July 2014

[Sweder]

A decent start to the new month.
No running to report as knee surgery imminent. However, Orlando was a rip-roaring success and now, this:

   

The last of three barrels of Le Champion has just gone on at The Bull in Ditchling.
My word, what an astonishingly fine ale this is. Light, fresh, but a depth of flavour that belies it's lighty-freshness and an aftertaste that has your tastebuds dancing a jig. Well played, Timothy Taylor.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

How soon does the knee get sliced and diced?

[Sweder]

How soon does the knee get sliced and diced?

Following a series of inspections and referrals, the first of which is set for Friday. The main issue appears to be something snagged in there. That is to say, every now and then the knee tightens, there's a 'ping' and the tightness is released. I suspect this is not good.

That said I'm hoping to get our for a run in the next day or so, a sedate two-or-three-miler, just to turn things over and see what's what.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

The main issue appears to be something snagged in there. That is to say, every now and then the knee tightens, there's a 'ping' and the tightness is released. I suspect this is not good.

That said I'm hoping to get our for a run in the next day or so, a sedate two-or-three-miler, just to turn things over and see what's what.

Wouldn't an x-ray be simpler and safer, OM? I mean, it's just a thought, and all...

[glaconman]

A job well done Sweder. Glad you enjoyed it. You describe it perfectly. Brewing is one of those things that's easy to do but difficult to do to this standard. I would like to see Taylors introduce this as a seasonal beer every year. Apparently the head brewer is retiring and his understudy of many years is wanting to do stuff like this.

I tend to agree with MLCMM regarding the knee. Has enough been done with xrays and scans? I'm no orthopaedic surgeon mind. Perhaps the keyhole stuff is as exploratory as it is invasive these days.

[Sweder]

In through the keyhole. Now there was a dreadful programme

Captain Tom, a seasoned paramedic and a man of increasing physiological knowledge, assures me this is likely to be a 'clear out' procedure. The meniscus wears, gets 'tatty' and accumulates 'gubbins' that needs 'vacuuming'. I'm told the recovery process is reasonably short, although the procedure may need to be repeated as the area deteriorates.

I must post a declaration of intent. I have plans, running-wise. I did tease MLCMMan a while back but he spat the bait out too early to make a decent game of it. I have a race in mind for January and it's not in Spain. Unlike the mighty Giggsy there will be no eleventh title* on my shelf. I said I'd hang up my road racing boots and I plan to do so, but I have one new adventure and one old score to settle. I'd hoped to nail it all in 2015 so I could hobble off into the hilly sunset. Looks like this knee business may put that on hold, at least the second part of it.

CharlieCat and OutAlongTheRiver have given me a chance to rekindle my training as I always liked it, with local partners who push my boundaries and test my mettle. If we all stay fit and healthy for another year or two I hope to carve out enough time to finish what I started with Chris, Rog and Dave back in 2006/7. One more time to don the Cape, to meet the rise at Chappers.
And to wrap it up in under six hours.



*finisher's medal

[Seafront Plodder]

Speak to MGS's very own ladyboy Barry.

He had that exact same thing recently I believe.

[Sweder]

A run happened. Not much, barely two miles of sweaty toil in the Sunday twilight, but a run, nonetheless. Knee was painful at first, settling down to a dull ache after a while. We'll see how it reacts overnight after no ice or drugs. No date for a scan yet.

That's it.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Bloody hell, Sweder! Are you sure about all this?

[Bierzo Baggie]

Can't offer any advice on knees, just tea and sympathy. Oh, and swimming's fun....
Why not forget the Cape Town challenge and come and do the Aquilianos? MUCH cheaper and you could twin it with the Moyleman! Now there's an idea...

[suzieq]

Ok, you are crazy! I've always known this, but you keep reaffirming it. Doing THAT race again? I can only shake my head...

[Sweder]

Why not forget the Cape Town challenge and come and do the Aquilianos? MUCH cheaper and you could twin it with the Moyleman! Now there's an idea...

An idea indeed! I'm not saying 'no' to the Aquillianos. It's not a road race so technically still an option in the future. I need to get off tarmac for good, and before I can do that I'd like to right the one wrong that lingers above all others in my addled head.

When you say 'twin', do tell us more *intrigued*

[Sweder]

Ok, you are crazy! I've always known this, but you keep reaffirming it. Doing THAT race again? I can only shake my head...

Suzie I do appreciate - and share - your concerns for my mental and physical well-being. If you could see me hobbling about you'd understand how daft this all seems. TOM has never fully left my thoughts. Connemara showed me a glimpse of something, Christopher McDougall peeled the curtain back a little more. The training schedule alone makes me dry heave. it includes, as a training run, The 2016 Moyleman, not as a race but as time-on-your-feet exercise.

