Getting there slowly

Today I feel like Seth Brundle as he slowly transformed into the Brundle Fly after his teleport accident.

We are slowly coming to the end of the training plan George and I devised in November last year and it is soon to see our mileage drop to transition mileage so this is the last big push apart from the worry of injury. We were both grumbling and moaning quietly to ourselves on Friday's runs as the niggles and strains kept reminding us they were there.

When I got back on Friday I looked at my feet to discover:

1. Dried out old blisters are now peeling on both balls,
2. My weakened toenail catching (now completely fallen off) ,
3. My right calf has a strained area
4. My buttock still feels tight with a slight pull

So after a worrying phone conversation this evening George and I have decided to drive out to the North Downs and just go for a shorter run of about 18 miles but monitor our various injuries very carefully and may just walk parts of it....Mrs S is not too happy about this decision!

Best pre-race instructions ever

I received an email from Dick Kearn, the organiser of the Grand Union Canal Run, yesterday telling us we had just 2 days to decide whether we can run in 4 weeks time after that we would not get a refund. We were informed of what would happen if we did not wear our number to the front:

"... If anyone should waste my time by trying to argue the case for wearing a number other than described above, they will be shot and their body dumped in the canal... "

Oohh eeerrr we have been warned :-)

Biggest Month Ever

Slowly but surely the training mileage has been increasing and I can happily report that I have just completed my biggest ever monthly distance since I started running again 4 years ago, the princely sum of 261.9 miles.

That month of runs contained 3 ultradistance runs of 62.3, 52.4 and 31 miles which make up over half the total distance for the month.

I have to say though that this morning's run was very hard and it was obvious in both George and my demeanour and pace as we battled through a joint 16.2 mile trail and road run, both of us very tired and we secretly agreed that last weeks 31 miler probably took out a little bit more than we were happy to confess.

Fear not dear reader we are still very mentally strong but have to be mindful that we are carrying slight niggles and old injuries that need to be worked on, George, his ankle and me with a sore calf and buttock, let's hope the reduced mileage in the next few weeks will soothe them.

Timekeeper

Big day on Friday with quite a lot going on in my running world; I will be up at ~5.00am in view of meeting up with George at 6.00am for a 3 hour run. The run is as usual unplanned but I guess we will run out for 1:30 hours and then turn around and come back to the start.

The reason I have to be back in the area by 9.00am is because my running club is holding its annual 10km road race for members only and it promises to be a very competitive event as there are some very good runners who have recently joined and it could be all "push and elbows".

As I am in the last throws of my training plans for the Grand Union Canal Run I don't trust myself in races like this as I will race them...not win but will race and that is where I may get an injury. So I volunteered as a helper for the event and have been given the job of Timer setting them off and then writing up positions for scoring. I am looking forward to it but it is a bit stressful getting it all correct as it is a prize winning event...bring it on.

So food box packed, homemade sports drinks ready, warm clothes and OMM smock packed ready for the off.

And all I ask is a tall ship

... and a star to steer her by

This morning I received an email from my training buddy, George, informing me that he wanted to get some real mileage in this week as we were nearing the GUCR and suggested we ran this evening. To tell you the truth, if it had not been for that email I would have happily remained on the sofa and watched the rest of the Star Trek film showing for the umpteenth time.

So I was off out, all kitted and ready to meet at 8.00pm for a 12-13 mile run, no plans in mind apart from running on the trails for as longs as it was light. The route was best described as ad hoc and had we planned it would have returned to our meeting place and gone our seperate ways. However, we soon realised it was getting very late so we decided to cut through an open park area and then I went into Geek mode as I pointed out to George the best way to find the Pole Star using the Moon and the Big Dipper as a guide, surprisingly simple, but I sometimes sense that George often politely listens to my whitterings and mini-lessons. It was then we realised we were not alone in the park area as about 30 yards away were a couple enjoying the solitude of the park and their own company and must have been flabberghasted when two blokes run through giving the other a lecture on stellar navigation...let's hope they learnt something :-)

Sea-Fever

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

By John Masefield (1878-1967).
(English Poet Laureate, 1930-1967.)

