low mileage ultra training with my new hip

Some nine months after having my right hip replaced due to Lyme’s disease fast-tracking a genetic weakness in the joint and once again, I am enjoying my running so much. Recovery is going much better than I could have hoped, so I have signed up to run my first ultra on my new hip at […]

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 […]

Superfit at 50: realising we’re finite

In readiness for my forthcoming operation to replace my right hip, I visited my consultant to see the results of the MRI and CT scans of the hip and for him to talk through any questions I had.

Listen to medical experts and to yourself!

My last post was about my long-held avoidance of taking pain relief, particularly in helping me to deal with Osteoarthritis in my right hip. Well this week I had an inspiring call with a hip specialist from the NHS to talk me through options and eventually a hip replacement. At the start of the call […]

How to handle pain relief?

A friend of mine recently asked me how I was getting on with my hip and what was I using for pain relief? If you’re new to this blog, I contracted Lyme’s disease last summer which set-off an auto-immune reaction in my right hip and an x-ray and talk with the doctor revealed that the […]