Knees

No advice from me about knees, Kelly - I inherited my weak joints from my Dad. Playing football for years didn't help, but the worst was when I ruptured my medial ligament back in 1970 at football training - just after Jo and I met. No keyhole surgery in those days - I was put in plaster - hip to ankle - for 3 months and was unable to go back to work full-time for 6 months. I remember my boss, Duncan Crawford "thoughtfully" brought some work out to our house to keep me occupied during my convalescence!

My first meeting with the future in-laws was on crutches - and it was a year before I played football again. Of course, I retired from football when we got married and Lucy came along, but took it up again when we moved down to London in 1974 - although I didn't do any training then - I only played on a Saturday during the winter.

I retired again by the time I was 30, but I started off the Veterans 5-a-side group in Banchory a decade later in 1988 as I was approaching my 40th birthday. By this time, I was playing squash regularly and I also took up running - taking part in some great events like the Great North Run, the Great Scots Run, Aberdeen Half Marathon and lots of other events.

It was a couple of years later that I really started having problems with my right knee - the one that had been operated on when I was 21. It was during one of my frequent visits to the hospital that I discovered the real reason for the pain and the fact that I've never been able to fully straighten my right leg - the surgeon who had operated on me in 1970 hadn't noticed that my cruciate ligament had also come away. If I could have remembered who he was I would have sued him!

The road running was not a good idea in retrospect - I wish I had taken to cycling to keep fit instead. But Kelly, you're made of sterner stuff - you certainly don't have the Stewart legs so shouldn't have the same joint problems I've always had. The only piece of advice I would offer is not to take too much notice of your GP - not unless he or she is into sports. Best to see a medic who specialises in sports injuries. I certainly know that everytime I ask a doctor for advice on injuries, their usual riposte is simply "how old are you?", as if to say you shouldn't be doing this at your age!