The good news is that I am not going to have to worry about finding a replacement for my very comfortable, but outrageously short lived La Sportiva C-Lite 2s. The anti inflammatory treatment I had recently has brought me no discernible benefit. In fact, none of the treatment I have had to date has brought me any discernible benefit.
The story of my injury over the last two and a half years is one of decline, despite treatment and the optimism of medical professionals. What I have experienced is some improvement after long rests (up to six months) followed by much greater declines. At first I sometimes experienced
discomfort after running. Now I can only walk two or three miles on
easy terrain before my knee starts to complain. It usually takes at least a week's rest before symptoms subside. To pursue treatment further, at my own expense, would have to be a matter of faith rather than reason.
So that, where running is concerned, seems to be that.
While I do understand that I have just been unlucky so far as the efficacy of treatment is concerned, one aspect of the care I have received has annoyed me a great deal.
So what has annoyed me?
Let me explain that I do not make the distinction, that many do, between 'conventional' and 'alternative' medicine/therapy. Frankly, why should I care about such a distinction? I do however distinguish between 'evidence based' and 'non evidence based' medicine/therapy.
If I am going to risk my health, physical and financial, I want to see some evidence that treatment will work. I require that this evidence is well documented, reputable, disprovable and has an adequate sample size. Medicine that claims to be evidence based needs to constantly monitor and re-assess new evidence to support that claim. This is especially true where evidence for the treatment is not unequivocal, as in the present instance 1.
So why is it that, despite multi page feedback forms that ask me what I thought about everything from the décor of the hospital room to the courtesy of the desk staff and the quality of the food, no one has bothered to enquire whether I have benefited from treatment?
1 "...unlike knee replacement surgery, which is supported by population based patient reported outcomes (PROMs) data and the National Joint Registry, healthcare commissioners lack the necessary data to allow informed decision making for knee arthroscopy" - BMJ 2014;348:g2382
Wednesday 5 August 2015
Wednesday 22 July 2015
Crossed fingers and an anti inflammatory injection in the knee joint
Well things have not worked out very well at all. Whereas several people I know have benefited from arthroscopy for meniscus tears, my own knee is much worse than it was before the 'op. I was OK after Mow Cop, however a five mile run the following Wednesday put paid to any thoughts I may have had about a proper (or any other) return to running.
The following day I could barely bend my knee more than ten degrees, Although the limited movement improved, since then there have been relatively few days when even walking doesn't cause my knee to pop, click and nag. Occasionally, an awkward foot landing will cause me enough pain to wince (or swear out loud).
I went to see the consultant again. He recommended an anti inflammatory injection direct into the knee joint and is still optimistic about my chances of making a full recovery. I don't dare allow myself any optimism, in the three years that I have been affected by the condition I have experienced only a substantial decline in mobility notwithstanding physiotherapy, orthoses and surgery.
Despite reservations about throwing 'good money after bad', I decided to take the advice and have the injection. It seems plausible that mild inflammation is pushing the knee out of alignment, if the knee is misaligned movement may cause aggravation and perpetuate the swelling. Any hope that this latest work might be 'under guarantee' was optimistic, the consultation was £70 and the injection £220. While I would be willing to spend my life savings to be able to run again, I cannot justify funding myself for any further treatment without a more or less guaranteed outcome.
I had the injection this morning, the business was fuss free, didn't really hurt, and was over in less than a minute. I was told to hang around in the waiting room for fifteen minutes afterwards, 'just in case', and was then free to go. I was able to drive the thirty miles to work and was in for about nine thirty, only about an hour and a half late, a lot better than the half day off I had anticipated. I can start running again next week if all goes as it should.
The following day I could barely bend my knee more than ten degrees, Although the limited movement improved, since then there have been relatively few days when even walking doesn't cause my knee to pop, click and nag. Occasionally, an awkward foot landing will cause me enough pain to wince (or swear out loud).
