Manic Monkey

For the first time in a very, very long time my underlying mood has lifted beyond all recognition, I am mischievous, joking and laughing naturally at jokes, life and feeling generally well.The pessimist in me knows that it can not last long but the optimist asking me to enjoy it while I can and for as long as I can.

Today I had a load of marking to do with a deadline something that normally bothers me but I was fine, it had to be done. I also had planned a run in Shoreham, Kent to confirm a 10km route I had devised for a race in September and in the mood I was it was unbearable so halfway through my work I ducked out of the door with my Monkey Feet in my hand, some shorts and a t-shirt, even my Garmin GPS was having an airing to do some measuring and I was off with full permission of the Delightful Mrs S who was pleased to see me leave.

Arriving at Shoreham I leapt into the woods and bounced along the trails looking out for the local wildlife as is a regular sight to see Roe deer bouncing around the trees but my primary task was to visualise kilometre markers, marshalling points and taping requirements. I was in a world of races and running. I do love this mood, just going for it, leaping mud puddles, cavorting down grassed hills to a woodland trail, hauling my fat arse up a particularly difficult hill, viewing a hillside over the valley bedecked in poppies, cows staring suspiciously as I passed.

Today I loved my running, today I ran about a mile totally barefoot on pavement, today I dodged raindrops and managed to obtain version 1 of a 10km race.  

Drunken Monkey

The annual ritual of the Summer Solstice is celebrated by both of my running clubs, one with a 13 mile (21km) run on the North Downs, the other a gentle 5 mile run with two beer stops and a garden party. Due to domestic pressures I had to choose the latter as time was tight such that I could not get to the start on time to meet my old training partners George and Michael for a much missed catch up.

So ducking out of the door at 7.32pm I ran out to the club via the local woods with Rob who I had collected on the way. At the club we were split into various groups and sent on our way; tonight it was humid and the sweat soon ran off me but in the distance my first can of John Smith's awaited me, soon to be consumed amongst the 150 strong pack equally sharing a can or partaking in a soft drink. The whistle blown we regrouped to our respective packs and ran off with the promise of more about 2 miles up the road. I laugh now as I did then but I was asked to run the pack through the woods to the next beer stop but I know for sure I lost quite a few as I darted off to the next can of bitter which was taken at speed due to time constraints.

By now, the lack of food and two cans of bitter were working their wonders as I finished the delightfully chatty run at Mike's house for the annual awards ceremony where red and white wine, Pimms and the remainders of the beer flowed such that by 10.30pm I was feeling pretty well mullered for a Tuesday evening.

What to do whilst drunk

Do as I do and run 3 miles home cross country.....at least this year I took the easy route and didn't get lost in the woods! Running with quite a few drinks in the belly is best described as "Interesting" but the run in my Monkey Feet felt comfortable and found my mind drifting matters internal.

Matters aside, I was really interested to hear a view point from another runner tonight about me which was " I never see you without a head torch wrapped around your hand Jerry" It is pretty much true, I do.

1000 Monkey Miles

Slowly but surely the miles have been ticking up and up to finally hit the 1,000 mile mark.

Yes, tonight I celebrated the first 1,000 miles in my Monkey Feet and since I started using them haven't looked back. My running style has changed for the better, my feet wider, stronger, tougher and my calves like carved mahogany.

I have had my fair share of injuries with them ranging from bruised toes, knocked ankles and sore soles. Whilst I have had a few bumps and bruises so have my Monkey Feet with repairs to the toes and a small spilt in the uppers but compared to their more mainstream cushioned cousins have lasted twice the distance with half the wear and tear so in all, very impressive.

These shoes will have to have a few repairs to the toes in the coming days but let's see how many miles we can get out of my old friends.

Monkey Whisperer

As a lot of my Dear Readers will know my wife, the Delightful Mrs S, is not the greatest lover of my running expeditions. She is often heard moaning at me for mentioning my escapades, the stories of some of my fellow long distance runners or the fact my latest niggle is giving me some jip. This, I am afraid, is what goes with the territory of my beloved sport and one has to tread carefully both on the trail and around the Delightful Mrs S.

