Adding to the confusion
Firstly, I shall not be utuping for the next two Saturdays. Secondly, belated congratulations to JtE for his achievement last Saturday. The weather decided to join in by mimicking February for a spell in order to simulate the real thing. Bet you were pleased about that, JtE.
You should know better than ask me for meaningful information, NLN. After all I'm hardly the norm. Stop nodding your head so enthusiastically! Anyway, I am right-handed and as you'll have guessed, my problem knee is my left one. That said, apart from my knee and my frozen shoulder, all the injuries I have sustained over the years from physical activity, knocks apart, have been on my right side. I don't know what happened in my development but my right side(shoulder and chest) differs substantially from, and is not as well-formed, as my left. Perhaps that's true of my brain as well. So, does anyone know if the right side of the brain controls your powers of observation and retention? If they do, that would explain my stunning weakness in these areas.
As far as I'm concerned my left leg/foot is the dominant one. I think this is because it is longer than my right, enough for back specialists and physiotherapists to make a point of, during treatment. Haven't you noticed me hopping along on Saturday mornings?
So there you have it, more confusion. But at least you'll soon be nodding off, that's if you haven't done already!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Left Right!
When I was in my mid teens and started walking on the fells, the group I walked with adopted the old army chant of "Left, left, I had a good home and I left, right, left, I had a good home..." We used this when we were off the fells and on the, often long, walk back to a bus route. I sometimes mutter it to my self, even now to take my mind off the pain towards the end of a long run.
But to move on to TF's research. I think we must first be clear what we are talking about. TF talks of "landing" whilst NLN uses the word "dominant" (well she would, wouldn't she?). So you may have a dominant right leg, with which you push off, but you land on your left; so are you right or left footed? (Ignore religious connotations.)
I'm right handed. When I'm starting a track effort I toe the line with my left foot and contrary to a normal running action my first movement is forward with both my right arm and my right foot. This very soon corrects to a normal gait, so that opposing foot and arm move forward together.
For jumping both up onto something and down from something, I push off with my right leg and lead forward with my left. This may be in anticipation of falling down in that in leading with my left leg , I'm also leading with my right arm, which is stronger and therefore better able to absorb a fall ~ but does this mean I'm right or left footed?
Perhaps NLN and YJ are moving like camels, which I believe move both left legs forward at the same time, then move both right legs forward, or is it the other way round?
As ever, more questions than answers I'm afraid, and we may be as confused as ever, but I do like to think that we may be confused on a slightly higher plane than previously.
PS ~ UTUPing Thursday 20th and Saturday 22nd.
When I was in my mid teens and started walking on the fells, the group I walked with adopted the old army chant of "Left, left, I had a good home and I left, right, left, I had a good home..." We used this when we were off the fells and on the, often long, walk back to a bus route. I sometimes mutter it to my self, even now to take my mind off the pain towards the end of a long run.
But to move on to TF's research. I think we must first be clear what we are talking about. TF talks of "landing" whilst NLN uses the word "dominant" (well she would, wouldn't she?). So you may have a dominant right leg, with which you push off, but you land on your left; so are you right or left footed? (Ignore religious connotations.)
I'm right handed. When I'm starting a track effort I toe the line with my left foot and contrary to a normal running action my first movement is forward with both my right arm and my right foot. This very soon corrects to a normal gait, so that opposing foot and arm move forward together.
For jumping both up onto something and down from something, I push off with my right leg and lead forward with my left. This may be in anticipation of falling down in that in leading with my left leg , I'm also leading with my right arm, which is stronger and therefore better able to absorb a fall ~ but does this mean I'm right or left footed?
Perhaps NLN and YJ are moving like camels, which I believe move both left legs forward at the same time, then move both right legs forward, or is it the other way round?
As ever, more questions than answers I'm afraid, and we may be as confused as ever, but I do like to think that we may be confused on a slightly higher plane than previously.
PS ~ UTUPing Thursday 20th and Saturday 22nd.
