in mind is York. Now the only complication if thats the right word is that the GNR will be the month before the marathon. ...meaning that I will need to be at full marathon distance by September.  Hopefully the winter will be a kind one meaning I can be out lifting my distance.
Today I have downloaded Strava and taken on the January challenge this will either work or fail miserably depending on the weather.  But I am aiming to get out every day,  I think I might ask my little running buddy if he fancies a little jog around the dam.

Great Yorkshire Stair Climb

I decided to take on this challenge as it wasn't running, it was a thank you to the "Guru" Gary of G-Rex Fitness who had taken his time to train me.
Bridgewater Place in Leeds is the tallest building in the city it has the nickname of "The Dalek" it can be seen up to 25 miles away in certain areas.It has 32 floors. Unfortunately its rise to notoriety is for the sad death of a pedestrian who was killed when a lorry was blown over by swirling winds around the tower.

Over the 32 floors there are 522 steps, the challenge is simple, get to the top. You are given a timing fob which you insert into a port at the start and find the other one at the top to calculate your time.  Mark was volunteering to take photographs at this event so he would meet me at the top. Dan McIntyre a really good friend of ours would be taking part in this event for the 2nd time. Last year Dan lost his timing fob so once it was found on level 10 his time was recorded at the top of the building this year he wanted to beat his time. The first wave of climbers were going at 10am so Dan and me decided we would join in at the end. Dan uses a wheelchair and so to complete the climb he drags it with him......yes you read that right he drags it up 32 floors, 522 steps. I have never doubted what a strong character Dan is but when he did this last year it blew me away, then he did the Edinburgh Marathon (the only wheelie) his determination to rebel against the form is truly motivating.
I decided to try and keep a steady pace up the stairs, but this went wayward by level 5. I was badly out of breath really struggling to the point of feeling very faint and clammy by level 10. I knew that the only person behind me if I passed out would be Dan, I didn't want him to find me on the floor, so decided to slow down a little bit and try and get my breath back. As I rounded one of the flat bits of the staircase a voice greeted me "Hello" I kid you not I could have Kung Fu Pandaerd him, he scared the living daylights out of me all to take my photo. At level 15 the halfway point a little family were gathered with water in hand, baby was asleep but  I still needed to coo. It was a welcome break to be honest, as by this point I couldn't believe that Dan was going to do this dragging his wheelchair with him, I was shattered and I was supposedly fit !!. Rounding the last flights of stairs, I got to an open door where I caught a glimpse of my other half, just one final turn and that was it. Another couple of piccys at the top hopefully I wasn't too red in the face. I walked back down just one flight to take the lift back down to earth. Having had another piccy done this time by my Hubby I had to leave the building for another commitment. Before I left I shouted over the side rails to Dan that I had made it, I could see his hand on the rail so I knew he was on his way....Dan IS the Man.
In the foyer I collected my goodie bag and made my way to the timing station, 7.35 wow I was really surprised it felt about 10 minutes so I was super happy, as said to me later if gives me something to beat next year....
A little later on I received a text from my Hubby who told me that Dan had finished and smashed his time from the previous year. He also told me that the fastest time had just been set 2.59......you cannot be serious I really didn't know what to say other than that.
I finished 85th out of 109 overall, 26th out of 40 Women, Dan finished 106th overall which is super impressive and he beat his time.
When you say you are doing a stair climb the first and obvious reaction from people "that's easy" yeah well put your money where your mouth is and give it a go because I can tell you now its not easy at all. Yes I will do it again next year, I think my youngest Son maybe up for the challenge too. All sorts of people take part in this event, Marathon runners, professional stair climbers, hikers, amputees, they all like the challenge, the challenge of something different, to challenge the norm.
The people that you meet are so friendly there is respect for and given by and to every person taking part. The volunteers are brilliant they motivate and congratulate you. So many people give up their time to help with these sort of events and without them they just would not happen.
So to the staff at Bridewater Place, G-Rex Fitness, Gary Butterfield and Andy Dodman to the volunteers from the bottom to the top and back down again, a heartfelt thank you. See ya next year.

