Nooooooooovember

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

A fairly tough, hilly ten-and-a-bit kilometres with #1 son Chris this morning shifted a few nagging anti-run molecules still floating in this ageing body of mine. It was a hard run - just what I needed really, and whilst somewhat slower than my previous outing, this was rather more difficult. A goodish pace, even so.

We discussed race tactics for the P2P, exactly two weeks hence. Whilst we're confident of finishing, we're both decidedly under-prepared and very unsure of what we might be capable of. Probably not very much in my case, unless the next two weeks see some remarkable turnaround in form. Unlikely, I suspect.

My mood has been tempered somewhat by the unexpected death of a work colleague. A very well-liked jolly Greek gentleman, his role as a trouble-shooter - a sort of 'Red Adair' of our industry ensured that everyone thought he was the kind of person constantly aware of trouble and knowledgable in the best way to avoid it. Thus, when he died of heart attack on Friday morning, it came as a shock to all of us. He was my age. Remarkable, considering he was never flustered - always calm and in control and never stressed. But apparently unaware of his own heart problem.

As I keep saying, make sure you know your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Have them checked and have a heart scan if there's anything abnormal. My BP is 110/70 and cholestrol is 4.6 (177 in the American standard) and my heart scan was perfect. At the very least, know the warning signs and don't ignore them. If my work mate had done any of that, he'd almost certainly be alive today.

Now it's too late, and he's missed out on probably decades of life he could have had if only he'd had a simple check-up.

Uncle MLCM.



10.33km 1:01:32

YTD: 1218.5km

[Sweder]

Horrible story and a reminder to us all that just because we run we're not impervious to harm. I always think of Moyleman at times like this. He was the toughest, fittest man I knew, yet he was struck down by a condition that, with earlier warning, cukd have been treated.

Good work on the run. Sounds to me like, with two week of gentle exercise and some appropriate carb loading, you will be just about right for P2P. It's not about speed, after all, but about how far up that sodding mountain you can get before rigour mortis sets in. It is, to my mind, about pure endurance.

[Antonio247]

I'm sorry about your work mate. It is really hard to admit that noone is free of dying unexpectedly. That's why we all should have blood tests done and other tests from time to time.

I'm sure you will succeed with the toughest half marathon in the world. Looking forward to being there and meeting you next year.

Best of luck, MLCMM!

[El Gordo]

Let me add my voice to the condolences. The shock factor makes a real difference, doesn't it?

I've had 2 close family members expire in the last couple of years but we had plenty of warning, which really helps. As some of you know, my wife's father died this week, again very suddenly after a fall, and the suddenness of it really does add to the sense of loss -- which is exactly what you are expressing.

Your reminders about monitoring the things we can easily measure are very sensible. And well done on achieving just about the perfect blood pressure. Interesting how easy it is to improve these figures too. I've mentioned this before but I've been reminded yet again just what a difference a healthier lifestyle makes. My systolic average has gone from roughly 135 (classified as pre-hypertension) to roughly 115 today -- and dropping -- in the course of just the last 6 (healthy) weeks. Quite an eye-opener.

I take readings every couple of days, first thing in the morning. I've also noticed just how high my BP has spiked on a couple of occasions when I've slept very badly or gone to bed too late. The layman's conclusion I've drawn is that lack of a good night's sleep is a health risk.

[Sweder]

The layman's conclusion I've drawn is that lack of a good night's sleep is a health risk.

Oh dear. This is something I've long suspected and always struggled with.
Early nights are alien to me, as this is when I like to catch up with the world away from work.

I have no clue what any of my readings are. This is not dumb bravado, I just don't go to the Docs often. I'll book myself in for a service & oil change this week and report back.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

I'll book myself in for a service & oil change this week and report back.

Good man.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

My systolic average has gone from roughly 135 (classified as pre-hypertension) to roughly 115 today -- and dropping -- in the course of just the last 6 (healthy) weeks. Quite an eye-opener.

Fantastic EG! That's really excellent... well done!

[El Gordo]

The layman's conclusion I've drawn is that lack of a good night's sleep is a health risk.

Oh dear. This is something I've long suspected and always struggled with.
Early nights are alien to me, as this is when I like to catch up with the world away from work.

I have no clue what any of my readings are. This is not dumb bravado, I just don't go to the Docs often. I'll book myself in for a service & oil change this week and report back.

I hate using the word "should" but it will appear a couple of times here:

Never a bad idea to go to the doc's but you should consider getting a BP monitor and try to get into the habit of taking a reading first thing in the morning. You can get very capable monitors very cheaply on Amazon -- http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_14?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=blood+pressure+monitor&sprefix=blood+pressure%2Caps%2C0

I have one of those Omron ones which are highly regarded. Could be the best 15 or 20 quid investment you'll ever make. [NOTE -- the upper arm cuff versions are regarded as more reliable than the wrist versions.] Also, you'll find a number of iOS / Android apps for keeping a record of your readings and turning thm into fancy graphs and moving averages. Warning: A bit like my weight-averaging over a week, I always take 3 or 4 readings and take the average as you can get rogue readings. And you notice things, like your BP is much higher if you need a pee!

