19th April - Countdown week.  I completed a 22 mile run over the Easter Weekend, in some pain.  At least I know what the threshold will be as I spent much of the run sharing thoughts with mum and urging her to keep me going.  That said the recovery was fine and I'm now getting a bit better each week, which has been hugely supported by the physio and sports injury treatments I've been having - two left to go.

I'm just beginning to get excited, nervous, anxious and carbed up!  This time next week it will all be over and I'll be recovering in luxury, with Maggie my running partner, in Bath Spa!

 

26th March - Yee ha!! I'm back in training!  More sessions of physio and one sports massage appears to have alleviated some of the problem.  It has enabled me to do a 14 mile run last weekend, and a further one planned for this weekend.

I only have the Easter Weekend to do a long run (20 miles) and will have some wonderful Sole Sisters support bikes to encourage me en route, and to carry extra water etc so thats my 'last chance saloon' to truly get an idea of whether the injury will potentially hold out for 26 miles.

Yesterday, my London marathon entry pack arrived - which makes the situation very real; yikes!

 

14th March - friends and family, an update for you.

 

After several more sessions of accupuncture and ultrasound the injury has started to improve.  I was "allowed" to go out cycling yesterday and really enjoyed being back to some form of exercise.  For once in my life, I'm doing as I'm told *(by the physio) so I have one more week of rest before I attempt a training run.  I'm also on the Wii fit which presented me with summary of being overweight, inflexible with a Wii fit age of 64!......What a week!

 

5th March - friends and family, there's good news and bad news!

 

After a disastrous run on Wednesday, the news is that I have an injury which I thought was my Achilles tendon, it’s actually the muscle directly above it which we are certain has been caused by my change in running shoes (meant to be the all dancing, singing version..), however the bad news is that the muscle that feeds into the tendon (in the calf area) has gone into spasm.

 

Both sets of muscles are inflamed but not show stopping.  I’ve had physio and acupuncture on the muscles today and my leg is now well strapped up and very painful. Realistically, I need to take the advice from the physio who suggests that I will not be able to run until the weekend of the 21^st March. I have 3 further physio visits scheduled for next week, and then I'm working in  from the 16^th March so I guess I can fully rest the muscles that week.

 

As you can imagine I am totally distraught by the news and trying hard to be optimistic that everything will be fine.  In the meantime I’m furious with myself for updating to a better model of shoe for !!  Determination and optimism has to superceed my thoughts, spiritual faith from everyone I know will aid me also!

 

2nd February - Sadly, a very dear friend Sally did not wake up this morning - she was just 50 years young.  My heart goes out to Ross, Becky, Richard and all of the family - Mum & Dad; please welcome and embrace Sally with you.

 

You know when you say “I must do that before I turn……”, well with the help of some coercion from my great running friends I am attempting the London Marathon this year, a couple of years short of turning 50 – and I’m getting loads of running support from many of my fellow (wonderful) Sole Sisters!

Undoubtedly, I am raising money for St Peters Hospice as they entertained mum and then cared so much for mum during her illness.

If you knew my mum (aka Pam, Grandma Cats, the ‘foot’ lady) then you know that she spent her life after the loss of Dad with an attitude of sheer grit and determination.  When faced with bringing up four children in her early 40’s she turned her world around, refused charity from anyone, went back to work and decided to study to become a chiropodist – she got her qualification at the age of 50, we never quite understood her choice of vocation but admired her none the less.

Mum built up a clientele of over 300 patients, she worked a 5-6 day week for over 20 years visiting and receiving people who became life long friends. During the latter years, when mum was weak with chemo (and unable to drive) I can recall stories of minibuses turning up full of patients, they would spend the day with her, have their feet done, drink tea, pet the cat and eat a cake or two…..

If you’re a runner then you know about the ‘zone’, its that outer world of mind games that you play when you’re focussing on the next mile you reach, chastising yourself if your muscles ache and your legs are tired, its when you find that inner effort to aim for a PB – even though you had no intention of doing one – this time!

Mostly during a half marathon when I’m in my zone I look up and reach for Mum and Dad, we chat (about the weather, life, how I’m feeling, what mile I’ve reached, its too hot/ or too cold), and put the world to rights.  For some inexplicable reason, I always get a PB in , Mum’s home town, it’s the hilliest, toughest half marathon there is (for me) but I know I have their influence to carry me around, up and down the hills.

Whatever life threw at Mum, she always brushed herself down and woke up the next day with renewed vigour, and she did not dwell on the past and lived her life to the full.  Thankfully, that is one trait I inherited – don’t worry about tomorrow just live for today!

 

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