Just less than five weeks to go now!! I'm not feeling totally confident (it's still very daunting) but I am feeling quite contented. I've been putting in the miles. I've been testing things out. I've learnt so much. I'm nearly ready. Next weekend is the big one before I start tapering: three back to backs. 40:50:40 km each day over the bank holiday weekend. Living out of the bags in some dodgy B+Bs. Completing the Cleveland Way. I do have a very understanding and supportive wife don't I? Back to this weekend though. Where have I been? Maybe Scotland? Maybe Japan? Maybe New Zealand? Or maybe even to Cusco in Peru? No. Just Blighty. All in a day's work on the Nidderdale Way on a 26 miler across to Pateley Bridge. Just a reminder that you can donate to the charities I'm supporting, if you haven't already (and thanks to those who already have!) by clicking or copying the link below. https://www.justgiving.com/team/brucelepetitjog Also, on the ...
And, with a squelch, we're off (again)! Back on a (cough) slightly delayed and amended plan.
The knee has been set free. The troublesome flap of torn meniscus has been successfully nibbled off. If only I'd had a crystal ball at the start... Three months standard conservative treatment (which turned into four) of allowing the tear to sort itself out didn't work. This conservative approach for tears like mine often results in what they call auto-amputation, meaning no need for surgery and all the complications that surgery can bring both in the short and long term. However, surgery has now worked. So far.
Yay 😊.
I walked out of the hospital following arthroscopy and partial meniscectomy that morning without needing to use the crutches they gave me, and managed a gentle half loop parkrun walk four days later, and a low resistence flat 40 minute cycle ride a further three days after that. Regular knee exercises pre- and post-surgery have helped.
So, with just over 10 months to go, it's rehab, building back base fitness, and increasing distance up to christmas, followed by event specific prep through to the end of May with plenty of back to back runs and some multi-day adventures. All with a heavy dose of patience and TOFU PASTA (see my last post). Hopefully the cycling and strength work I've been managing to do over the summer will hold me in good stead. I've been talking to various people in the know. We think it's still possible to make the start line for a succesful LEJOG during June 2025. It'll be tight but I'm going to give it a damn good go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and all that.
My promise: No more mention of knees. And plenty of mention of progress and milestones reached.
Oh, and the 'squelch'? No one told me that for two days after the surgery, every time I flexed my knee, it would squelch like one of those squidgy tomato sauce bottles.
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