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Sunday 4 August 2019

A slight trauma.....

"The CT scan showed nothing abnormal to your brain so you can go home now"  Those were the words of an unsmiling, unsympathetic, heartless woman who masqueraded as a doctor at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary to where I'd been rushed in a blaring ambulance, unable to walk without support and unable to sign a consent form with my left hand.
"How will I get home?" I asked.
"Can't someone pick you up?"
"Not really,".  My partner was at  a meeting 30 miles away and her phone was switched off"
"Haven't you enough money for a taxi?" was her next question.
"Well, yes, but I was rather expecting you'd provide transport and a little help".
"Well, we can but not for about four hours" she said, abruptly turning on her heel and leaving me stranded in a wheelchair. 
 I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  Warmth, sympathy and understanding, parts of the Hippocratic Oath, seemingly meant nothing to her.
I fumbled my way along the wall out of the ward, dragged my leg up stairs and across the bridge to the main entrance and phoned a taxi that kindly took me as near to my door as he could get.
I spent a weekend licking my wounds, lovingly cared for by my wonderful partner.
"Perhaps you should try a little walk down to the river" she said on Sunday.
I tried but could only manage a few hundred yards on wobbly legs.
. . . . . .
Back home in Almondbury I forced myself into "I can and I bloody well will" mode.
On a sunny Monday lunchtime I managed a mile walk with a stop off at a favourite fish and chip shop for sustenance.
I did it    (Click to enlarge pictures)
Tuesday found me heading up Castle Hill, determined to make it to the top a mile and 300ft of ascent ahead.  I did, after one or two little rest stops. 
A gentleman flying a drone was persuaded to photograph me in front of the tower.  He was impressed when I explained I couldn't even walk 100 yds 4 days ago.  I wanted the picture to prove I'd actually made it.
Trying a few reps...
On Wednesday I was on a local cricket field attempting short repetitions, but at speed my left leg seemed reluctant to go the same way as me!  After three or four attempts I opted for a steady circuit and called it a day.
Come Saturday evening my wonderful partner enquired  "You wont be getting up for a run round Grimwith in the morning,will you?"   "We'll see" I replied.
Running round Grimwith reservoir, albeit slowly, 4 days after my TIA
Much to her surprise, at 6.30 I was out of bed and rarin' to go!
After running the 4½ mile circuit I was back at the car ahead of her, leaned over the door laughing somewhat hysterically.
Old Runningfox was back in action.
Made it, all the way round
OK, I was 13 minutes slower than usual, and maybe didn't look very stylish, but nine days earlier I was feeling distraught and wondering whether I'd ever run again.
I wont be running as often in future.  I'd even considered changing the name of my blog to 'The online diary of a Geriatric Jogger' but 'jogger' is a dirty word among runners!
Besides, I think I still look like a runner (?).
Keeping going
Some days later, I tootled off on another hilly run accompanied by my wonderful partner.
Passing the mast on High Lane 
  Embarrassed by my slowness I'd chosen a route where hopefully no-one would see us but was surprised to pass quite a few weekend walkers.
Through the gate on Tinker's Lane
There were dark clouds, very little sunshine but intense humidity.  We'd started out over-dressed and had to shed layers half way round.
Delightful running on Tinker's Lane
It had forecast thunderstorms so we were anxious to get home before they struck.  But there were still things that stopped us in our tracks.
Flowering heather
Like a patch of early flowering heather ahead of the 'Glorious Twelfth' that just had to be photographed and smelt.
Hey, wait for me...
It came darker for a time, calling for us to put fastest foot forward and get on our way.
Running under a cloud
At this stage I was struggling to keep up as my wonderful partner tore off ahead, but was content to trundle along at my own speed, just happy to be out running again after the recent trauma.
At the gate by High Garnshaw
Reaching the gate by High Garnshaw farm the air was filled with the bleating of penned sheep, possibly waiting to be stripped of their woolly coats.
Meadowsweet in the ghyll
We pressed on, down the ghyll, past nodding harebells and fragrant meadowsweet to arrive home dry so far as rain was concerned but otherwise soaked in sweaty gear that went straight into the washer to freshen up..
Ready for next week....

