Jane's London Marathon Blog – #4

Jane writes:

A Decision Has Been Made – It’s not what I wanted

I’m in sunny Málaga now and enjoying some of the good things this lovely city has to offer. I’ll be here for the next two weeks and I’m looking forward to what’s on offer at the Málaga Film Festival and visiting some towns nearby. 

I’ll be walking and running but I will no longer be training for this year’s London Marathon. I’m sorry to have to tell you that I’ve made the painful and difficult decision to pull out of the London Marathon 2023. 

Matter Over Mind

I’ve always been someone who can push through difficulties when the situation calls for doing so. I remember on the 21st of Feb in 2021, I was tired after a fabulous long cycle ride with my friend Roz. When I got home and was settling into relaxing, I looked at my calendar and noticed that I had forgotten a race I had signed up for. It was the last day to run the Virtual Valentine’s 10k. I swore and then ran the 10k, pushing to get it done. It wasn’t a PB but it was my second fastest at that time. Last autumn, I forced myself to run the NYC Marathon even though I had been ill in bed for most of the five previous days. I got the medal!

Other times when I’m running, I can look at my watch and realise that I’ve slowed down – usually due to day dreaming! I say a few words to myself like ‘come on, get going’ or ‘get a move on you slow-poke’ and I do just that. It’s mind over matter and in an odd way, I have enjoyed being able to reach to the depths of my body and soul in order to go faster, longer and better. Mind over matter worked beautifully for me until it stopped. 

Some of you know that a physio diagnosed me with lumbar spinal stenosis which causes severe and painful sciatica in my legs. The report on my full spinal MRI is not going to come in until the end of March.

The Realities – Getting Worse and No Fun At All

My long runs have been getting more and more difficult. I slow down and I can’t force myself to go faster or run longer. My legs feel like heavy logs and no amount of stretching or massages help. This problem started at the beginning of October last year but it’s been getting gradually worse, not better. This is true despite the considerable effort I’ve put into getting stronger.

I usually think that I can tweak my training or strength train my way out of problems. However, nothing is moving me forward this time. I’m going backwards. Paul Thomas helpfully suggested that I try walk/running. I did that, running six minutes and walking two for this past Saturday’s long run of 20k, which followed parkrun so 25k in total. I stuck to Gunnersbury Park as I thought if I left the park, I would stop moving all together! It was a huge, tough challenge and I had to take a few breaks just to finish. In short, it wasn’t fun at all. 

It’s not just this run that has brought me to the conclusion that I need to pull out. It’s the gradual decline in my physical health over the last 4 months and in particular, the last 4 long runs I’ve done. Almost all of them have left me exhausted, finishing short of the goal distance, feeling unhappy and completely spent. I need to quit the marathon attempt, for now.

Photo of me at parkrun courtesy of Melissah Gibson.

What I really need now is to pull out of running London 2024 in time to allow Anna Shierson to take my place. I need to get some medical advice and answers based on my MRI. I’ll keep running but on a much more moderate scale. It’s a difficult decision but it’s practical and positive too. Oh, and I’m sticking to my pull up goal as well!

Many thanks to all of my wonderful running friends. I’ve been knocked down, but I’ll get up again, you can be sure! I hope to see you all at parkrun and a couple of shorter races in the coming months. Cheers!

Jane's London Marathon Blog – #3

Jane writes:

The Short One!

The last two weeks have involved me taking great care taking running in the dark – slow, careful and on full alert. I mostly try to avoid dark runs so I’m excited to be running in the blessed ever-increasing light of the day! It was going great - until it wasn’t. I fell again, during daylight if you can believe it, and sprained my ring finger. Ouch! I’ll be ok and I’m blaming the Ealing pavements and not myself, thank you very much.

Update on Training

I’m using a plan (RunSmart) that I used last year for NYC. It’s got a reasonable goal but I’ve adjusted it as I’ve gone along. I can’t always run the speeds nor the distances it calls for - however, that may be changing soon! On occasions, I’m very comfortable with the plan details and I’m feeling… not strong, but stronger!

What’s Helping

I had a real niggle with my left knee that limited my running. I was also unwell (cold/cough) during the week of the 5th Feb so I pulled back on mileage. I have added more strength/weight training to my weeks and it is starting to make a difference. 

It seems my left side is much weaker than the right. My trainer asked me to do single leg presses in the gym when we discovered this difference. The load I could manage was 20 lbs less on the left leg. I’m working to even the score.

