Marathon – Charlierobinsonbooks

Don’t Let The Old Man In

Okay, I stole the title from Clint Eastwood. I doubt he’ll sue me, he’s not aware of my existence. It’s something he said when asked why he was still actively working. I think they meant active or even possibly alive.

But he does have a point, and if he hadn’t said it I probably would have. I’m often asked. “How old are you!!!?” Not because someone is enquiring about my age, but because of something I’ve done or said. I remember when I was fifty five and decided to retrain as a carpentry lecturer (ooops spoiler for Where It All Began number 35 😂) My neighbour asked me, “Don’t you think you’re too old?”

Really? Who decides these things? Obviously health plays a big part in that, and I am blessed that I can still function. But it is possible to “Think yourself old” That’s why I refuse to give in. Recently I’ve been inundated with injury after injury, and had to cancel three races. I guess that’s what 50 years of running does to you. But I do the physiotherapy (and trust me I hate physiotherapy😂) And this latest calf injury is starting to repair. So, I’ve entered the Yorkshire Three Peaks Race, Jersey Marathon and the Dalby Forest Marathon. I blame the films I watched as a kid Monte Carlo or Bust, Genevieve, and Lassie. They never gave up 😂

Recently we got in touch with one of my old flames and she asked my wife, “How is the old nutter?” I have no idea what she means. 😂

Happy Trails, Folks x

Feet

I know you probably think that’s a strange title, or I’m going to rattle on about some kind of fetish (I’m not) But to digress and as the word has popped up. Foot fetish? I’ve never understood that. It certainly couldn’t have existed in Middle Earth or in Roald Dahl’s Witches.

Ok, digression over. I don’t like feet, obviously they come in handy, especially for running. But, I particularly don’t like anyone touching my feet. I guess it could be a phobia. Does that put me in a box? Apparently lots of people today like boxes. I know some people who constantly search online to see if they fit into a box, and there are so many to choose from. I was told once I have OCD because I like things tidy. Blow me! until then, I thought I just liked things tidy. Sorry, I digress again.

When I was a little boy and it was time to cut my toenails. My mum, once she had caught me, would get one sister to hold my arms down and my other sister to pin my legs, and then she would produce the nail clippers. I screamed, but to no avail. When they had finished I was released back into the wild. This is the reason I never joined MI6. If i had been captured and my captors had produced a pair of pliers the security of the free world would at risk, I would tell them anything!

As a runner this has caused some problems because I usually finish a marathon or Ultra with at least one black nail. After the Boston marathon my big toe was very black. But two weeks later I raced a 10k and it turned white. Eurika! I thought it was fixed.

But! I awoke on Monday morning to see a big toenail pointing skywards. I’m not a Dr or a podiatrist but I figured that wasn’t right. Luckily I had an appointment with a podiatrist at 16:20. It was a gruelling day, and I had to walk there in crocks. I always visit him before a long race so he can cut my nails short. Yes I have, to some degree, come to terms with my issue. He’s very good and chats to me about the forthcoming race while I stare at the ceiling with fists clenched.

He took a look at the aforementioned toe and said. “No problem.” I had spent the day expecting him to… not sure what, but there were some pretty horrific images floating through my mind. Five minutes later and all was well. The only problem I have now is the Windermere Marathon on Sunday 14th with no toenail on my big toe. Hmmm?

Happy Trails, Folks x

Never Give Up

That’s my advice. I guess I could stop there, short post! But I’ve been called many things in my life and “Gobshite” is one of them so I’ll carry on 😂

I did a blog about going away at Christmas recently and while I was ‘away’ (which where I come from means in prison). Anyaways, I planned a fabulous January upon my return. I won’t bore you with all the details. Basically… Running, cycling, strength training. Preparing for the next marathon in April. Writing was in there too, I’m about 15,000 words into my third novel. It was going well, and on the 6th Jan I decided to run the 7 Hills.

