Latest news with #marathonRunner
The Sun
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I visited a British nudist beach for the first time and it was hilarious – now I'm hooked on being naked on holiday
DURING our recent heatwave, when UK temperatures hit a sizzling 34 degrees, I must have caught a touch of heatstroke, as I had this mad idea... I wanted to get naked. Publicly. In the throes of post-divorce life, I'm having, what I like to call, a midlife renaissance –not crisis! 6 6 6 This is presenting itself in the form of tattoos, endless trips abroad, and, ahem, a foray into naturism. Nude sunbathing is not just about thrill-seeking, it's also about reclaiming my body. Now in its 53rd year, my beautiful sack of sausage skin has housed three children – two at the same time, in fact – it has run marathons, climbed mountains, and suffered more than its fair share of debilitating hangovers, but so far (touch wood) it has never let me down. Nakedness is just one of the many things I'm enjoying about getting older. I grew up in seventies suburbia, when our bits and bobs were largely kept under wraps. I was twenty before I exposed my body publicly. It was a girls' holiday in Majorca '92 and still tipsy from the night before, my friends and I decided to go topless and I can remember how liberating and natural it felt. While thirty years later my pups aren't as pert as they used to be, but it doesn't mean that they don't deserve their time in the sun. Brigitte Bardot started the trend for topless sunbathing in 1958 on Pampelonne Beach in St Tropez. Lorraine presenter strips completely naked as she heads to UK's 'biggest naturist festival' Presumably ending up golden bronzed with no tan lines - seems like a great idea to me. A few years ago, I visited the same beach in France and topless bathing was still very much the norm, particularly amongst Gallic women my age. I was tempted to let the girls hang loose too, but my teenage son threatened to call the authorities. Since getting divorced, I have travelled around the world on my own and with friends. My kids are older now and prefer going to the beach with their mates. Luckily, I didn't have to travel as far to find my local nudist beach. As a Brighton girl, the naturist beach, which opened in August 1979 and was the first public nudist beach in the UK, was the butt ('scuse the pun) of many jokes growing up. 6 6 6 Naturism in Britain became popular in the seventies but British people still a bit stiff upper lip about flashing your bits in public. However, according to British Naturism, there are now 6.7 million naturists in the UK today. I keep this figure in mind when I take myself down to our nudey beach on a sunny afternoon. Walking towards the clothing-free zone, I start to feel a little nervous. What if I know someone? Or someone recognises me? Sandwiched between two 'normal' beaches, where children squeal and splash in the shallows, the clothing-free area is shielded by a bank of pebbles and has signposts warning bathers they're entering Brighton Naturist Beach. Peeking over the top of bank, I could see forty maybe fifty men and women of all ages sunbathing naked, bar the odd couple of ladies who were just topless. I take a furtive look around and casually wander over to a quiet spot and fling down my towel. I unclip the clasp of my bikini top, fling my arms in the manner of Barbara Windso r in Carry On Camping, and it drops on to the pebbles. I look around again, take a deep breath and then shimmy out of the bottoms. Of course, nobody bats an eyelid at this now naked, middle-aged, woman grinning like a Cheshire cat. Naturist etiquette means no staring, no pointing and certainly no photography. At first, I lie on my front and look around at everyone minding their own business, and enjoy the sun beating down on my bare bottom. It felt like I had joined a secret club. With no dress code. Being naked around other people is a strange but exciting sensation. I'm very aware of the cool pebbles imprinting their shapes on my bum cheeks the fresh salty air blowing around my lady parts –a blessing in this heat. Far from feeling vulnerable, I feel safe, relaxed and I'm only sorry I haven't tried it out sooner. Relaxing further, I start reading my book and soon forget that I'm lying stark naked on my local beach. Now feeling cocky – again, do excuse the pun – I saunter down to the waters edge for a little dip in the briny sea. This is the moment when I became a fully committed nudist. Swimming in sea as nature intended is easily the most fun you can have with your clothes off. Well, almost... I have never felt more free. In fact, even when the summer is over and I can't tan with my top off, I am planning to come back for more naked dips. Just me and the sea, there is nothing like it. Turns out, my new appreciation for social nudity has arrived just in time. This summer, thousands of people across the the UK will be dropping trow for the Great British Skinny Dip, a campaign by British Naturism to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. There are 500 or so events happening all summer and all over the country, so beware, a certain naked divorcee could be coming to a city or beach near you soon. Five of the best beaches in the UK to get starkers on the sand Go natural with the naturists. The UK beaches to bare all without blushing this summer Studland Bay, Dorset Officially, Britain's most popular