I used to be very fit. Used to cycle from Glasgow to Edinburgh and back at the weekend for fun (And for charity events), 2004 cycled approx 500 miles from Edinburgh to Portsmouth and then in 2005 swam the English Channel for CancerCareUK.

I started having some serious knee problems, and after being fobbed off by doctors in both England, and Edinburgh, I finally had a referral to a knee specialist here in Glasgow. It turned out that my knees just didn’t form very well, but well enough to last the first 25-ish years.

Anyway, in 2012, after being off my feet for nearly four years, I finally had a Tibial Tuberosity Osteotomy. 

As you can imagine, going from being very active to suddenly unable to walk up a flight of stairs didn’t do much for my health, both physically or mentally, and I piled on a fair amount of weight. I think I went from 11st 5lb to 17st in about five months…

Then, in 2013, almost exactly a year after the surgery, at 28, I had a stroke. What’s know as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) or “mini stroke” which totally knocked me for six. Most after effects were gone within a month, but still, eleven months later, I still have some residual cognitive issues, and some sensation problems on the left side of my body… But, considering the condition some people are left in after a blood clot in the brain, I count myself VERY lucky.

Anyway. Nearly a year later, finally trying to get out there and get fit and healthy again. I started using RunKeeper, which has been installed on my phone since last year, but never really used…

So just thought I would start documenting the beginnings of trying to sort myself out.

Cycling information.

Third cycle today, 9.24 miles. Not the fastest time and I felt a little like death after it, but it was still somewhat exhilarating, too!!