Abbey Dash

The Abbey Dash was the very first road event I entered many moons ago. It takes place in the city centre and out towards Kirkstall and back again. Flat and even its a good course for getting good times however, this would not be my aim this time. This time the aim was to complete a full 10km running on the front foot, having covered quite a few km with this technique and recovering well and especially happy to be ache and pain free after it, I was looking forward to it. It was only a week ago having had my visit to A&E that this run was in serious doubt, if I didn't respond to the medication I was given then I would without a doubt have to abandon this run. The surprise that I was given 4 weeks worth of medication set me back a little I don't think I had realised just how serious things had become. When I did my first run I was very nervous about any side effects the medication may have as it really was a cocktail to take. I decided to take it fairly steady best not to push myself now otherwise it really would have written off the Abbey Dash. No pains on returning home meant it went well, I felt confident in extending the distance after my rest day. No side effects from the medication meant that I felt comfortable extending my distance.
On Saturday I decided that I would take part in the Abbey Dash, I had to leave it as late as possible to determine how my week had been. As I had been taking the medication the pain had reduced dramatically in my chest, the pains in my lower and upper abdomen was much better, not quite there but enough. I had avoided so many "trigger" foods which up to a week ago I had risked in small doses but now they had to go. The problem is two fold, for the foods that trigger the IBS they aid the calming of the excess acid that irritates my hernia and vice versa, to find the balance for both problems is something I have learned to live with for many years, but now it was a problem again. It also makes running a bit of a problem, as I am a classic under-eater about 600-700 calories a day, so to try and limit the food intake only leads to one thing even less calories.
Sunday morning and I am up and ready for the off small bowl of porridge but no liquid. Its a dry but dull morning perfect conditions for running. This year the start and finish are in different places in the city, we made our way to the start enclosure which was quiet. But this was quite a way from the bag drop and finish, we decided that the weaving in and out of the back streets of lower city Leeds was a pain for Mark so he would wait for me at the finish. After dropping my back pack I made my way back down to the start enclosure, by the time I got back down there it was quite a bit busier, the usual queues for the toilets were extending across the enclosure. The warm up was called and a lady from Virgin Active with her helpers began to warm the "Dashers" up. This became a real problem quickly for me, as I am not the tallest of the species I couldn't see the stage, let alone the warm up. As people craned their necks to try and follow the warm up, it became obvious that this was fruitless unless you are fortunate to be Emuesque, arms and legs protruding in every direction possible, the near knock out punches, kicks up the bums and trodden toes and heels it became a hokey kokey. Eventually we were guided to our paddocks these were in time sectors, as we waited to move down to the start it was at this point that I missed my music. Since taking on the new training plan I have not taken my music with me, it meant I gazed around looking at the same buildings, scenery and people. As people cheered at the movement of other sectors, ours remained still, it had now been 20mins since the warm up, luckily as there were so many people corralled into the section I was in I wasn't feeling the cold air. As we began to make our way to the start it became obvious that this would be a rolling start from quite a way back from the start. It always amazes me how and why people set off at such rate from a 60+ section, if you wanted to go faster go into the 50+ section !!. I pick a couple of people who I feel will help keep my pace