Leg Legg

On Friday I went to the doctor because I have a sore foot. Its been sore for about a year, and started hurting when I was doing a lot of running while training for a marathon.

I rested it for a week and then tried another run. Still sore. So I rested a bit longer and tried again. Still sore. Admitting defeat, I went to see a physio who prescribed some exercises, which I didn't really commit to. The working theory was that I had a stress fracture, and the only way to properly heal them is to rest for up to a few months, which I hadn't done yet.

Fortunately for my foot (but unfortunately for the rest of my body), I twisted my knee pretty badly in September and was out of action for three months, giving the stress fracture ample time to heal. Or so I thought. I did a few 5ks, taking it easy, and everything seemed okay, but then I ran two on consecutive days and the pain came back. If this was a stress fracture then it was taking far too long to heal, so back to the doctors - this time a chiropodist (or podiatrist, I'm not really sure what the difference is).

He watched me walk for two minutes on a treadmill and came to a conclusion which no physio or doctor had ever made (and I've seen a lot of knee specialists over the past twenty years).

I have one leg longer than the other.

This, in combination with a high arch on my foot, has given me osteoarthritis, which is what has been causing the pain. You can't cure it, but an insole should alleviate the pain and running won't exacerbate the issue any more than walking, unless I go overboard with it.

I don't know what point I'm making, but it does explain why I've been going round in circles my whole life. Actually, here's the point I'm making, because you're a bunch of smart cookies. How much would the NHS save in preventative treatment if everyone was mandated to have a full health check up once ever ten years?

There would be a massive reduction in future treatment costs and wasted time, I reckon. So my question to you all - would it work?

But onto the episode, if you want to watch it you can do so here before reading the rest of the review.

Last Monday's episode was between Trinity and Open, two of the teams I predicted to make the semis, so it should be a good one (I write in this tense because at the time of writing the intro I haven't yet watched it, evevn though it happened six days ago).

Rajan mentions that Open's Davidson got 9 starters in their last match, and he pulls a disgusted face as though he's embarrassed by the idea people will be expecting him to do so well again. Meanwhile, I swear that Gavaghan's glasses are even bigger than in the previous episodes, but perhaps that's just wishful thinking. If this imagined trend continues her face will be nothing but spectacle if Open reach the final.

She takes the opening starter and wins a bonus set on the Asian financial crisis of the 90s. They laugh nervously at this because they don't think they'll know anything about it, and Rajan chummily says that it wasn't funny for those who experienced it.

Gavaghan also takes the second starter, on Primate cities, winning bonuses on Stevie Wonder. When Davidson takes the third, and Holt the fourth, Open are comfortably in front, with a lead of more than 70.

Trinity really need to get on the board or they're going to be blown away, and Jaksina does this on the picture starter, recognising Liverpool from a map showing its green spaces. He takes another with investiture to really get Trinity going, and Wittgenstein, courtesy of Bannerjee, brings them back within 15 points.

They can't quite take the lead, as Romans stops the rot for Open, but they manage it very soon after, with a perfect bonus set following on from Bannerjee's second, which brings out his trademark delighted smile.

No one recognises a Gregory Porter track on the music starter, and then there's an amusing moment on the next question in which both teams forget that Britain has left the EU. Brexit, what Brexit?

Bannerjee and Davidson (as the two Scottish contestants) trade guesses on a question about Orkney and Shetland, with the points going the way of the Open man.

The lead changes hands a few times over the next few minutes, with poor work on the bonuses from both sides preventing the building of any big gaps.

Going into the second picture starter the scores are level, and Gavaghan puts Open ahead with Mary Quant. They turned up the heat at this point, with back to back perfect bonus sets. The run ends with none from three on mathematical terms, but they are 60 points clear with only a few minutes to go.

Jaksina keeps Trinity in it with Sassanids, and Bannerjee ignites the comeback with Constellations. Trinity love a close match, and this is going to be another one. A starter is dropped by both teams, before a stressful neg from Holt allowed Bannerjee to steal, reducing the deficit to 10 points. Crikey.

One bonus makes it 5, and another from Bannerjee switches the state of play. They only get a single bonus again, but Henderson comes up with a brilliant buzz to seal the game at the death.

Trinity 190 - 170 Open

Another brilliant match, coming down to the very last starter again (it seems like Trinity think it would be boring to do otherwise). They play again for the chance to make the semis, and Open will be back again to try and earn that right.

The next episode sees UCL take on Christ Church, the winner of which will go onto face Trinity. See you soon.

If you want to subscribe so you never miss an episode, there should be a link lying around somewhere.