Barefoot Running!

Here's a random image for anyone keen on the Barefoot Running craze!

Those hairy toes are proper wrong!!

Dovestones again - 25/02/2012

As it's one of my favourite runs and I've got to keep the mileage low for the short term, i repeated the run below this weekend. I didn't take any new pics and apologies for not reporting anything more exciting!

On a positive note, the knee felt much better and the hamstring tightness seems to be fading. Fingers crossed.

I've been getting out for plenty of short runs to keep the fitness levels up but am going to try and stretch out again to about 10 miles this weekend and see how it goes.

Cheers
Mick

The beautiful (and busy) Dovestones 19/02/2012

Managed to get out for just short of 8 miles last Sunday. The weather was good and as a result Dovestones was very busy. Thankfully the cars are restricted to one small area, which is just as well judging by the chaos they were causing (it comes to something when you're having to overtake cars on foot!).

I kept the distance down to try and ease the pressure on my right knee and had only done one other small run the previous Wednesday. Things seemed better and there were no niggles till around 6 miles. The one pain (literally) was my left hamstring, which for some reason has been tight for over a week, brought on by a change in running style caused by the right knee problem...who knows?

As you can see by the photo there are certainly worse places to be!

I've been out again, only once this week (22/02/2012) for a quick 4 miles and the knee was fine but the hamstring was still pulling. I'm out again over the weekend and it feels ok, touchwood, so i'm looking forward to a good run out.

The physio (Dave Carter) who i've seen again today, seems to be working has magic. He's got me doing all sorts of weird and wonderful stretches and strengthening exercises, as well as doing accupuncture and trigger point work (i think that's what it's called?). These all seem to be working well. He's even provided me with a large, polystyrene roller for rolling about on, self massage style (think solid, sausage dog style, draft excluder and you get the idea). Not the kind of exercises you'd be doing with an audience, but very effective i'm sure!

Here's a shamless plug for Dave - http://www.davecarterphysio.co.uk/

Will try to update a bit quicker after this weekends run.

Cheers
Mick

Knee pain cuts run short 11/02/2012

I got out on Saturday and did just shy of 7 miles. Unfortunately this was quite a bit shorter than planned! I've been suffering with a bit of pain on the outside of my right knee which generally comes on after the first 3 or 4 miles and gets to the limping and face pulling stage by about mile 7. Not great as that'd leave me with a mere 43 miles of hobbling to go! Here's the route:

Uppermill/Platting Rd loop

I've done a bit of reading up on what it could be but rather than second guess i figured this needs nipping in the bud now. So I'm off to the Physio on Thursday evening. I'm hoping Dave Carter from Mossley http://www.davecarterphysio.co.uk/ can sort things out, fingers crossed.

Will update when i know more.

Cheers
Mick

Snow stops play!

Unfortunately I've not been out over the weekend because of the snow. Don't get me wrong, I'm not scared of a bit of the white stuff (as you can see from my previous post) but unfortunately i had to work Saturday evening and Sunday morning. One of the perks of running a mobile care service means that when it snows, I get the job of playing Snow Taxi in my 4x4! Never mind, sometimes priorities take over and it was much more important that our elderly Client's received their service than it was for me to risk breaking my neck on some ice :o)

A couple of pics for you:

Evening Home Care Tameside

 Morning Home Care Oldham

Trying to keep myself entertained while waiting!

Time out with my mate BOB

Cheers
Mick