I went to see the consultant again. He recommended an anti inflammatory injection direct into the knee joint and is still optimistic about my chances of making a full recovery. I don't dare allow myself any optimism, in the three years that I have been affected by the condition I have experienced only a substantial decline in mobility notwithstanding physiotherapy, orthoses and surgery.
Despite reservations about throwing 'good money after bad', I decided to take the advice and have the injection. It seems plausible that mild inflammation is pushing the knee out of alignment, if the knee is misaligned movement may cause aggravation and perpetuate the swelling. Any hope that this latest work might be 'under guarantee' was optimistic, the consultation was £70 and the injection £220. While I would be willing to spend my life savings to be able to run again, I cannot justify funding myself for any further treatment without a more or less guaranteed outcome.
I had the injection this morning, the business was fuss free, didn't really hurt, and was over in less than a minute. I was told to hang around in the waiting room for fifteen minutes afterwards, 'just in case', and was then free to go. I was able to drive the thirty miles to work and was in for about nine thirty, only about an hour and a half late, a lot better than the half day off I had anticipated. I can start running again next week if all goes as it should.
Wednesday 15 April 2015
Mow Cop Hill Race, BM (and a nice cup of tea).
Six weeks after my knee op' the consultant told me I could start running again, but not to "go mad". I ran a few short exploratory runs, then three miles of mixed road and solid trail. All seemed well so I tried my first off road run the weekend before Mow Cop.
Mow Cop Hill Race, 6.5 miles, 1200' (FRA category BM), 12/04/15
The Met. office gave out weather alerts for the area as there was a good chance of severe winds. The organisers called for mandatory hat and wind proof top and recommended full body cover be carried, quite right too. As I was none too confident about finishing I had already packed a wind proof top, Mistlite pants and a micro fleece jacket anyway.
The pre race briefing
The pre race briefing was rather comical, we were warned that straying off the path in one area might result in us being impaled on spikes in the ground and that avoiding a stile elsewhere could mean becoming ensnared in barbed wire. This caused one wag amongst the starters to ask if we were being auditioned for a Japanese game show. I doubt if anyone was unduly worried, the event has always been well organised, well marked and well marshalled so we were unlikely to go astray.
We were soon away and off up the slope from the village hall to the playing fields, I adopted a relaxed pace near the back, I had no intention of stressing my knee. As we arrived at the quarry there was a fair gap between me and the runner behind. This allowed me a photographic opportunity where we entered the quarry instead of the usual one while in the queue at the exit.
Mow Cop Quarry
My feet seemed to find their way on the uneven ground, I had expected a bit of proprioceptive failure due to my long time out of things. This welcome news emboldened me a little and I picked up a few places as we exited the quarry and on the trail past the Old Man of Mow. Confidence is useful in the woods alongside Congleton Road/Mow Lane, though this year the ground wasn't that slippery and I just enjoyed the running.
Soon we were on the short section on Mow Lane then off again and into the boggy field past Limekiln Wood. I made good progress here, passing a few people while skimming the bog on tufts of grass. This sort of fun has to come to an end and, after a charmed run for about two thirds of the bog, my luck ran out and I went in and over. From here on, until near the end of the race, I ran close to and occasionally chatted with (I think) Samantha Calvert, bib 98
The following fields, where the sticky mud lives, were fairly dry this year. The pretty descent along the stream down to the lane was also less slippery, just as well as reflexes and proprioception were tested again by a sudden encounter with a fallen tree. I took it easy on the following downhill road section, and ran on the verges rather than the tarmac to minimise impact forces. Then came the uphill slog over fields, after leaving Yew Tree Lane, and the steep ascent up through Hanging Wood. Strangely, the path through the woods was the most churned up I have ever seen it.
Samantha and I were still running at a similar pace as we came out of the woods onto the skyline and then round the Old Man. From where the real descent to the finish starts, by the folly, I adopted a relaxed pace to 'humour' my knee. Indeed, in what was only a mile to the end Samantha pulled more than a minute ahead of me.
A nice cup of tea.