22 comments:

  1. Welcome back Old Runningfox , we did really missed your posting ,but even more we were worried about you , it is great to see you so combatant at the hospital against a nasty person , although you were still very frail . I liked the posting and to be honest with you , from the pics you still look a proper runner Gordon and your athletic posture is still there , I wish! Antonio .

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    1. Thanks Antonio, your kind words are much appreciated. Could be in Menorca so might not see you at Burnsall this year. Have a good run if you're entered again. Cheers!

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  2. Glad to hear you're okay - we were worried about you! And yes, you no doubt look like a runner!

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    1. Thanks Karien, but as I keep saying to my wonderful partner - "I'll tell you when to start woorying".
      Keep on running.

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  3. Glad to see you posting again and with photos where you RUN!!!!

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    1. Cheers Stefano. I wont be running quite so often in future, therefore not as much blogging, but I'll do my best! Meanwhile, you stick at it.

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  4. Sure glad to hear you are back to running.
    The pictures are wonderful.
    So sorry to hear that you had to deal with that heartless doctor. She needs to learn how to treat people!!!!

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    1. Thanks Karen. Sorry if parts of my posting don't sound very Christian, but my faith took a bit of a hammering with that doctor.
      You keep on walking in that beautiful place. I may have to follow your example......

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  5. This is why and I am not embarrased to say it is why you are one of my running heroes! Good to see the iron will has not been broken!

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    1. Cheers Richard. An 'iron will' stood me in good stead in racing days, but is beginning to weaken a bit in my dotage.
      As I told a nurse in hospital yeaterday, "I can manage without a bloomin' wheelchair, but I might need a lift into my coffin".

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  6. Well done old bean, and keep up the running. Personally, I've only ever been a jogger - until a couple of weeks ago, when I took part in my first ever 5km race on a very hot Thursday evening. I suppose that qualifies as a 'run', even though I was only jogging in the heat!
    Do take care...

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    1. Thanks Martin. It's many years since I first heard the word 'jogging'. A Miss World entrant said it was her way of keeping a wonderful figure and I thought it was something she did 'on the spot'.
      Many would call me a jogger now, but having run sub 3 hour marathons in my 60's I think I can justifiably call myself a runner.
      That 5K race of yours could be the start of something big. I speak from experience!
      Cheers!

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    2. Haha Gordon. I did another 5 km race last week, so that's two. It was a bit congested near the back, and running in the evening doesn't really suit me, so is it really a surprise that I can jog around the grassy parkrun course, chatting to folk along the way, faster than I can manage to race around an easier course?

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    3. I did the same in my second race, a half marathon. I chatted to runners ahead of me then moved on. They didn't like that. They were racing. It was serious!

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    4. I recognise that, Gordon. It won't stop me talking to people though! I have to admit to double standards here: when marshaling parkruns I always goad some of the middle-aged women who are chatting away on their 30 minute 'jogs' - "that's enough of the chat!"

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  7. Hi there Gordon, great to see you back out there, sounds like that doctor needed a good slap, it seems you've got back into your running really quickly after your hospital experience's, carn't keep a good man down, you can definitely tell from your running style your no jogger, plus the times you've knocked out over the years, some impressive one's, all the best Gordon, keep it going my friend cheers!

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    1. On the positive side John, it's possible that doctor did me a favour forcing me to use my leg again so quickly? Anyway, it's past now and I'm just glad to be back running.
      All the best to you.

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  8. Good to see you are not ‘letting the bxxtxxxds get you down’ even more of an inspiration to us all ! Keep on running!!

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    1. The bxxtxxxds may be winning Ian, next up is an operation that could cramp my style. We'll see...

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  9. Good to see this post from you. The photographs are wonderful.
    Keep on running, with care :)

    All the best Jan

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  10. You are *such* an inspitation!

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    1. That should, of course, read 'inspiration'!

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