embarrassing illnesses

Week 2

So what are the odds - I have two of these - payback for sins of my youth - hyperhydrosis and ulcerative colitis. Both can be extremely embarrassing and both are concerning me as a novice runner. I'll leave the first for another time but the Colitis I need to consider - I am in no way sure how my running will affect this and feel I need to visit my doctor to get his okay - Im way better off than many - and im sure there are thousands of runners who just get on with it - but if it goes wrong - it could be bad - the anxiety of worrying about this I could do without. The picture I posted is not funny its an eyeopener to the bodily stress running can induce - especially to a colitis sufferer with a 'flare up'. I doubt I could run at all if I come out of remission - so I'll keep taking my ASACOL faithfully and cross my fingers - and legs - if the need occurs. For any other runners with colitis who read this - take heart - Steve Redgrave took Olympic gold after his UC diagnosis - all I need to do is run for fun.

soundtracks

Week 2

Persil man today - beautifully laundered white shorts - white socks - white t shirt- white trainers - progress good - nice run weather holding up nicely - first run with mp3 player today - prefer running without music though - dulls the senses - I like to hear my feet on different surfaces - crunching gravel and padding on mud - still variety is good - my shorts have good sized pocket so I dont have to strap the f****r to my arm - that always looks stupid - Metric - stadium love was track for the day - great stuff. Very comfortable run sticking with the programme - still got some pain in my left shin - I wont up the pace or length of run until im sure this is just my body learning to cope with strees of sudden running regime.

running with the brakes on

Week 2

My legs feel really tight since yesterdays run - not had a problem with tight legs before - but trying to go slow has really taken it out of me - fell like Ive been driving with the handrake on - lots of effort and noise but slow movement - definitely wont be able to keep this going but fear of injury is keeping me in check - still got a niggle on my left shin and I am going to watch this - have put a marker dot on the exact place to find out of its happening in the same spot. By end of the week my legs may look like they are ready for surgery - maybe I should go the whole hog keep writing on myself, date all the niggles and cross reference with suspected causes. Would that just make me look like a nutter? Still Sunday is not my favourite day to run anyway - too many dogwalkers - all saying good morning and smiling - very nice - still - the man with the writing should scare them away - mad man coming through!

pain

Week 2

Week 2 start - the penny dropped reading a novice runners blog last night - poor woman after 4 weeks training with 'couch to 5k program' was stricken with a very painful knee injury - still thinking I am 21 my body has been forcing my 'natural' pace. Heed advice methinks - those pains in my right calf and left shin should not be ignored - Im old school - Alf Tupper and Zatopek - but i now fear shin splints and have slowed down - bingo - the pains have dissappeared - need to build up slowly - rewards will come later. sticking with 20mins walk run - aiming to run for solid 20mins after 6 weeks. Note to self buy some sports socks today - had to run in soiled socks today - fast route to athletes foot - duh!

there will be blood

Week 1

First week finished - I guess thats what you might call a milestone - 4 sessions complete on a 1.4m course with erratic run walk intervals - Im not sure what to think - my body still hurts while running - but the pains seem to happen in different places - Im sweating like mad and do not feel fitter - i know what you are thinking its only a total of 5.6 miles in one week hardly major road running - on the positive - I am hooked rain will not deter me - will power - i have in abundance - this for me will not be a problem. Big mistake though Ive cut down on my calorie intake - Im not too over weight but a little weight loss should help me develop that effortless glide - rather than the thumping action I seem to have at the moment.

I ran a marathon 25 years ago - and I think my body remembers - it wants to travel at the same speed - still knackered still hurting but Im doing it - stick with the plan do this for another week then try to extend the run to walk balance on each trip. Will however need to up my calorie intake as I have been feeling weak - especially at work in the day - will hang in there another week and reassess.

day zero

Week 1

I am now a blogger, and this is a series of firsts, 25 years ago i run the Glasgow marathon and have been wondering if this would be possible again, believe me a lot has happened then till now and none of it involved putting on running shoes.

I am a 44year old architect - father of three - unmarried but permanently living in sin. I live near Manchester after 20 years in London caring for little except for sex drugs and rocknroll and most probably in that order. My blog intends to diary my attempt to get fit enough to run a half marathon March 2010 without boring myself and you to death.

After watching my 12 year old daugher take silver in the 200m at a sports meet, I have made this decision -

So it goes - Saturday 15th August - first run - my plan is for mornings - I dont want anyone to see me run - i have planned a route in my head but don't know how long it is I have read some other blogs and have an idea to do 20 mins walk run four days a week - it felt funny in shorts like I had someone elses clothes on - still its early no one will see me - I am running on soft ground on bridle paths but my body is not happy - Im not particulary overweight but could go that way - after about 100m I am knackered - sweating and knackered - and my body hurts - there are six or seven twinges around my body and one in my shin that is worrying. slow down and walk some more.

Now I remember - the finish - runners high - is this possible after 1 mile walk run -not much is it? will do again tomorrow - if i can stop sweating and hurting.