Five years of life!

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 18:11:25 GMT

A bit extra to my post on 29th August. I have had to miss an event this evening so filled the time by re-checking my records of 1993. I did not ride the 30 to 35 events I had long-believed but only 25. Therefore despite my crash and injuries, my two operations since last November I have managed to set a new life-time record of for the number of cycling events ridden. Now that is not something I would have ever thought possible so it is a happy and smug-bunny typing here right now! Plus another event completed last night. No records set but every race is now a success. Nil desperandum is now my motto! Heaven forfend if anyone else having to go through what I have but there is always something to live for and strive.

As Lord Tennyson wrote:

Though we are not now at that strength which in better days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; one equal temper of heroic hearts made weak by time and fate but not in will; To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. A very uplifting sentiment.

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 13:49:45 GMT

I'm sure charisma ois the reason Martin! Isn't it always? I have a couple of ex-staff who take me out to lunch every couple of months or so. No other possible explanation, surely? [Ho-ho, he adds quickly!] Seriously though, I have tried to say often that friends and family have carried me onwards from my accident, right from them travelling fifty miles to visit me I hospital until now; following my progress. This is why I decided to value my friendships more than I probably did in the past! In fact when inospital I thought it mildly amusing that apart from my wife, my sister, my Stepmother I had a long queue of female visitors. I tried to explain to the bemused hospital staff that it must have been my animal magnetism but thy did not believe me for some reason! The only fun bit in hospital was joking with the nurses, mot of them apart from the male one who repeatedly thumped my arm if/when he thought that I was trying to get out of bed when I could not stand up unaided. I wished that I'd had the presence of mind to say, "You do that again and I'll report you for assault but I wasn't alert enough. However, he was later sacked for some reason! Tough! No sympathy from me.

RE: Five years of life!

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 10:11:42 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"] I do indeed know Liz and was in touch with her again not too long ago after a gap of a mere thirty years or so! [/quote]Several of my ex nurses have recognised themselves in my book and a high percentage still keep in touch even though some now live miles away. I even recently dropped in on one for a cup of tea in the tiny village where she now lives in the Cotswolds while I was on a weekend cycle tour.

I would like to think its because I'm so charismatic :-) but realistically I feel it is more that we are a small profession and form close bonds. I asked one of my current staff if she could think of any other profession in which the boss would drop in and visit an erstwhile employee of 15 years ago and she thought not.

I hope Robert Lindsay doesn't recognise himself he ever reads my book though.

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 09:17:14 GMT

While I have the line below about just having to get through, my other advice to people is Nil Desperandum! , because last night, five years after lying in hospital with near-fatal injuries, I rode my 29th event of this year. No records were set but to ride this number is massive progress since 2012. I now have the objective of beating my lifetime record of 33-35 events set back in 1993 when I was a tad younger! I was told in the early stages of my convalescence that I ought to develop new targets. I think that this counts as one!

RE: Five years of life!

KathW — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 00:03:11 GMT

PM with more detail on its way later today/ tomorrow- it's been a busy afternoon and evening. I did enjoy the book and look forward to the follow up.

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 19:26:35 GMT

Thanks, I do indeed know Liz and was in touch with her again not too long ago after a gap of a mere thirty years or so! She was a damn-fine nurse, very caring. Please Tell her that I hope she enjoyed my book and maybe even recognized some of the events that I describe?

Thanks again.

RE: Five years of life!

KathW — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 13:03:04 GMT

The short answer is that she went to see you the other week and her claim to fame is that she's the receptionist who shouted in Tess Tickle - and she hasn't changed a bit

Longer answer to follow but I'm sure you'll know her now!

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 12:00:17 GMT

Kath, Please tell me more! You can't just lave it at that! Who and where? It must be in Lancashire at a guess? Tell her the cheque is in the post!

Oh and did you like the book? I like feedback, good, bad or indifferent but mainly the first of those!

Thanks in anticipation.

RE: Five years of life!

KathW — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 23:21:56 GMT

Well done- I'm full of admiration for your achievements. You're a real inspiration.

Having read your book I figured you must have worked close to where I live. I was then chatting to one of our receptionists last week having come in to work a late shift after an outdoor swim. Trying to explain what a Vetlife is all about- turns out she knows you well and was singing your praises. It's a small world this Veterinary one!

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 22:57:42 GMT

My 29th time-trial of 2017 this evening and smashed my current PB so am mightily pleased, even smug!! I still have 2-5 events left so hopefully will improve further. When lying in hospital five years ago from now in fact, I dreamt of being able to race again and 29 is unbelievably satisfying. Even before my crash never expected to do this many in a year again so am pleased on that basis as well.

Training and racing was always the stress-buster after work, but now it is "just" the personal satisfaction and sense of still being around to live a life and meet challenges!

RE: Five years of life!

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 14:09:55 GMT

Chapeau to you Julian.

On a much lower level I saw my orthopod Wednesday about my fractured clavicle as I still get quite a bit of discomfort - nothing to a cyclist of course but he suggested as I'm so thin the plate is causing the issues as its so close to the skin - you can see the ends of the screws very easily. So its going to be removed but its got to be timed around the effective end of the cycling season and the start of the winter sports season. He said he wouldn't want me to do anything that might result in a fall for 6 weeks after removal - must be kidding I reckon I could manage 2 at most!