As promised, I’ve managed to move my long runs to mid-week and I’m hoping to get at least one, if not two, long cycle rides in. I am finding that this cross training really helps. I’ve added at least one 30 minute workout, also from RunSmart. Sadly, my pull ups will have to wait for my damn finger to heal.

The Health Report

Despite my slowdown in training over the last two weeks, I think I’m in better health than the NHS! 

I found out that there are delays in getting MRI reports – up to five months! Yes, five months, far longer than the 6 weeks I was supposed to wait. Good grief! Luckily, I managed to chase down where my spinal MRI had been moved and I asked where the overdue report was. I registered my dismay (politely, of course) to the nice woman who told me about the long delay. After a long discussion about the process etc, she asked if I wanted to speak to her manager. BINGO! Yes, please! I managed to get the manager to expedite the results delivery to the 26th of March. It’s still an appalling wait and won’t help me decide whether to run London or not. In truth, I’ve made that decision already. 

What next?

Easy does it is my motto. I’m having a massage at the end of this week. I’ll try to do my long, easy run tomorrow in the good weather. I hope nobody I work with finds out!

I’ll attach some happy photos next blog, I promise! On the day the blog is due, I’ll be flying to sunny Málaga for a couple of weeks. Hurrah!

Jane's London Marathon Blog – #2

Jane Wright writes:

The Boring One!

What a busy couple of weeks. Fitting in training with work and other commitments is a challenge in itself! But I’m mostly sticking to the ‘Plan’ and putting in the miles. There is nothing exciting to report. Here’s a brief summary of my last two weeks:

Highlights: 

• I’ve managed to change my schedule so that I can do mid-week long runs allowing me to cycle with SaddleDrunk on the weekends. It also curbs the anxiety about weekend weather and scheduling conflicts. 

• I’m doing weekly strength workouts with a trainer. I love these sessions!

• I have a side-goal too! I intend to do an unassisted full pullup by the end of 2024. Easy for some but I’ve never been able to do even one. Training for it is tough but I’m determined!

• My weekly mileage is close to plan. I take an extra rest day if I feel I need it.

Lowlights:

• I haven’t been able for non-running reasons to go on one of those long cycle rides yet! 

• I’m struggling with the long runs as my legs feel very tired and sore after about 12k. I have to work very hard to run the following miles. My pace is at least a minute per k slower than it was only six months ago which is frustrating and sad.

• I tripped and fell (again) at the end of a long run. I really must avoid dark runs. 

Joyful Fluid Running!

Joyful and fluid are key words that describe what I love about running. I hate when they are absent and running is just a slog. 

Luckily for me, I had a couple of runs when I’ve felt great! One of those was when I was over 11 minutes late for Gunnersbury parkrun. The Run Director said I was allowed to run if I caught up with and got ahead of the tail walker. My kind of motivation! I ran well and came in under 30 minutes (29:58) despite engaging in a short but delightful chat while walking with Kelvin Walker mid-way through. My official time was 38:54 in case you are wondering!

Perseverance and Good Health

I am still waiting for answers from my medical team. I’ve had almost all of the tests set for me but my follow up appointment with my neurologist is still scheduled for the 1st of May despite my attempts to move it forward. I’m trying to call every morning I can to see if there might be a cancellation. Wish me luck!

I spent most of the weekend with a friend who needs some care after shoulder replacement surgery. Her right arm has been in a sling for several weeks with two weeks to go. It’s painful and sore from the lack of movement. There are many things she can’t do in this situation and it’s frustrating. I was happy to help her with many basic tasks we usually take for granted. I feel privileged to be able to run. Long may that last.

The days are getting noticeably longer. Hurrah! Until the next blog, happy running!

Jane's London Marathon Blog – #1

Jane Wright writes:

Where do I begin?

Wow the London Marathon! For years I’ve applied only to receive communications with ‘Commiserations’ front and centre. The chance of winning one of two places through the Ealing Eagles ballot seemed remote and I’m thrilled that I got one of them.

This blog is a bit personal but I hope provides a sense of where I’m at and what I’m thinking. Running is a beautiful endeavour both physically and emotionally rewarding. Our running bodies often tell us when things aren’t working properly. Training is a way of taking control in order to develop and improve. For other situations, it’s not that simple. There are some things we can control and some we cannot.

