27th Dec - Run

Canal loop (anti-clockwise)

6.15 miles - 50:22

VB did 50:37. Felt pretty good surprisingly after a reasonably heavy xmas, and for my first run back after my eye operation. Post-crash PB, -0:09, nice.

11th Dec - Run

Canal loop anti-clockwise

6.15 miles - 54:13

Ran with VB, felt ok but was fresh. The route is back to normal (no Bow-Tesco or Fruppets Lane derivatives required now), re-measured on google maps and this seems spot-on.

30th Nov - Run

Ran home from work. Cable Strasse, Limehouse, Regents Canal.

3.6 miles - 27:00

Feeling ok.

31st Oct - Run

Ran home from work (Cable Strasse, Limehouse Basin). First run for ages, not bad, but running in the dark with the eye patch is a bit tough.

3.6 miles - 33:57

1st Oct - 5 mile XC race

Gibb 5 mile XC race, South Coulsdon

5 miles - 50:56

First off-road race after my crash. Shattered me physically and cognitively, and still zonked the day after the race. Unusually good weather and beautiful course made it a memorable run. Wore my eye-patch and used the ski poles, and found these to be really effective, but found the changes in light (open land and sunny day, v. dark woods) tough. Also, the downhill sections required a lot of concentration.

Delighted that Champ won the race though, Kirsty and Maurice faired really well. South London Harriers is a really friendly bunch.

3rd Sept - Run

Ran the Canal Loop (clockwise)

9.75km - 50:31 (PB)

Really didn't want to go for run but VB ordered me to do so. Despite this, didn't get to pain barrier #1 until half-way down the Cut (and nowhere near #2). The last mile was pretty tough though.

The bit of the towpath past Bow Tesco is now back up running.

29th Aug - Swim

Swim at LFL with VB and Crazy-Horse

Only managed 600m, I felt whacked and my eyes were sh1t. Massive double vision. Probs low blood sugar level too.

13th Aug - Climbing

Went to Bowles Rocks with VB and did a few routes, then Hinksy, Thirsty and Jazzy arrived. Was great to see Family Hinks.

Did easy slab (3b), the crack that Dad and I failed on first time (4a) and Hinksy's back shot climb (4a??)

VB did the slab, crack, Sapper (hole in the roof) and Hinksy's back shot climb. She was very impressive on the crack which she got to half height then came down, but made it look easy on second attempt. Also on Sapper, I haven't seen anyone get through the hole so fast!

6th Aug - Run

Ran the Regents Canal and Thames loop. Big run v.tired.

28.3km - 2h 50:43 (6:02 min/km)

Was a pretty proper distance that I've wanted to do for a while. My fitness is better off our trip to the Alps. This time is net of two 5 min rests in Wapping and with 1km to go. Really pleased with how it went and my recovery afterwards.

Half split 2h 01:15
10km split 57:15

11th July - Climbing

Went to Mile End with James's Bedford and Bright. Did some top roping, I probs did 4 routes, all easy.

5th July - Run

Run with Luis Prato in Vicky Park. He did 10 X 1 on, 90 secs off. I jogged there and for the session and back.

24th June - Mountaineering

Proposed to VB on the top of the Breithorn!

Got the cable car up to the Klein Matterhorn then did the top 400m ascent to the summit. Amazing weather and VB did great. I felt the altitude having got to Zermatt the afternoon before and not therefore really acclimatised.

19th June - Run

Victoria Park

Jog with VB, her knees are a bit dodge, so just a slow easy one. It felt as hard as the half for me though! - Bonkers

3.9km - 21 mins

14th June - Run

One Canal Loop (incl. Fruppets Lane) with Luis Prato. Nice and easy, chatting.

10km - c. 1h 15???

4th June - Run

Two canal loops (with Fruppets Lane derivative due to Olympics site works), and lap of Vicky Park on the second one.

Half-marathon - 2:28

Had the after effects of Hinksy's dogs in my lungs for the first lap, but very pleased to do a proper distance, albeit with a last 2km that was a bit tough and not my finest.

29th May - Climbing

Mile End

Did 8 routes. Probably 6 on lead including F5 black/orange jugs on the overhang. Really good fun, tired afterwards!

