Marathon Mann

A cold and frosty morning greeted me today on my return to running as I went round Temple Newsam parkrun with Helen.  I wimped out of running to parkrun which was probably a good idea since although it was slow (for both of us), it still felt like relatively hard going!  Since the parkrun was taken-over by Crossgates Harriers, there was cake afterwards so that was nice.  When we got home I did complete my planned 8 miles by an easy out and back.  This still felt hard and I’m hoping it’s because of the tail end of my cold – surely I can’t have lost that much fitness in two weeks!

That’s now a total of 11.5 miles for the month and a planned long run tomorrow.  I won’t disclose how long that’s supposed to be, we’ll just see how far I get!

100 to do in Febuary can we do it? Yes we can!

After a torrid few weeks struggling with a persistent cold, I received a real boost today.  Today was my appointment with Dr A Hogarth at LGI, about a year and a month after he performed a cardiac ablation to treat my irratic heartbeat.

When I saw a very young man enter the office, I thought for a moment that I was being fobbed off with a Junior but a few moments later the man himself popped his head round the door and invited me in.   It was a low-key appointment; a chat really and I didn’t even need to go for an ECG!  Since the operation, I’ve had no problem with my heart at all; in fact as I told the good doctor I’ve not had a single heartbeat out of place.  He said to the student “there you go; it works!”   He went on to say that from people who go one year without problems, 75% will stay that way.  If in the future it ever came back then they can do the procedure again, which isn’t as daunting as it was originally but not that attractive, so I rather hope it’s cured for good!  The Doctor is optimistic and so he discharged me.

Although things haven’t really changed since yesterday, I do feel like this is an important milestone and I can move on.  I need to pick up my marathon training now because I still have to achieve my 100 miles in February and I’ve only done 3.5 miles to date!  But if I follow my training programme then I shall achieve 100.5 so I’m still on target (just).

As for Dr.Hogarth and his team, I owe them a massive vote of thanks.  He was delighted that I am running the London Martathon for the British Heart Foundation and I hope we can raise some money so many more people can be successfully treated for heart conditions like me!

 

Well, I’m back! After an enforced absense of just over a week (Mann flu), I ventured out with the Rodillian Runners for a timed mile.  The timed mile wasn’t brilliant but I did a total of 3 1/2 miles and I feel pretty good so nothing lost.  This is my first run in February in which I aim to do at least 100 miles (another medal awaits).  I’m not panicking though since simply by following my pre-planned training schedule I get there easily with some days to spare.

We also had the annual running club AGM tonight and it was a reminder of all the great things we have going for us in our little club.  I was humbled by being chosen as the Men’s Captain and so I do hope I can live up to expectations in that role.