But seriously, anyone over 50 should know their current BP.

Regarding sleep, like you I've always been a night owl, but recently I've tried rediscovering this simple pleasure over the past 6 weeks. Man, what a difference!

If you have 4 minutes to spare, you should watch Arianna Huffington's TED talk -- http://www.ted.com/talks/arianna_huffing...sleep.html

[The Beast of Bevendean]

Poor fellow; the more so, for when my father practised as a GP (he retired in the 70s), surviving a coronary was unusual. Now, death is rare.
I used to have an Excel template for recording BP, I think by the British Hypertension Society. Can't see it on their site anymore, but if anyone wants a copy, I still have one. You will find any number of tools, including some slightly frightening risk-predictors, and recommendations on monitors. The best thing anyone can do is stop smoking. I stopped on 15 August 1984.
I've been on a succession of anti-hypertensives, currently amlodipine. They all have side-effects, but even in my glummest moments, I realise they're better than being dead

[El Gordo]

Poor fellow; the more so, for when my father practised as a GP (he retired in the 70s), surviving a coronary was unusual. Now, death is rare.
I used to have an Excel template for recording BP, I think by the British Hypertension Society. Can't see it on their site anymore, but if anyone wants a copy, I still have one. You will find any number of tools, including some slightly frightening risk-predictors, and recommendations on monitors. The best thing anyone can do is stop smoking. I stopped on 15 August 1984.
I've been on a succession of anti-hypertensives, currently amlodipine. They all have side-effects, but even in my glummest moments, I realise they're better than being dead

Not sure if you're a subscriber to The Times, Tom, but my suspicions are that you may not be. This article is in today's edition:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/life/article3591005.ece

How to stop your blood pressure rising every time you see a white coat. You could get your own blood pressure monitor

Millions of people are taking unnecessary medication for high blood pressure, according to new research. About 12 million people in the UK are thought to have high blood pressure (hypertension) but studies show that doctors and nurses have been getting the diagnosis wrong in as many as 1-in-4 cases. Might you be one of them?

The confusion is largely because of “white coat hypertension”. Put simply, lots of people’s blood pressure rises whenever a doctor or nurse measures it. So, if you base the diagnosis on a series of artificially inflated readings in a clinic using the 140/90mmHg standard cut-off, you risk falsely labelling a quarter of your patients and starting them on treatment they don’t require.

And, to compound the problem, even when the diagnosis is correct, there is no convincing evidence that treating the most common, milder form of high blood pressure confers any benefit. A review by the respected Cochrane Hypertension Group, published in the summer, found no convincing evidence that treating people with readings under 160/100mmHg protected them against heart attack, stroke or an early death. (Those with pre-existing heart disease were excluded from the review and may well benefit).

White coat hypertension is now widely accepted to be a much bigger problem than initially thought and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has taken this into consideration in its new guidance on how to measure blood pressure. Anyone with clinic readings averaging more than 140/90mmHg should now be offered ambulatory blood pressure monitoring — an automated machine which takes at least 14 readings throughout the day to get around the white coat effect.

But this requires specialist equipment and access to it is still restricted, so many GPs are turning to home blood pressure monitoring as a simpler, albeit cruder alternative. Surgeries either loan out machines, or ask patients to use their own, approved, model. The upper threshold for “normal” in the clinic setting remains 140/90, but NICE advises a lower cut-off for ambulatory and home readings of 135/85. So, if you were diagnosed as having high blood pressure without being offered either of these options — and most people will not have been — you could talk to your GP or nurse about reconsidering the diagnosis, particularly if your readings are borderline (though never stop treatment without seeking medical advice first).

The next conundrum is what to do if you are confirmed as having high blood pressure, but you fall into the milder end of the spectrum (140/90 — 160/100) where pills may not confer any benefit. There is no doubt that high blood pressure is bad for you — each 2mmHg rise in the upper figure is associated with a 10 per cent increase in the risk of dying from a stroke. What the Cochrane review questions is whether pills are the answer.

Critics have pointed out that the review contained research using older medicines that have now fallen out of favour, and that we really need a bigger study using the latest drugs to be sure that pills don’t protect people with mildly raised blood pressure. But there is a growing realisation that, until we have such evidence, we should think twice before starting medication, and concentrate much more on proven interventions such as stopping smoking, increasing exercise levels and dietary changes (particularly the low-salt and/or Mediterranean approach).