While it had been fresh, no severe winds had made themselves felt. Race over, I caught up with a few of the people I had met on the course. We chatted over a nice cup of tea and extravagant quantities of the superb home made cakes on offer. I noticed that just about every plate I saw featured more than one slice, the only sensible solution to the problem presented by wide choice.
The prize giving followed. First placed Lady, Olivia Walwyn, broke her own record for the course by more than two minutes with a time of 00:48:49, a truly impressive performance. Second places for both sexes were won by veterans and two MV60s were home in less than an hour.
My thanks to the organisers and marshals. I enjoyed myself tremendously as I have each time I have taken part. There is something so reassuring and timeless about this kind of event with hills, streams, fields and forest, village halls, tea and home baked cakes, friendly banter, muddy legs and the smell of liniment. If you are around next year do take part (and tell your friends about it as well).
I was happy with my own run, I felt like a runner again and nothing hurt more than it did when I started. As it turned out I was only a minute slower than my previous worst time (though I had run 26 miles the previous day on that occasion). Last year's Mow Cop was my first and last event of 2014. Here's hoping that the op' has worked and that there is more to come in 2015.
Mow Cop Hill Race, 6.5 miles, 1200' (FRA category BM), 12/04/15
The Met. office gave out weather alerts for the area as there was a good chance of severe winds. The organisers called for mandatory hat and wind proof top and recommended full body cover be carried, quite right too. As I was none too confident about finishing I had already packed a wind proof top, Mistlite pants and a micro fleece jacket anyway.
The pre race briefing was rather comical, we were warned that straying off the path in one area might result in us being impaled on spikes in the ground and that avoiding a stile elsewhere could mean becoming ensnared in barbed wire. This caused one wag amongst the starters to ask if we were being auditioned for a Japanese game show. I doubt if anyone was unduly worried, the event has always been well organised, well marked and well marshalled so we were unlikely to go astray.
We were soon away and off up the slope from the village hall to the playing fields, I adopted a relaxed pace near the back, I had no intention of stressing my knee. As we arrived at the quarry there was a fair gap between me and the runner behind. This allowed me a photographic opportunity where we entered the quarry instead of the usual one while in the queue at the exit.
My feet seemed to find their way on the uneven ground, I had expected a bit of proprioceptive failure due to my long time out of things. This welcome news emboldened me a little and I picked up a few places as we exited the quarry and on the trail past the Old Man of Mow. Confidence is useful in the woods alongside Congleton Road/Mow Lane, though this year the ground wasn't that slippery and I just enjoyed the running.
Soon we were on the short section on Mow Lane then off again and into the boggy field past Limekiln Wood. I made good progress here, passing a few people while skimming the bog on tufts of grass. This sort of fun has to come to an end and, after a charmed run for about two thirds of the bog, my luck ran out and I went in and over. From here on, until near the end of the race, I ran close to and occasionally chatted with (I think) Samantha Calvert, bib 98
The following fields, where the sticky mud lives, were fairly dry this year. The pretty descent along the stream down to the lane was also less slippery, just as well as reflexes and proprioception were tested again by a sudden encounter with a fallen tree. I took it easy on the following downhill road section, and ran on the verges rather than the tarmac to minimise impact forces. Then came the uphill slog over fields, after leaving Yew Tree Lane, and the steep ascent up through Hanging Wood. Strangely, the path through the woods was the most churned up I have ever seen it.
A well wrapped finisher (Christopher Pimblott, M50 , bib 4).
Samantha and I were still running at a similar pace as we came out of the woods onto the skyline and then round the Old Man. From where the real descent to the finish starts, by the folly, I adopted a relaxed pace to 'humour' my knee. Indeed, in what was only a mile to the end Samantha pulled more than a minute ahead of me.
A nice cup of tea.
While it had been fresh, no severe winds had made themselves felt. Race over, I caught up with a few of the people I had met on the course. We chatted over a nice cup of tea and extravagant quantities of the superb home made cakes on offer. I noticed that just about every plate I saw featured more than one slice, the only sensible solution to the problem presented by wide choice.
