Sunday 27 November 2011

Down at heel??

Dear Blog,
             My daughter told me this morning that there was a Distance Running Seminar at Warwick University this afternoon. It bought a smile to my face. Not particularly to do with the Warwick University Seminars, but to a similar event somewhere outside Coventry. I assume it must have been organised by an acquaintance of yours Blog?? Ages and ages ago, I mention a little training tip, half in jest. The tip was based on sound principles but my suggested implementation to you dear Blog, was a little tongue in cheek. I was a little surprised therefore, to hear the advice given lock stock and blocked up barrel by the expert with loads of badges, related as if it was his own!!! The joke must have been on him if his audience was paying attention and later tried to put the advice into practice. C’est la vie …. Question:- Is that the first time in 50 years that five years of tears studying French has been of any use, I ask myself. That’s about five years for each letter. So Mr Butler’s 1944 investment really was gilt bonded, wasn’t it Blog?
Coincidentally, on this morning’s trudge over the fields around Kenilworth Castle, I happened upon a couple of crocked runners at different times; both trying to dispel their frustration at their incapacity by suffering a Sunday morning family walk. You could feel the sadness in their eyes as they saw me fly past. It is usually at this time of year, that the numbers of injured runners seems to noticeably increase. I wonder if their coaches wonder why? Imagine a coach turning up to supervise an evening session and no one turns up! We are a couple of months into cross country. Most coaches seem to have their athletes pounding the streets and hitting the track big time. I wonder if the coaches wonder if the events are linked in some way. ‘Can’t get on the grass this time of year’ is the clarion cry. Rubbish. With a little thought there are plenty of lighted usable areas around. A bit of lateral thinking. I used to half a dozen different areas up my sleeve to use during the winter months on the dark nights which afforded protection from the repeated crunching of joints upon tarmac; variety is the spice of training. Think. I have always been amazed at many athletes being injured and spending months in a ‘rehab’ situation because the injury refused to respond to expensive treatment. Yes, jog. Yes, choose a friendly surface. Yes buy new training shoes. But why not examine the condition of the shoes you walk around in, examine the shoes you use to work. Now there is a surprise; the inner soles are moulded to the shape of your foot profile from eons of wear; the heels are badly worn down and are in urgent need of repair; the laces and tongue have ceased to afford a comfortable fit about the same time as the dinosaurs disappeared from the surface of the earth!! Quids spent on treatment. Quids spent on new trainers. Quids spent on new racers. And the solution could be a trip down to Clarkes in the High Street to spend quids on a simple pair of ordinary shoes. Worth a thought??? Look at the shoe heels of the general public who are walking just in front of you as you take your trip to the High Steer. Neglect the balancing act being performed by the females on the top of their towering heels … that obviously causes back / hip problems in later life. But just look at the multi worn down shoes all around. A recipe for later life problems in the population at large. I mentioned to you last week Blog, the possible failings of the medical profession. Well hows about the worn down heels??? Wake up Mr Juju man. You can save the NHS millions of quids if you tell your patients to pop along to Clarkes. Forget the back pills, forget the specialist appointment, tell them to just jump on the bus into town. Don’t forget Blog, when that healthy friend of that nice Mr Cameroon, Mr Lansey or something, starts spouting about the shoe cure for the nation, YOU SAW IT HERE FIRST!!
I wonder if anyone still uses a glue gun to mend their trainers? Shoe goo? Well I do Blog!!
                                   Colin

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