If it's worth doing, do it right!!!

Monday 2.1.23

Rest Day, was working from Stephens Day right through to New Years Day so a few beverages were planned!!

Tuesday 3.1.23

5.45miles Easy@9.08min/miles in 49mins 48secs

A very, very hungover run!! The Troops were doing a snow boarding camp for the week In Zoetermeer and i had researched running spots in the area. Turns out the location they were was Zuid Hollands answer to The Alps!! I suffered on this, the bumps were torture as the drink tried coming out in reverse on a few occasions, but as the run went on the it got easier to traverse the mountains of Van Buytenpark. I knew i had to do the exact same all over again tomorrow in the same condition!!

Wednesday 4.1.23

3.65miles Easy@8.42min/miles in 31mins 50secs

I left the mountains alone today and decided on a very flat run closer to home around Scheveningse Bosjes, suffering less than the day before and knew the previous nights drinking would be the last one for the foreseeable future.

Thursday 5.1.23

7.10miles Easy@8.41min/miles in 61mins 39secs

Again around the hills of Van Buytenpark in Zoetemeer but able to appreciate the location much more today, the place is a haven for wildlife, pheasants, hares, cormorants and kestrels abound with a view all over Den Haag and surrounding areas on a clear day like today.

I had a hospital appointment later that afternoon to have a lump removed from the male nether regions(benign thankfully) that i was dreading!! I get to the hospital early, hoping that it would be some old male doctor who is going to perform the procedure. No such bloody luck, greeted by a very attractive nurse who shows me a changing room and gives me instructions to strip from the waist down then knock on the door and i will be looked after.

So knock on the door and greeted by an even more attractive Doctor and another nurse. Of all days for me not to be at my best below the waist!!! So i lie on my back and the Doctor swivels around on her chair and says something to me in Dutch, i explain my Dutch isn't the best, she takes out a needle and explains shes going to inject me 4 times to numb the area, fcuk me i like to think i have a fairly high pain threshold but nothing hits you like four injections in the ballbag!!! The operation was over and done in 30 minutes, with strict instructions on no physical behaviour/exercise of any kind for a week.

Friday 5.1.23 - Sunday 8.1.23

Enforced rest

19.00 miles for the week that was going well up until Thursday, but it goes without saying health is much more important than a past time. The knee held up to three days running in a row which is huge positive from this week, i'll get back out again next week when the pain has eased between the legs!!!

Nothing bulging about it Thursday afternoon unfortunately!!!

I’ve a splint on it J!!!

I will be back in Ireland from 1st of May till the 6th. Apart from an overnight in Ballina on the 2nd I’ll be based around Tang if anyone fancies a meet up. Can’t travel this time, promises to the Ma!!!

Time to wrap this up once & for all!! I’ve come to accept the fact my running days are done, I just cannot resolve this knee issue after two years of trying. When running is affecting my interactions with my children it’s time to call a halt. I will pop up on Strava on a rare occasion but nothing like the 6 day weeks I ran previously.

I’ve met and ran with many wonderful people from this forum and built friendships I never thought I would have. Thank you one & all. Boards was a big part of my life and the interactions here helped me through an incredibly difficult time in my life, again I’m eternally grateful to those who helped me with this. If anyone ever decides to run the CPC Den Haag, drop me a PM and I’ll gladly play tour guide.

Happy New Year to you all & all the best with your running endeavors in 2024.

B.