2012 - A year in numbers

It appears that the tradition is now that runners post their annual mileage either on their blogs or Facebook, who am I to disappoint :-)

Here are my numbers at at glance which average out at 4.7 miles a day

I have run in 7 events ranging from 26.2 to 102 miles every race I have run has been either a personal best in that distance and have even run the furthest I have ever done in one go. I am quite proud of my road marathon PB of 3:42 as this was run with only 20 hours notice with little or no preparation. My longest run at the Thames Path 100 was not without drama when getting hypothermia in the final few miles when unexpected snow fall hit the field of play and I am so proud of the achievement having run it with just "Race Support".

Highest Month	225 miles
Lowest Month	59 miles	Mainly due to recovery)
Highest Week	110 miles	March (Week of TP100)
Mileage Total	1,720 miles

This is a dramatic drop from 2011 but so much has happened this year in both my work and private life that sometimes running has had to come second to some of the more important things in my life. One thing that did hamper my running was a serious bout of depression that hit me like a tonne of bricks in April and May this year which coincided with the aftermaths of the TP100 and a very stressful time at work with large hours being worked causing me to be exhausted physically but not enough for me attempt the GUCR again, I walked away from that at 96 miles but I was so pleased with my effort.

The next BIG thing that knocked the miles was working at the Olympic Games, a once in a lifetime opportunity, working with the Anti-Doping teams...every moment there was worth every mile lost through running.

Forget the numbers, 2012 has been a brilliant year for me having run and met up with so many like-minded people that I  can't wait until 2013 when I will get to meet them all over again.

Good Boy Drops

Wow...that was a windy run this morning! As per usual no plans for a route and with no set distance Liz and I set off from Knockholt church at a very comfortable pace both sniffing and coughing from recent infections. 

After a mile or so we seemed to have settled into a good pace and we began to chatter about our various Christmases totally unaware as to where we were going, I am often amused by Liz as she reads my signals as I scan around for a route and as ever saw a path off the road and by the looks of it not used by anyone for years.

 Jumping over the stile we navigated around the edge of a field, crossed a babbling stream and then towards some farmhouses, as we approached we were met by a beautiful little border terrier who seemed to think we were his long lost friends. Running up to us we spent a few moments chatting with him until he was met by another dog who then thought we were two playmates. 

Leaving our two new friends to be recalled by their owner who had just surfaced from a barn we waved a cheery goodbye and left by an incredibly muddy path and out onto the road. Pleased to find that I knew where we were a route was finally devised and we trudged off.

The recent heavy rains has caused a lot of water to settle on already sodden ground which is not helped by the downland chalk causing incredible amounts of surface water and mud. Drainage channels are now streams and overflow pits are full to the brim. Running was nigh on impossible in places but great strength and stamina work my Monkey Feet doing their best to stay on.

Back off road we had the scarp to climb and I was feeling sufficiently nimble to try and take it on however sneaky Liz had other plans and calling me she offered me a lovely chocolate covered chocolate toffee stating it was so I couldn't run up the hill unless I choked...I had been given a "Good Boy Drop" as would an owner a dog for good behaviour :-)

So to the top and near the car Liz was obviously on full alert as I sneaked up an embankment to join the North Downs Way and I was met by a stern "Not trying to sneak in a cheeky few extra miles are you Jerry?"

"No" I lied...bad doggy

Just as the shoes dry out

So just as the Monkey Feet dry out I receive a text telling me there is a run on for Saturday morning...luckily not a very early one but it looks like the North Downs are calling us. I am still not feeling 100% at the moment with an ever underlying tiredness and slight cough but if I keep the heart rate down and the effort steady I should be OK.

A decision for the morning is whether to keep my Vibrams in the house and just go out in ordinary trail shoes for the run as I have done quite a few miles in them recently and my feet may want a rest, after all I have the Fan Dance in 3 weeks time and I won't be able to race in them there.

Off now to think of a vague route for tomorrow

Night Run - Unhappy sheep in an unhappy field

There are Night Runs and there are Night Runs, tonight this was one of those.

