The Manchester 10K is usually a piece of cake for Damian Carter, a seasoned runner from Nantwich in Cheshire who has competed in the event annually for the last decade.
But at 54, after two years out due to the pandemic, Damian began to notice a burning sensation in his toe and the sole of his foot when training, which it turned out was down to arthritis in his big toe.
Naturally competitive and keen to get back to the thrill of the race, Damian tried to train through the pain, but it soon got to the point where he felt he might have to throw in the towel, until that is he discovered Well lab CBD oil.
Damian shares how CBD not only helped him to get to the starting line but also the finish line in under 60 minutes.
“My doctor diagnosed that I was suffering from arthritis in the knuckle of my big toe a couple of years ago,” begins Damian, “but I didn’t really feel any effects until I started training again.”
“It was a strange sensation,” he continued. “After running to about 4K, the ball of my foot would begin to heat up and I could feel every line of the grid of my trainer sole on my foot. It was really uncomfortable.
“I actually took my new trainers back to the shop at first as I thought they were faulty. But then when it happened with the next pair as well, I realised there was something else going on.
“I pushed through the pain but that began to lead onto other issues. I started to experience pain in my hamstring and glute on my right-hand side, probably because I was overcompensating and running almost on the balls of my feet. In all honesty, training was leaving me in agony, I thought I’d have to pull out of the race.”
A friend recommended CBD oil to Damian as a way to manage the pain, and having exhausted all other options including insoles, acupuncture, physio and traditional painkillers, he decided to give it a go, despite the fact he was, by his own admission, ‘dubious’.
“It was after about a week and a half that I began to really notice a difference,” he recalls.
“Previously, I would experience pain when I first put my shoes on because the knuckle of the toe was swollen – then one day I realised I hadn’t noticed any pain.
“From there, it has gradually got better and better as I’ve been taking it to the point where I’m hardly noticing any pain or discomfort at all now, even though I’m running greater distances. I’m race ready and hopefully able to get a great time. I’d love to achieve under 50 minutes for the first time and I honestly feel like I could do it now rather than limping to the finish line or not getting to enter at all!
“I don’t think we will ever cure it, but it is far more than manageable now whereas before I was finding it so difficult.
“Another pleasant effect is that I’m much calmer in my day-to-day life. I have quite a stressful job running my own business but I’m feeling much more relaxed, even when I have big decisions to make, I feel like l’m taking it all in my stride.
“I would absolutely recommend it to anyone experiencing chronic pain. It’s brilliant really.”
On Sunday 26th September, Damian lined up alongside 15,000 other runners and pounded the streets around Manchester totalling 10 kilometres.
“I’m not going to say it wasn’t tough,’ he said of the run, “but that’s more because the arthritis set back my training than because I was experiencing any pain. I had no problems with my toe, my foot or hamstrings, in fact I was pretty comfortable and managed a time of 55 minutes. Not my best, but it hasn’t been normal circumstances. I loved every minute of it and I can’t wait to get back into training. Come on 2022 – you’re mine!”
Damian has been taking Well lab Soothe, starting from just £39.99, one of a new range of CBD oils from Cheshire-based wellness firm, Well lab (www.welllab.co.uk/), designed to take a more targeted approach to addressing common ailments with CBD.
Well lab CBD combines high quality cannabidiol with terpenes and other ingredients that combine to become greater than the sum of their parts, harnessing the powerful entourage effect.
A spokesperson for the brand said: “Traditionally, CBD brands and buyers alike have focused on the strength or percentage of CBD per bottle, following the logic that a higher concentration equals a more effective solution. However, studies are now revealing the benefits of CBD taken in combination with other selected plant extracts (namely terpenes and herbs) which it’s believed can turbo charge the effectiveness of CBD. This is increasingly known as ‘the entourage effect’ and it has been the driving force behind the creation of our new range, designed specifically to exploit these powerful compound combinations.”
Well lab SOOTHE
Well lab’s SOOTHE CBD blend has been created to help people achieve better quality of life with effective relief from pain and inflammation.
Key terpenes included in this premium CBD oil include alpha and beta pinene, humulene and beta caryophyllene – all natural compounds that are believed to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic (painkilling) qualities. Limonene, another terpene associated with pain relief also helps to improve mood and reduce anxiety, it also gives the blend it’s refreshing orange flavour. Tumeric extract and black pepper herbs round off this product’s ingredients.
Well lab’s CBD products are made with broad-spectrum CBD distillate and available in various concentrations. Those who are unsure of which product would be most beneficial can use the brand’s product finder for a best recommendation: https://www.welllab.co.uk/product-finder/.
The Well lab range of CBD oils come complete with both a spray and pipette so that you can try and select your preferred delivery option.
