For anyone who is training for a marathon, the worst thing that can possibly happen to you is to pick up an injury on the build up to the big race. Well unfortunately I seem to be pretty good at this as over the past two weeks I have had a problem with my IT band in my left knee which has prevented me from clocking up the miles. So in an effort to eradicate the problem, I took a two week rest on the instructions of my physio, and this morning was my big comeback run. 1.85miles into the run, all was fine, then slowly but surely the niggle in my left knee started to become more apparent. I have learnt from previous mistakes that when the pain re occurs its best to just stop the run and get back to base in one piece as you will only do more damage by trying to soldier on.
Anyway, with the London marathon in just over 10 weeks, this is not ideal preparation. My experience tells me that I will be off the road for another 2 weeks, and hopefully then that will be the problem sorted. All I can do in the interim is continue with my strength and conditioning work in the gym - pretty depressing stuff.
This will be my fourth marathon in four years and I am really looking forward to London as it is regarded as one of the top three in the world. I am just hoping that I can get my body there in one piece so I can put in a decent race and collect another medal.
I will keep you posted with developments
#LifeChanges #London2014 #BeatingMS
Sunday 9 February 2014
Saturday 1 February 2014
Multiple Sclerosis on the increase . . . #LifeChanges
I cannot believe its the 1st February 2014 - time is absolutely flying by. For me anyway I detest the cold and the climate in Ireland is not the best. I find the cold weather, dark nights and darker mornings effects my symptoms, and in general its a gloomy old time of year. What makes matters worse is when by brother continues to remind us of the fantastic Summer weather they are having in Australia right now - how the other half lives ey:)
On a brighter note though, I am in good health and continuing to win my MS war. However I do have to admit that like most MS'ers I normally get the flu jab every November. This year I didn't get round to getting it and in the last few days I have just got over my third bout of flu. The GP told me a few weeks ago that there are over 250 types of flu, and the vaccine is to protect against about ten of the more aggressive ones. School boy error by me and next week I will be in to get the jab as I do tend to get hit harder with flu's.
In the last few weeks I have been a little disturbed by the amount of people who have been contacting me through social network sites and email, telling me they have just been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Most of the emails are similar in that they convey a person who is completely at a loss of how to deal with the MS and the fact that they believe there life is over. Every person who has contacted me over the past few years , I have always got back to them, but I wish I could do more. Its an incredibly difficult thing to deal with being diagnosed with MS, as there is little chat, education or advice out there for people. Most of the newly diagnosed are in the age 20-35, which means they are entering or are in the prime of their lives. That's what MS does, it strikes you just when you think you are about to grow and enjoy all that life has to offer. Remember my story, I got wiped out on my honeymoon, and spent the next three years in a kind of mental and physical prison, as I struggled to reason with what had happened to me.
The upside is I am extremely pleased that my journey continues to inspire and help some people believe again. This week I got another few emails from people who have read my book and tell me that it has really helped them come to terms with the illness. Every time I get correspondence like this it is extremely gratifying. The thing is I wrote my book in my living room, and the words just continued to come out as it is a real life experience. That's what I believe people can connect with, and I am delighted it has helped a lot of people in the last couple of years.
MS is definitely increasing in my view, and the medics still do not know what is causing it. Currently its an incurable disease and effects each and everyone of us differently, but the good news is the disease modifying drugs are getting better, and as I reported recently I was advised by a neurologist in Italy in November that he reckoned they would have it sorted in the next 10/15 years - ie they would have a cure.
On the whole there are lots of things you can do to fight your MS, with the first being you NEED to CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE. You have to work hard, put a plan in place and stick rigidly to it. If you don't work hard at anything you get no results, your health is the same.
So try and stay positive, never give up and focus on getting better and stronger.
Have a great weekend.
#LifeChanges
On a brighter note though, I am in good health and continuing to win my MS war. However I do have to admit that like most MS'ers I normally get the flu jab every November. This year I didn't get round to getting it and in the last few days I have just got over my third bout of flu. The GP told me a few weeks ago that there are over 250 types of flu, and the vaccine is to protect against about ten of the more aggressive ones. School boy error by me and next week I will be in to get the jab as I do tend to get hit harder with flu's.
In the last few weeks I have been a little disturbed by the amount of people who have been contacting me through social network sites and email, telling me they have just been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Most of the emails are similar in that they convey a person who is completely at a loss of how to deal with the MS and the fact that they believe there life is over. Every person who has contacted me over the past few years , I have always got back to them, but I wish I could do more. Its an incredibly difficult thing to deal with being diagnosed with MS, as there is little chat, education or advice out there for people. Most of the newly diagnosed are in the age 20-35, which means they are entering or are in the prime of their lives. That's what MS does, it strikes you just when you think you are about to grow and enjoy all that life has to offer. Remember my story, I got wiped out on my honeymoon, and spent the next three years in a kind of mental and physical prison, as I struggled to reason with what had happened to me.