Frustrated

I am feeling quite irritable after my run tonight, I left the house to run to the club feeling sore and tight in the legs and then decided to run with my normal group who were going to do a 6-7 mile run some off road and then back to the club house.

About 4-5 miles into the latter of the runs I started to get some reall y quite harsh stomach cramps but thought I could get back OK as long as I was careful but they started to get stronger and knew I was not going to make it to the club house without an accident. If I was by myself I would have jumped into the bushes but alas we were in a built up surburban area so no chance of that.

Shouting my farewells I ducked down a side road and hobbled back home to arrive just in time. Afterwards I was tempted to go out just for a couple of miles around the block but thought that there was no point as I was cooling down fast. Now I think it may have not done anything physically for me but it would have been good for me mentally but the moment has gone now and I suppose I can do 12 miles instead tomorrow evening....grumble, mumble, moan

Even Mules Smile

1. 40 into a 52.4 mile run
   
2. 6.00 am and the dawn arrives
   
3. A quick carb gel
4. A joke amongst friends

A quick snapshot in time during David's 4 marathons in 24 hours challenge last weekend, brilliant memories.

Easter Day Run

There was a busy day planned of running and visiting today so the day's run was to be a short affair with friends from my club.

The initial question was why I had my backpack with me and the simple answer was I had 2 litres of water in there, not to drink, but to mimic a full pack in preparation for the Grand Union Canal Run, jeez it is getting serious now!

I had advertised that I had a 10 mile route (oops it was 11 miles sorry guys) that would take us on mostly trail and woodland path for most of the way. Meeting at 8.25 am we were soon running off on a lovely run through some local woods even at this time the heat of the day was pushing the temperature up. I do like these runs as it gives people who do not usually go off road to train have a go and get a mud in their socks.

So as soon as it started it finished one of those runs that was full of laughter, chatter and squeals as we ran headlong into stinging nettle patches!

Foot Note:
I planned to have a shorter 10km run in the evening but chose not when I realised that in the past 8 days I have run 105 miles! I am a little sore at the moment and honestly don't think it would have made a blind bit of notice so I am resting up with a nice cup of tea and will probably go out tomorrow.

Trail word of the Day

peregrinate, verb:

1. To travel or journey, especially to walk on foot.
2. To travel or walk over; traverse.

Yazoo

My secret weapon on runs over 6 hours is milkshake, preferably banana flavour. The trouble is that finding it in small bottles in banana flavour is really difficult so imagine my relief when I went to the local Pound Shop and saw banana flavoured Yazoo milkshake piled high to the ceiling.

So I am now stocked up with 9 bottles of Yazoo for the princely sum of £3.00 and the only thing that stopped me buying more was the sell by date but at least I know where they are now

Hot Cross Run

What a great run this morning, simple as that!

The day started at 5.15 am and after grabbing a cup of coffee I got my kit on and was out of the house by 5.40 am for a very slow and steady jog to meet George at exactly 6.00 am. The morning was glorious with a fine mist across the landscape spilling through the trees in the wood and the dawn chorus louder than my footsteps falling on the damp ground.

The briefing I received from George was it had to be greater than 26.2 miles and so I had in mind a run that was about 28 miles but had only mapped it to 24 miles so that we could decide the route home from the North Downs on the fly.

The route we were to take was made up of a number of well trodden paths we have made over the years but as the distance was that little bit longer than normal they were connected together with short distances of about 1 mile. The speed as usual was the set 5 mph we set ourselves for these long runs and we covered the ground well but as the time went on it soon became apparent that that it was getting very hot as the mist burnt off and where we were drinking small amounts we were soon looking for sources of water such as church taps and garage hose pipes.

There was a sense that "mad dogs and English men go out in the midday sun" and we were setting ourselves a goal to get back before 12 noon which we just about managed to do as we departed from our usual meeting point both feeling tired but happy from the run.

I left George to get home and as I entered the last 3/4 mile I heard my name been shouted and looking around I saw it was my good friend Brian a fantastic runner who has run many an ultradistance run, almost inspirational and capable athlete in his time. I took a thankful break in the shade of an old tree to catch up on the news but water was low and it was getting hotter so I said my farewells to arrive home having done a wonderful 50km run.