My good ultrarunning buddy Rob had placed an Event on Facebook advertising a run from Knockholt Pound, Kent but has decided to call it NRG....Night Running Group (see what he has done there?eNeRGy!). Sadly I have been off the running since 19th December with a horrible chest infection, cough and high temperature, it was touch and go if I could go but left the decision to the very last moment to say YES.

The Delightful Mrs S was none too pleased when she saw me getting my kit together and sneaking some cough medicine packing a pair of gloves, then went into a frenzy when she saw me donning my VFFs.

Arriving at the RV point I met, Andy from my club with Rob and his two club mates George and Phillip all bedecked in full night kit and obviously experienced enough to get on with the run. The first 1km was an uphill road which joined the North Downs Ways which we were soon to join to find ourselves squealing and howling through ankle deep mud which was wet, cold and clingy. So now officially anointed we  ran over the top of the scarp and with almost comic timing we all started to tumble and totter as the wet mud tried to take us to the floor, none of us fell victim but it was a close thing my Monkey Feet were not up to this level of abuse. Then entering a new field we were met by hundreds of yellow eyes, all twinkling in the beams of our torches that soon dispersed....unhappy sheep in an unhappy field.

Reaching the road and the first bit of flat, Rob, who was run leader took off just a little too quickly for my tired lungs but I kept up realising that if this pace was to continue I would have to turn back and go at my own pace (this was my passing promise to Mrs S before I left) and so after another mile of seeing the guys another 100 yards ahead of me I chose my battle wisely and requested that they continue on without me and I would return from whence I came.

On the promise that I would text to say when I was safely back at the car I bimbled off, an amazing sense of relief came over me as I felt the pressure to perform removed.

I was in my element now, the place where I feel most comfortable in this sport as I trudged off at a gentle pace sucking in the air and savouring the path...later I was to wax lyrical on Facebook:

"... 

Pitch black darkness, wet, windy, cold, mud half way up my shins, stranded by myself on the North Downs Way with just my Monkey Feet to keep me company and 4 miles left to the car.....my perfect evening out has just finished.

..."

So returning past the unhappy sheep in their unhappy field I ran to the car alone, slipping, clambering and smiling to myself to savour the end of my training drout.

Out of Action

For the past few weeks I just feel as though I have been dodging people with coughs, sneezes and splutters, the office even put out disinfectant wipes and hand gel to help prevent norovirus (thankfully that is nowhere near me) I was doing well until yesterday when I awoke...runny nose and chesty cough clung to me which is now developing into a full bout of man-flu. Having fallen asleep on the sofa for 2 hours for the past 2 evenings I have done no running and looks to remain that way, that is unless I can get out on Sunday for the traditional Mince Pie Run in High Elms...let's hope I can get out.

Piston Broke

Last night was my running club's pre-Christmas drink which was to be held after our respective runs. Full permission was given by the Delightful Mrs S and I was seen to jump from the door with my Monkey Feet and a head torch as I planned to run through the woods as I was slightly late.

Runs went well but my feet were feeling it towards the end but was happy to hear that a large contingency were to descend on the pub. Let's just say that 2 hours drinking on an empty stomach and after running 9 miles does not blend well with good decision making! I was in a very jovial mood and left the pub feeling a little inebriated but chose to run through the local park in the dark but then I thought it a "good idea" to take a different route through it to then find I was lost!!!!!!

My inebriated state left my decision making somewhat to be desired but the trick I have learned in night running is to run the contour and follow the fence line, the trick in my woods is to find the railway line (usually by their noise) but being late at night hardly any trains were passing so by luck I found myself back on track arriving home at about 11.40pm....the Delightful Mrs S not looking very happy as I was muddy and sweaty needing a shower to clean off.

Lesson learned

Don't run the woods when pissed :-)

The old joke

Harry is fiddling under the bonnet of his car. A tramp walks by, stops, and looks at him. 'Piston broke,' explains Harry. 'Ah yes,' says the tramp. 'So am I.'

How I keep my feet warm

...in Vibram Five Fingers

9 Days Later

Sounds like the aftermath of a zombie invasion but really it has been 9 days and I have run my first 47 miles in my Vibram Five Fingers and can quite safely they are money well spent.