The prize giving followed. First placed Lady, Olivia Walwyn, broke her own record for the course by more than two minutes with a time of 00:48:49, a truly impressive performance. Second places for both sexes were won by veterans and two MV60s were home in less than an hour.
My thanks to the organisers and marshals. I enjoyed myself tremendously as I have each time I have taken part. There is something so reassuring and timeless about this kind of event with hills, streams, fields and forest, village halls, tea and home baked cakes, friendly banter, muddy legs and the smell of liniment. If you are around next year do take part (and tell your friends about it as well).
I was happy with my own run, I felt like a runner again and nothing hurt more than it did when I started. As it turned out I was only a minute slower than my previous worst time (though I had run 26 miles the previous day on that occasion). Last year's Mow Cop was my first and last event of 2014. Here's hoping that the op' has worked and that there is more to come in 2015.
Wednesday 18 February 2015
Into the unknown, an everyday story of ordinary arthroscopy.
A third year of knee injury well under way, and there was still no hint of a date for an op' from the NHS. It has been a good few years since we've had a winter like this one with snow on the hills and long periods of settled weather, missing out was more than I could bear. I decided enough was enough and I raided my retirement savings to fund arthroscopy for medial meniscus tears myself. Once I had made this commitment I felt deep regret at not having done so back in June when my injury was finally diagnosed after engaging the services of Nuffield Health.
Two weeks later I was standing apprehensively outside the Nuffield hospital in Clayton at seven thirty on a gorgeous crisp morning, with a few essentials in my ancient Hot Ice rucksack. I was soon in my room, processed, then on a trolley headed for the anaesthetist with an arrow drawn on my left leg. The anaesthetist stuck a tap in the back of my hand then plumbed me in to the sleepy stuff. He warned me of a slight sensation of cold and told me to think of somewhere I liked to be. Of course I imagined myself running, peacefully, effortlessly through a quiet, misty, frosted landscape, a smile came over my face and I drifted into unconsciousness.
Above: Frosty early morning scene, a few weeks ago on my local route. It was a scene like this one that I drifted into as I drifted out of consciousness.
I came to a while later, I felt as if I had woken from a nap, but was rather more refreshed than I would be from a natural sleep. I was not at all hazy and knew instantly where I was and was rather relieved to note that I could feel my leg and that there was no sensation of pain.
I was soon back in my room and was at last allowed to eat, the sandwich I was given didn't touch the sides. The consultant visited me and told me that the procedure had gone satisfactorily. He showed me a photo of the inside of my knee in which the debris that he had removed could be seen. He also pointed out the arthritis to the surfaces of the knee joint which he said was no more than was to be expected at my age and that it was was OK "considering what you do".
I was then visited by a physio' who asked me to perform a few simple movements. She said that I would be given a sheet with the exercises on it then told me her department would be in touch in a few days. She left and I started to do a few of the leg raises while I waited for my 'discharge papers'. I had been advised to take it easy so I stopped after 70 straight leg raises, about half the number I would repeat for several sets ordinarily.
The nurses brought my 'Going Home' pack (including a video of the op), took the tap out of my hand and gave me instructions on managing dressings and so on. I then phoned my lift, dressed and went to sit outside in the winter sun while I waited. I read my book and did a few more leg raises, only about thirty this time due to the extra weight of my boots. I got out the pack I had been given to check what other exercises I should be doing. I read that I should do five leg raises, five times a day, oops!!
Later that day the knee was still pain free and my mobility was restricted only by the bulk of the dressings. This surprised me, I had expected swelling and pain. I took it easy, just watching films and the like, but could stand up long enough to prepare a meal and manage stairs with ease (though one at a time in descent on my very steep Victorian stairs). Later, as I undressed at bedtime, I realised that I was still wearing the electrodes they had attached at the hospital.