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 12:14:54 GMT

Thanks Martin. I can happily say that I saw my consultant three days ago, and the thinks that my progress is brilliiant and merely adjusted the pressure setting of the valve so fluid drains more easily in order for me to gain more neurological function on my left side. . He thinks that it it might take 2-3 days to cause further improvements but despite that I set a new personal best time for 2017 in my race last night. I have now ridden 23 events so far this year and have about half a dozen more left I never thought that I would be able to compete in so many events again"! My lifetime maximum was 35 way back in 1993 so it would be great to top that! .In any case, just being able to race is superb progress from 2012. I shall look back n this year as my toughest year of competition yet, but hugely satisfying as a result.

RE: Five years of life!

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 11:57:32 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"] I hope that you realise that I am joking by the way! [/quote]Well I realised it was a gross exaggeration/tongue in cheek if not a joke. There are times in the past when I've hurt a knee either because I've crashed or had my cleats not set up properly when its felt like I'm only able to use one leg but I'm sure its only 10% or less loss of power.

Incidentally after I fractured my right tibia skiing and was not weight bearing for 6 weeks the muscles never came back to the same size they were before so I have one leg even thinner than the other but I can still generate the same amount of power which goes to show something - not sure what but probably we only regenerate what muscle we need/use.

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 11:39:33 GMT

Well done Martin. Maybe the Malverns are easier than Lincolnshire head-winds? I hope that you realise that I am joking by the way! I do find hills easier than head-winds and always have. Probably because I'm fairly skinny so have power to weight but not outright power? That's my reasoning anyway.

Sometimes the extra effort does through one leg cause pain in my thigh muscle so I have to be careful not to strain anything and damage my better leg! That would be a set-back for sure. I have about a dozen more events to ride, which should take me to a life-time record of 33.Even more would be better!

RE: Five years of life!

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 11:05:07 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"]By definition one pushes oneself as hard s one can to finish in the quickest time, butwith90% of the work being through my good leg, I joke with my club-mates when they beat me that their two legs are only beating my right one![/quote]As you suggest, cycling is hard enough with two legs but there are amputees who race literally with one leg not just half of one and a prosthetic! I know it may feel like it at times but I doubt there is that amount loss of power in the dodgy leg albeit it would be interesting to be able to measure the power output accurately. That said I did once ride over the Malverns with one leg after I broke a pedal spindle on a tour so anything is possible!!

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 22:33:10 GMT

Another race completed tonight. Even though I know that my left leg does not contribute as it should to the effort, I ask myself, were they always this tough? By definition one pushes oneself as hard s one can to finish in the quickest time, butwith90% of the work being through my good leg, I joke with my club-mates when they beat me that their two legs are only beating my right one! So they laugh at me but it is a genuine excuse/reason! The consultant thinks that it is "recoverable" and is not due to permanent brain-injury , because it developed so long after the initial trauma and my left side was okay for two years until August 2015. Let me hope that he is right as he has been correct with everything else so far! Hence he is officially my hero! We met his wife at a charity event and she said, " Don't tell him that, will you!!" But I did and he just laughs. A great man is Gerry.

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 14:25:04 GMT

Thank you Jill.

RE: Five years of life!

Jill Butterworth — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 07:39:32 GMT

This is both humbling and inspirational, congratulations. All the very best to you and your family.

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 22:47:26 GMT

Thank you all for your good wishes. I have tried to acknowledge that my wonderful consultant Gerry O'Reilly deserves a huge thanks for his technical skills in saving my life, but subsequently it has been family, friends and colleagues, such as the people on here who have kept my inner spirit alive and the fire burning inside. So Thank you all, very much. I would have been lost without such support to my morale over these five years.

RE: Five years of life!

Virginia Campbell — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 21:38:04 GMT

Happy 5th birthday #2

RE: Five years of life!

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 19:55:28 GMT

Magnificent! Fab to hear and glad things going well for you. :)

Cheers,
Mark

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 18:42:19 GMT

[quote user="Niall Connell BVMS CertSAO MRCVS"]That’s outstanding! Your journey back to health and your achievements are a real inspiration to us all. As time goes on, hopefully your situation will get better and better. In our family, Colette’s doing very well too, back for a whole term now, teaching after beating pancreatic cancer. The sky’s the limit with you two!  :-)[/quote]

That is great news Niall, We are so leased for both of you.

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 18:39:16 GMT

I failed to mention the special moment last night at 7-41pm when I finished a local time trial, five years to the minute, just about, when I set a personal best time for ten miles this year. Not a bad way to celebrate my survival I thought. Mmy club-mates applauded me at the finish, which was very touching.It is my wife's birthday today and I think it has been a better day than the one she had five years ago! Sorry for that dear!

RE: Five years of life!

Julian Earl — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 18:31:39 GMT

You know me too well Martin! I don't mind at all. I used to have to warn people eg reps at the practice not to start talking about cycling because they'd never shut me up! Now I can babble on here about cycling as much as I like! Can't I Arlo, please?

RE: Five years of life!

Niall Connell — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 18:22:14 GMT

Hi Julian, That’s outstanding! Your journey back to health and your achievements are a real inspiration to us all. As time goes on, hopefully your situation will get better and better. In our family, Colette’s doing very well too, back for a whole term now, teaching after beating pancreatic cancer. The sky’s the limit with you two!  :-)