Training time
Having spent the last five months mumbling about how I was "about to start training" for the BUPA 30th Great North Run, I thought it would be a good idea to do something about it. It is only two months away, after all.
The intention has always been there... but so have the excuses. I needed a reason to put down my wine glass, dust down my trainers and squeeze into my running gear. Nothing too strenuous - just a little push in the direction of a treadmill or pavement.
The challenge arrived via electronic mail with the words, "hope you're ready for tomorrow!"
I was booked in for a medical with physiotherapists Harris & Ross, who count Peter Schmeichel, Andy Robinson and Jenny Meadows as past clients. It would be almost identical to the kind of medicals you'd get before joining a Premier League club (such as Mr Joe Cole will be undergoing at Liverpool), with a few exceptions - but definitely no favours.
A five-hour timetable was attached with details of the various assessments, including the dreaded beep test.
I was in a sweat just reading it, and in desperate need of a muffin...
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Juliette Ferrington is the north of England reporter for 5 live Sport
Comment number 1.
At 21:32 23rd Jul 2010, carrie wrote:"About this blog:
Behind the scenes at BBC Radio 5 live. A blog where Controller Adrian Van Klaveren, senior managers and editors talk about what's important at 5 live and 5 live sports extra. Big stories, changes and updates plus snapshots from the BBC's move to Salford."
Sorry? What has this insignificant blog by Juliette to do with the above statement by AVK?
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Comment number 2.
At 22:42 23rd Jul 2010, ryanw wrote:And while you're at it why the need to name check the physiotherapists? You don't need to name them demonstrate their credentials.
Carrie, this is the token story from the north of England to tick a box I think. Of course you've got to add time and money for the camera, sound and editing. If a job's worth doing it's worth doing expensively.
I'm intrigued to see that 5Live has a dedicated reporter for sport in the north of England.
Is there such a position for other parts of the country?
I'm still not convinced 5Live even knows there is a south west of England.
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Comment number 3.
At 07:39 24th Jul 2010, lunchtime_legend wrote:I don't expect you had to pay for your "medical" either. I've done a fair bit of running in my time. You buy a pair of shoes and go out for a run. You're not going to the moon. Plenty of information on the net or in magazines.
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Comment number 4.
At 12:25 24th Jul 2010, carrie wrote:Juliette is the dedicated reporter for MUFC and Liverpool gossip. Positive discrimination.
As for the rest of Britain, go search for sports news on Google.
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Comment number 5.
At 17:46 25th Jul 2010, TrifectaCJH wrote:You would hope that somebody has a quiet word with Ms.Ferrington and points out that a blog boasting about blowing public money on physiotherapists may be a little unsympathetic at this time. "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche" indeed.
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Comment number 6.
At 18:47 25th Jul 2010, Pat Shed wrote:While you were running J, did you wonder about the deep sarcasm (not irony) of R5L broadcasting a programme on Sunday nights about web comments at about the same time as the BBC cut the R5L messageboard as if it was a childhood cancer?
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Comment number 7.
At 19:34 25th Jul 2010, what wrote:Ego Inverdale said - a lot of my 5-Lite colleagues see an orthopaedic sugeon,blah, etc. someone previously a sports bloke. BBC staff get free health, dentistry and cocaine as well
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Comment number 8.
At 09:47 26th Jul 2010, Prosperos Girl wrote:Good luck with the training and the run Juliette.
I know there is a frustration about the lack of a messageboard, but don't like the atmosphere here.
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Comment number 9.
At 14:26 27th Jul 2010, Francesca Jones wrote:Good Luck with the run Juliette.
However I am afraid that the BBC is not supposed to advertise and you have just blatantly advertised a physiotherapy firm. I also see you benefitted from a medical. Who paid for it?
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Comment number 10.
At 13:48 28th Jul 2010, Francesca Jones wrote:I notice that my posting above has been removed for further consideration. And yet the point at issue which is Juliette Ferringtons advertising of a private company remains on this blog....
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Comment number 11.
At 19:19 16th Aug 2010, lunchtime_legend wrote:With just over a month to go how's the training going, Juliette? What time do you think you'll do?
It would be a pity if the several hundreds of pounds of licence payers' money spent on that vital medical were wasted.
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Comment number 12.
At 22:40 16th Aug 2010, carrie wrote:She has been too busy to train because so yawn much yawn has yawn been happen-yawn-ing in Manchester City FC.
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Comment number 13.
At 17:54 16th Sep 2010, lunchtime_legend wrote:You haven't mentioned the GNR in any of your tweets. Are you still taking part?
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Comment number 14.
At 08:58 20th Sep 2010, lunchtime_legend wrote:I didn't see a Ferrington listed in the results so I assume you didn't run.
One hopes that with the licence fee frozen instances of wasteful expenditure such as this will be cut in the future.
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