COLUMN: Thomas’ doubtful Swansea Half-Marathon blog – February

I’m sat here writing my second blog in an attempt to postpone my training run for another hour or so. I’m already into week three of a 20-week programme, which is designed to allow me to canter along the foreshore of Swansea Bay and back in a time that would have Brendan Foster * turn green with envy.

I will dedicate a future blog to training programmes as they are an integral piece of the half marathon jigsaw – and believe me I am in pieces at the moment. It’s safe to say my body is still adjusting to running regularly and often complains in the form of stiff legs. I was told your muscles have a memory, and they would soon grow accustomed to running again, but at this juncture all mine seem to remember is how to hurt.

My other bugbear is the arctic weather we’re currently ‘enjoying’. While out running I’m so cold I feel like Leonardo DiCaprio at the end of Titanic – absolutely freezing – but without the compensation of looking into Kate Winslet’s eyes. And I have more vapour trails than the Red Arrows!

Now for the serious part.

The first step for anyone embarking on any form of new exercise regime, whether returning after a period of prolonged inactivity or starting from scratch in a bid to improve general health, is to seek some expert advice.

I was fortunate enough to persuade Dr Iestyn Davies, a GP partner at Cwmtawe Medical Group in the Lower Swansea Valley, and former head of the medical department for Swansea City’s Football Academy, to give me the benefit of his wisdom.

He said: “If you’re someone who has exercised regularly over the years, but maybe had lapsed into inactivity, it’s a matter of retraining the body and gradually getting back into it. You need to take it slowly and build the intensity and duration of exercise up gradually.

“If you do have any symptoms at all, such as breathing problems, chest pain, or joint pain, then seek advice because you don’t want to aggravate any condition.”

The advice is the same whether you are hoping to run a half marathon or just become more active.

Dr Davies said: “You could be someone starting from scratch, who has never had interest in sports and exercising, but realise you have to start for health reasons.

“Maybe you want to lose weight, or get fitter because you are asthmatic, or you have lung or heart issues. You may be diabetic and know that losing weight will help you manage the condition – there’s a multitude of reasons why someone may want to start exercising.”

Dr Davies said that exercise is increasingly being prescribed as an effective form of treatment for a range of conditions.

He said: “Lifestyle is a big thing we promote when it comes to chronic disease clinics. The most important thing, when starting out, is to know where you’re at in terms of the severity of your condition and seek advice if you have any concerns.

“You essentially want to make sure that your symptoms are stable. You also need to think about when you had your last review, and what you were told.

“If you haven’t got a clue whatsoever, and you have a medical condition, your doctor can refer you to the national exercise programme that is freely available through the NHS.”

If you do not have a chronic medical condition the advice doesn’t necessarily have to come from a doctor.

Dr Davies said: “I would suggest to those who are starting out to get in touch with a local personal trainer or a physical therapist so that they can guide you through it and do a graduated plan. But if you have concerns about your health in general, and need some guidance, then obviously a doctor can advise accordingly.

“Gym classes can also be good. Quite often you will find people joining group sessions and they will do an assessment beforehand of your weight, height and body fat, so that they can measure progress.”

Taking advantage of being sat opposite an expert, I asked Dr Davies what he thought of the challenge I had set myself.

He said: “There’s nothing foolish about training for a half marathon in your mid-50s, as you get people much older completing them – so it literally depends upon the individual.

“If you are an occasional runner over shorter distances, then it’s just a matter of conditioning the body for longer distances.

“However, if at any point the longer distances or intensity start to trigger any symptoms, then they should seek medical advice.”

I thanked Dr Davies for his time and for giving me a get out clause should I need one!

* I don’t mean Brendan Foster, the former gold medal winning Olympian, but a mate of the same name who I was in college with that hasn’t run since 1987 – and then it was only to get to the bar before last orders.