This is a group of 7 Hills nearby, which I love. It’s only 11k, but as you can probably guess by the title… a little challenging. With 3k left, and powering downhill, I glanced at my Garmin, and realised it was probably going to be a fast time. That’s when I found myself on the ground. Luckily my head hit first, they say where there’s no sense there’s no feeling😉. I checked the nose was still in position and the tooth as they both hurt a little. After I’d lain there for a few minutes all seemed okay, so up I jumped to find a stabbing pain in the chest. I’ve been told I’ll drop dead running a few times so, I thought I’d better crack on, and see if I could finish the run. After I had run another 1k or so I realised it wasn’t a heart attack, but probably a broken rib. I returned home to find a cut head too and an eye already blackening, oh! and a wife, not happy I was doing it in the first place 😂 Twas a bit slippy.

So, why never give up? Well, after 49 years of running I’ve had more injuries you could count, but I always comeback. I’d give Bob Dylan and Cher a run for their money 😂 So, no matter where you are, or who you are, when times are tough, just remember, Never Give Up. There’s always someone or something out there, in your corner, willing you on.

I’m nearly 3 weeks in to this broke rib thing, got a serious cough and cold, but today I did 3k on the Elliptical, tomorrow it’ll be 5k and then first run next week. Maybe, just maybe, I might achieve my 3:30 target for that Marathon. Although my wife tells me I will die running, I tell her “Not today, though.”😉

Happy Trails, Folks X

Women Runners and the Stigma

February 24th 1981 (45 years ago) the IOC President announced there would be a women’s marathon at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984. Before that it was considered unsafe. Even as late as 1967 it was thought that if a woman ran marathons her uterus may drop out and hairs would grow on her chest and back. It had been a long a struggle. One of the most famous campaigners, being Katherine Switzer who entered the Boston Marathon in 1967. Just after the race started the run director ran at her, trying to rip her numbers off and shouting. ‘Get out of my race!’ Her boyfriend, Tom Miller, knocked him to the ground and she carried on to finish the race.

Hard to believe these days when we have so many accomplished female athletes. But are we there yet? As late as 2010 Gian-Franco Kasper, president of the International Ski Federation, said the female uterus might burst during landing from a ski jump. In 2005 he said that ski jumping is “not appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view.”

Another myth is that extreme exercise halts women’s periods. Whereas the truth is… that weight loss is a more likely reason. Girls gain weight when they reach puberty. If young female athletes are encouraged or even bullied into losing weight this can result in eating disorders. When they expend more calories than they take in? Normal body functions like menstruation can stop, due to a lack of nutrients. If menstruation is halted for a long period of time, with a lack of nutrients, it increases the risk for low bone mineral density. This, at a time when they’re bodies are developing and so leads to injury. Leslie Heywood and Mary Decker two of many examples. I’m no medical expert, but I’ve seen how many of our top young athletes have suffered injury after injury early in their careers.

blogs.bmj.com/bjsm/2015/05/14/highlights-from-the-female-athlete-basem-spring-conference-2015/↗

But anyaways… back to the subject. After years of struggle and establishing themselves on the world stage of athletics it appears it’s still not over. Eilish McColgan has had abuse because “some” people think she is too thin. I know some excellent female runners who have been told they aren’t slim enough. Someone’s size, weight etc has nothing to do with anyone else. The stereotype that women are weaker and less athletic is inaccurate and damaging. Whether it is on the world stage or at local club level, the fantastic success of females should be (and sometimes is) recognised upon their ability and not on their looks or gender.

Finally… sixty percent of female runners claim to have been harassed, verbally abused or even physically abused while running. I remember some years ago when I was working in construction two young lads wolf whistled at a woman from the scaffold. She reported it to a manager and they were sacked that day. Yet here we are ten years later and it appears to be worse than ever. The question is what can we do? You can raise awareness, educate, legislate (but it’s already illegal) In my day a baseball bat or a lump of 2″x 2″ with some nails hammered in, worked wonders. But that is frowned upon today 😉So we advise girls not to run at night, on their own. Hmmm… isn’t that kinda handing over the streets to the bullies and abusers?

Happy trails, folks. x