Ambidexterity
TF raises an interesting subject right/left handed and footedness, to put it clumsily (as I would). I am right handed and right footed naturally. You can tell this by which foot you lead with when you run up a flight of stairs. However, conscious of the strain this puts on my right knee and the problems I have had over the years, particularly in ultra events, I started several years ago to consciously try to lead with my left foot and this has paid off to some degree in evening out the repetitive strain on my right side. This, along with off the shelf orthotics to assist alignment has resulted in an easing off of the previous problems with my right leg.
However, this doesn’t come naturally and when tired or when instinct takes over, the dominant limb prevails – evidenced by my broken right arm which instinctively is used to break a fall – as it were.
Interesting to hear from Matt – is your bad knee your right one and are you right handed?
YJ had mirror images on Saturday morning of mine after his fall with damage to the left knee and left elbow – so is he left handed?
Jessica Ennis having sustained a triple fracture of her right foot which put her out of the Beijing Olympic games was trained to change to lead with her left foot for the long jump. This took her a year to master but paid off handsomely at the weekend.
Your thoughts?
Cautiously UTUP-ing Sat all being well
NLN
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Thurs utup - will have to give this a miss as ankle still a bit sore and want to make sure it's ok for my trip this weekend to the Cheviot Hills. Hopefully, back out again sometime next week.
Even the bike is resting as it's my twisting on/off foot that's sore. The other one stays clipped in for the duration and I don't wish to confuse things at this stage in the learning process.
Strange though that it's my left one that's sore, as my right foot is usually the side that I land on if it's going to be a one-footed/awkward landing, and hence the one that usually gets 'tweaked'. My right side being the more dominant. So do left-handers land with left foot first? Should we undertake a very unscientific poll. Left or Right or No preference?
TF
Even the bike is resting as it's my twisting on/off foot that's sore. The other one stays clipped in for the duration and I don't wish to confuse things at this stage in the learning process.
Strange though that it's my left one that's sore, as my right foot is usually the side that I land on if it's going to be a one-footed/awkward landing, and hence the one that usually gets 'tweaked'. My right side being the more dominant. So do left-handers land with left foot first? Should we undertake a very unscientific poll. Left or Right or No preference?
TF
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Well Done John!
Pleased to hear you've laid that ghost, John, you certainly seemed in fine form as you disappeared over the fields towards Entwistle.
From the top of Winter Hill we watched the first and probably the most severe squall as it blew towards you; we just caught the edge of it. Soon after, the wind abated slightly and less dramatic, but more persistent rain blew in. It can't have been much fun being out in it for several hours.
Pleased to hear you've laid that ghost, John, you certainly seemed in fine form as you disappeared over the fields towards Entwistle.
From the top of Winter Hill we watched the first and probably the most severe squall as it blew towards you; we just caught the edge of it. Soon after, the wind abated slightly and less dramatic, but more persistent rain blew in. It can't have been much fun being out in it for several hours.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Mission Accomplished
With the support of the gang, the purpose of today's outing was to lay the ghost, so to speak, of my disasterous February Amble when my back gave in by White Coppice and I had to be driven to the finish by a marshall. The idea today was, therefore, to complete the Amble route successfully.
We started UTUP with Nico, NLN and her friend Keith intending to support me for the full round and EtU, YJ and Matt for part of the round. All went well to the Turton and Entwistle reservoir car park where David met us with refreshments, Etu, YJ and Matt having left us by this time. Nico was suffering a migraine but decided to carry on. Shortly after the Strawberry Duck (now closed) the rain started accompanied by a strong wind and, soon, we were all soaked. We continued on to Darwen Moor and, not having anticipated these conditions, we were under dressed and it was therefore agreed that we should miss out Darwen Tower and drop off the moor to Slipper Lowe where FSS was waiting with his car. By this time Nico's migraine had become severe and she opted for a lift back to her car. The rest of us carried on over Great Hill and down to White Coppice and by this time Keith was suffering. Shortly after White Coppice it was agreed that NLN would stay with Keith and that I, trying to test my fitness, would leave them and see them at the finish.
