Still Running (weakly). Issue 19

PAST – inspiration – “My Dad says you don’t have to train. It’s just natural,” said the little boy to David Hemery, who was sitting on the grass by the track. Hemery, Olympic gold medallist in the 400 hurdles in 1968 with a world record, silver in the 4x400 relay in 1972, and bronze in the hurdles in 72, was unable to put the lad straight as he was somewhat out of breath, having just completed the 1,000th press-up, 1,000th sit-up and 10th mile of his session!

Hemery’s college coach had urged him to turn back up for pre-season training in good shape, so the hurdler had seized upon the idea of sets of 50 press-ups, 50 sit-ups and a half-mile run, eventually building up to 20 sets of each!

And this was pre- pre-season training, remember!

PRESENT – perspiration – My total knee replacement on 21st November 2022 had gone well, and, five weeks later on Boxing Day, I wondered what I should do, having regained some mobility, to prepare myself for the more formal exercise to come.

“Hemerys,” I decided!

So, each day, I would perform 50 press-ups, 50 sit-ups, walk at least half a mile, and do my knee exercises, before breakfast.

This set me up for the rest of the day, which in the beginning, in truth, consisted of long periods of sitting on the sofa calling for another cup of coffee, but which later developed to include gym sessions, jogging and parkruns.

The simplicity of the start to each day – and its being demanding yet feasible – has been a foundation of my recovery and a rock of my mental wellbeing during a time that could have been challenging for someone used to being active.

FUTURE – suggestion – If you are a runner in reduced circumstances, there is normally something you can do. If you are injured, can you keep fit in other ways – swim, bike, gym – as well as being really diligent in your rehab exercise programme? If you are tapering for an important race, you should be as dedicated to your rest and relaxation as you were to your build-up.

In other ways, if you are restricted in time, what can you do with 20 minutes, say? 5 minutes to warmup, 6 times one minute hard, one minute jog, 3 minutes to warm down (in reality 4, as you tack the last jog onto this – oh, Steve!)

If you are restricted in space, think of Nelson Mandela in his prison cell on Robben Island where, four mornings a week, he ran on the spot for 45 minutes, did 100 press-ups on his fingertips, completed 200 sit-ups, executed 50 deep knee bends. and then did various exercises borrowed from his previous boxing gym training, such as star jumps and burpees – before going off to work all day in the quarry.

I know – what have we got to moan about?!

The key is thinking about it, and if necessary being creative. Where are you now? Where do you want to get to? What therefore do you need to do, to get there? What is too much? What is too little? What is going to work for you? There is always something that will.

If all of that sounds scary, good. If it sounds very organised, of course it is. If it sounds professional, then yes, it’s the only way. Nothing worth having is ever easy.