I am sure that I will be advised by many people that I have gone out too quickly, too far at first but I can assure you that I have done them with great thought first. Every time the shoes got put on I would do a few 100 yards and get a feel of how my legs and feet felt.

Last Monday, the day after 15 miles, my calves were indeed sore and the soles of my feet tender but I was to rest for two days and they were fine. In fact my legs are the biggest problem where different muscles are being used but by far the weirdest thing is that I have found I am running on the full width of my foot now and instead of just my big toe and the one next to it, all my toes providing a stronger push off!

A little disappointed that I have missed yrt another "long run" opportunity today but in a way, I am glad I have so that I can rest up and enjoy this period of minimalist running. I am planning to run more in running shoes next week first to get some longer miles in on the hills but also to rest by feet a little.

2+2 = 5

Freedom is the freedom to say that 2+2=4.If that is granted, all else follows.

George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four

Nothing to stop me

In recent times I have had to hot desk at work and have found myself gravitating towards a certain desk that faces West with a nondescript view from a dirty window. However in recent days the sunset has been glorious, deep blood orange with a creamy haze telling me there is ice in the air, I joke with my colleagues that we need to leave to find a hill and watch it for a few minutes and enjoy the moment but soon return to our mundane work and stare at  word-filled computer screens...I need to escape mundanity it is obvious.

At last I was able to put the latest problem to bed and I was seen leaping from my chair to get home to cook the evening meal to share with Jezzarette 2  and then get my Monkey Feet on and go for a cracking 8 mile run. Dressed in long-sleeved shirt, smock, my zip up jacket and Skins I jumped out of the door to run through the local streets with temperatures down to -2 C. Having sneaked my headtorch into my pocket it seemed inevitable that at some stage I was going to cut cross country but looking at the glistening pavements and frozen branches of trees decided woodland was a no no.....ankle twisting frozen mud awaited me there so chose to duck across common land where the temperature dropped dramatically such that I was soon pulling my Buff over my mouth and nose to stop the discomfort of the cold air on my lungs.

My feet slapping the cold tarmac as I concentrated on stopping the dreaded "heel strike" and I dodged frozen patches of water from broken street pipes. Tonight was a simple run but a contrast from the office and weak sunlight to a night-time run in the cold with my Monkey Feet was poles apart.

Listen to Everyone...

 follow Nobody, this has been my saying for many years and so I suppose this still stands true when it came to getting out in my new Five Finger Sport Treks. I was told take it easy at first and I did yesterday with a quick five miles (8km) on some light trail to come back grinning...I was going to enjoy these shoes.

Sunday's plan was to get up a little later than usual but this was soon forgotten when I rolled over to surface way beyond 10.00am, my run with HEROS now in the past. 

It was now later on in the day, we had shopped for presents and had returned home, the Delightful Mrs S ordered....yes, ordered me out of the door. Apparently I had all the tell tale signs of wanting to go for a run.

I grabbed my VFFs and informed the Delicious Mrs S that I had just bought them for my own present and instead of the obligatory:

1. What happens if you tread in dog poo? or
2. Don't stones hurt you? or
3. You look Stupid

I need a shave

I got "Won't your feet get cold?"....phew, I got away lightly so zoomed out of the house heading towards some mud. As soon as I was 100 yards down the road I heard a toot of a car horn and my neighbour Rob and wife Hazel stopped and teased me remorselessly about dog poo and stones, all good natured stuff.

The plan was to go for a run...and that was it, a vague route in my head but the ultimate result was to get to Duncan's house and show him my VFFs. After years of remorselessly teasing him, it was time to show I was a convert.

Listen to Everyone

KSO does not mean Keep Stuff Out

This was where I chose to ignore all the advice (I will suffer tomorrow I know) and whizzed off through mud, puddles and gravel paths. I was loving it, really, really loving it.

I soon found my way getting closer to Duncan's and saw he was in as the Christmas lights were flashing through the window and there were Disney cartoons on the TV.