I was very impressed by the efficiency of Nuffield's organisation and care up until I was discharged from the hospital. Getting a physio' appointment was another matter. I was not contacted within the specified time or within the next week. I phoned as I had been advised to do in that eventuality.
I was answered by a machine that instructed me to phone an 0845 number to make an appointment. The mention of 0845 makes my blood, and that of all right thinking people, boil, there was worse to come when I rang the number. After an automatic prelude, routing and call queue with awful electronic music, I was connected to the appointments operator. This operator advised me that they could not make appointments for post op' physio', this needed to be arranged with the hospital. He connected me to the hospital. The hospital front desk answered, I stated my business. The receptionist advised me that they could not make appointments at the front desk and put me through to the physiotherapy department. I was answered by the machine telling me that to make an appointment I had to phone the 0845 number!
It took me most of the morning to break this loop of organisational incompetence. No email address is given on the Nuffield web site and no one answers the 'Contact Us' message service (they still haven't two days later). Eventually I got the hospital front desk to email the physio' dept. and ask them to ring me at work on my mobile.
After this frustrating day I visited my mother in the evening. She told me that mail for me had been delivered to her address that day,.. curious. I opened the letter, it was from the NHS inviting me to attend an appointment on the previous Wednesday! The letter had been sent with an incomplete (wrong) address. That they had sent the letter to my mother's address (almost) instead of the one that I registered with the NHS twenty odd years ago and to which they have sent all previous correspondence for the last two decades, beggars belief. I was speechless.
I wrote back politely and explained that I would be unable to keep an appointment for the previous Wednesday, that they had sent the letter to the wrong address and that it was not necessary to make another appointment as I had now decided to fund my operation myself. I asked that they correct their records and confirm that they had done so. I am still wound up about this two days later, a two year wait for this nonsense.
The dressings are now off my knee and the incisions are pretty much healed. The knee is creaky though it allows day to day use, it doesn't hurt unless stressed. It feels pretty much like it did, during 'so-so' phases, before the op'. I hope that this is due to residual swelling from the surgery and that it will pass. I suppose only time will tell, from what I have heard I should be able to run on it in another ten days. Here's hoping, I need some stress relief urgently.
Thanks to the team at Clayton on the day, the two nurses and the anaesthetist were kind, caring, reassuring and efficient without ever being patronising, well done boys. Thanks also to my sister Sandi for getting up at 05:30 to get me there on time and for getting me home afterwards. For the team - an everyday story of ordinary arthroscopy, for me - a singular day of extraordinary importance.
Two weeks later I was standing apprehensively outside the Nuffield hospital in Clayton at seven thirty on a gorgeous crisp morning, with a few essentials in my ancient Hot Ice rucksack. I was soon in my room, processed, then on a trolley headed for the anaesthetist with an arrow drawn on my left leg. The anaesthetist stuck a tap in the back of my hand then plumbed me in to the sleepy stuff. He warned me of a slight sensation of cold and told me to think of somewhere I liked to be. Of course I imagined myself running, peacefully, effortlessly through a quiet, misty, frosted landscape, a smile came over my face and I drifted into unconsciousness.
I came to a while later, I felt as if I had woken from a nap, but was rather more refreshed than I would be from a natural sleep. I was not at all hazy and knew instantly where I was and was rather relieved to note that I could feel my leg and that there was no sensation of pain.
I was soon back in my room and was at last allowed to eat, the sandwich I was given didn't touch the sides. The consultant visited me and told me that the procedure had gone satisfactorily. He showed me a photo of the inside of my knee in which the debris that he had removed could be seen. He also pointed out the arthritis to the surfaces of the knee joint which he said was no more than was to be expected at my age and that it was was OK "considering what you do".
I was then visited by a physio' who asked me to perform a few simple movements. She said that I would be given a sheet with the exercises on it then told me her department would be in touch in a few days. She left and I started to do a few of the leg raises while I waited for my 'discharge papers'. I had been advised to take it easy so I stopped after 70 straight leg raises, about half the number I would repeat for several sets ordinarily.