naturist beach with wide sandy plains and lots of space to spread out. Park at the Knoll Beach car park before an easy hike along the half-mile beach until you reach the National Trust boundary informing visitors that 'naturists may be seen beyond this point'. The Strangles, Cornwall This naturist beach is perhaps the most beautiful in the UK. It's so secluded it was once used by smugglers, making it ideal for shy first-time nudists. The shoreline has large rock pools to cool off in, but open-water swimming is not recommended due to the strong tide. Park near the National Trust farm of Trevigue. Then, it's a walk down to the well-signed beach. Brighton beach, Brighton One of Britain's oldest and most popular nude beaches is also the most accessible, only a mile walk east of the famous Brighton Palace Pier. Brighton made a little bit of seaside history on 1 April 1980 when it opened its naturist beach - the first public naturist beach in the UK. Signs are provided to indicate where the naturist beach commences and large banks of pebbles shield you from the general public. Druridge Bay, Northumberland Each autumn equinox, Druridge Bay hosts the annual North East Skinny Dip, with more than 100 participants. The dune-backed sands are beautiful and offer privacy, so are well-loved by naturists. Park at the National Trust car park then hike towards Chevington Burn, a shallow waterway that crosses the broad beach. Dyffryn, Gwynedd This is a long sandy beach with easy access but can get windy on a blustery day, so many sunbathers bring a windbreaker for added protection and privacy. Linked to the Morfa Dyffryn National Nature Reserve, the sea here is clean and safe, so a popular spot for naked swimming.
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Runner baffles doctors by curing his cancer without drugs or surgery - using an unconventional method
A 103-year-old marathon runner claims he halted the spread of his cancer with a radical diet overhaul. Mike Fremont, from Cincinnati, Ohio, went against doctors' advice and rejected drugs and surgery when he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at age 69. Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic told him the disease would kill him within three months unless he began chemotherapy and radiotherapy, followed by surgery to remove the main tumor. At that point, the cancer had already spread to his lymph nodes — a stage known as metastasis — when the disease is still potentially curable, but at high risk of becoming terminal. Typically, doctors use drugs to shrink the tumor so it can be surgically removed. But instead of opting for proven treatments, Fremont switched to a strict vegan diet centered on whole foods like sweet and white potatoes (without oil), tofu, leafy greens, legumes, vegetables, fruit, and non-dairy milks. He claims the plant-based lifestyle cured his metastases. Two years later, he underwent surgery to remove the tumor and says he has been cancer-free ever since. But doctors remain fiercely skeptical, warning that even the strictest vegan diet cannot replace chemotherapy or immunotherapy. 'While a healthy diet plays a supportive role in cancer care, doctors argue it must be combined with medical treatments. Nutrition alone cannot eliminate cancer.' Cancer experts previously told the Daily Mail they are seeing a 'concerning' rise of patients using controversial treatments. A 2023 study found 70 percent of cancer patients use alternative medicine, one in three of that share use it as their sole method of treatment and 27 percent hid it from their oncologists. Dr Heber added: 'A nutritious diet should be used along with proper treatments in cancer patients, but diet alone absolutely cannot cure cancer.' Around 75 percent of colorectal cancer patients will be alive five years after their diagnosis with treatment. Without treatment, survival rates drop to just 44 percent after three years, making medical intervention absolutely crucial. A former Yale University wrestler, Fremont had been an avid runner since the 70s when he was grieving the death of his wife. His first of more than a dozen marathons was the 1972 Boston Marathon. At 103, the retired engineer and climate activist still holds multiple world records as the fastest marathoner in the 88, 90, and 91-year-old age categories. That's why it was so shocking when Fremont got the world-upending news in 1991. He said: 'I contracted a cancer which the Cleveland Clinic said would kill me in 3 months unless operated upon. 'I said no, I was going on a diet! 'The tumor had metastasized into my lymphatic system and would have required efforts to treat the metastases with radiation and/or chemotherapy.' Two years later he underwent an operation to remove the tumor from his colon when it began to bleed. After the procedure, doctors checked for cancer spread in 35 places around Fremont's body, he said, and found zero signs of cancer spread to other parts of the body. Fremont believes that his stellar health and advanced age are primarily due to his habits, rather than genetics. His father died of liver cancer, and his mother of a heart attack. He said: 'The results of the diet have been perfect and it has been since that diet that all my world records have come about as well as such distinction in the US.' And he doesn't plan on slowing down. 'My route is 5 miles long, through a scenic park near Cincinnati with mixed surface, lots of hills,' he said. 