Hi all,
Since last tapping out the blog, Rich and I have secured new sponsors keen to throw racing gear to us, and put the new Kayano 15’s through their first race and over 1200 hits on this site in the last month!!!!!!!!! However, lets start at the beginning….
Having completed the 85 miler, I was (as you may be aware) left with foot pain. Not a bit surprising considering but at least I thought (hoped) that it was just muscular or even slight tendon issues from the new shoes. Notwithstanding the visit to Paul, the foot still ached and so a return visit was scheduled. Paul examined the foot and using what looked like a tuning fork and declared that I had a hot spot. For those who may not be aware, when you place stress on your bones you create minor tears which, when resting (being the operative word), the body replenishes and renews the bone. If you don’t rest you get a hot spot, which can develop into a stress fracture. So you now know! On paul’s orders, I was to take time out and that’s just what I did…..
First up was a evening enangement at the home of the Bishop of London and his wonderful family. This was organised by the Cure Parkinson’s Trust as a fund raiser to find £100K for trials into a really cool and potentially groundbreaking new treatment using GDNF (a chemical naturally produced by the body, which repairs the brain). Really amazing results have been observed but more research is needed…www.justgiving.com/alex-flynn
I arrived, suited and feeling slightly uncomfortable as I have not needed to wear a suit for a long while. Aurelie arrived while the Lord Bishop was discussing the history of the Deanery (one of the oldest buildings in London). She looked wonderful…even after a hard day in the office. I am a very lucky man!!! Tom (Issacs) and Bryn were in attendance and on form. The food was magnificent and we had a great time. A late night but a good one.
Bryn has told me that he is including my blogs on his website. If you have moment please take a look at http://www.wobblywilliams.com/ If you like walking, Bryn (who also suffers from parkinson’s) arranges excellent walks across spectacular countryside. Check it out!!!!
New sponsors include Buffwear who have been kind enough to send both me and Rich a huge assortment of race gear. I will be wearing my neck buffs during the forthcoming races and also road testing their socks (yes they make running socks). I shall keep you updated. Also received are boxes and boxes of Sports Beans! These are energy giving jelly beans. They are extremely yum but have yet to give them a proper workout. Aiming to put them to the test on the forthcoming Doyen of the Downs (30 miler). If you have a mo, please check out my sponsors page for more details.
Met with David Harrison of Ambition Productions to discuss the documentary. Wow! He is one tall chap! Bloody nice bloke too, considering that I was an hour late due to traffic! Thanks for being so understanding David. Tom was in attendance but was having a problems with his medication. So much so, in fact, that he lost almost all ability to move by the time we got him to his car. This is apparently normal for Tom as the effects of PD usually get worse before geting better once the meds are taken. David was extremely concerned but a call to Tom’s wife Lyndsay confirmed that it was going to be ok. Nonetheless, I was quite shocked and having never seen anything like that before and as Tom too has PD, I was visibly shaken! I felt terrible leaving Tom with David but had to drive back to collect Aurelie from the train station in Reading. All the way back I was thinking about Tom and the effect of PD.
Tom called me later that evening. As he had said, shaking, from the back of his car, that he would be ok in 15 minutes, he was! He also went on to explain that he is the only sufferer with those symptoms that he knows of and that he believes that I will never have to got through something like that. I hope he’s right!!!
Yesterday was the Henley Half Marathon and my knees hurt! The start and the run was good and even the 2 mile hill was fun (of sorts). However, I have noticed that when running, my right leg, occasionally, decides to do its own thing. What I mean by this is that it will either turn in or turn out (involuntarily) when moving forward or sometimes it feels as though I have to raise the leg over an invisible object to take the next step. Bloody frustrating!!! This caused a change to my gait, which clearly put muscles into positions that they are not used to. Result: painful and tight right knee and lower leg. This did not stop me, as I had Rich to encourage me even at the slowest moments and in the rain. The bloke is fantastic and stayed with me the whole way!! Finish time 2 hours and 5 mins. Spent the rest of the day, organising a new press release, chasing new sponsors, having a couple of beers and mucking about with my sons at the park. Big smiles!
Gear for the run included Fennec Running top by X-Bionic, Adidas compression shorts, X-bionic speed metal socks and buff, plus Kayano 15’s. All preformed excellently. The Buff kept me warm, and the Fennec top and socks were superb. That said, gear is obviously welcome, but we would rather make a monetary contribution to the cause. If you have a company and want to benefit from the publicity of contributing to the fund raising, please drop me an email: alex@alexflynn.co.uk
Got an email from Bryn regarding a new and potentially groovy type of material caled ESP, which the manufacturers (Keela International) believe will reduce stress and fatigue; therefore helping sufferers of PD. Will keep you posted on this, as the claims seem to be too good to be true!!! Called their director, Sam, this morning and hope to hear back from her soon. Watch this space.
Lastly, I am changing job….becoming Director Legal for a large US multinational. Big step up and one which will require reorganisation of training. I even worked out how long it would take me to run to the office (2 hours)! Bargain!!!
Next up Doyen of the Downs (December) and an interview on the Sarah Walker Show on BBC Radion Berkshire later today.
Spread the word. Until next installment…never give up.
Alex