In Case of Emergency - I.C.E

A very sad story was reported in a South London newspaper today about a runner who collapsed and died on Blackheath on Tuesday 19th April. What makes it so poignant is this was the start of the Virgin London Marathon just two days before.

What makes it even more sad is nobody knows who the runner is as he was carrying no name and address details or a mobile phone so pleas have been made to the public who may know him.

I have always been very mindful of carrying identification but normally do this in the form of my mobile phone and prefix my wife's and my home telephone number with the letters I.C.E (In Case of Emergency). Here in the UK it is a recognised method for an emergency worker from the Police, Ambulance or Fire Brigade to notify and get information from a next of kin. So with this sad story it is a good reminder for all runners/walkers/cyclists to carry I.C.E information whenever you step out on the streets, even for short distances

Full story here

End of season drink up

It was quite good fun yesterday at my running club when it was announced that we were starting 30 minutes earlier than normal so that we could get an hours run in and then get to the local pub for a few pints to celebrate end of marathon season. A very large proportion of runners had run either the Brighton or the London Marathon, some for the first time and they deserved a good drink to celebrate.

I chose to run with a slow group as I just wanted to stretch my legs after my double marathon on the weekend and was thankful for the gentle pace. Having run to the club and then a nice off road run with old friends I dried off and put a clean shirt on and then joined the gang in the pub.

It was really good fun listening to the exploits of the marathon runners, their highs and the lows at 18 miles, the aches, the pains and the joy of finishing in one piece. I was enjoying it so much that I think I may have just one cider too many and still had to get home.

In my relaxed state I remember I still had my headtorch in my backpack and doing what I know best went home cross country in the dark!!!

Wish you were here

So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have you found? The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

Why do you never get injured?

That is a classic question I get asked on a regular basis, it joins the other one that long distance runners are asked on a weekly basis of "Doesn't it hurt your knees?"

Let's forget the second question for the moment and let me focus on the subject of this post.

Why do you never get injured Jerry?
The simple answer Dear Reader is I do get injured you just have to click the label on the right of this page and you will see Injury appears over 20 times! The common theme is injuries to my feet the very thing that keeps me going, these injuries are normally where I have stumped a toe, whacked a metatarsal or yanked a tendon on a run.

I was asked this very question last week on a Sunday morning run when I saw a friend yanking and stretching his knackered achilles tendon and I blurted out that I was continually training and a large number of injuries are caused unnecessarily by ill-informed 12 week marathon programmes or people so fixated on "The Plan" that they don't listen to their bodies. There is a fixation about getting a PB when indeed there should be a concentration of getting to the start of the race fully prepared and not carrying an injury. Not every run is a race.

I will probably make some people's blood boil writing this but I will say I have been very lucky considering the number of miles I run and the trips and stumbles I have had.

So why do I get injured Jerry?
Is the follow up question; well this is a very difficult question and I am sure the are many physiotherapist out there who will give you a much more authorative answer as there are so many reasons. It can body build, your genetics and sometimes just the way you run. Sit back one day in the park and watch the runners go by noticing that there are as many running styles as there are people, now go to the London Marathon, note the elite runners and how they all seem to run in the same style, is this the secret?

Then look at me and my bizarre running style, feet hardly lift off the ground, power coming from the calves, a ridgedly straight back and stomach stickng out. No way have I the perfect running style but it works for my body type and running style.

I think the simplest answer so far is that I have been very lucky but my training has been a slow, steady progression of Easy and Tempo runs with the odd race to keep the spirit.

By the way I am carrying an injury at the moment! I have a swollen foot from the weekend's 52 miler which has been caused by the pounding of the hard, cracked concrete pavements of Londinium...gggrrrrr

4 marathons in 24 - Report

It was with great pleasure that I accepted the job of Support Runner for my good ultrarunning buddy David Hegarty who has run a lot of the longer challenges I have over the past few years. David is an avid supporter of the Shooting Stars Chase charity and each year has run a bigger challenge which I have run in:-

• London to Brighton(2009)
• Ridgeway(2010)
• 4 x Marathons in 24 hours (2011)

As I had run the challenges he had It was an honour to be asked to be his "Mule" for the night. It was planned at one stage that there would be different runners on the first 3 legs but David with most great plans of Mice and Men the second stage runner pulled out due to injury so I stepped in to run 2 stages totalling 52.4 miles!

