Pre-Dragons Back Ultra – What does success look like?

With two weeks to the start of the Dragons Back Ultra I am pondering what does success look like? How far do I have to go to consider my participation in this awesome event a success? Being realistic, a finish might be too much to expect, this is a multi-stage event over 6 days covering […]

Super fit at 50 – CW50 on my new hip

Centurion Running, Chiltern Wonderland 50 Thank you to the 51 Centurion Staff and volunteers who put on a really great event for 250 competitors. The route was beautiful, seeing some of the best of our English countryside; with 5,600ft of nice elevation; perfect weather, with some rain during the previous week leaving the ground firm […]

Super fit at 50 - New Hip gets 12 month 'Ultra' Approval!

Today, I visited Prof Alister Hart at the Cleveland Clinic London and received 12-month post-op sign-off on my recovery from hip replacement. I never thought this would have been possible pre-op and I am so happy 😊 This is also recognition that running the Pure Trail Race The Tides ultra has done absolutely no harm […]

Running my First Ultra on my new hip!

Last Saturday, some 11 months since having a full hip replacement, I completed the Race The Tide “long-marathon”, my first ‘ultra’ on my new right hip 😊 and I can honestly say that I enjoyed every single step. Puretrail organised a super event. The route was beautiful yet challenging; was really well marked; had 4,383ft elevation earning […]

we are capable of more than we realise

Almost six months to the day I had my right hip replaced and today I ran my first proper trail run; 6 miles with 659 ft of elevation in a little over one hour six minutes (strava). It felt so good to feel strong and confident on my feet in technical and sloppy terrain and […]

Stepping out of our comfort zone

Yesterday I completed 82 miles and 5,385 ft of elevation, hiking the magnificent Ridgeway over three days as I marked XNRG’s awesome Druid’s Challenge (see excellent review Adam in Runderland: The Druid’s Challenge). As I neared the finish, hiking up the 3 mile hill to Barbury Castle guided by my head torch and the light of […]

Pure joy of running!

27th September 2021 The pure joy of running! I have just completed my first run, well walk/run, since my right hip was replaced some fourteen weeks ago and my first run since 13th May, when I slogged out a very slow and uncomfortable 4 miles on the Isle of White. It felt so good to be running, […]

The Power of Positive Mental Attitude. And a puppy!

12 September 2021 Since my previous post some 8 weeks ago, I have spoken with two other ‘runners’ who have had similar surgery and we unanimously agreed that a positive mental attitude and can-do (will-do) approach to exercise and recovery has been a significant factor in all of our excellent progress (to date). Subjectively, I […]

4 weeks post hip replacement-op: life changing

Life changing The operation to replace my right hip with a ceramic one took place mid-afternoon 15th June and by Thursday 17thduring my morning Hydro session at The London Clinic, I knew that this op was without doubt life changing. Funnily enough, once home during my early morning walks with one crutch (I have stuck to […]

Superfit at 50: pre-op benchmark to aid recovery

On Tuesday, I will have my right hip replaced and subject to a diligent recovery (not over doing things!) the plan is as follows. Full recovery will take 12 months so this will be a measured journey; Wk0: lots of movement which means not sitting for periods longer than 40 minutes so regular short walks […]