PDF
It was a kind of ritual at the Crystal Palace Sports Centre Clinic to 'operate' on the sports shoes which had recently been redesigned with pain-causing heel tabs. Not everyone accepted this approach, but for those who did it generally worked well. It was a great pleasure to hear from Philip Cole some 40+ years after the event. He followed the advice and treatment and came out well:
"2 months before first London marathon in 1981 ....also my first ever...I was fit and hoping to run about 3.30.I tore/ pulled my left Achilles ?...couldn't run and was desperate to run becos of a lot of sponsorship...doctor said plaster and don't run ?
I searched for alternative advice and the running shop in teddington said try a physio at crystal palace.
You asked how serious I was ...I said 110% You said ' if' I come for treatment every day for a week , and after I run slow ...only run clockwise streets to not stress it ...then maybe ..maybe it would be ok .
AND THEN YOU TOOK OUT HUGE PAIR OF SCISSORS AND CUT THE HEEL TABS OFF MY NEW NB RUNNERS
7 weeks later ...I ran the marathon ...3.02 !!!...way better than I dreamed of .
And as I finished I saw you ...ran over and said " thanks" Haven't ever run better.since ..but now I'm 78 ..still going
Vivienne ...thankyou"
My reply:
"That's really kind! What a lovely surprise and I'm so glad you're still going strong. I shall put the story (anonymously) on my website, to encourage others to think about the issue. The articles on Achilles tendons get quite a lot of views. It's a cause of sadness to me that all these years on (since about 1980) the shoe manufacturers have not resolved the problem of heel tabs...such a simple design fault which could easily be corrected. Earthbound /previously Miret almost got it right, but even they refused to go just that bit further to bring the back of the shoe into line with the foot-ankle anatomy.
Best wishes, Vivian"
Best wishes, Vivian"
Philip: "I'm happy to amuse you ??...you don't need to post it anonymous ...you're welcome to my name and photo . I found your site by pure luck ..I'm living in Thailand ...a friend has got a pain in a quad and I was looking at quads anatomy...and your name appeared ! ..I couldn't resist sharing the memory of my horror as you cut the tabs of shoes which had just been gifted to me by Chris Brashear no less !! ...Mr New Balance !!....? I read your background ...well done ..a full and varied life Vivian...( Not Vivienne..sorry for that error?)
Stay well ..Philip"