At Greenwich

I arrived at about 9.00pm to await the arrival of David who was currently on the course and was pleased to see that Rob, the other support team member, had already arrived with fresh clothing for David. Rob, another hero of ours had broken his leg in 3 places at Christmas and wasn't expected to walk until April ended up running 27.2 miles that evening!

At 9.50pm, in the distance, we saw David trudging up the road looking strong and able. After about 15 minutes turn around where David checked his feet, filled up his bladder with fluids and changed his shirt we were off into the night.

David, Rob and I had some catching up to do so there was some banter as we started to hit out at the miles using the VLM mile posts as our guide and I was amazed how we churned out 10 minute miles consistently (and exactly) for 7 miles. David had reached his first 50km so it was time to walk and give his running muscles a rest.

Do not be deceived by stories that London is a pleasant place to be at all hours, the VLM route takes you through some of the tougher parts of town and you have to be on your toes and respect the locals if you are to tread on their turf. There were drunks on the pavement, tough looking characters in the shadows and prostitutes with their pimps plying their trade.

The mileage started to be eaten away, David looking strong as we took on the north part of the course watching our pace and then I heard the beep of my phone, it was Rob who sugegsted that he call the comfort break forward as he was tired and had to support other friends early in the morning...we welcomed this so at about 2.00am we had a pit stop with a change of clothes for David and Rob, clucking around us ensuring we drank fluids, ate loads and wiped ourselves down. With that we bid our farewells thankful for Rob's brilliant assistance. Plodding on we soon found ourselves below the Houses of Parliament and entering Bird Cage Walk to join the Mall to see the course Finish line, alas, even though I asked nicely we were not allowed to run through the finish but were happy to run down the side to claim the first 26.2 miles and the chance for David and I to eat, drink and complete our run admin.

The Mall to Greenwich

This is where things go slightly blurred as both of us battled the sleep monster and dug in hard to eat away the miles, we both agreed later that the worst point for us was passing Tower Bridge AGAIN, for David it was his fifth time and for me the third, it was hard enough for me, it must have been hell for David.

We battled our way through the east of the course and by this time, the sun was beginning to rise in the East and the course became busy with staff and organisers putting up balloon curtains and sponsors banners. This extra stimulation raised our moods as we were able to call and have banter with the workmen. At last Tower Bridge was in our sights and the mear fact of crossing it must have worked wonders on David as his pace became more steady and the discussion of a sweet cup of hot tea was raised...the hunt was on.

The run continued, the mental strength that David was showing was incredible, our conversation had returned as our bodies awoke with the rising sun. By now the roads were being closed and support stewards were taking up position and we took strength from chatting the staff on the road blocks and staff at the drink stations. Fluids were running short so I went into uber-scrounge mode blagging drinks from the staff and also a space blanket for David to wear at the end before his final run to the Mall.

A welcome sight

At Greenwich I saw a member of support staff with a cup of tea and shouting out where he got it we were guided to an oasis called the Cutty Sark Cafe & Restaurant who for some reason gave me 3 cups of tea so we gave one away. We took great joy of strolling along Romney Road sipping sweet, hot tea. This appeared to put in new life to our bodies as we moved onwards and forwards the mood getting better when David had a call from his wife and I from a club mate finding out where we were. A few minutes later 3 friends, Martin, Helen and Michael cycled along the road, they were the Sector Management team and it was just great to see people we knew and have a chat.

We then battled on along towards the Start, and as we turned the corner we saw the hot air balloons and crowds of people ready to run, it was a carnival.

David and I ran the last section to pass Red Start and then we moved on to the RV Point to allow David to clean up, get a new shirt on and to air his mile weary feet.

With that, it was over as quickly as it started, I shook David's hand, my job done and wishing him fairwell left him to complete his adventure. A brilliant run, with fantastic company and one I was really proud to be part of.

One down, one to go

This is David and myself at the finish of the London Marathon (The Mall) at about 3.30 am on Sunday morning. This was part of his bid to run 4 marathons in 24 hours along the route of the VLM.