Thanks to the superb help from all involved I am pleased to say that I finished strongly (by my standard of course) and I had plenty to spare. Further, there was not the slightest trouble from my back. This outing, therefore, has been an absolute success so far as I am concerned.
Many thanks to you all. I should be grateful if Nico and NLN would pass on my thanks to David and to FSS.
22.75 miles.
With the support of the gang, the purpose of today's outing was to lay the ghost, so to speak, of my disasterous February Amble when my back gave in by White Coppice and I had to be driven to the finish by a marshall. The idea today was, therefore, to complete the Amble route successfully.
We started UTUP with Nico, NLN and her friend Keith intending to support me for the full round and EtU, YJ and Matt for part of the round. All went well to the Turton and Entwistle reservoir car park where David met us with refreshments, Etu, YJ and Matt having left us by this time. Nico was suffering a migraine but decided to carry on. Shortly after the Strawberry Duck (now closed) the rain started accompanied by a strong wind and, soon, we were all soaked. We continued on to Darwen Moor and, not having anticipated these conditions, we were under dressed and it was therefore agreed that we should miss out Darwen Tower and drop off the moor to Slipper Lowe where FSS was waiting with his car. By this time Nico's migraine had become severe and she opted for a lift back to her car. The rest of us carried on over Great Hill and down to White Coppice and by this time Keith was suffering. Shortly after White Coppice it was agreed that NLN would stay with Keith and that I, trying to test my fitness, would leave them and see them at the finish.
Thanks to the superb help from all involved I am pleased to say that I finished strongly (by my standard of course) and I had plenty to spare. Further, there was not the slightest trouble from my back. This outing, therefore, has been an absolute success so far as I am concerned.
Many thanks to you all. I should be grateful if Nico and NLN would pass on my thanks to David and to FSS.
22.75 miles.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Very slow this week
Got back on Sunday evening from two weeks in a very hot Thassos (Greece) - 30+C every day and down to about 26 at night! Managed a couple of shortish early morning runs and one evening run and actually lost a few pounds despite the wine and beer. Did manage one early start (6:20) to walk to Potamia and then climb up Mt Ipsario which is a shade above 4000ft. Luckily above 1000ft there was a bit of a breeze, arriving at 9:30 to sign the book.
Did my first run for a week on Wednesday night and had not felt so slow since recovering from my little exploratory operation a few years ago. My legs felt like lead. No point doing UTUP last night so just went to ring road and back to see how much slower I am - about 2 minutes in 30!
Hopefully will get a decent run in this weekend but dj-ing commitments mean I shall probably be busy tomorrow morning.
On the Monday before Coope's Dozen I'd ordered a copy of Feet In the Clouds, hoping it would arrive in time to take on holiday. As I rushed out to head to the top barn, I noticed the postman passing me with book shaped package. Alas when I got back from my half-dozen, I found that the current dog, Onyx had got to it first. Julie immediately ordered a replacement copy and we also now have a replacement dog as well. This one's called Prince and is as well-behaved as Onyx was badly behaved.
Future races - Sedbergh (if fit), Darwen (if less fit), Rufford 10K?, Langdale Half?
Got back on Sunday evening from two weeks in a very hot Thassos (Greece) - 30+C every day and down to about 26 at night! Managed a couple of shortish early morning runs and one evening run and actually lost a few pounds despite the wine and beer. Did manage one early start (6:20) to walk to Potamia and then climb up Mt Ipsario which is a shade above 4000ft. Luckily above 1000ft there was a bit of a breeze, arriving at 9:30 to sign the book.
Did my first run for a week on Wednesday night and had not felt so slow since recovering from my little exploratory operation a few years ago. My legs felt like lead. No point doing UTUP last night so just went to ring road and back to see how much slower I am - about 2 minutes in 30!
Hopefully will get a decent run in this weekend but dj-ing commitments mean I shall probably be busy tomorrow morning.
