Triple Marathon

Many moons ago a running buddy mentioned how he would like to run the length of Hadrian's Wall, a measured distance of about 85 miles. Now a triple marathon is 78.6 miles.....do I see a a 2010 challenge? It's a damn tough one, I think it can be done, the question is how?

I think out friends at the LDWA maybe able to help.

All I need now is a volunteer to run with me.

Cudham Valley

I had a beautiful run tonight which saw me running out through High Elms, Downe and Cudham Valley. The trails were soft underfoot from the recent rain but the grass was dry, the down side was the nettles had grown up with a vengeance but I was enjoying myself so much it was easy to ignore the stings even when going through clumps of them.

A really hard workout with some horrendous hills up the sides of the valley, it was great to see a couple of wild Roe deer sprinting off when we gambolled over the hills. A lovely evening after being stuck in London all day listening to the traffic and sirens. I did about 9 miles but it certainly felt more like 10 or 11 miles but whose counting.

This week's plan w/c 18/5/09

Monday	Rest
Tuesday	10 miles
Wednesday	Rest
Thursday	12 miles
Friday	10 miles
Saturday	Rest
Sunday	22 miles

A total of 54 miles

Adventure in June

I got quite a nice offer today, it will be hard work but exciting none the less. My sister, her husband and a few of their Friends are doing the 3 Peaks Challenge on 13-14th June 2009, a monster of a challenge in which they have to ascend and descend the Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours. I have been asked if I can be the official driver to transport them between mountains.

I am still deciding but if I do (and I think I will) I am planning to meet a friend in Wasdale for a run while they are enjoying themselves on the mountain, I would love to get a picture of the sunrise over Scafell Pike. Watch this space, it sounds like a lot of fun.

Heard on the trail

Rumour has it that George and I will be joined by another runner on the London to Brighton. Who is the mystery person, I can't wait for the official announcement.

Wet and windy they said.

......and they were not wrong.

What a wet and soggy run we had today and we got away with the bad weather until at about 14 miles we were hit with a real downpour. At the very end the heavens opened and we were seen scampeing to the car to get a dry top on but we were so wet I don't think it made a difference.

Great run, very tough on the legs for me but I think the excesses of Friday night may have paid their toll on the guts which were playing up.

Guinness is good for you.

My training was put on hold last night for a little TLC which involved meeting some "techy" friends up in Kings Cross for a few gallons of Guinness and a wonderful vegetarian curry in Islington. Rolled in quite late last night but feel great for it.

So now I am ready for a good trail run tomorrow, I wonder where we will this weekend?

Horas Non Numero Nisi Aestivas

....or 'I only keep the summer hours'

A fine, sweaty and humid evening of running was promised for George and me, we met up at about 7.15 pm with no plans apart from running anywhere and everywhere for about 10 miles and generally enjoy ourselves.

We met up at the entrance of Scadbury Park, Chislehurst and just followed the trails and London Outer Orbital Path through the trails, dodging the dogs, walkers and cyclists around the circuit. It was quite good fun as we found a new trail that took us out at the most unexpected place along the main road, one for the future as a short cut or extension to a good run I fear. We soon looped back and found ourselves running towards Memorial and Petts Wood, the famous woods that William Willett bought for the good of the people in the late 19th Century, as you know Mr Willett was the founder of daylight saving and hence the memorial sundial which keeps the summer hours.

In all a great run with the bluebells still flowering, the heady scent of wild garlic, the trees showing off their new springtime leaves and the lambs fattening and growing up fast....I just love Springtime running.

Keep 'em coming

On getting home tonight I felt raring to go and couldn't wait to get to the club. On arrival it was decided that we go for a 6-7 mile run around some of the fields and trails but as soon as we started running I realised I wasn't as recovered as I thought I was and my legs felt like lead.

Well it seems that the local farm had rerouted its lanes and we got lost, after a little detour we eventually climbed through a fence and got into a public park but found ourselves a little further away from the clubhouse. On any other evening I would savour the chance of an extended run but tonight I was absolutely whacked and I feel like the little kiddy in the picture on the left. Time to rest up or injuries will appear.

This week's plan w/c 11/5/09

Monday	Rest
Tuesday	8 miles
Wednesday	Rest
Thursday	12 miles
Friday	Drink Beer
Saturday	Rest
Sunday	20 miles

A total of 40 miles

Competitive

Whilst I waited and warmed up at the start of the race yesterday I was pleased to see the different types of runners and walkers who had attended. Quite a number of affiliated club shirts, a few individuals who obviously trained and a large number of "have a go" types.

Race over, I stood around waiting for friends to finish and watched the other runners and walkers finish and then it dawned on me. "What would it be like just to run one of these events and not feel as though I had to race it!" What a strange idea, I don't think I have ever run a race without a watch or the feeling that I had to beat the other person!

