August 2014: Turning Over A New Leaf

[Sweder]

Sounds a lot like surgery to me.

...or lawn bowls.

[shudder]

See, now, you SAY that, but the most knee pain I've had since this started was playing lawn bowls! Bizarre. Something to do with the crouching action at point of release.
Looks like I might be denied even that simple pleasure ... Thank God I love beer so much.

Lovely day yesterday catching up with the somewhat less Gordo El Gordo and the delightful M in the tranquil surrounds of the Limetree Kitchen.
I even persuaded the great man to turn his head away from QPR's unedifying drubbing at the hands of Spurs and join me for the second half of Lewes Ladies v Plymouth Argyle. We watched the last ten minutes of part one from the sanctity of one of the new corporate beach-huts. EG was kind enough to express pleasant surprise at the standard of sport on offer as the Rookettes sealed an efficient if unremarkable 2-0 win.

One last thought. Sir Richard Attenborough left us last night. His contribution to cinema is legend, as was his humanity, charisma and sense of justice.
Brighton Rock, 10 Rillington Place, A Bridge Too Far, Gandhi, Cry Freedom, all fine bodies of work. We must forgive him his passion for CFC, where he was life president.
RIP, Pinkie.

   

[The Beast of Bevendean]

Never mind Sir Dickie, where are the kitten photos?

[Sweder]

Never mind Sir Dickie, where are the kitten photos?

A reasonable enough request.
Jonesy and Murph got together this evening.
His face is priceless.

   

[Sweder]

Hello RC, you remember me? Big bloke, drinks a bit, used to run some, bangs on about non-league/ women's football ...

I'm off to the Doc's tomorrow. I should have gone last week but work intervened, as it has with cruel indifference for much of the summer. There's been zero running since last I was here, in deference to the damage lurking in my knee. I have been walking every day, around 30 to 40 minutes of slightly hilly trecking across the local downs in the early mornings. I've seen a few glorious sunrises, like this one today ...

   

It's a gorgeous time of year to be out in the hills. The seasons are changing, Autumn cartwheeling her way across Summer's dignified retreat. Temperatures drop as the tall grasses wilt, a big red sun kisses mist and high cloud, the breeze becomes something more, whispering of ch-ch-ch-ch-changes ...

Galling, then, that I can't hurl my corpulence up those fabulous slopes at anything more than a wobbly shuffle.

Off the trails I'm gearing up for my last beery session of the season. My company, EFI Logistics, is sponsoring Wednesday night's Lewes FC match, a Ryman Premier league clash with VCD Athletic. EFI recently turned 25. Bruce Springsteen is 65 today and the club is 129, also today, so we all thought it might be cool to sponsor this week's match and get some punters along for burgers and beers in the new Corporate Beach Huts, recently visited by our own Grand Fromage. It should be a hoot. Three points would be icing on the cake, but as we found out against the Stones on Saturday, you can't always get what you want.

   

[Antonio247]

Best of luck tomorrow,S.! It must be hard not to be able to go for a run. Hope your knee will be strong again soon. Congratulations for all those anniversaries too!

Saludos desde Almería

[Sweder]

I have scheduled a meeting with world-reknowned knee specialist Arthur Oscapthy for Thursday 23rd October. I'd have gone sooner, but I'm off to Colombia in two weeks and will need both legs.

The op will take circa 20 minutes and require 5 days complete rest (no driving).
I've stripped a chunk off the shock absorber inside my right knee. The bone damage is minimal and, effectively, circumstantial as there are no repairs to be made. Worst case scenario I'll absorb less shock on that knee, which may become a problen over time. It all points to an off-road future, something I signed up for after P2P last year anyway.

The Key West Half will at best be a brisk stroll. My return to running will start sometime around the second week of November, giving me eight weeks to go from zero to thirteen point one miles. It's a target.

[Bierzo Baggie]

My uncle Trev had his operation 3 days ago ...complete knee replacement. He was a 2:50 marathon runner in the 80s and there's no doubt that excessive pavement pounding (and not knowing when to stop) knackered his knee big time. Spoke to him on the phone last night. The rehabilitation starts almost immediately with a female physio who has a reputation for sadism and an appropriate nickname too. Sounds familiar?
He's been told ity'll be 6 weeks before he can drive again!
Don't rush the comeback however tempting it may be, it's just not worth it.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Why are you running the Key West exactly?

[Sweder]

Why are you running the Key West exactly?

Why not?

[Sweder]

In case any of you were in any doubt ...

[marathondan]

Much like this, I guess.

[marathondan]

But yes, thanks for the tip. (Sweder, not Alexis.) I'm sure several of us will have some girding to do in the coming months.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

This thread has taken a decidely unattractive turn.

[marathondan]

This thread has taken a decidely unattractive turn.

Wait till you see the pics of Sweder's knee.