It is a lot to take in if you are one of the millions of people on treatment for high blood pressure. There is no need to rush to see your doctor or practice nurse — it is probably safer to be on unnecessary medication than to miss out on treatment you need — but you should discuss any concerns you have at your next review, and ask them to spell out what you can be doing to help yourself. At the very least, think seriously about investing in your own blood pressure monitor.

• Monitor your blood pressure at home
  
• Only use an approved home monitor (see the list at bloodpressureuk.org) that uses a cuff on the upper arm. Prices vary, but you don’t need to buy anything too fancy — most doctors use types that can be bought for less than £60.
  
• Take three sets of readings across the day. Sit down quietly for five minutes and then check your blood pressure twice, recording the lower of the two readings.
  If your average is above 135/85 then you should talk to your doctor or practice nurse. If it is below 135/85 then put the monitor away for at least six months.
  

[The Beast of Bevendean]

[quote='El Gordo' pid='23626' dateline='1352157310']


Not sure if you're a subscriber to The Times, Tom, but my suspicions are that you may not be. This article is in today's edition:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/life/article3591005.ece

How to stop your blood pressure rising every time you see a white coat. You could get your own blood pressure monitor

The Times? I stopped reading it when they started putting news on the front page.
Yes, and see also this in the BMJ blogs by one of the leaders of the evidence-based medicine movement: Paul Glasziou: Should we abandon the term “hypertension?”

[El Gordo]

ultrarunning-ultimate-runners-high

The Times? I stopped reading it when they started putting news on the front page.

There aren't many of us left who would understand that quip.

I stopped reading it for years post-Wapping but I've gradually moved back to it and a while ago actually started subscribing to the onine editions. I see the Telegraph has just gone the same route. The Guardian is probably closest to my political heart but I just feel strangely excluded from it. I want them to be my friend, but they don;t like me much.

But to save us hijacking MLCMM's thread I'll quickly bring it back on track by mentioning that there was a decent article by an ultramarathoner in today's edition: UltraRunning

[Sweder]

I'm glad he points out what one has to endure on route to that high. Whilst it is undoubtedly unique (I've tried many routes to euphoria in my time) in its intensity and longevity, the stairway to that particular heaven is not only long, it is akin to walking on hot coals.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Ultra runners seem to be running further and further on this 'journey of self discovery'. Which is all well and good except that the further you run, the more distance you put between yourself and your loved ones left at home.

Self discovery is not just about yourself.

[glaconman]

Well said MLCMM.

I can't help noticing this at all levels of running.

Runners get commended for their achievements and dedication. But sometimes the real achievement is knowing what the healthy balance is and being able to fulfill all our roles in life. I guess alot of it is negotiated behind closed doors and it's not always correct to judge.

Needless to say there are some terrific role models at RC who know how to prioritise. Dan and his night-time training spring to mind.

[El Gordo]

Well said MLCMM.

I can't help noticing this at all levels of running.

Runners get commended for their achievements and dedication. But sometimes the real achievement is knowing what the healthy balance is and being able to fulfill all our roles in life. I guess alot of it is negotiated behind closed doors and it's not always correct to judge.

Needless to say there are some terrific role models at RC who know how to prioritise. Dan and his night-time training spring to mind.

Sorry, but I disagree with these points. Or rather, I'm confused by them.

No, I'm not advocating trying NOT to achieve a 'healthy work-life balance', but nor would I advocate not checking that you have your door key with you when you go out for a run. It just doesn't seem worth stating.

Why are we (on the verge of ) presuming that the guy in the newspaper story didn't have a chat with his wife before deciding to train for his 100 km run?

I don't get the point being made here. That some hobbies and interests are solitary and time-consuming? And we should hold back on admiring long distance runners until we are assured that their spouse was consulted?

Some partners might be delighted to get rid of the other half for a while, and if they are not, perhaps we should leave them to sort it out.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Sorry I wasn't trying to make a sweeping statement about selfishness, nor was I casting stones at anyone.

Interesting topic, though. Perhaps there's a plodcast in it ... looks like you might get some diverse points of view.

[El Gordo]

Sorry I wasn't trying to make a sweeping statement about selfishness, nor was I casting stones at anyone.

Interesting topic, though. Perhaps there's a plodcast in it ... looks like you might get some diverse points of view.

Maybe I'm just having a bad day...

[Sweder]

Running is, at times, a selfish pursuit. That said, I love the solitude, the quiet headspace that a run alone provides. For me it's essential, and no less selfish than, ah, attending two or three football matches a week *cough* or reading a book in another room for an hour or two. Balance is the key.

Anyway, you don't have to leave home for too long to train for an Ultra

[glaconman]

Actually I didn't even read the article.

It was just an emotional reaction to MLCMM's post that struck a real chord with me.

I want to praise people on this forum for having flexible and realistic attitudes when it comes to running goals.

Sorry for confusion.