The nurses brought my 'Going Home' pack (including a video of the op), took the tap out of my hand and gave me instructions on managing dressings and so on. I then phoned my lift, dressed and went to sit outside in the winter sun while I waited. I read my book and did a few more leg raises, only about thirty this time due to the extra weight of my boots. I got out the pack I had been given to check what other exercises I should be doing. I read that I should do five leg raises, five times a day, oops!!
Later that day the knee was still pain free and my mobility was restricted only by the bulk of the dressings. This surprised me, I had expected swelling and pain. I took it easy, just watching films and the like, but could stand up long enough to prepare a meal and manage stairs with ease (though one at a time in descent on my very steep Victorian stairs). Later, as I undressed at bedtime, I realised that I was still wearing the electrodes they had attached at the hospital.
I was very impressed by the efficiency of Nuffield's organisation and care up until I was discharged from the hospital. Getting a physio' appointment was another matter. I was not contacted within the specified time or within the next week. I phoned as I had been advised to do in that eventuality.
I was answered by a machine that instructed me to phone an 0845 number to make an appointment. The mention of 0845 makes my blood, and that of all right thinking people, boil, there was worse to come when I rang the number. After an automatic prelude, routing and call queue with awful electronic music, I was connected to the appointments operator. This operator advised me that they could not make appointments for post op' physio', this needed to be arranged with the hospital. He connected me to the hospital. The hospital front desk answered, I stated my business. The receptionist advised me that they could not make appointments at the front desk and put me through to the physiotherapy department. I was answered by the machine telling me that to make an appointment I had to phone the 0845 number!
It took me most of the morning to break this loop of organisational incompetence. No email address is given on the Nuffield web site and no one answers the 'Contact Us' message service (they still haven't two days later). Eventually I got the hospital front desk to email the physio' dept. and ask them to ring me at work on my mobile.
After this frustrating day I visited my mother in the evening. She told me that mail for me had been delivered to her address that day,.. curious. I opened the letter, it was from the NHS inviting me to attend an appointment on the previous Wednesday! The letter had been sent with an incomplete (wrong) address. That they had sent the letter to my mother's address (almost) instead of the one that I registered with the NHS twenty odd years ago and to which they have sent all previous correspondence for the last two decades, beggars belief. I was speechless.
I wrote back politely and explained that I would be unable to keep an appointment for the previous Wednesday, that they had sent the letter to the wrong address and that it was not necessary to make another appointment as I had now decided to fund my operation myself. I asked that they correct their records and confirm that they had done so. I am still wound up about this two days later, a two year wait for this nonsense.
The dressings are now off my knee and the incisions are pretty much healed. The knee is creaky though it allows day to day use, it doesn't hurt unless stressed. It feels pretty much like it did, during 'so-so' phases, before the op'. I hope that this is due to residual swelling from the surgery and that it will pass. I suppose only time will tell, from what I have heard I should be able to run on it in another ten days. Here's hoping, I need some stress relief urgently.
Thanks to the team at Clayton on the day, the two nurses and the anaesthetist were kind, caring, reassuring and efficient without ever being patronising, well done boys. Thanks also to my sister Sandi for getting up at 05:30 to get me there on time and for getting me home afterwards. For the team - an everyday story of ordinary arthroscopy, for me - a singular day of extraordinary importance.
Monday 5 January 2015
This, that, Macc' Forest and Shutlingsloe, Axe Edge Moor and the other.
Still no sign of a date for my knee operation. I am trying to make the best use of the limited mileage that the injury will stand while avoiding traveling long distances to run for a short while. I do miss my all day runs, particularly now. I do not know if I genuinely prefer running in winter or whether it is just association with excellent past runs (and the fact that many areas are often quieter).
Macc' Forest and Shutlingsloe
Although I feel it is barely worth the drive to the Peak District if I am only going to run a few miles, I do sometimes treat myself. Macclesfield Forest and Shutlingsloe is accessible and it is easy to pack the ascent in.