Never in the history of runningkind have I ever seen somebody go from fully dressed and into running kit, windproof and holding a headtorch than Duncan when I mentioned a short run with him, I think it took 30 seconds I'm sure!

Follow Nobody

Me with 10 miles of running in my legs and Duncan like a rat up a drainpipe we were off with comments like "Point me to the mud".

Adding another 5 miles to my run, my pads feeling a tad sore we waved goodbye after a fantastic run together...two barefoot runners, Duncan the superior and more experienced, me secretly following him and getting tips on how to run.

Subversive Minimalist

OK Dear Reader... I know the regular readers will have got a hint, then  a retraction, but now you have a confirmation... I am now a fledgling Minimalist Runner.

This evening I was invited to a meeting at my College to see my new boss, the"Boss's Boss" and all the other lecturers I pass in the corridor to eat tuna rolls and drink table wine. I decided that I should mix work with pleasure, so on  my way I took a detour to the local Minimalist Runner's Emporium.

I found all the other skivers who must have done what I had done by sneaking out of work early thinking 5 O'clock on a Friday afternoon was "The best time to go"  VFF shoe shopping.....However I met a young lady assistant who was really helpful, she disappeared with my vague directions of "I am 8 in UK shoes, 26cm by paper measurement but happy to wear what is comfortable." to return with a box. By this time I had removed my shoes, made apologies to the lady next to me about my mismatching socks (green and orange), gnarled feet  and mention of my mate Duncan who I affectionately call "Monkey Feet".

Big Toe, Little Toe

The assistant was superb, "Big toe, little toe" she kept reminding me,as I shoved , pulled and wiggled into my new shoes and after a while I listened, Big Toe, Little Toe,  a squeeze of the toes by said assistant, a shuffle consisting of placing the big toe first and then in order to the little, a yank of a secondary toe by me  and I was in......left foot on. A  secondary attempt for the right and I was ready for the obligatory invitation on "Do you want a run outside Sir?"

I went off for a test run..........most runners do a 20 metre run......I enjoyed my run...and ran off  around the block instead of out and back. I heard myself say "Shoes may like the feet but the feet have to love the shoes"....my feet were in love. My helpful assistant was looking in the direction I had run off in and jumped out of her skin when I came from the opposite direction.

Then I mentioned my UKA Competition Licence and managed to negotiate a 10% discount, so shoes paid for, bagged and a cheery wave I was off to discuss "The Student Learning Experience", grading and "Why are there more vegetarian options when there are more meat eaters present?" the usual whinges of the academic staff. Then the wine flowed and an extra pint down the pub afterwards which soon saw me staggering slightly off the Charing Cross train station.

The temptation was too much

In my semi-drunk state I sat waiting for my train and my new VFFs were calling to me and so I ripped off my day shoes and went about the job of squeezing my feet in with the echo of "Big toe, little toe" ringing in my ears. I was in and happily walked around the station, the VFFs as comfortable as a pair of favourite slippers.

All I have to do now is run in them.

Fan Dance training starts

Click to enlarge

The plan this evening was:

1. Go for a run
2. Enjoy it

After that there was no plan although secretly I craved to have some "Me" time and just get lost in my own little world as frankly I had enough of people today and wanted to enjoy the solace of being by myself.

As soon as I stepped from the door I found the rain coming down and though that instead of trudging a set piece route why not do some hill reps...so I did. Running around the corner I went to a private road that has a steep 1:5 rise and  decided to do the following:

1. Run at 90% effort for 50m
2. Jog back
3. Run at 90% effort for 100m
4. Jog back
5. Repeat 25 times

Then carry on up to the top of the hill and take the long loop home, by repetition 20 my lungs were busting but I was feeling very strong leg-wise. Great  therapy tonight, loved the loneliness of the long distance runner.

I now have to do 2 sessions a week until the race so it looks like this is my Thursday training from now on with Sunday put aside for a full pack on the Downs.

Grooowl

Someone close the cage door before it is too late

I feel the Lion is at the cage door and am desperate to close it before it gets out, it must be that time of year as I am beginning to feel quite down. I caught myself with my face in my hands this morning deep in dark thoughts...need to snap out of it quick.

