15k charity run for Stroke Association

I did this as a kind of virtual run as couldn’t get to the race venues. I ran from Abingdon to Oxford along the Thames Path. The first two thirds to three quarters of this are a nightmare at the same time as being amazing. Mist rising off the river, bulrushes, geese everywhere, and a beautiful Tudor house with modern touches set back from the water in lush green lawns. But the path was tussocky, slippery with frost, treacherous with ruts and tree roots, and the sun was in my eyes for much of the route. It wasn’t till I was almost to Iffley lock that the tow path began, and that’s been tarmacced. Sandford weir is pretty impressive- huge and deafening.

I’ve had trouble with my leg recently. I thought it was sciatica, but now I realise I stressed my bad knee cleaning and packing before we moved. By the time I reached Folly Bridge in Oxford centre, I was hobbling. I had to keep running because it was worse when I walked. I still had 2k to go and was literally running slower than my normal walking pace. Now I can’t walk it’s so painful. My ex physio sister says from my description it’s got swelling inside the joint. So I’m sitting with a bag of frozen peas on it, have been told to keep it moving without weight on it, and only small runs till it settles.

But the run is done at last!

[theoldfellow]

Well done Flick. 👏👏👏👏

Those kind of injuries are nasty, take the time to let it heal.

(and thank you for your tweets)

🙏❤

[Hidden in reply to theoldfellow]

Thank you. It flipping well hurts! Boo ☹️ And you’re welcome re the tweets. I’m bombarding Facebook too!

[Clairecandothis Graduate10]

Ouch Flick! But well done on keeping moving and doing the distance regardless! Xx

[Hidden in reply to Clairecandothis]

Thank you Claire. Regretting it a bit now ☹️

[Clairecandothis Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yeah I bet! Are you running the town and gown this year? If yes we should totally try to spot each other! X

[LoungeLizaard Graduate10]

Lovely write up and great distance flick! Definitely let that knee rest up for a while, as well as cold, use heat (alternating).

Get well soon!

[Hidden in reply to LoungeLizaard]

Thank you 😊 I had a hot bath when I came back. I’d better dig out my hot water bottle!

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Brilliant Flick! Especially with pain 😫 The new area obviously agrees with you.

[Hidden in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you. Much happier here, but it’s taken me ages to adjust to flat running ❤️

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

You were very brave taking this on Flick, as your running has been out of sorts lately... Well done for finishing, as you were raising money for charity.

I hope your knee recovers soon...😘

That's a long run, you should be very proud of yourself! 😊xxx

[Hidden in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you x I’ve been putting it off for weeks, but time was running out xxx

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10]

Wow! Well done, Flick! Hope the knee improves soon. x

[Hidden in reply to Slinkymalinki]

Thank you! Knee is swollen and painful and wont bend. Fedup! x

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Argh! I know how that feels. I had an arthroscopy many years ago & clearly remember sitting for weeks with frozen peas on my knee. The internal bruising was quite bad & I couldn't bend it so in the end they gave me ultrasound which worked like a miracle! Hope you can get some treatment & relief soon. X

[Hidden in reply to Slinkymalinki]

I’m going to see if I can get an appointment with my GP who is a runner. It looks like the Oxford town and gown 10k is out the window 🤕 x

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Good idea. Annoying to have to miss the town & gown though. You're very fit so hopefully after some rest & physio, it won't be too hard getting back to running. I've barely run in the last month due to a cut big toe (could barely walk), school trip to France and a bad back which started last week. Trying to be positive & stretch when I can but feeling a bit hard done to! Going to get a massage or see a chiropractor tomorrow as I can't take Nurofen forever! Move up on the IC & I'll sit with you for a bit! X

[Hidden in reply to Slinkymalinki]

Can we share popcorn 😊 but ouch, poor you. It’s horrid, isn’t it? It’s made me doubt my body’s ability x

[Clairecandothis Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Oh no. Ouch. I'd just asked about the town and gown too. 😔 best to be safe and well though. I will be cheering you on for your Blenheim half soon enough! Xx

[Hidden in reply to Clairecandothis]

Honestly, this has shaken my confidence in my ability to run a half with this dodgy knee.

[Clairecandothis Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I hurt my knee back in December and I was sobbing with the pain as well as not being able to run. Eventually it got better and I eased back into running. I realised then that I need to run for my peace of mind. I don't need to do half marathons etc though. I do those because I can and it's a challenge but overall running for the joy of running is what I needed to find again. You will too. Rest, go sloely back into running and see how you feel in June. You don't have to fo the half but I think you will be able to if you decide you want to. Xx

[Hidden in reply to Clairecandothis]

Thanks Claire. i was thinking this all too the other day. I want to do the HM to have done it, but then i want to get back to running just for fun, exploring and taking photos, like I've always done. I've paid for both races now, so I guess i wont get that back if i decide not to do them. I really started doing races for motivation when i was stuck in chipping norton and hating it. xx

[orangeguy Graduate10]

Well done Flick that is impressive... take it easy now and have a break until you feel better, you've earned it.

[Hidden in reply to orangeguy]

Thank you. No choice as knee is rubbish now

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Sounds nasty! Well done for completing even at hobbling pace😧

[Hidden in reply to JonathanP]

Thank you

Luckily the hobbling began later in the run - otherwise I would have been totally stuffed and stranded miles from anywhere

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

A run for a very good cause Flick. I hope your leg gets better soon. We don’t want you on the IC now you are back again.

[Hidden in reply to Dexy5]

thanks x On the IC I am though. Can't even walk at the moment. x

[Katnap Graduate10]

That is rough Flick. I wish you a speedy recovery.

[Hidden in reply to Katnap]

Thank you

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Oh no Flick, I’m sorry to hear you’re in pain after your fantastic run. Kudos to you for completing it. 👊

It does sound lovely, albeit rather long for a little 🐌 like me! Hopefully you’ll get your knee fixed and you can do it again in less painful circumstances.

Take care of yourself in the meantime. 😀

[Hidden]

Thank you lovely. I was a snail too, due to conditions and the blasted knee. It's worse today