Left - Heading down to the reservoir from Shutlingsloe. Right - The atmospheric path from the bridleway to Forest Chapel.
A loop from Standing Stone car park taking in Shutlingsloe (round then up from the south, down northward into the forest), the Forest Bridleway and Forest Chapel makes for an atmospheric run of around seven miles which is easily extended. Ascent is a little less than category A by my most common variation. Taking in Tegg's Nose gets the length up to nearly nine miles and the ascent even closer to 250' per mile. I do find the descent from Tegg's Nose on the paved bridleway tough on the old bones though. I used to run it frequently, as part of my old, 'standard' ultra training route.
Axe Edge Moor
Late December saw me abandon an attempt at the Macc' Forest run. The area was heaving with people and continuous roadside parking from Langley to Standing Stone car park (and beyond) had caused serious traffic problems on the narrow roads. I drove past Standing Stone car park hoping to find somewhere quieter and ended up on a layby off the A54 at the side of Axe Edge Moor. The moor was well off my map so I had to play it carefully and stick to evident paths, I tried to remember my route in order to retrace it, but I was fairly certain the distinctive imprint of my Walsh's would help me find my way back.
Looking south east(ish), Axe Edge Moor close to the start of my run from the A54 layby.
The breeze was very light, the sun shone and a moon was just visible in the blue sky, all this and a stunning snowscape. This was one of those runs that I will remember for a long time.
I took the Dane Valley Way through Danebower and Reeve-edge Quarries to Orchard Farm where I left the Dane Valley Way heading towards Knotbury. A start in Cheshire, through Derbyshire and into Staffordshire. Originally, I had planned to run for 45 minutes then go back. I was turning back on myself here and there as I found my way about so I decided to run for an hour instead, I was sure my way back would be truer and quicker. I checked my watch after what seemed no more than ten minutes and I had been out for fifty! I had been enjoying myself so much that time had just whizzed past. I ran for another ten minutes then reluctantly turned back.
Stunning snow covered landscape and a clear blue sky.
There were few places where I could not see the route before me so finding my way back was fairly easy. There was a confusion of paths in one hollow, but sure enough I could find my own stud pattern to guide me.
Though I doubt that ambient temperature had risen above freezing all day, the radiant heat of the sun had softened the knee deep powder on the last part of the path back. This bit became much harder work than it had been on the way out, either because of the melting or because I was less fresh. The snow was no longer too cold to melt on my shoes either and my feet, which had been dry so far, got quite wet. They only had to put up with it for a few minutes though so had no time to get cold.
I got back to the layby in exactly one and a half hours so my out-back compensation guess was spot on. I put on a jacket, dealt with frozen laces and then found my sandwich. I put my warm hat on, but it was so hot I took it off again. It was perfectly comfortable to let my bare feet dry in the sunshine before putting on shoes and socks for the drive home. A truly memorable run to end 2014.
The other
I am keeping my mileage down to a very frustrating 25 miles a week or less. That seems to be as much as my knee can stand. My consultant confirmed that it is OK to run providing it does not cause pain. I am interpreting that as - 'mostly' does not cause pain, because while the occasional landing or twist does sometimes hurt, on the whole ordinary day to day use may hurt as much or more. Tension in my quads when running seems to stabilise my knee and attention to foot placement and avoidance of twisting helps. All the same, upping my mileage does seem to cause delayed onset pain and I do not want to risk months without running again.
I am experimenting with the proportions that make up my weekly mileage. My longest long run since last winter has been just under 15 miles so far. I am also running only three times a week to maximise the rest period between runs. Though both walking and running were painful a few months ago, walking, even 20 miles or so seems entirely comfortable now (provided I start pain free). I am trying to fit long walks into my general schedule in the hope that it will help to maintain fitness at as near pre injury levels as possible.
I am still struggling to keep my weight constant, I have now cut around 7000 calories a week from my diet! I seem to be thinking about food all the time. A time when it seemed impossible to eat enough feels like something I must have dreamed.