so that I can concentrate on my feet. Due to the start of the Dash moving the course directors have needed to add in a little bit to take it back up to a 10km. So as we approach Cardigan Fields we turn into the complex to run around the top of it, its slightly uphill and this means that the pacers I had have now dropped behind me, new pacer required, it takes me a little while to find one but as we begin the slight downhill back onto Kirkstall Road I have found one. Then a problem that I had not anticipated, the heavy breathing, slamming of feet and general thump behind me has distracted me. I am willing him to pass me quickly so I can get back to what I need to think about. As we turn onto Kirkstall Road my pacer is still in front of me, its feeling comfortable I am still running as I should be, as I have no headphones I have no idea of pace or time, but it doesn't feel too bad. As we approach the uphill section towards the Abbey I try to think about my foot position ready to push uphill. The road surface is a little bit more stoney which I can feel quite badly under my toes, I try to see ahead of me to pick out a smoother surface but there really isn't a smoother bit. As the turnaround point is now in front of the Dashers its a squeeze to double back, the water station is on the left, for me I don't drink on a 10km unless it is exceptionally hot, so I keep to the right of the course to avoid the water drinkers, however, it amazes me how many suddenly think "oh water" and flash across your pathway. Avoiding the slippy cups which is easier than trying to dodge than bottles, we now head downhill back towards the city. I am at this point aware that I had some rubbing under my left toes, but as I am now on a slight uphill it's rubbing more but hopefully this will ease as I level off. I have now picked a new pacer for the run back into the city, still unaware of any time or pace it is impossible for me to guess if I am on my wanted time/pace I cannot decide if I should pick up my pace a little or maintain to feel comfortable. As I pass the 7km marker board I decide to try and pick up a little bit I pick another pacer a little way ahead of me, my aim is now to catch up and stay with them. Under the viaduct, across the traffic lights pass Radio Aire, sat on an electrical box are two children singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" this makes me and the lady I am running with smile and wonder when we will see them on "Britains Got Talent". Fire Station, I can see our car, a left bend we now climb again towards the overpass of the inner ring road, this is a killer at this point if you slow down too much you walk, if you try to push it hurts or you lose posture. Over the inner ring road, downhill to the Headrow, the finish line comes into view, don't go too early, as the road climbs slightly towards the finish the need and urge to push takes you, you cross the line and grab for your timer. Bottle of water in hand and my finisher t-shirt in the other I make my way for my bag, all the time checking my phone for my chip time. Warm clothes on, still checking my phone, I then try the task of locating my Hubby, still checking my phone, I know that he is waiting for me somewhere near the finish, buzz buzz buzz, arggghhhh my chip time, I now don't want to look.....1.09.25 mmmmm a little disappointed I would have been happy with 1.06. However, I have completed the whole 10km on the front foot, I have no pain at all in either achilles tendons, no pain at all in my knees, so that is worth the 3 minutes, the only tenderness is from a couple of blisters under my left row of toes. I feel so pain free that I am almost waiting for some real  pain to zap me. After locating my Hubby we make our way to the German Market for our now mandatory Pancakes and syrup, but today as I see people eating the most delicious looking hot dogs and I need one. After having our little snack we make our way back to the car feeling that I have achieved I would never have believed that at anytime of my running that front foot would ever be my position of choice but the benefits have out weighed any reason to go back to how it was.