'The first mile is at my maximum speed, the other four under pressure to run fast. I resolved at age 98 to run 5 miles rather than 10, but to do it at speed.' Fremont has always followed a disciplined fitness plan, saying he runs five miles three times a week and incorporating push-ups and pull-ups. A typical day of eating for Fremont begins with oatmeal, syrup, and blueberries for breakfast. Lunch consists of beans, while dinner includes broccoli florets topped with ketchup. Fremont also lives a low-stress lifestyle, using exercise as a form of emotional release. He also does not drink or smoke. His healthy lifestyle has been shown to prevent cancer and its recurrence. Research has shown that a structured exercise program for stage II and III colon cancer patients reduced recurrence by 28 percent, lowered mortality risk by 37 percent over eight years, and showed benefits with just 1.5 to 2.25 hours of brisk walking weekly. Focusing on whole, unprocessed plant foods increases the amount of beneficial nutrients and compounds taken in that help reduce inflammation, a key factor in cancer development. Additionally, these dietary choices can support healthy weight, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar control, all of which contribute to a lower cancer risk But there is no concrete evidence diet alone can reverse cancer.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
I thought I had a common hangover symptom - it was actually TWO deadly brain tumours
A Yorkshire man who is terminally ill with two brain tumours completed the London Marathon in an astonishing three hours and 16 minutes, less than a year after he lost the ability to walk. George Wade, 41, from Thirsk in Yorkshire, was diagnosed with two cancerous growths in April last year, after suffering a series of symptoms which he initially ignored. The first sign was a severe headache, which came on one morning while driving back from a boozy weekend in Cheltenham. Oddly, he found that looking at the car headlights made him feel sick. 'I just thought it was like a huge hangover from Cheltenham and knackering myself out,' he said. But within a month, Mr Wade began experiencing stroke-like symptoms, such as the left side of his face and body becoming weak and drooping. He phoned his GP brother-in-law who reassured him about the episode and arranged for him to have blood and eye tests, which came back clear. He was booked in for a precautionary MRI scan on April 18, three days before he was due to run the Blackpool Marathon. There are more than 120 different types of brain tumours meaning the symptoms vary a lot. Hearing voices, losing interest in hobbies, forgetfulness, blurry vision and growth spurts especially in the hands and feet are all warning signs of a brain tumour 'As soon as they pulled me out at the end, the whole body language of the nurses seemed different,' he said. He was told a consultant would see him, and during the five-minute wait he began accepting the idea of being diagnosed with a brain tumour. But when he found out he had two tumours he felt hopeless. Mr Wade was diagnosed with two astrocytoma tumours, which are often aggressive. One was classified as grade four—the size of a tennis ball—and another was a golf ball-sized growth in the middle of his brain. 'Weirdly in my head, one would have been OK,' he said. 'But two … I just thought, I'm done. You know, if you've got two brain tumours, surely you just die.' Doctors told Mr Wade he might have had the tumours for up to 20 years and his symptoms were caused when his brain 'eventually just ran out of space'. He was referred to UCL Hospital in London's Queen's Square and started having video calls about treatment by the end of the week. Leading up to his surgery, doctors prescribed steroids to reduce inflammation in his brain, but they caused him to experience mania and paranoia when he was in hospital, resulting in him being held on a psychiatric ward for four days. In June, Mr Wade underwent an eight-hour surgery to remove his larger tumour and subsequently had to undergo another two-hour procedure to treat a bleed on the brain. When he woke up from surgery, Mr Wade said he could not open his left hand or walk properly, so had to work with physiotherapists to regain his movement. Re-learning to walk on his own made Mr Wade feel like running a marathon was a 'million miles away,' but he was able to walk within two days and run within a month. In July he started chemotherapy, taking temozolomide pills once a month for six months. But in the same month he developed an eye infection due to fluid leaking from his head, and underwent yet more surgery to treat it, as well as eight rounds of antibiotics. Today, he still being treated for a recurring skin infection and month have scans every three months. While doctors say his condition is 'life-limiting', they aren't sure on a firm prognosis. Despite this, he feels 'incredibly fit and healthy'. So much so that Mr Wade completed the London Marathon this year in record time, in aid of the National Brain Appeal, just two months after his final surgery. He said: 'I kind of thought I was fit enough to get a personal best. So I was really pleased that it all went well and was my fastest ever marathon.' 'I love a challenge, and I love a battle. One: I'm 41 and super fit, and two: I'm determined and we're going to battle through it,' he added.