Macc' Forest and Shutlingsloe
Although I feel it is barely worth the drive to the Peak District if I am only going to run a few miles, I do sometimes treat myself. Macclesfield Forest and Shutlingsloe is accessible and it is easy to pack the ascent in.
A loop from Standing Stone car park taking in Shutlingsloe (round then up from the south, down northward into the forest), the Forest Bridleway and Forest Chapel makes for an atmospheric run of around seven miles which is easily extended. Ascent is a little less than category A by my most common variation. Taking in Tegg's Nose gets the length up to nearly nine miles and the ascent even closer to 250' per mile. I do find the descent from Tegg's Nose on the paved bridleway tough on the old bones though. I used to run it frequently, as part of my old, 'standard' ultra training route.
Axe Edge Moor
Late December saw me abandon an attempt at the Macc' Forest run. The area was heaving with people and continuous roadside parking from Langley to Standing Stone car park (and beyond) had caused serious traffic problems on the narrow roads. I drove past Standing Stone car park hoping to find somewhere quieter and ended up on a layby off the A54 at the side of Axe Edge Moor. The moor was well off my map so I had to play it carefully and stick to evident paths, I tried to remember my route in order to retrace it, but I was fairly certain the distinctive imprint of my Walsh's would help me find my way back.
The breeze was very light, the sun shone and a moon was just visible in the blue sky, all this and a stunning snowscape. This was one of those runs that I will remember for a long time.
I took the Dane Valley Way through Danebower and Reeve-edge Quarries to Orchard Farm where I left the Dane Valley Way heading towards Knotbury. A start in Cheshire, through Derbyshire and into Staffordshire. Originally, I had planned to run for 45 minutes then go back. I was turning back on myself here and there as I found my way about so I decided to run for an hour instead, I was sure my way back would be truer and quicker. I checked my watch after what seemed no more than ten minutes and I had been out for fifty! I had been enjoying myself so much that time had just whizzed past. I ran for another ten minutes then reluctantly turned back.
There were few places where I could not see the route before me so finding my way back was fairly easy. There was a confusion of paths in one hollow, but sure enough I could find my own stud pattern to guide me.
Though I doubt that ambient temperature had risen above freezing all day, the radiant heat of the sun had softened the knee deep powder on the last part of the path back. This bit became much harder work than it had been on the way out, either because of the melting or because I was less fresh. The snow was no longer too cold to melt on my shoes either and my feet, which had been dry so far, got quite wet. They only had to put up with it for a few minutes though so had no time to get cold.
I got back to the layby in exactly one and a half hours so my out-back compensation guess was spot on. I put on a jacket, dealt with frozen laces and then found my sandwich. I put my warm hat on, but it was so hot I took it off again. It was perfectly comfortable to let my bare feet dry in the sunshine before putting on shoes and socks for the drive home. A truly memorable run to end 2014.
The other
I am keeping my mileage down to a very frustrating 25 miles a week or less. That seems to be as much as my knee can stand. My consultant confirmed that it is OK to run providing it does not cause pain. I am interpreting that as - 'mostly' does not cause pain, because while the occasional landing or twist does sometimes hurt, on the whole ordinary day to day use may hurt as much or more. Tension in my quads when running seems to stabilise my knee and attention to foot placement and avoidance of twisting helps. All the same, upping my mileage does seem to cause delayed onset pain and I do not want to risk months without running again.
I am experimenting with the proportions that make up my weekly mileage. My longest long run since last winter has been just under 15 miles so far. I am also running only three times a week to maximise the rest period between runs. Though both walking and running were painful a few months ago, walking, even 20 miles or so seems entirely comfortable now (provided I start pain free). I am trying to fit long walks into my general schedule in the hope that it will help to maintain fitness at as near pre injury levels as possible.
I am still struggling to keep my weight constant, I have now cut around 7000 calories a week from my diet! I seem to be thinking about food all the time. A time when it seemed impossible to eat enough feels like something I must have dreamed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)