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By Oliver on

April 2014 Blog

  • Featured News

Health Issues

Early in March I had a routine blood test to check my PSA level which is a marker for prostate cancer. I did not have any symptoms the result was high, around 17. I was seen at Tameside Hospital and had another blood test, same result, 17. I was invited to have a prostrate biopsy and it was found that of six samples on the left side showed cancer; the six on the right were clear. Late in March I had another meeting at Tameside to discuss my options. The favourite seemed to be “active surveillance “for someone my age, in other words testing on a regular basis. On the first of April I had an MRI scan. This showed that the cancer had not spread outside the prostrate. On the 17th I reported to the Oncology Department of Stepping Hill hospital in Stockport where I was offered brachytherapy at the Christie Hospital in Manchester. I will have this operation on the 17th of June. It will involve placing radioactive capsules into the prostrate at the site of the cancer which will kill it off. Brilliant. I’m looking forward to getting that out of the way and I still may live to be 100!

Busy Month.

On the 3rd  after an excellent 3 mile run on the banks of the river Nene from the Marriott Hotel I attended the launch of the GER Perkins Half-Marathon and gave a short speech. The race is on October 12th and will be bigger and better than ever. They announced a major new charity: BBC’s Children In Need!

Running Lonesome Lane wit Dave Kelly and Chris Crabtree, Reigate 1/2 Marathon course, credit: Laura Taylor

On the 6th I ran the first 11 K of the Greater Manchester Marathon as guest. This was the 3rd edition and was a record breaker. Google it!

10/11th I was in London for the Marathon Expo and in the afternoon of the 11th went to the Athletes Reunited Gathering. I was honored to be asked to give an appreciation of Gerry North who sadly died on April 1st aged 77. A great all-rounder, coach and race director Gerry was the runner I most respected when, as Lancastrians, he from Blackpool and Fylde AC and me raw runner in Clayton –Le – Moors Harriers we clashed in cross-country races. Well not really clashed as I saw him on the start line and watched him disappear into the distance.

On the 19th I raced the Rivington Pike Fell Race for the 38th time. It was a good day, following wind up and dry. I ran 34:26, 28 seconds faster than2013 but was still only 32d in the V 75 category.

My last outing was on the 26th when I went to the launch of the Reigate Half Marathon. This is a new race scheduled for 21st September. I ran a rainy 3 miles from the Nutfield Priory Hotel along country lanes before breakfast and some filming on the course with the 2 Race Directors. The weather improved and I spent the rest of the morning in Simply Sports where the race was being publicized.

April gave me 109 miles (175 K) bringing my lifetime total to 159,106.5 miles (256,106 K)

 

 

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