Category: unicycling

unicycling

Failure. Blood. Running.

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 2 Comments

Failure. I hate to admit defeat, but for one reason or another I am officially announcing that September's challenge has been extended into October. I'm slightly disappointed that I've had to take such drastic action but with a two week half-term coming up, together with the fact that my body is finally starting to feel better, I feel it is the best option. The challenge of learning to ride a unicycle was always going to be difficult fully fit, but with various aches and pains appearing (none I think directly related to unicycling) completing the challenge in one month was near impossible.

Blood. It has been a busy week at school. Various assessments taking place and an ever increasing pile of marking that needs completing. Thursday saw the school's open evening, and the annual 'teach the parents' classes I put on. All was going well early on, I was doing the old descriptive writing session using sweets to encourage the use of senses in our writing. We had got through the sight, sound, touch, smell parts without any problems. At this stage I did the old comedy healthy and safety speech before tasting sweets, “please don't eat sweets if you are allergic to anything that could possibly be contained within the sweet”. I should also have mentioned loose teeth! Before I knew it I had a prospective student in front of me in tears, blood flowing down her chin and tissues being stuffed in her mouth by her mother. She was quickly whisked out of the room passed other prospective parents and students, leaving a trail of blood from the English classroom. Not the 'English is Fun' look I was going for. Needless to say that could be one less student joining us next September.

Running. Today I went for a run, the first for three weeks, and although my back was a tad sore it felt good to be finally running again. So I'll be partaking in the first Frostbite run tomorrow morning at St Neots. The Frostbite Races are a great little series of six races held throughout the winter (hence the name) for local club runners to enter. I'll use tomorrow's race as a nice training run and take it pretty steady. That should put me in good stead for next weekend's Great Eastern Run, a half-marathon run around the picturesque streets of Peterborough. Followed, of course, by the Zombie Run later in the month.

 

Unicycling on hold…

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 5 Comments

After what has been a disastrous monthly challenge so far, I felt a post was needed to explain to my fans followers exactly where we are.

It has been over ten days since I last sat on a unicycle, due to a touch of sciatica. I don't intend on boring you with the details, you only need to read Unicycle Day 15 to find out more. Needless to say the chances of successfully managing to learn to ride the unicycle has taken a battering. It may well be that September's Challenge moves into October *sharp intact of breath*.

I'm also very aware of the fact that the Zombie Evacuation run is getting closer. After bullying persuading various teachers to join me in running away from zombies whilst overcoming obstacles I need to ensure I'm fully fit. So I've done the sensible thing, stopped the unicycling and I haven't actually been running for the past 10 days. I have also penciled in running the Great Eastern Run in Peterborough next month, so depending on how the next fortnight goes will decide if I do that or not.

The drugs seemed to have worked, my leg is nowhere near as painful as it was last week, it feels more like a 'dead leg'. This weekend I have done next to nothing in an attempt to get back on track. Well actually to be more precise, I have done nothing interspersed with a whole lot of nothing.

 

Unicycle Day 15

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

Halfway through September's Challenge and we have hit a major problem: a touch of sciatica. Although it would seem this is unrelated to the unicycling.

On Thursday I felt a slight ache in my leg and by Friday this had manifested itself into a rather painful and slightly awkward limp, in an Ian Dury styley. Although after a quick online symptom calculator I was thankful that I could dismiss polio.

Waking up this morning in much the same, if not more painful way, there was only one thing to do. Get back on the Internet. This resulted in a clear diagnosis of sciatica, thanks in part to Dr Rob and a handy video explaining the causes, symptoms and prognosis. It would seem that I have irritated my sciatic nerve, and thinking about it, my Y8s were rather irritating on Thursday.

So to the treatment…ibuprofen, diclofenac potassium, codeine phosphate and paracetamol….

I'm hoping a weekend of popping pills and plenty of relaxing should see me right! Although on a positive note, this morning the postman brought me a lovely parcel containing Frank Turner at Wembley DVD. Lovely jubbly!

 

Unicycle Day 14

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ Leave a comment

It has been a while since I've blogged about this month's challenge. Mainly because I haven't really got anything to say. It has been a busy week at work, the weather has been a bit dodgy, the evenings are closing in and I've just lacked the time to put in any proper practice.

I've found that to show any improvement you really have to put the time in to practice. The first 30 minutes or so feels like you've never been on a unicycle before. It's not until the hour mark before you're feeling more comfortable. Hence why I've not really got anything to show from the week.

I'm hoping for a dry morning tomorrow. I was actually planning to run a parkrun, but decided to put that off until the unicycle is mastered. Now that's dedication to the cause!!

Although I could always make another purchase to help with the challenge….

 

Unicycle Day 8

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 6 Comments

The second weekend of September's Challenge and an opportunity for some dedicated practice. It was a lovely afternoon and it was spent on the floor unicycle. Although before any practice was possible the unicycle needed some running repairs. It has taken a fair bit of battering, that I don't really think it was designed for, resulting in a cracked seat and various screw issues. But nothing that a block of wood and some gaffer tape couldn't sort out….

As for the practice, I'm definitely getting better. The video may not actually show this, but I think my balance has improved and falling off the unicycle is definitely more graceful. I'm beginning to shift my weight more to enable me to have a more controlled ride, that doesn't mean I'm riding much further but I feel I'm on the verge of a big breakthrough.

Looking forward to tomorrow!

Unicycle Day 7

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

This week has been a difficult week in the September Challenge. First full week at school full of teaching, meetings and information overload has had a negative effect on the unicycling.

There has been far too much of this….

And not enough of this….

The forecast for the weekend is dry, warm and sunny so my plan is to practice, practice, practice! I desperately need to lose the fear and get back on track.

So here's to a successful weekend of unicycling!