The problem with ultra-runners

The problem with ultra-runners is that they sometimes think they are indestructible or at least I do. Take Saturday's run, I felt great and wanted to go on and on, well for at least another 10 miles as the pace was there, the mindset was there....I was in the Zone.

Now Sunday, things were not great that day, I had family stuff to do and was happy to drop my run promising a good run on Monday and Tuesday.....so easy to say.

Monday

After doing some college marking I was mentally ready for a run and donned my kit, stepped from my door and immediately felt as though it was going to be a bad one but stuck it out thinking of the "Good to run on tired legs" but turned around after about 2km to trudge home, I just didn't feel right.

Tuesday

Surely Tuesday would be better and so I ran through the woods taken a longer detour as the river bank was muddy as hell and got to the club unscathed, chose my group and ran off with them and within 2km felt awful, legs ached, my guts were complaining and called it a day when the pack ran past the bottom of my road to see me sprint home and through the front door to the toilet where I was violently ill.

That explains it.....I am not indestructible, I am human and my body was telling me something I just couldn't hear it.

St Peter's Way Sweeper

I was minding my own business last night and happened to be on Twitter when I clicked a button I don't normally click called Direct Messages and saw I had received one back in 6th October from Lindley Chambers an incredible ultra-distance runner and now Race Director for Challenge Running asking if I wanted to be a Sweeper for the St Peters Way 45 mile race in February 2013, well you know me I wrote back and asked if the offer was still there.

I opened up Facebook today and read this:

Sweepers confirmed for the St Peters Way Ultra. Allan Rumbles and Jerry Smallwood, both awesome ultra runners. You will be well looked after by those two.

This promises to be a brilliant run with some great runners attending after some great write ups of Lindley's inaugural race the Stort 30 last month. I am really beginning to enjoy this idea of Sweeping and helping out the ultra-distance community

Eating on the run

This morning saw me do a very unusual thing of late....run on a Saturday morning but there was a plan for a 15 mile run afoot and I wanted to be part of it.

For some unknown reason I sprung from the bed at 6:06am 2 minutes before the alarm and was up and out of the house by 6:35am to meet four people from the running club, Liz, Karien, Eleanor and Emma. I had to be on my best behaviour today as I was the only man in the group but it proved to be a fun filled few hours with me taking a humungously stupid error on the route deciding to turn right for some unknown reason and then having to "make it up" for the next 3 miles looking for a convenient turn around to make it an out and back!!!!

However, at about 13 miles into the run the inevitable subject of food got brought up with the promise of bacon rolls and tea.....Liz and I knew there was a burger van about 0.5 miles ahead and our names were on the queue.

Let's just say the last mile was the slowest part of the run as we digested a beautiful bacon roll and brown/red sauce each....true food for long distance runners :-)

Back on the road

I have been a bit quiet since the Winter 100 and my report still waits in draft but the words won't come to such a wonderful run of mud, 70 mph winds and horizontal rain. I have tales of people with hypothermia and have tales of pals falling and dislocating their shoulders all in the name of sport....and still it sits there no more words to explain what an awesome night's running I had, slightly reduced by dealing with the dislocation incident of my mate David and our epic journey to go cross-country to a landmark so that an ambulance could get to him.

So after a short time from that 44 mile run I was out this evening to do a recovery run on the road but to do a few hill reps and what was supposed to be a few reps turned out to be just two very slow ones and a quicker ending back home.

Time to recover slightly as my right foot (which took a massive clump on Sunday) is a little sore still and my legs just need a another few hours before a planned 15 mile (22 km) run on Saturday morning

Winter 100 - The Aftermath

Wow, what an adventure! That is all I can think of saying so far so close after the event.

I will do a full report in due course of all the fun and games that went on including, hypothermia, dislocated shoulders, horizontal rain and gale force winds across the notorious Ridgeway. How Gemma and I had a fit of the giggles that kept us going along Grim's Ditch.

I was heard to scream at the top of my voice through the 50-70 mph gusts of wind that buffeted across the mud.

"HAVE YOU EVER FELT SO ALIVE?"