There's a long way to go, in more ways than one. But a man - or woman - has to dream. This one just won't leave me alone.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

TOM has never fully left my thoughts. Connemara showed me a glimpse of something, Christopher McDougall peeled the curtain back a little more. The training schedule alone makes me dry heave. it includes, as a training run, The 2016 Moyleman, not as a race but as time-on-your-feet exercise.

There's a long way to go, in more ways than one. But a man - or woman - has to dream. This one just won't leave me alone.

[engage stern look]
Just remember you're a long time retired, and you will want to have working knees if you're to get the most out of it. You don't look like much of a wheelchair basketball player to me.
[disengage stern look]

[Bierzo Baggie]

Why not forget the Cape Town challenge and come and do the Aquilianos? MUCH cheaper and you could twin it with the Moyleman! Now there's an idea...

An idea indeed! I'm not saying 'no' to the Aquillianos. It's not a road race so technically still an option in the future. I need to get off tarmac for good, and before I can do that I'd like to right the one wrong that lingers above all others in my addled head.

When you say 'twin', do tell us more *intrigued*

If you can twin towns you can twin events. I've read your epic Two Oceans report, the race itself sounds horrible.The Moyleman sounds much more appealing !
If you're not doing Almeria, The Aquilianos would be a great alternative for 2015 and it's accessible to all levels (or at least the 48k version is). I'd say a sub 6 hour Aquilianos B-route would be comparable (and less damaging physically) to a sub 6-hour Cape Town run. And if anybody wants to walk it in 10 or 11 hours then that is an option too.
I reckon Antonio would love it as well!

[Sweder]

Why not forget the Cape Town challenge and come and do the Aquilianos? MUCH cheaper and you could twin it with the Moyleman! Now there's an idea...

An idea indeed! I'm not saying 'no' to the Aquillianos. It's not a road race so technically still an option in the future. I need to get off tarmac for good, and before I can do that I'd like to right the one wrong that lingers above all others in my addled head.

When you say 'twin', do tell us more *intrigued*

If you can twin towns you can twin events. I've read your epic Two Oceans report, the race itself sounds horrible.The Moyleman sounds much more appealing !
If you're not doing Almeria, The Aquilianos would be a great alternative for 2015 and it's accessible to all levels (or at least the 48k version is). I'd say a sub 6 hour Aquilianos B-route would be comparable (and less damaging physically) to a sub 6-hour Cape Town run. And if anybody wants to walk it in 10 or 11 hours then that is an option too.
I reckon Antonio would love it as well!

You mischievous man! Of course this appeals - how could it not?
2015 depends a lot on what they find in my knee/ how much mucking about with knives and suction and staples this entails.

I'm running the Key West Half in January. As you can imagine I'm committed to that come what may, so might have to walk round.

The Aquilianos requires stage mapping/ practice, right? I mean, to do it properly. Of course I have your superb scriptures to follow, but even so it might be a good idea to run some of the trails to get an idea. So here's a half-baked plan. Why don't I head over next year on a reccie, sample the local cerveza and tapas, get a feel for the monster, then train like a fool for 2016? This way I have time to mend my knee properly.

Two Oceans is happening. It might have to be 2017 if this all comes off, but I really don't see why the Aquilianos shouldn't be the Next Big RC Adventure.

Here we go again ...

[Bierzo Baggie]

Great idea!!!
If there are a few of you interested you may consider Lord Coxy's Hose of Scouse in the heart of the Aquilianos as a High Altitude training camp.
http://www.lascuatroestaciones.es/
And if it's just you Sweder (CharlieCat seems a bit scaredy-cat ) you can kip on our sofa.

[Charliecat5]

And if it's just you Sweder (CharlieCat seems a bit scaredy-cat ) you can kip on our sofa.

Hey, I'm no scaredy-cat - it's just that 40 miles seems quite a long way...

[Bierzo Baggie]

And if it's just you Sweder (CharlieCat seems a bit scaredy-cat ) you can kip on our sofa.

Hey, I'm no scaredy-cat - it's just that 40 miles seems quite a long way...

Hey, it's mostly walking. And they put on LOADS of food, chorizo sandwiches, cream cakes, that sort of thing.,,
There's a shorter 48km version too.
And the mountain biking routes around here are second to none.
Go onnnn

[Charliecat5]

And if it's just you Sweder (CharlieCat seems a bit scaredy-cat ) you can kip on our sofa.

Hey, I'm no scaredy-cat - it's just that 40 miles seems quite a long way...

Hey, it's mostly walking. And they put on LOADS of food, chorizo sandwiches, cream cakes, that sort of thing.,,
There's a shorter 48km version too.
And the mountain biking routes around here are second to none.
Go onnnn

Cream cakes you say... why didn't you mention this before?