Keeping going but taking it easy.

It has been a long time since I last did a blog but my knees have caused me problems and it has been a difficult time gathering weight and losing the enthusiasm to jog. When I say 'knees' I should mention knee, my right knee. This is the knee broken several years ago and has been causing me problems ever since.

My poor right knee is somewhat swollen and when I do go for a jog it gets very tight at the back. I do not know what has caused this. Most of the time the knee is swollen and it is just part of who I am. There is a lot of history in the knee cap. I first damaged it playing rugby at School. It is amazing I can still remember the incident. The Magdalen First XV were playing Cedar School which is in deepest Bedfordshire

Cedars Upper School - Home www.cedarsupper.org.uk

Running with the ball I was making great progress to the line when some bloke bigger than I was jumped on my back and that was that for my knee. I continued the game in a lot of discomfort and remember being unable to cycle home as I could not bend my knee.

In 1981 there was the Brackley Marathon. Organised by the local Rotary Club the race was started by my Dad who was the president. There were not many of us - no more than 30 and very soon I was jogging along the wind swept roads of Northamptonshire by myself. After 21 miles my knee wanted to give up so agreeing with it I got a lift back to the finish.

Then in 1994 I arrested a man who did not want to be arrested. Alone I spent a happy few minutes wrestling with him. During this time of close contact he twisted his legs around my knee and rolled taking my knee with him. Thankfully others come to assist and he was whisked away and I was off for a few days. The man, who still owes me £96 in compensation was convicted of murder.

I had various arthroscopies on the knee and ongoing physiotherapy. Then in December 2007 I broke my knee and had screws added to hold everything together. I broke the knee in the annual synchronised gate vaulting event - which is another story.

I recently did go to a physio to see if there was anything I should be doing and he gave me good news. "Keep going but take it easy," He said. And to me this sounds good. A philosophy for life, 'Keep going, take it easy.'

 I have  been doing some exercise. Before the new year I went paddling down the Thames, and up the Thames, with the tides and 11 other chaps. It was a great day and when the weather was cold and we had a little snow I did the old faithful four miler. The paddle in particular was great fun but not too good for the weight loss. The pie and chips south of the Thames would have done my calorific count no good.

So I will not be doing a marathon but training up to a half marathon and at the same time lose a bit of weight. Without regular jogging my weight has increased up to 13 stone. I do not have any half marathon in mind but I will be taking part in a 6 mile cross country in a couple of weeks. In the Delapre Park in Northampton the Annual Eric Humphries race takes place. This is a seriously muddy course and will no doubt ruin my running shoes.

My running shoes are becoming very grubby and smelly. I have had them for over a year so I suppose it is time to change them. The great thing about jogging is that the only expense is the shoes. And with this limited commitment there is the opportunity to invest in a good pair.

My plan is to take the camera whilst doing the run, I am not taking the race to seriously, and so action photos of the race in progress should appear on this blog

I have spent the day sorting out my life, clearing the e mails and paperwork that have been gathering dust in their respective folders and trays. This has taken 6 hours and I need to go for a jog to clear my mind.

My poor right knee is somewhat swollen and when I do go for a jog it gets very tight at the back. I do not know what has caused this. Most of the time the knee is swollen and it is just part of who I am. There is a lot of history in the knee cap. I first damaged it playing rugby at School. It is amazing I can still remember the incident. The Magdalen First XV were playing Cedar School which is in deepest Bedfordshire

Cedars Upper School - Home www.cedarsupper.org.uk

Running with the ball I was making great progress to the line when some bloke bigger than I was jumped on my back and that was that for my knee. I continued the game in a lot of discomfort and remember being unable to cycle home as I could not bend my knee.

In 1981 there was the Brackley Marathon. Organised by the local Rotary Club the race was started by my Dad who was the president. There were not many of us - no more than 30 and very soon I was jogging along the wind swept roads of Northamptonshire by myself. After 21 miles my knee wanted to give up so agreeing with it I got a lift back to the finish.

Then in 1994 I arrested a man who did not want to be arrested. Alone I spent a happy few minutes wrestling with him. During this time of close contact he twisted his legs around my knee and rolled taking my knee with him. Thankfully others come to assist and he was whisked away and I was off for a few days. The man, who still owes me £96 in compensation was convicted of murder.

I had various arthroscopies on the knee and ongoing physiotherapy. Then in December 2007 I broke my knee and had screws added to hold everything together. I broke the knee in the annual synchronised gate vaulting event - which is another story.