Gales and rain spread across the UK

Be prepared

Word from the course of Winter 100 race today tells us that there is flooding and course diversions in place....this is going to be an interesting night for navigating 50 miles through flood water!

Thames Path flooded

So now instead of running the Thames Path I have 50 miles of the Ridgeway....that is going to be an interesting one :-)

Ninja Sweeper

I was just doing kit check tonight for the Winter 100 just before my run and caught myself in the mirror.....I have a feeling nobody would want to meet me on the trails in the middle of the night, especially the back markers.

Ninja Jezza

Planning for W100 sweeping

Let's hope we don't meet

these buggers

It is about now in any race or event week that I start getting just that little bit more excited and today is no different.

On Saturday I will be Sweeping a 50 mile (80km) section of the Winter 100 foot race along a section of the River Thames and the Ridgeway. For those unaware of what the Ridgeway is, it an ancient track dating some 5,000 years that is 87 miles long, you may also remember I ran its length in 2010 and was the reason why I really wanted to extend my distances, the Ridgeway, as they say, got under my skin such that I may return in 2013.

Here comes the planning part, I love it, the kit prep, planning the train times the final run and the munching of snacks to get me "carbed up" I even caught myself checking the route from the station to the start.

On Thursday I am working from home due to some project work which gives me 2 hours extra in my day away from commuting so will take the opportunity to have a little cheeky maintenance run to freshen the legs up and remind them they have a job to do on Saturday night and burn off some carbs to get prepared for the event. 

Gemma and I have a different battle on our hands as whilst we are not running flat out we have to fight the elements which in itself is a challenge as we will get cool when our pace drops whilst he tag the slower runners but it is all good fun, I just need to check some pacing charts to keep us going.....plan, plan, plan :-)

Alcohol Free Zone

Yes Dear Reader, you heard it here first, I am off the cider!

The Delightful Mrs S and I had a long talk the other week with a little sole searching and we came to realise that I have (with the exception of the odd day or two here and there)  drink at least 2 pints of cider every evening and at the weekend possible an extra gin and tonic.I have done this for nigh on every day of my adult life.....time to stop as I didn't really need it, it was just habit.

Let's look at the facts

1 x 500ml pint of cider

Calories	280	Sodium	0 mg
Total Fat	0 g	Potassium	0 mg
Saturated	0 g	Total Carbs	0 g
Polyunsaturated	0 g	Dietary Fibre	0 g
Monounsaturated	0 g	Sugars	0 g
Trans	0 g	Protein	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Vitamin A	0%	Calcium	0%
Vitamin C	0%	Iron	0%

That is an incredible 560 calories a day or 3,920 per week...all empty calories with no benefit apart from making it hard work to break down and adding the odd gin and tonic it puts it well over 4,000 calories.

So last week I stopped the alcohol and immediately I am seeing the benefits, I sleep better, I awake more alert and most of all I AM LOSING WEIGHT! So far over 2 kg which is an added bonus including saving about £30 every week.....I'd call that win-win

PS I am allowed a couple of Friday evening BTW as a "treat" so it is not all abstinence ;-)

Through The Looking Glass

Sunday's run looked as if it was going to be a solo one until a last minute call from Liz and it was now to be two of us, I was somewhat relieved. I often smile at Liz's communications to me.

"Longest since Brussels is 9 miles but if not too fast can probably do 12-14 is far enough"

Liz obviously knows me too well as she hedges her bets knowing that 9 miles in her language will mean 14 miles in mine. So today we took to the trails of the North Downs to cover places called Otford, Greatness, Seal and my favourite strange name, Noah's Ark which totalled 14.5 miles on my GPS but 14.06 miles on hers all with no plan and no map.

