The year that's been!

Up until 5 weeks ago I'd had a brilliant year. My fabulous physio had fixed my hip, I'd got faster...really faster! I'd entered two Ultras: the Great Naseby Water Race and the Kepler Challenge. I was trail running and loving it...life was good!

And then disaster!

I slipped off a kerb and hurt my heel. It didn't improve so I went to the A&E. It was put in a tubigrip and I was to have an xray on the Monday. I had the xray and the doc looked at it and said "All fine. Just a strain. Take ibuprofen and carry on". So I did. Then the xray report arrived! Possible fracture! No contact from Doc but my lovely physio arranged an appointment with a sports Doc for me.

I went off to Lower Hutt where I'd entered the 5 Bridges Marathon. It was not to be either! I made a great cheer section in my moon boot and had a blast at Norman's 50th birthday party instead!

On the Wednesday after my return I saw the Sports Doc who sent me off for a CT scan. Finally got it done the following Monday...four weeks after injury. Back to Doc ....fracture was pretty much healed so he said get rid of the moon boot. I had the feeling he thought I was a hypochondriac! On examination it was still bloody sore. OK...we'll get an ultrasound done. Not likely to show anything.

In between I go to Naseby to once again support at an event I was meant to be running. Still I had grat fun being the timekeeper (scored a woolly hat) and trying curling! Woo hoo!

Got in for the US on the Monday....5 weeks have passed. Radiographer looks and says it all seems fine. There's a bit that looks like a split but it's probably just a variation on normal. She decided to get the Radiologist to look. In they both come. Radiologist directs the radiographer on where and how to put the probe and voila! a bloody great split in one of the peroneal tendons!

Just going off on a slight tangent here. Where you go to the radiologists often it is to see the cause of a pain. So you would think they would realise that repeated wriggling around over a sore point is not pleasant! But no apologies!

Anyway, back to the Doc on the following Wednesday. Quelle surprise! you are not a hypochondriac! No! I have what I originally thought I had! So he talked about 6 months rehab! I then asked about surgical repair. Having read research and feedback I felt happier with the idea of a total repair. He agreed to refer me to an Orthopod. And surprise surprise.....get back in your moon boot! Bloody hell!

I rang the Orthopod and got an appointment...in nearly 4 weeks! So if she refuses to operate on healing tissue I'm going to be very angry cos I could have seen her by now if all the tests had been done at once rather than piece meal to appease the hypochondriac!

So that is where it stands! Kepler looks like yet another ultra i don't get to do but I'm not admitting defeat yet! I have 90 days!

I'm so lax!

Oh boy am I lax!
The half and been and gone. Note to self: a fleece costume with full head piece is not appropriate running gear for a steaming hot day!


I did my slowest ever half I think. I couldn't see properly out of the eyes after I poured water over my head and it was steaming hot underneath!


The crowd support was really good - especially the kids - and only a few people mistook me for a rubber duck and only one boy thought I was a chicken.


I'm now concentrating on repairing my hip and getting a good base rather than roaring around doing what ever takes my fancy. I've already had to remind myself I can't do a marathon and, worse still, a 68ker!


My next event is a 5k! What luxury! Should be short and sweet.

Arthur's Half

Well I didn't even qualify for slow runner! I walked it due to huge hip pain. Still it means I probably got to enjoy the views more than the runners. It's a really good course with enough challenge to keep it interesting. It started at Shadbolt Park in Green Bay and meandered around the edge of New Lynn, through Glen Eden, along West Coast Road and then left the marathon course and headed uphill for 5ks! - Carter Road and Shaw Road to Scenic Drive. The Half course then rejoined the marathon course and we met up with the tail end Charlie - he ended up winning the trophy for perseverance. We travelled up and down along Scenic Drive until it hit the roundabout with the Dr Seuss type sculptures in Titirangi. After marching past the cafe society enjoying the fine weather it was downhill - down Titirangi and Godley Roads. Godley Road was soooooo long but we finally came to Portage Rd and the finish was in sight for us - not so for the marathoners, they had a horror 7k loop to complete before they were done.

The weather was brilliant and the only fly in the ointment was that they decided to remove the first drink stop - the one prior to the big climb - before we got there - thank heavens for camelbacks! The drink stops were about every 6k so it was a long hot climb to the second one which fortunately was still there.

The prize-giving was well run with breaks for food and spot prizes between presentations - I won some compression socks - do I look like Paula Radcliffe! Don't think they are really me!