I was acting as his "Mule" for the run and at this point he had run 2 marathons and I had just completed my first. Both were feeling really good at this point as both had just passed our alloted half way stages. All I had to do now was deliver David the Red Start of the VLM by 9.00 am so that he could finish the run with the other 35,000 runners... would we do it dear reader?

Thought of the day

“We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented.”

The Truman Show (1998)

Belly Buster

It appears a new tradition has found a way into my life, the pre-event last meal at the cafe down the road from my office. I even left for lunch early today as I was absolutely ravenous, probably a little too ravenous!

Stepping into the cafe I grabbed a table and a large mug of hot tea was thrust in front of me and sat back to watch the World go by as I chose my meal.

"Two sausages, chips with bubble and squeak please?" I blurted, the cafe lady looked at me in surprise and said "You sure you want both love?" to which I said I did.

Then it was my turn to be surprised the plate was placed in front of me and the portions were ENORMOUS, it was piled high and over the sides. A couple of colleagues grinned over their newspapers and commented "Well she did ask if you were sure Jerry"

Not to be beaten I tucked into my meal in true ultrarunner style and ate, not to fast just right and at a consistent pace, mouthful after mouthful, I completed it but it was a tough end!

So for the rest of the afternoon I sat at my desk ,belly plopping over my trousers and battled hard to keep my eyes open fighting torpor....that is until I got on the train this evening and slept like a baby :-)

Time to eat

I got home this evening and after a my meal soon found I was beginning to bounce off the walls and was very restless so I decided to go for a very easy 10km run on my set piece route. I promised myself that I would take it very, very easy but that was easier said then done!

Running up the road I soon found that the recent reduction in mileage was paying dividends to my speed and had to pull myself up and slow down when I found I was going at 7.30 min/mile pace on what was supposed to be a slow, easy run. This continued on and off for part of the run until I made a point of just focussing on a gentle pace.

I got back in one piece, legs suitably exercised and reminded what they have to do so the carb-loading for Saturday's double marathon commences on Friday for what promises to be an epic run, I can't wait.

In the dog house again

I don't seem to be out of the dog house for very long these days before I am back in it again!

It has just dawned on the darling Mrs S what I am up to this weekend even though it is mentioned ever so often and the general plan of action. It is a well known condition that partners of long distance runners suffer from which causes them temporary deafness whenever running events or plans are mentioned or in some cases a form of Tourette's syndrome when they often start shouting about the waste of another weekend!

So the plan is for Mrs S to drop me off at Greenwich Park at about 8.45 pm on Saturday and to leave me to my own devises but she was a little taken aback when I told her I would get the train back as somehow the idea of that extra 10kms home from the end is just a little too much for a self-supported run, I just have make sure I don't fall asleep and miss my stop!

Anyone with a QR reader

Can you test this and tell me what it says please?

Road Running

It has only just occurred to me that of the 22 ultras and 2 marathons I have run in the last 2 ½ years, I have only run one which was on a road! Every run has been a trail run (which had roads for part of it) and I love the complete freedom it represents.

With this thought I am now beginning to feel a little uneasy about running 52.4 miles on tarmac in London and also the fact I am traipsing the route of the London Marathon!

In 1984 when seeing runners collapsing left, right and centre in Bird Cage Walk, London and then seeing two runners being frog-marched in the last half mile I vowed I would never run the London Marathon ,27 years on I find myself do exactly that but have not broken that promise as it will not be the "real" run.

I know there will be a question now as to why I will not run it and it is very simple, whilst in the Police Service in the late 80's and 90's I was attacked by a group of people in a house and was trapped in there for over 10 minutes whilst I fought them but was quite seriously hurt as result. Since that time I have had a terrible fear of crowds and will have severe panic attacks when I feel there is no place to escape, the London Marathon is my idea of absolute Hell!

You will see now why I like the trails and the freedom they represent and why a small field of runners is my preference.

So to the roads, the smooth, hard roads of London, I am sure my legs will be fine but I bet they will be like mildly tenderised meat by the end of 52.4 miles, I just wonder what David's will be like after 104.8!

Just 46 days to go

before the biggest challenge of my ultrarunning life, the Grand Union Canal Run all 145 miles of it from Birmingham to London and only 45 hours to do it.....yes, and before you ask, it is non-stop.