The Downs were beautiful this morning and we were lucky enough to be on the valley floor of Darenth Valley as the sun popped up above the hillside to the East to  illuminate the mist covered paths and as we entered it we were met by this reminding of Alice Through the Looking Glass

 Extract from Through the Looking Glass

'How would you like to live in Looking-glass House, Kitty? I wonder if they'd give you milk in there? Perhaps Looking-glass milk isn't good to drink — But oh, Kitty! now we come to the passage. You can just see a little peep of the passage in Looking-glass House, if you leave the door of our drawing-room wide open: and it's very like our passage as far as you can see, only you know it may be quite different on beyond. Oh, Kitty! how nice it would be if we could only get through into Looking-glass House! I'm sure it's got, oh! such beautiful things in it! Let's pretend there's a way of getting through into it, somehow, Kitty. Let's pretend the glass has got all soft like gauze, so that we can get through. Why, it's turning into a sort of mist now, I declare! It'll be easy enough to get through'

Let's keep it simple

As some of you know I decided to have a go at barefoot running recently and so far it has been going well, as part of my journey I started to Blog my runs but away from my main one here as there is only a certain amount you want to read about how my calves hurt and changing gait (and frankly I wanted to write).

This bears true when I noted I hadn't really updated it in days and it was getting two visits a day and they were probably web bots! I have to be truthful, I wasn't promoting it and frankly the content a bit boring so I took great joy in deleting it tonight and will just add any anecdotes on this blog to be read by anyone who may be interested in my day to day rambles.

Sit tibi vita longa et omnia bona

The 7 P's

Remember the old adage Dear Reader?

 Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance

Training aside I have got to get my kit sorted and prepared for my run in Brecon Beacons and although 2 months away have spent part of the evening pulling waterproof trousers, shirts and space blankets from various cubbyholes to see what is actually worn out or still in a state of being worn in. 

"Why have you done this so early Jezza?"  I hear you shout at your screens, well it was caused by an email and then reminders via Facebook from Ken, the organiser of the Fan Dance, about how to prepare kit, pack and what equipment to wear and carry with me. Granted, I am not carrying the full Bergen but I am really listening to these guys as they have worked those hills over the years and listening to my father who also trained on them as a young man doing National Service, the Brecons have to be respected. Last year we were very lucky with the weather apart from the previous weeks rain.

So yes, I am doing the prep early as I was toying with the idea of carrying a full day pack and wear full body cover on part of the White Cliffs sweeping duties next week just to get the chance to prepare myself and my kit again

Black Toes, Socks and Shoes

Why is it always the seemingly innocuous bumps and scratches that always give me the biggest trouble? Take Sunday's run, a seemingly simple little stump of the toe turns out to be a slightly swollen toe that pressed against an already weakened toe nail causing it to lift off.

Black toes

"What is your problem Jezza, you always lose toe nail?" I hear you shout at your screen, a good question I reply but nails sometimes take a little while to come off letting the nail bed dry out however, this was a wet bed and I have had it swathed in plasters  until part of a nail shard was removed by me last night....it instantly dried out over night

Black shoes, black socks

So tonight was a well needed run but as is coming the norm these days, Thursday is barefoot night so it was on with the aquas and some old socks and I was off down the road which a bright and crispy evening. I felt I was clumping my heels for about 1 km but then without realising it I got into the swing of it and the knees were and I was feeling great such that I extended my run.

By the end of the run I have to admit my calves were feeling  a little sore but they feel OK at the moment but I know I will have some aches and pains tomorrow. I better not I have to do it all over again but this time with running shoes.

The Sweep is On

Got a nice email today from James Elson, the Race Director for Centurion Running, catching up with myself and three other runners, Duncan, Chaitan and Gemma who will be sweeping the Winter 100 mile race on 24^th November 2012. Some of you will remember that Gemma and I ran the Surrey Tops last year and had a cracking 25 mile training run in April this year so if she is fully recovered after her training camp this month we are going to have a great time catching up on the news, I really hope she is.

Duncan and Chaitan will be running a 25 mile section each and Gemma and I the middle 50 mile section, which on reflection is going to be a tough call but it will be slow towards the end as the hours will be long (5.30pm to 8.30pm) but we are going to be fine and I am really looking forward to it.

For those who want a reminder of a sweepers primary role:

1. To ensure the safety and accountability of the back of the packers. You must run with the cut offs, for a large part of the latter race this will be walking pace. 
2. To pick up any obvious race trash and deposit it at the aid stations.