So the next dates in the calendar are Great Yorkshire Stair Climb, which takes place inside Bridgewater Place in Leeds. The Santa Dash around Leeds city centre will be something that I will do for the first time with my youngest Son. That will conclude my event running for this year, but does not conclude my running for the year as weather permitting I will carry on putting in the miles.

A week to go and Disater Darling

Didn't know how to title that to sound like Craig Revel Horwood.

Having started the week on positive vibes, new shoes, new tights all was good. Muscles and injuries all feeling fine and dandy then what I didn't want happened. My three gorgeous Grand-children have suffered the most terrible coughs and infections. However, the Girls have been by far the worst affected. As I am lucky enough to see them all loads I was aware that I was at risk of picking up a cough or cold. I prepared well I got plenty of fluid and slept well my diet remained sensible all this was to no avail. As I suffer from Rhinitus it can be difficult to determine whether its a runny nose due to a cold or my rhinitus having a flare up. The consequence is that I need to wait to see what it is that I am treating, so I prepared and bought caffeine free flu remedy, sensible to avoid any trigger as I could be poorly with it. So far so good eh !. The following day I woke with my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth unable to get any saliva to wet my throat. My sinuses felt horrendous I put the remedy into full attack mode, lets fight it quickly and get it done with. After taking the remedy for two days I didn't feel a great deal different, but I will take my 3 days worth what harm can it do? Thursday was by far my worst day, I took Mum shopping and before I had even started my trolley was full of crap..biscuits,buns,cakes etc, I felt crap so I may as well eat crap. I hasten to add I didn't, I didn't really have an appetite. My final tablets were heading down, lashings of vapo-rub do or die time. Friday I woke up and felt great apart from indigestion, which could be normal for me, Gaviscon you are my saviour. Little bit odd its didn't work as well as it should, food doesn't seem to be actually going down it feels like its getting stuck below my breast bone..bit odd but it will clear up. By Friday night it really didn't feel normal I had taken more Gaviscon but still no real relief. Over night it got worse the spasms in my chest kept waking me up I had the Gaviscon by the bed but it just wasn't touching the sides. It feels different that any indigestion I have ever had. It feels like a huge lump of pain running under my ribcage up into my throat. 7am Saturday the pain is so bad that the collective we (Mark & Me) decide A&E is the only option, as we both know that if my hernia is strangulating then it was serious. After having a cuppa...I know what I said but even without a decaff coffee I can't operate...without going into detail I paid a "visit" and felt better, had my breakfast felt worse but then felt reasonable.
Our Daughter is getting married and today was a visit to the suit shop, all was going well until the pain in my abdomen started, I was struggling to hide the pain I was in as I didn't want my kids to worry. But the pain got too much and I had to tell them that after I dropped them off I was heading for A&E.
On entering A&E I was wired up to ECG to make sure it was gastrointestinal and not heart related, bloods and even urine taken. Pain relief and lansoprazole given, I hoped this would do the trick back in the waiting room the pain was still there but then seemed to ease...yipee. When I was called back into the exam room I was confident that I would be discharged with lansoprazole in pocket. The Dr did look slightly confused that I was still in discomfort, he decided to examine me, he pressed lightly under my left ribs felt a bit sore, pressed lightly on my right side no pain at all, then he pressed mid abdomen on my left...if it hadn't of hurt so much I would have knocked him clean out. Wow the pain was excruciating he didn't do anything else apart from move me and ask for an xray. Whilst I was waiting I was doubled up in agony, I know he didn't mean to hurt me but I really wish he hadn't done it. The xray just to check if my hernia had strangulated or perished, this was my biggest fear I knew what this would mean and I was scared. After the xray I saw the same Dr who said everything was clear, the relief was huge, but I was given Buscopan and an advisory to visit my GP Monday.
having had time to think over what I had eaten to cause this problem there was nothing, I do have to be careful with IBS and hernia that I don't upset the balance. So I knew it was nothing I had eaten, what could it be then? Then with a flash I knew...cold & flu remedy, it's the only thing I have taken that is unusual, but I got caffeine free it can't be that..can it? On returning home and checking the ingredient list the 1 of the 3 got my attention Guaifenesin, oh boy was I foolish. I suppose I am no different to you I never read the warning leaflet, but this simple action was a great error. The ingredient Guaifenesin has a side effect of gastrointestinal discomfort, if I had read the label then maybe I would have thought twice about taking it. The pain I am feeling is as a result of the remedy that I was sure would just take care of a cold.
With a week to go before the Leeds Abbey Dash I am now unable to run until the pain subsides, if the pain or symptoms don't subside then I will have no choice but to relinquish my place. I simply cannot put my own health at risk for this, there would have been a time I would have run with any problem, but as with many things in life, somethings just have to take a back seat.
I have lived with the symptoms of both IBS and hiatus hernia for many many years but this scared me it's the first time I have ever had a problem. I knew that any operation would have been swift and would mean a stay in hospital, something I just don't want or need.
So I go into a new week carrying something I wasn't prepared for, I hope that by the middle of the week I will be able to pop a couple of 10kms in before the Abbey Dash, my GP may be able to give me more advise on my next steps.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

When you go home tell them of us and say

For your tomorrow we gave our today

Lest we forget.