14th May - Climbing

Did some lead climbing at Mile End climbing wall with VB and Katie.

4 routes (2 at F4, 2 at F5)

Really cool to be back leading again.

8th May - Swim

2km swim at London Fields Lido. Lovely day for it and consequently the pool was very busy.

2km - 46:50 (nearly 6 mins quicker than last swim, brill!)

500m splits:
11:03
11:19
12:19
12:08

1st May - Bike

Went for a tandem ride with Maurice. We picked up the bike in Ascot, then went to Windsor, Eton, Staines. Good to be back on a bike but head struggled with the info processing at speed.

Circa 20 miles

30th April - Climbing

Climbing at Mile End with Baboon and KT Noon. About 8 top roped easy routes. Eyes are a limiter but it was good fun.

24th April - Walk

Walked up Whinfell. Descent massively helped by eye-patch and walking poles.

23rd April - Swim

Quick dip in Crummock, fresh!

22nd April - Walk

Ladyside Pike and Hopegill Head walk with Mum, Dad, VB, Mau and Helén.

Good walk, amazing weather legs shattered on the descent. Didn't use eye-patch or walking poles though.

7.26km (500m ascent)

14th April - Run

Went out intending to do much more like 10km, but it was a Thursday and I felt whacked from a few days at work and very low day. Ended up only making it 1 mile and back to meet with VB who was running back from London Bridge station.

3.8km - 20 mins

9th April - Run

Canal loop (clockwise, with Fruppets Lane)

Felt much better than Wednesday and ran with VB. Much more propa' time, touch under 5 minutes faster!

9.75km - 50:43 (5:12/km)

6th April - Run

Canal Loop (anti-clockwise)

There are a couple of diversions due to works on the Olympic site (at Tesco and The Greenway/Fruppets Lane) which cut a couple of hundred metres off the 10km distance. This was my first run since the race and due to colds etc, I was a bit breathy, but it's made me feel much better. Good quick recovery though.

9.75km - 55:34 (5:42/km)

26th March - Run

Victoria Park Open 5 miler - 38:32.

Good run but felt wheezy and really limited by my eyes. Double vision was extreme today. VB did well and beat me (37:43). Pretty good field out today and all new experience to finish 147th of 225!

16th March - Turbo trainer

20 mins at half-pace

First session-ita since going back to work.

6th March - Swim

London Fields Lido with VB. Did two 500s with 30 second rest halfway. Felt ok but not pushing too hard because tomorrow's my first day back at work. Pleased to do much quicker splits than prev swim - I'm going to beat this head injury.

1km - 23:28

Splits
11:35
11:52

27th Feb - Run

Did a (circa) 10km run in the grounds of Ashton Court in Bristol with Aaron and VB. It was a scenic route that Cancer Research use for their annual 10km course and it was quite hilly for the first half. Aaron's cats gave me the usual asthmatic reaction the day before and so my chest was very tight but I just took it steady and had to be careful on the downhills because of my eyes. Overall it was great to double the 5km target by the end of Feb that I had set with the occupational therapists at the end of Dec and to continue the last few big days.

10km - 55:13 (think it may have been a bit short for 10km)

25th Feb - Swim

Went to London Fields Lido for a cheeky swim to build on my first one the other day. Felt ok so pushed-it, and over the moon to swim 2km. The third 500 felt pretty hammer-time though!

2km - 52:03

Splits:
12:37
12:51
13:29
13:05

22nd Feb - Gym

Did a gym session later that day and felt SMACKED! I was ok with the weights etc. but 20 mins on the running machine as a warm-up tired me out. Did a full session but a lesser intensity than normal.

22nd Feb - Swim

Went to London Fields Lido with Mum for a swim. Tried breast-stroke but couldn't get full movement of my left shoulder, but front-crawl was a go-er! Did 7 laps of the Lido with short stops every 2nd lap. The water supported my body comfortably and compared to running, this was much easier. Great to be back in the water.

700m swim

19th Feb - Run

Did a lap of Vicky Park on the perimeter road. Totally changed and improved my mood, amazing difference. Did a good pace and ran without the glasses.

4.93km - circa half an hour (I think!)