North Downs shows her petticoat

An excuse to show a pretty lady

in a petticoat

This weekend was one of  many back to backs planned for my up and coming events just to get some toughness back in my legs. Saturday evening was a very simple, easy 10km run with no pressure so that I was ready for Sunday, my traipse through the local park at sunset told me that there was going to be a beautiful day in the morning as mist lay low to the ground.

An early start saw me pick George up from his house and us drive off to the Halstead and then take on a 17 mile trail run over and along the North Downs scarp. As we dodged over the M25 motorway me momentarily stopped on the bridge to look across to the South to see a glimpse of the North Downs' petticoat...fog and mist to us mere mortals but crossing over into the woods and looking into the Darenth Valley we could see the countryside looking vibrant in its autumn skirt with the long shadows pushing the mist from its cold grip. It is views across the valley like this that makes us stop in our tracks and just take in the glory that can only be found on the Downs.

Good toughy 17 miles today with no food intake and what amounted to about 200 mls of water, my doubts of the past few weeks disappearing as my new found confidence awakes. Roll on the Winter 100 sweeping duties at the end of the month.

GUCR 2013 is on

I am in a state of shock, literally in shock.

Having entered the Grand Union Canal Race 2013 ballot a few weeks ago I thought that with the new rules being put in place I wouldn't get in but as they say "You have to be in it to win it" and so expressed my interest to Dick Kearn, the organiser. Here is the time line:

1. 2^nd October 2012 -
   Expression of interest sent
2. 28^th October 2012
   Test message from Dick Kearn to all people expressing an interest
3. 28^th October 2012
   Terms & Conditions along with Pre-Entry notes from Dick
4. 1^st November 2012
   Entry Form sent to all runners expressing an interest
5. 7^th November 2012
   Reminder email received from Dick
6. 7^th November 2012
   Entry form sent

Then the wait!

 I am the first to admit that I had completely forgotten that the ballot was being pulled on 9th November until later on in the afternoon and on my return I discovered the GUCR Facebook page alight with gossip, chat and the usual banter and mickey taking from the usual gang. The draw was at 8.00pm and even the attendees were hushed into silence with even coded messages so subtle they could not be decoded.

Saturday morning

I traipsed down to the living room and picked up my Ipad and saw a message was flashed up on the screen from Naomi, an up and coming ultrarunner  via Twitter stating:

@UltraKent @ogeerunner Thanks for the lights advice, all totally new for me. Also, I see congratulations are in order for you both! :) #gucr

I was in a state of shock, three times in three years and I was in, a sudden feeling of dread then panic but most of all excitement and honestly didn't believe it until I had checked the GUCR website and Facebook to see a list of the usual suspects.

...I will let the dust settle and really crack into the training...I have a magical goal now

Lumps, bumps and hills

 A story of every runners nightmare....a foot injury!

Thursday's challenge, 

1. Get off the sofa
2. Get on aquas
3. Go running
4. Whilst there do some hill training

Each of these were to be done in the order shown but #4 was not mandatory but it was worth a try. So I went out sheepishly feeling the hard pavements below me thumping and bumping but pleased that my change in gait was adapting nicely such that it was all seemed to be midfoot strikes. Warmed up nicely over the first kilometre I ascended my first hill rep and once at the top decided that the feet and calves were feeling so went about doing 4 more repeats of the hill, lungs busting and feet grumbling a little so continued on to take on another hill down towards my house...but then disaster struck ...a horrible dull pain in the ball of my right foot. Doing like I always do, I ignored it and carried on to do another 3 kilometres to finish off the run.

Getting home I tentatively walked into the house, limping slightly ( more for effect than pain) and sat down in the kitchen to look at this latest "Career breaking injury" with visions of lumps, bumps and bruises! Pulling off my aqua I found that the insole had rucked up and created a crease which was causing the pain.

I feel a little silly now as my foot is fine!

GUCR - That time of year again!

The odds don't look good this for getting a place as the organiser has changed the ballot rules to give people who have missed out in previous years a better chance of getting a place which is a good thing but I would really love to get one last chance of going the distance.

So my application is in the ballot, let's see if I get a place. Good luck to all of you who have entered.