Please sponsor me at my Just Giving site

Double Marathon

Yes, that is this weeks plan....do another double marathon!

My buddy David Hegarty made a pledge to run the Virgin London Marathon not once but 4 times this year in support of his chosen charity The Shooting Star Children's Hospice.

Like a fool I volunteered not to do just one leg with him but two; I plan to meet David at Greenwich Common (Red Start) at approximately 9.00pm on Saturday night after he completes the first leg and then run the route to the Mall, wave to the Queen and then come back again reversing the route arriving at about 9.00am.....sounds simple but I know, just know this will be no easy ride with many a sight and scene to negotiate .

I am getting some seriously bad looks from Mrs S at the moment! Jeez, I have not really focussed on this so better get my head together and get my plans sorted as I have just realised that I will have to run home afterwards as no way will I get a lift afterwards so looking at yet another ~60 mile run!

SolarNutted

Every UK running forum, race report and blog is heralding the sunshine and warmth why should mine be any different.

When I got back from my morning run today I decided to get my SolarMonkey and SolarNut out to see if I could charge my partly discharged (30%) Garmin 305 and may I say I was pretty pleased with the results as within 30 minutes it informed me it was complete! I have left the SolarNut and SolarMonkey in the garden so that I can get the SolarMonkey fully charged ready for next time, pretty impressive stuff.

An unexpected reaction

I have learnt in the past year or so that when talking to non-long distance runners not to talk about my escapades unless directly asked a question about and even then keep it short. Most of my communication is through this blog or with other spirited fellows who run this noble sport.

A lot of the reactions are normal now, mostly incredulous others just cannot comprehend the stuff we do but then this week whilst at work I was the one that became incredulous by the reaction of a few people.

"You're MAD!"
"Crazy, you are mental"
"You are not normal!"

Those were the polite ones but some people were just damn right rude...and then I came to remember this great song by Pink Floyd, Shine on you crazy diamond.

...and to you people out there who think us ultradistance are mad, unhinged or crazy...well, "I've got a very large fridge in the kitchen, and I've been eating a lot of pork chops!"

Ripped up the training plan

I suppose I have had to realise that I was not going to be able to carry on this week as per my training plan; I had planned to run on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday this week but alas it was not to be.

Tuesday's run was OK considering my mammoth run on the weekend but when I went out on Thursday I felt terrible, stiff but fleety, aching but loose and then Friday came.

On the way back from work I fell into a deep sleep waking up as I pulled into my station and then when I got home fell asleep on the sofa...it soon became obvious, especially when a huge plate of food was handed to me that no way was I going to run tonight.

The mileage is very much reduced as per the plan but it is not a problem, I'll just swap the weeks around and enjoy a few days rest and have a proper run on Sunday with buddies from my club

Limits

I have mentioned my blog entry Limits before but at the time of the post had never really experienced exactly what a limit was. No, that is not right, I had experienced a limit but never pushed beyond it!

Fast forward to this evening and I received an email from a very respected running buddy of mine who was concerned about their running ability and needed to push past Mile W! Mile W is the dreaded one that is between you and the Wall, this is where they were on the cusp of going past their current limit. I responded as I do with encouragement but when I re-read it I realised that the last sentence was a little philosophical:

No way have you reached your limit...there are no limits. The only limits are the ones that your mind sets for you.

and then I have come to realise that it is almost a year ago, just after my first Crawley challenge, that I mentioned the saying Je pense, donc je suis (dualism where it is said mental events cause physical events), something must have rubbed off on me.

Everything but the kitchen sink

A new email arrived from the organisers of the Grand Union Canal Run on Sunday which has began to focus my mind that the event is only 8 weeks away. So far the training has gone well, the total mileage lower than I had initially planned but George and I have been very sensible breaking it up with a series of ultradistance races and runs which has made us both stronger and mentally tougher.

Now that I have got Crawley behind me I am for the first time after a 100+ km run feeling very positive with an unbelievably fast recovery rate, so things are good.