15th Feb - Gym

Did a good session, mostly cardio stuff. Ran to the gym and back afterwards.

12th Feb - Walk

Went up Mellbreak from the Kirkstile pub. It was a 400m ascent and 5.17km distance.

I was slow on the ascent and very happy to be out in great weather in the Lakes. My legs were very wobbly on the way down the west path from the col. Must work on strengthening the tanks.

10th Feb - Turbo trainer (bike)

30 mins at 3/4 and fast pace.

8th Feb - Gym

Hard cardio and legs session.

Hour and a half.

Eyes improved for about an hour after the session, great to lose the double vision for a bit.

5th Feb - Run

Did a run around Vicky Park.

6.67km - 41:00

More of a proper run! Very glad to hit my Occupational therapists' target of 5km by the end of Feb, so soon. Awesome run. Core body muscles tired afterwards though.

3rd Feb - Gym

Did a gym session, quite a lot of cardio. Good session.

29th Jan - Run

Did a lap of Vicky Park clockwise to the main gate south-side, with VB.

4.33km - 24:49 (pace 5:42/km).

It's a real privilege to be this much better.

27th Jan - Gym

Great session. Started with a run, did X-Trainer, lat pull down, swiss ball balances, quad curls then finished with a row which I did at 2:11.4/500m after 5 mins. Amazing and closest to hammer-time that I've done post crash. Awesome.

25th Jan - Gym

Another big legs session. Did 20 mins of walking with 3 minute run reps, rowing (5 mins @ 2:15/500m), swiss ball squats against the wall, hand-bike.

Legs very wobbly after session but recovery was better than usual.

24th Jan - Turbo-trainer (bike)

2 X 20 mins with 2 min rest

Felt ok, shorter rest than last time.

22nd Jan - Run!

I just tried a run and did a lap of the west bit (small bit) of Vicky Park from my flat. It's amazing to be back running outside and wonderful to be able to hack a run without stopping.

2.51km - 20:43 (9:43/km)

18th Jan - Gym

5 mins on Xtrainer
5 mins on rower at 2:16.6/500m, 1,109m distance. good improvement on first row.
10 mins on running machine: jogging for 2 min intervals. very good to be back running.
Quad and hamstring weights.
10 mins on cycling machine.
Exercises with Swiss ball.

Big session, felt tired afterwards. Glutes are feeling it day after, nice.

17th Jan - Turbo trainer (bike)

2 X 20 minute reps with 6 mins recovery between them.

Felt a lot faster than last session. Pace probably 3/4 to Hard. Feel tired now. Very sweaty.

11th Jan - Gym

Did second proper gym session. Warm-up on cross trainer and walking on running machine. Then did leg stuff being thigh press, quads/hamstrings stretch. Then did 5 mins on the rower - excellent for back and body core.

Overall, getting better with the cardio and muscles strengthening a bit. Running still requires holding on to the bars though.

9th Jan - Walk

Walk round Vicky Park with VB and then later Noon too with coffee break in Vicky Park village.

5.44km

Lovely day.

8th Jan - Walk

Walk with Maurice round Vicky Park into Roman Road, broke into jog for circa 100 metres with help from Maurice. Circa 3km.

6th Jan - Gym

Did cross-trainer for 10 mins, then pecs and lat pull-down. Then Swiss ball balances, then 10 mins on sit-bike and 10 mins fast walking on the running machine.

4th Jan - Gym

Induction at Ability Bow gym. Nice gym, predominantly for the disabled and recovering. Tried walking on running machine at fast pace, various exercises, lat pull-down, pectoral pull etc. Then finished on the cross-trainer for 10 mins.

Legs like Elvis afterwards, v.wobbly! My fitness and muscular strength is nowhere!

2nd Jan - Turbo trainer (bike)

20 mins on Turbo-trainer at 3/4 pace. Felt really sweaty, glad my sense of temperature is getting back to normal. A lot less tearful than first session!

1st Jan - Walk

Went to Epping Forest for a walk. Got to High Beech and did a very short walk c.1km through the woods.

Tried jogging and managed 50 metres which seemed epic! My eyes are limiting my jogging and balance/stability. I hope they improve.