The upside is I am extremely pleased that my journey continues to inspire and help some people believe again. This week I got another few emails from people who have read my book and tell me that it has really helped them come to terms with the illness. Every time I get correspondence like this it is extremely gratifying. The thing is I wrote my book in my living room, and the words just continued to come out as it is a real life experience. That's what I believe people can connect with, and I am delighted it has helped a lot of people in the last couple of years.
MS is definitely increasing in my view, and the medics still do not know what is causing it. Currently its an incurable disease and effects each and everyone of us differently, but the good news is the disease modifying drugs are getting better, and as I reported recently I was advised by a neurologist in Italy in November that he reckoned they would have it sorted in the next 10/15 years - ie they would have a cure.
On the whole there are lots of things you can do to fight your MS, with the first being you NEED to CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE. You have to work hard, put a plan in place and stick rigidly to it. If you don't work hard at anything you get no results, your health is the same.
So try and stay positive, never give up and focus on getting better and stronger.
Have a great weekend.
#LifeChanges
Thursday 9 January 2014
2014 OFF TO A GREAT START #NOLIMITS
I had a reasonably quiet Christmas with the family and didn't venture out to far. When you have a three year old and a little fella at six months, it was actually great to get back to work on the 4th of January for a break:)
Anyhow, as I continue to embrace a healthier lifestyle, I continue to gain the benefits of same, and certainly my MS must be pissed off as I continue to beat it consistently day by day - long may this continue.
2014 is a big year for me as I have set myself some lofty goals. Since the turn of the year though my mind-set has been strong and I have thrown myself into my training program which involves training 5/6 days a week. The diet part is going fine too and I have been able to keep the weight off and with my gym work the plan is to develop a strong core over the next few months helping me achieve my new PB for the London marathon in April.
This week I nailed a 10 mile run on Sunday pretty comfortably and on Tuesday at 7am I had an early bird quickish 5.5mile run with an aul fella I run with (Gmac) around Belfast City Centre which was a great work out. Yesterday I was in the gym doing some cross training and this morning I did 20km on the bike with some core work. All going well then and the plan is to keep this up over the next 10 weeks. If I can stay injury free then I should be ready for London and already I am looking forward to the buzz.
Everyone has their own ideas of the optimum marathon training program. mine is very simple. I run twice during the week - one run say 4 miles at quick pace and another 6 miler at quick pace. At the weekend I do my long run at a slower pace. This weekend I will be up to 13.1, then 15 next week, 18 following week, 20 after that, 18 next week, 15 week after that, until I am ready to taper. This combined with some cycling and swimming should get me to the starting line.
It s great to see so many people trying to get fitter currently but sadly most fall off the rails. its FREE to exercise, so get moving as the benefits after time outweigh the effort required. With so many people getting sick and dying of all sorts of illnesses, its so important to look after your body - you only have one.
So get out there and live Happily ever Active
#No Limits
Anyhow, as I continue to embrace a healthier lifestyle, I continue to gain the benefits of same, and certainly my MS must be pissed off as I continue to beat it consistently day by day - long may this continue.
2014 is a big year for me as I have set myself some lofty goals. Since the turn of the year though my mind-set has been strong and I have thrown myself into my training program which involves training 5/6 days a week. The diet part is going fine too and I have been able to keep the weight off and with my gym work the plan is to develop a strong core over the next few months helping me achieve my new PB for the London marathon in April.
This week I nailed a 10 mile run on Sunday pretty comfortably and on Tuesday at 7am I had an early bird quickish 5.5mile run with an aul fella I run with (Gmac) around Belfast City Centre which was a great work out. Yesterday I was in the gym doing some cross training and this morning I did 20km on the bike with some core work. All going well then and the plan is to keep this up over the next 10 weeks. If I can stay injury free then I should be ready for London and already I am looking forward to the buzz.
Everyone has their own ideas of the optimum marathon training program. mine is very simple. I run twice during the week - one run say 4 miles at quick pace and another 6 miler at quick pace. At the weekend I do my long run at a slower pace. This weekend I will be up to 13.1, then 15 next week, 18 following week, 20 after that, 18 next week, 15 week after that, until I am ready to taper. This combined with some cycling and swimming should get me to the starting line.
It s great to see so many people trying to get fitter currently but sadly most fall off the rails. its FREE to exercise, so get moving as the benefits after time outweigh the effort required. With so many people getting sick and dying of all sorts of illnesses, its so important to look after your body - you only have one.
So get out there and live Happily ever Active
#No Limits
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