The GUCR website mentions that there are feed points at 11, 22, 36, 54, 70, 85, 100, 120 and 133 miles so there is an average of 15.25 miles between these points, the smallest 11 miles the longest 20 miles. Due to these distances there is a very great need to carry sufficient fluids and spare equipment for that stage.

So from now on I have decided that I must start training with a "race weight" back pack from now on and so I will be listing out the basic requirements very soon and packing the equivalent weight for training...this is a big step.

An unexpected casualty

Recovery is going well and I have been happily walking to and from the station on Monday and Tuesday with little aches and pains. I have to say though that when I rushed up the stairs to the office this morning my legs felt very weak and grumbly but after a while everything returned to normal.

I got homeand pulled off my shoes and socks and was "fiddling" with my big toe noticing the nail was a little tender to tuch so, as one does, I gave it a little tug to see if it was OK when it went POP and that was it my toenail was fluid filled (no blood to make it blackened) and it had burst.

What to do? Well there is nothing to do apart from keeping it clean and dry so have taped it up and await the wet nail bed to harden and I will have to let it fall off naturally. Losing the big toenail is always a bloody nuisance as they take so long to grow back

....oh well, the trials and tribulations of long distance runner

Where did you go today?

...or when not to trust your Garmin.

For my amusement I decided to download my Garmin from Saturday's run and scratched my head as to what had happened. In the picture above you can see the tell tale signs of me going around my laps with a few movements to the West of the track where I visited the lavatory and also the First Aid office for a plaster.

Here is where the mystery begins, why oh why was there a sudden movement to the middle of the field? I am assuming it was a glitch in the GPS tracking or did I have a funny moment and run into the middle...weird!

The evening after the day before...

or a list of injuries after Crawley:

Injury #1
Stigmata...(or a case of my running shoes rubbing in the most unusual place) Never before have I had rubs on the top of my feet enough to draw blood. During the race I had to put a plaster and zinc oxide tape over it to stop the rub.

Injury #2
During the latter stages of the race I felt as if someone had stuck a needle in my lower quad. Today the muscle is swollen and a faint bruise is showing...torn or pulled?

Injury #3
Chafing on the inner thigh...remind me not to wear lycra shorts over a 50 mile distance...I am thankful of nappy cream now, it works wonders

Number 2 is my greatest worry at the moment but I am icing it and hope the swelling and (slight) bruise will go down very soon.

Crawley 12 hour Race 2011 - Race Report

Banished to the spare room on Saturday night I awoke at 4.45 am to prepare for the journey to Crawley in West Sussex some 50 minutes down the road via motorway. Preparation was easy as I had packed the car the night before and just my kit bag remained. At that time of the morning there is hardly a car on the road so got there in no time at all.

Driving up to trackside at the K2 Crawley, I quickly jumped out and grabbed my preferred spot on the track where I was to put my table and chair. All around me were the shouts, bangs and crashes of the organisers putting up gazebo style tents, drink stands and the precious race clock. Once I was happy with my drinks and food were layed out I went to collect my race number and was again really pleased to find that I had been designated 29, a Prime Number (Don't ask me why I like a prime race number!)

So at 6.49 am there was a shriek for me to hurry up as the race briefing was about to start and I ambled over to listen to the race rules and to have a minutes silence for Tadeusz Lancuckithe Chair of the 100 Marathon Club who died recently and was buried the day before. Then at 7.00am on the dot a day's race went under way.

The Start and early stages
The first third of the run was going really well, possibly a little too well, with me pacing out at constant laps but chose to reduce down as I had a long way to go and as the hours went by I could see that I was sticking to an almost metronomic 24 laps per hours. My legs were feeling great and I was taking on board fluids and food from my race table.

In this time the 6 hour runners had arrived and at 10.00 am they started their run, the danger from my perspective was that they would be running that little faster and it was important not to be drawn in but to focus on my own efforts. I had been running for 3 hours when they started and the track was very tranquil but some of the elite 6 hour runners can best be described as rude and aggressive as a couple of them would bellow "TRACK" to get us out of the way and felt they thought we were a nuisance...there were grumbles from people and it was communicated to them to tone it down.