Weird week

A funny week for running, or lack of would be more apt. I haven't been in the best of places over the last week or so, as a result my running has suffered.  For a while now I have been having severe pain in the back of my head just to the right of my neck. The instant and severe headaches that accompany the pain had been at best paralysing.  I struggle with slurred speech and the pain in my right eye is tremendous.  However,  these attacks last only seconds but are blinding, they also cause balance problems.  I have noticed an increase in frequency of these although there is no limit to how few or many I can have in a day,  the only warning I have that an attack is imminent is the twitching of my right eye. After my latest attack Mark begged me to seek medical advice,  after checking NHS DIRECT and all indicators led to a visit to A&E immediately I felt I had little choice but to face my fear.  The fear I had was that it could be neuralgia which a friend of mine suffered from before being diagnosed with severe arthritis.  I wanted to ignore all the symptoms I had and just leave it. But as these attacks are totally random I couldn't guess who would see one next. I know what Marks biggest fear was but that hadn't entered my head as I knew I would have more symptoms than what I had. The following morning I had another attack so it was time to call the GP I was terrified of what could lay ahead for me. The GP has initially diagnosed a trapped nerve in my 2nd vertebrae which is causing ice pick headaches,  called such because of the severity of the pain and the almost immediate leaving of it. I was relieved to say the least,  the exercises will determine if this is in fact a trapped nerve. I have had attacks since but I will persevere with the exercises.
I managed to run this morning in new shoes and tights and felt good. I managed a free km, basically I covered 6km in previous time of 5km whether this was down to the new gear or a little belief in the theory I'm not sure but it felt good to me.
This weekend we are doing a charity walk in aid of Brain Tumour Research and Support. Its a 10km walk which is a challenge for Mark, but as a charity that has supported both of us we welcome the opportunity to take part.  Fingers  crossed for the weather.

Enjoy your weekends all.

Yet another mad week.

Its been difficult to get out again this week. Having said that the pain after last Saturday did take until Tuesday to ease. I completed my exercises to keep my muscles in tune, this was pure agony I have to admit. Yesterday I managed to get out running, straight onto my front foot and keeping my concentration. It felt good no pain still feeling light and comfortable.  Running without headphones or music isn't bothering me like I thought it might, I am now listening to the music my feet make tapping the floor, how about that for a comparison.  As I wasn't completely convinced I was still getting the new style right, I decided to go back to the old way to see and feel what the difference really was. Wow it was truly unbelievable,  the instant vibration through my feet into my knees was instant and uncomfortable.  I knew then I was getting it right,  Gary was right not that I doubted him but I never thought that this was possible.  A few tweeks here and there and I will be extending the distances back out. At the moment I am doing 3ish miles to get used to this new position I am looking forward to moving up. I need to lift my knees next to the riding a bike position.  This is proving a little more difficult as I feel like I am running on the spot, so at the moment I am trying it in spots hopefully this will eventually become second nature. Coming from the run yesterday I am feeling no pain at all so I will assume that although I was in a considerable amount of discomfort last weekend and doing the exercises that Gary gave me it has worked to keep my muscles going. This weeks plan is to be out possibly 3 times with exercise in between with extending my distance on 2 runs. My new toy this week is my cross trainer :-).  I have bought this so on icy days I can still move my legs without causing myself any injuries.  I'm hoping to buy my barefoot running shoes in the next couple of weeks an early Christmas present. I have picked the pair I want Merrell is a new brand to me, Gary hasn't been wrong yet so I'm sticking with that theory.
Have a good week ahead. Keep on running.