On the Monday before Coope's Dozen I'd ordered a copy of Feet In the Clouds, hoping it would arrive in time to take on holiday. As I rushed out to head to the top barn, I noticed the postman passing me with book shaped package. Alas when I got back from my half-dozen, I found that the current dog, Onyx had got to it first. Julie immediately ordered a replacement copy and we also now have a replacement dog as well. This one's called Prince and is as well-behaved as Onyx was badly behaved.
Future races - Sedbergh (if fit), Darwen (if less fit), Rufford 10K?, Langdale Half?
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Marathon madness
Thursday saw the start of the marathon build up with a single lap of the old Bolton 40 circuit in 2 hr 8 min which was faster than any of my circuits during the whole of last year.
This could mean peaking too soon or is a good omen for the two races planned -- the Langdale and of course the Snowdonia
Saturday 15th August
I shall be UTUPing on Saturday but am not yet sure how long I can play out for.
Thursday saw the start of the marathon build up with a single lap of the old Bolton 40 circuit in 2 hr 8 min which was faster than any of my circuits during the whole of last year.
This could mean peaking too soon or is a good omen for the two races planned -- the Langdale and of course the Snowdonia
Saturday 15th August
I shall be UTUPing on Saturday but am not yet sure how long I can play out for.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
This Week
Tuesday 11th ~ Track, subject to left Achilles behaving itself.
Thursday 13th ~ UTUP if anyone confirms, otherwise from home.
Saturday 15th ~ UTUP (unless given any other instruction) returning to the Top Barn for noon.
Spellchecker says use upper case "A" for Achilles, which will be right for that Greek chappie, but is it retained for the tendon?
He was actually held up by his heel, where the tendon inserts, rather by the tendon itself; or so we are led to believe.
Tuesday 11th ~ Track, subject to left Achilles behaving itself.
Thursday 13th ~ UTUP if anyone confirms, otherwise from home.
Saturday 15th ~ UTUP (unless given any other instruction) returning to the Top Barn for noon.
Spellchecker says use upper case "A" for Achilles, which will be right for that Greek chappie, but is it retained for the tendon?
He was actually held up by his heel, where the tendon inserts, rather by the tendon itself; or so we are led to believe.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Loch Garten Ospreys
The female adult is about to migrate to West Africa. The chicks will migrate before very long. There are instructions on the RSPB website that take you to a superb tracking system allowing you to follow the chicks on Google Earth. How they know that it is time to migrate is one of the great mysteries and it is by no means certain that they will be able to navigate to West Africa.
The female adult is about to migrate to West Africa. The chicks will migrate before very long. There are instructions on the RSPB website that take you to a superb tracking system allowing you to follow the chicks on Google Earth. How they know that it is time to migrate is one of the great mysteries and it is by no means certain that they will be able to navigate to West Africa.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Memories Are Made of This
My brief two night stay at Santon was a busy, but not hectic, break. Wednesday's excellent morning on the Conistons was followed by an exhilarating drive over Wrynose and Hardnott for a light lunch at Dalegarth station near Boot, then finally to Bitt to start hacking back the undergrowth to unearth sleeping beauty's castle. Yes, the castle was still there, but no beauty, either sleeping or awake. In the Bridge for about 6:30, for the purpose of taking excessive measures to combat dehydration. Supped sensibly on poached salmon, but was still hungry so finished with the sticky toffee pudding. Made arrangements with David P-T for an outing on Friday morning.
Thursday was gardening again until noon when Hilary, (daughter no. 2) arrived with grandsons Alfie and Eddy, and more importantly lunch. Lunch was followed by football, badminton and rides in the new money pit. I was left alone and exhausted by late afternoon for more gardening. Then (you've guessed it!) pub, but no more healthy eating, just a fine Lamb Jennings.
On the fell by 9:30 Friday morning where we touched base with Joss as he gathered stone for Peter Ferris' building project. Then up the left side of Greendale Gill to contour Seatallan and on to the Pots of Ashness and start the climb up Haycock ~ see below. The figure to the right of centre is David, he wasn't really that far ahead, it just took me a long time to get the camera out! The central figure is probably a sheep.