The "middle bit"
It was a glorious day, the temperature cool but the sky clear with a breeze in the air. Most people would say it was a perfect day for running but 6 hours in to a run you may say differently as it began to warm up. I was soon seen to dowse my head from the large sponge bucket just to cool down my head.
I was aware that I was losing all track of time of day and I saw friends come and go who had decided to pop in to see how I was getting on. There was Ian and his father, a gentleman who always appears at various race meets just at the right time as my morale dips and lifts my spirits, it also gave me the opportunity to stop and say hello which was brilliant as it allowed my legs, which were beginning to stiffen up, to loosen up a tad. Then there was Theo and David with their new baby, Elizabeth always a welcome sight as they are so positive with a wealth of experience between them.

I trudged on but then I was aware that the dreaded halfway stage was about to happen a time when we all had to turn around and go the other direction. Last year this was almost the undoing of me when my IT band tightened. I had planned for this and as Pam, the organiser stood on the start line I chose to stop and stretch my legs and much to the amusement of the lap counters I put on an impromtu display of stretches. This, for me, was a great strategy when I saw runners in the coming laps start to hobble caused by the direction change.

The latter stages
Theo and David had popped off for lunch at this stage and for the very first time doubt began to creep into my head, my legs hurt and I began to feel very lonely. I was tactfully ignoring other runners who wanted to chat as I found it distracting and taking me off my concentration. I was 40 miles into the run and the thought of another 20 miles or so was upsetting me something I cannot explain as I have been there before. It was then Theo and David appeared and I got a pep talk along the lines that I was not eating or drinking enough which looking back on it was very true so I forced down some raisins, took a great bit glug of banana milkshake and trudged on, the feeling of a full stomach getting to feel that little better. Theo and David then had to leave but with their words remaining in my head I focussed on the final stages which soon proved to be very eventful with medical emergencies and a dramatic twist on the leader board!

The end game
I was now feeling very rough and looking at the state of some of the other competitors they were feeling the same, I believe it was the warmth of the day that was taking its toll. I was becoming aware that the top runners were beginning to walk, some limping and another seemed to swagger but I continued to struggle on. I had long put to bed that thought of getting 64 miles but knew at my pacing that 100 km was well in the bag and if I paced out the opportunity of breaking my PB.

The leader board was clearly defined with a battle for first place was dwindling away when there was a sudden movement of St John's ambulance staff running across the track to a fallen runner, it was the leader, a sudden feeling of excitement as we heard him scream in agony as the physio held his legs in the air, it looked like a case of severe cramping. As he was treated there was a flurry of activity around the lap counters and the second place runner was shouted instructions on pace. This set of events took me out of the my malaise and I too was soon heard shouting for lap counts and what I needed to get to the magic 250 laps and beyond.

At 11.54 hours plus some seconds I ran through to complete 100 km but I still had time to run 505 metres to beat my PB so I dug in and just went for it managing to get 795 more metres before the horn sounded....there we have it a PB by 290 metres!!!

I am very pleased.

The Result for the Crawley 12 hour track race

I am so tired I can hardly type but I know some of my friends and colleagues want to know the result. In total I ran:

100,795 metres or for the Brits and Americans amongst mt readership, 62.63 miles and came eigth in the 12 hour field....cool

A detailed report will be published over the weekend

Race Box packed

I have found the perfect distraction the evening before a big run...pack your Race Box.

Regular readers will know of my Race Box and that I do like to take it on lap races as I can then be self-sufficient and not have to totally rely on the organiser's offerings. Mrs S knew I was planning to go to the "Big" Sainsbury supermarket this evening and I was soon dispatched to get my stuff.

I went about getting all my favourite race foods and drinks which included:

• Jamaican Ginger Cake
• Bakewell slices
• Bananas and Raisins
• Bread rolls
• Jaffa Cakes
• Milkshakes
  
• and carb gels

I did buy some sports drinks but refused to spend too much as I planned to make 4 litres of home made sports drink (recipe here) after a lot of fiddling about I have made some really nice lemon flavoured drink and with my purchased bottles I have 5 litres (~10 pints) of drink which should do me fine for most of the race. In addition I have made some pastrami rolls for lunch as I know I will get peckish at some stage.

Race Box is now in the back of the car with my chair and table, all I have to do now is get my kit bag in and I am off....I am now official excited/scared/focussed