Let us look at the few days following the GUCR 2014, my feet still sore with a couple of blood blisters on the soles, 3 blackened nails and a small split in the sole, they were not pretty. Add to this a swollen knee and general lethargy that I come to expect but can deal with. Mrs S, whilst kind, took no real notice and let me get on with it, crutches and all, secretly I am grateful of this.

The telephone call

On Saturday the telephone rang and I picked it up

"Oh hi Jerry, Clare here, how are you?" [Clare is Mrs S's best friend]

"OK thanks, I am....." I was interrupted politely

"How are your feet, I was told you had really painful soles after you big race and your knee was swollen...."

"They are fine..." I was interrupted again.

"I was told you were on crutches, why do you do this to yourself?"

I got a word in edge ways.

"Mrs S must have been speaking to you about me, tell me more"

"Well she did mention something about your nails..."

 "Did she?"

A third voice entered the conversation coming from the sofa

"JEREMY!"

"What else did she say....?"

"She said that you hurt your........."

"JEREMY, GIVE ME THE PHONE NOW"

Handing over the phone to the Delightfully Exasperated Mrs S she strode off saying in a rather theatrical whisper "What did you say I said?........" 

It did make me smile to think that after all these years of stonewalling my running she secretly chats about it to her friend.

Beware of Poo-Flinging Monkeys

Training is back on the cards with 3 runs in the last 7 days to primarily see whether my legs and feet were recovered enough to carry on with a few long runs. The runs have not been long ones but Sunday just gone was a lovely one.

 Sunday

Meeting Duncan at about 8.30 am the two of us high-tailed it to Shoreham, Kent for a woodland trail run in our Monkey Feet. On the slopes of the valley this area is very tough, whilst not too technical, it does have it challenges from heavily rutted paths, muddy sections and chalky ascents that have your lungs burning. The temperature was about 21 C, which for few of my Equatorial readers is cold but us Brits like the Devil's Kitchen warming up to make scrambled eggs.

This run was about route planning for a future 10km race which I have been given the mysterious job title of "Course Consultant" and Duncan as a sub-contractor for his insight and amazing "second eyes".

So Sunday was 2 pairs of Monkey Feet, 1 pack of yapping terriers, 1 jumping stag, 2 beautiful views , 1 lovely lady rider and a bundle of laughs.

Tuesday

This was Club Night and still being careful I jumped in with  an easier group with the promise of a trail run in the woods and local nature reserve, a set piece route but nonetheless a  welcome one.

In my Monkey Feet I was finding certain sections quite hard as the Council has this habit of filling woodland trail holes with sub-base 1 which fine for the road is tough in minimalist shoes when not compressed. So with a few grumbles I padded over some sections and took on the hills knowing the fitness wouldn't return if I shied away.

The last mile arrived and we came to the lower section of the woods which as always remained waterlogged and muddy. The newer runners erring to the dry, rooted path, I to the centre of the track with mud flying left, right and centre... I loved it.

At Home

I was banished to the bathroom, it appears that the last trail was not only mud:

Some Monkey had been flinging Poo

I stank

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

...or why I hate running technology.

Don't get me wrong Dear Reader, I am a lover of technology, the freedom it provides and the perceived improvements to our lives but I only believe it has a place when it doesn't cause more problems than it was supposed to prevent in the first place.

Take my recent attempt on the Grand Union Canal Race, Gemma, Sam and I agreed that we should use the "Find a Friend" app on the ubiquitous iPhone everyone seems to have these days that would allow them to track me on my journey and at first worked brilliantly as they popped up at agreed locations at the right time with time to spare. The only problem is battery life and I seemed to be chewing through it such that we agreed to switch them off and then on again at agreed times to get a signal. It seemed to work, even if the support team had to run out to late night shopping emporiums to purchase chargers!

Tonight I was scanning through my iPhone when I noticed a VERY long video which was 12 minutes long! I have reduced this to just 48 seconds and loaded it to youTube to show its exciting content.... the rear view of my run, viewed through the netted containment of my race vest. This video no doubt chewing up my battery life but at the same time showing my ever consistent pace during the first 10 hours