Haycock summit is a fine view point; this one's looking north east to Scoat and Steeple. 
Then turning back to retrace our steps, this was taken soon after the summit plateau, when Seatallen and Middle fell came into view.
We returned by a similar but slightly lower route, which once again allowed David to demonstrate his descending skills. Another good outing, moving at a slightly faster pace than when I was last in those parts!
My brief two night stay at Santon was a busy, but not hectic, break. Wednesday's excellent morning on the Conistons was followed by an exhilarating drive over Wrynose and Hardnott for a light lunch at Dalegarth station near Boot, then finally to Bitt to start hacking back the undergrowth to unearth sleeping beauty's castle. Yes, the castle was still there, but no beauty, either sleeping or awake. In the Bridge for about 6:30, for the purpose of taking excessive measures to combat dehydration. Supped sensibly on poached salmon, but was still hungry so finished with the sticky toffee pudding. Made arrangements with David P-T for an outing on Friday morning.
Thursday was gardening again until noon when Hilary, (daughter no. 2) arrived with grandsons Alfie and Eddy, and more importantly lunch. Lunch was followed by football, badminton and rides in the new money pit. I was left alone and exhausted by late afternoon for more gardening. Then (you've guessed it!) pub, but no more healthy eating, just a fine Lamb Jennings.
On the fell by 9:30 Friday morning where we touched base with Joss as he gathered stone for Peter Ferris' building project. Then up the left side of Greendale Gill to contour Seatallan and on to the Pots of Ashness and start the climb up Haycock ~ see below. The figure to the right of centre is David, he wasn't really that far ahead, it just took me a long time to get the camera out! The central figure is probably a sheep.
Haycock summit is a fine view point; this one's looking north east to Scoat and Steeple. 
Then turning back to retrace our steps, this was taken soon after the summit plateau, when Seatallen and Middle fell came into view.
We returned by a similar but slightly lower route, which once again allowed David to demonstrate his descending skills. Another good outing, moving at a slightly faster pace than when I was last in those parts!Finally, more gardening and then back home in time to walk to the TaT for more re-hydrating.
Friday, August 07, 2009
Midweek - no crisis
EtU pulled in to the car park at Tilberthwaite in his mid life crisis with the hood down, soaking up the sunshine on Wednesday morning. This was the start of another magical day in the Lakeland mountains, this time with YJ in charge of not getting lost. After a couple of attempts at finding the way out of the car park we made our way above the Ghyll, past the mine workings and over into the Greenburn valley and up onto Wet Side Edge heading for Swirl How and Coniston Old Man. From there we dropped down into the valley and climbed up to pass between Yewdale fells and Weatherlam to return to the cars.
Total distance was 11.25 miles, ascent 4235 ft and a time of 4 hr 17 mins.
After a cool start the day got hotter and where better to see folk suffer than watching the trippers toil up Coniston Old Man with no cloud cover and no wind. We were variously described as "two fit guys", greeted by a teacher who said her young charges were "well impressed" and "mad" by a largish woman pausing to get her breath on the lower slopes of the Old Man.
EtU pulled in to the car park at Tilberthwaite in his mid life crisis with the hood down, soaking up the sunshine on Wednesday morning. This was the start of another magical day in the Lakeland mountains, this time with YJ in charge of not getting lost. After a couple of attempts at finding the way out of the car park we made our way above the Ghyll, past the mine workings and over into the Greenburn valley and up onto Wet Side Edge heading for Swirl How and Coniston Old Man. From there we dropped down into the valley and climbed up to pass between Yewdale fells and Weatherlam to return to the cars.
Total distance was 11.25 miles, ascent 4235 ft and a time of 4 hr 17 mins.
After a cool start the day got hotter and where better to see folk suffer than watching the trippers toil up Coniston Old Man with no cloud cover and no wind. We were variously described as "two fit guys", greeted by a teacher who said her young charges were "well impressed" and "mad" by a largish woman pausing to get her breath on the lower slopes of the Old Man.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Monday, August 03, 2009
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