I’m attempting to do it on a unicycle, which is probably completely mad, but i thought it would be an interesting thing to do, and a good way to raise some money for my favourite charity The Anthony Nolan Trust!

I’ve just set up a justgiving page and if you’d like to sponsor me i’d be really grateful, and so will the charity!

So today i managed to get half way up the hill (to the entrance of Highgate Cemetery), which may sound like a good start, but its at the halfway point that the road starts to steepen beyond belief!!

Here are a couple of pictures of the sad effort…….

Will i get to the top of the hill by the race day??

But, although i had more energy than i needed to finish the race, my legs at mile 22 decided otherwise. The cramp started mildly in my left groin, then the right, then right quad, followed closely by both calves, and then the left buttock by which time i could literally not even walk properly let alone run at all!

So i turned off my stopwatch in anger, and walked for the next two or so miles, trying to run every couple of minutes….. by mile 25 i was able to lurch like an elderly gorilla for the last mile…….. I didnt even look at the finish time, my pride was too hurt!

Of course, a day later, i can see the wood for the trees, and can see that a number of things hampered my training…. one was that i was severely dehydrated about 5 weeks before the marathon (my fault entirely!) so i sabotaged two of my longest runs….. then i had tried a strategy of 3 runs per week instead of the normal 4 or 5 in training……. obviously didnt get the mileage up high enough……… and lastly i did next to no speedwork in training, just a few tempo runs here and there…… all in all a pathetic attempt at something which i should know by now requires dedication and effort to train up to…….. a classic example of being smug! Never again will i take my fitness for granted……. the next marathon will be a good one, i have promised myself, or if its not a good one, i will at least have trained properly for it!!

Problems in the spine and neck can also cause symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, clicking jaw, pins and needles and many more. Indeed research has shown that problems related to the back may affect over 60% of the UK’s population at some stage in their lives.

All our Osteopaths are trained professionals who are skilled in diagnosing problems, including those which may require further investigation if necessary. Around 30,000 people currently consult osteopaths every working day with more than seven million consultations carried out every year (General Osteopathic Council).

NICE (the National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines recommend manipulative therapies including osteopathy for the treatment of low back pain.

Your treatment
Osteopaths use a wide range of gentle manipulations, depending on your age, fitness and diagnosis. Treatment is different for every patient but may include techniques such as different types of soft tissue massage and joint articulation to release tension, stretch muscles, help relieve pain and mobilise your joints. Sometimes, when we move joints you may hear a ‘click’. This is just like the click people get when they crack their knuckles.

Keeping a healthy spine and joints
When young, the body can adapt easily to the stress and strain it is put under. As it grows older (over 25 years!) it begins to lose some of the elasticity which gives the body the flexibility to cope and adapt. In particular this applies to the discs between the vertebrae and the joint cartilage. These require regular movement to ensure their maximum range and thereby increase local circulation and nutrition to the surrounding fluids and tissues.

10 top tips for back care
1. Keep moving and stretching
2. Take regular exercise
3. Take frequent breaks between repetitive tasks and vary the rhythm
4. Change position – avoid ‘computer hump’
5. Pace yourself when the work is heavy e.g. gardening
6. Adjust car seats, and on long journeys, have breaks and stretch
7. Watch children’s posture – don’t let them carry bags on one shoulder
8. Avoid strain when lifting especially when shopping and with small children
9. Is your bed the right bed or is it getting old?
10. Seek osteopathic advice earlier rather than later

Professionalism and safety
To qualify, an osteopath must study for four to five years for an undergraduate degree. This is similar to a medical degree, with more emphasis on anatomy and musculoskeletal medicine and includes more than 1,000 hours of training in osteopathic techniques.  By law, osteopaths must register with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). It is an offence for anyone to call themselves an osteopath if they are not registered.

Osteopaths see a very wide range of painful conditions every day, which is why we have not listed them here, here would be too many to mention! The conditions we see range from pain in the big toe, to pain behind the eyes, to pain in the hand.

We see many people in different occupations such as office workers, pianists, violinists, runners, football players, retail workers, all with their own particular pain patterns.

If you’re wondering whether osteopathy could help you, then we invite you to call for a chat to one of our team, on 020 7284 4664. We should be able to ascertain quickly whether it is worth you coming in for a consultation with us or not.

A bit about Osteopaths
Osteopaths are trained professionals who are skilled in diagnosing problems, including those which may require further investigation if necessary. Around 30,000 people currently consult osteopaths every working day with more than seven million consultations carried out every year (General Osteopathic Council).

NICE (the National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines recommend manipulative therapies including osteopathy for the treatment of low back pain.

Your treatment
Osteopaths use a wide range of gentle manipulations, depending on your age, fitness and diagnosis. Treatment is different for every patient but may include techniques such as different types of soft tissue massage and joint articulation to release tension, stretch muscles, help relieve pain and mobilise your joints. Sometimes, when we move joints you may hear a ‘click’. This is just like the click people get when they crack their knuckles.

Keeping a healthy spine and joints
When young, the body can adapt easily to the stress and strain it is put under. As it grows older (over 25 years!) it begins to lose some of the elasticity which gives the body the flexibility to cope and adapt. In particular this applies to the discs between the vertebrae and the joint cartilage. These require regular movement to ensure their maximum range and thereby increase local circulation and nutrition to the surrounding fluids and tissues.

10 top tips for body care 
1. Keep moving and stretching
2. Take regular exercise
3. Take frequent breaks between repetitive tasks and vary the rhythm
4. Change position – avoid ‘computer hump’
5. Pace yourself when the work is heavy e.g. gardening
6. Adjust car seats, and on long journeys, have breaks and stretch
7. Watch children’s posture – don’t let them carry bags on one shoulder
8. Avoid strain when lifting especially when shopping and with small children
9. Is your bed the right bed or is it getting old?
10. Seek osteopathic advice earlier rather than later

Professionalism and safety
To qualify, an osteopath must study for four to five years for an undergraduate degree. This is similar to a medical degree, with more emphasis on anatomy and musculoskeletal medicine and includes more than 1,000
hours of training in osteopathic techniques.  By law, osteopaths must register with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). It is an offence for anyone to call themselves an osteopath if they are not registered.

Backs & Beyond Limited
61 Chetwynd Road
Dartmouth Park
London NW5 1BX,
England

Telephone: 020 7284 4664

Fax: 020 7482 4422

Email: info@backsandbeyond.co.uk

The Executive's Guide To Stretching