Jumping Right In Marathon Journeys

Last year was an awkward one for me. In 2022, Doctor’s orders forced me not to run three races I’d signed up for including the NYC Marathon. I had one opportunity – defer NYC to 5 November, 2023.

January 2023, I was a month or so into chemotherapy following breast cancer surgery in September ‘22. I felt mostly fine and kept racing as I hadn’t qualified yet for Club Champs. However, new challenges arose. At Met League XC mid-January, I discovered something was very wrong with my lungs (which were honking) as I couldn’t catch any breath properly. I finished but I was an upset mess. Then I got hit with chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy severe enough to make me decide to quit chemotherapy three weeks early. My arms, legs, hands and feet felt very weak and strange.

While I got on with training, I continued to beg for answers about my lungs and peripheral neuropathy. I was tested and told that my lungs are damaged, but supposedly not from chemo – strange as my problems started midway through treatment! I was asked if I’d been a heavy smoker. What on earth were they looking at? I have never ever smoked.

My father, whom I looked after for two months in Canada, couldn’t understand why I was running at all. I was in full blown marathon training, necessary if I wanted to get to NYC in any sort of shape. I am proud that I took control of that process completely on my own, running deserted country roads much of the time. My neuropathy improved as did my running, although I was still slow. Occasionally, I entered that wonderful state of flow while running. Pure bliss! Occasionally, the opposite was true.

I returned to the UK with six weeks of training to go and was confronted with a new problem. I was getting pain very similar to sciatica from hip to knees down the backs of both my legs and my hamstrings felt very stiff and sore. In mid-October, three weeks before the NYC Marathon, I saw a physio who diagnosed me with suspected lumbar spinal stenosis. He did some work on me that helped a bit. The following week I asked him, “Should I go to NYC?” He shrugged his shoulders and said as I was fully trained, I could give it a go.

Sadly, the day I flew to New York, I picked up a really nasty bug the one where you have all the symptoms of a bad case of covid but you test negative. I was in bed for three days straight, coughing constantly. My fever broke the day before the Marathon so I hoped I’d be OK. I ran but it was not a pretty sight. Every time I stopped, I started coughing and hacking. My legs felt wooden and I started slowing down, unable to obtain a decent stride.

My State of Mind Then

I’m generally a happy optimist. However, after New York, I was really cross about getting sick, really cross about my ‘crap’ time and particularly cross about missing my ‘good for age’ entry time for London. The only thing left to do would be to apply for the Ealing Eagles London Marathon ballot. So, I did!

I Just Don’t Know (Yet)

I saw a neurologist in mid-November. Thankfully, she’s a runner as is her husband. She understood my distress. She ordered two key tests: a full spinal MRI (results are not yet available) and what I call electrical tests looking at my nerves and how they are functioning.

I understand that there may be things I discover over the course of the next weeks and months that I cannot control. Training can’t hurt me but I will need to listen to the experts. I should add that I am well supported by my family, good friends and many Ealing Eagles.

The physio at my GP service is a little nervous about all of this. She told me not to do yoga (although Pilates would be ok) and not to run (walking was suggested.) I did start walking parkrun but the first parkrun when it rained heavily, I was motivated to run, not walk! I felt pretty good actually.

Good Start!

It’s fun to have an official marathon plan begin on the 1st of January. I ran Ally Pally parkrun (letter A) with Jenny Baker and James De Vivenot. My running plan is basically 3 to 4 runs a week, concentrating on building the long runs. I practice yoga plus do weight training. I’m going to try and move my long runs to mid-week so that I can cycle on the weekends. That will make me happy!

Going Forward with Optimism

My legs often feel stiff and non-responsive. The nerve pain and extremely tight hamstrings can be just awful. I only have short experiences (usually mid-run) with easy-ish running. That’s when I feel good. However, I seem to have to work hard almost all of the time. Running used to be easy. I have not yet experienced flow in my training but I remain hopeful. Caroline Rush massages and my theragun will help I’m sure!

I will get definitive news from my medical team soon. I’m praying that the practitioners involved will fully sanction my marathon efforts. Fingers crossed! If I don’t get good news and have to drop out, I will be happy to pass my place to the lovely and talented Anna Shierson. There are deadlines for this. Watch this space.

In either case, this may prove to be a long and challenging road. I’m glad you, dear readers, are coming along for the ride.