I pointed this out to my friend George and then watched as some of the finishers seemed to stop at the Finish line and then step over it, a big cheesey grin on their face and then got in line to get their cherished medal and certificate. They all looked so happy with their achievement.

This got me thinking,
Could I ever stop at a Finish line and then step across it?
When racing should you ever be seen to smile?
Should a person ever wear a cotton shirt when racing?

The answer to all of them is a resounding NO if you are competitive (like me). For Fun Runs it is YES to all :-)


–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, involving, or decided by competition: competitive sports; a competitive examination.
2. well suited for competition; having a feature that makes for successful competition: a competitive price.
3. having a strong desire to compete or to succeed.
4. useful to a competitor; giving a competitor an advantage: He was careful not to divulge competitive information about his invention.

What is the difference between me and Concorde?

The Orpington Mara*fun as it is coined was a great low key event starting at a school called St Olave's in sunny Orpington in the county of Kent. The day started late arriving at the school at 10.05 am and quickly kitted ourselves up and made final decision about the number of carb gels to carry, which water bottle and then eventually lock up the car to trot down to the start and get our numbers.

I was really pleased to see the number of yellow shirts standing around and chatting with a mixture of local rivals and some of the 100 Marathon Club; it was a real meeting of friends. After a brief speech from the Deputy Mayoress of Bromley we were invited onto the roadway and were set on our way. I initially set off at a 10 mile run pace and soon found myself near the front of the pack, held off and then settled into a steady pace.....a rather alarming steady pace of 7:40 min/miles.

The first of the hills arrived and I was soon plodding up St Paul's Wood Hill and my speed reduced down. Up over the hill and I found the field opening up and my average speed at about 7.55-8 min/miles which was quite comfy so I carried on at this pace. The route between 5(18) and 10(23) miles was typically suburban and quite hair raising on a busy Saturday morning and the fact that I was running on the roads made it quite an interesting run with cars peeping me and me darting across the junctions

I managed to get around the first lap of 13.1 miles in 1 hour 44 minutes which gave me a good margin to play with and it turned out I needed it when at about 22 miles I felt cramp settle into my upper legs which was releaved slightly with some Nuun I had in my small water bottle. This hampered me somewhat slowing me down considerably, it just shows how I have got used to training with it and having a good supply on me....a hard lesson and well learnt. At 23 miles I found it hard to traipse over some rough ground near a golf course but after leaving this behind me I gritted my teeth and ran the last 3 miles towards the Finish line determined to beat my 3:45 hour target which I did (just) in a time of 3:44:27 :)

A great low key event, one I thoroughly enjoyed and I can now claim that I have actually done a road marathon and did a pleasing time to boot

BTW
What is the difference between me and Concorde?

Answer: About 54,000 feet and 3 hours 44 minutes the same time it took Concorde to travel from New York to Paris :

Mini Me...

... or chips off the old block!

I was just having a little snooze on the sofa this evening when I was roused from my slumber by my two girls "Dad we're off for a run, see you later!" I made an attempt to say "Don't be too long" but I was stopped when the front door was slammed shut.

Off went my girls (13 and 15 years) trotting down the drive, plugged into their Ipods. In a way I was quite sad to see them go off by themselves but in another sense quite pleased. I needn't have worried, they were back in 10 minutes looking pleased with themselves and rosey pink having done a mile around the block. The younger said "That will do as tomorrow I will do 2 miles!"

I wonder how long this will last.

I had to laugh

I was quite amused to see someone using this as an avatar in a well known and loved runners' forum.

I have a feeling this lady has the same "issues" I have when tapering and carb-loading :-)

I am going to print this one off and have it stuck to my cubicle entrance.

All systems are GO

I got home from work tonight determined to go to the club even if it meant a short run. I left the house early and jogged up the road to realise there was no pain in my toe so picked up the pace. Well 11.5 miles later and with some lovely miles under my belt I think I am ready for the marathon on Saturday.

The guys from the club think that St Paul's Wood Hill is something to worry about, Why? After all, all I need to do is take it steadily and make up the time in other parts of the run.

I'm feeling good, time to feed :-)

Increase mileage

Big decision made tonight after doing some reading up about training for various longer ultra distances. As I get closer to the London to Brighton it is apparent over the next month or so my weekly mileage will be increasing from the current 45-50 to about 58-60 miles.

I would like to increase this to a more regular distance of about 65-70 miles so from next week and during June I will be making an attempt to run from work to home on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, rest on Friday then do a long run on Sunday. The run from work is about 11 miles over the large hill at Crystal Palace so no easy task but one I relish.

Well it's an idea and I want to try it just one week to see how I do.

Postcard from Broadstairs

Uuuurrrghh, first forced non Sunday long run since the beginning of the year and it saw me sitting on the beach in Broadstairs, Kent. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it but I was desperate to go running.

My big toe still feels a bit swollen but walking in the sand really helped get it moving and it felt as though it was getting a massage. Even the cold sea water helped to such a point the bruise became really obvious in the cold windy morning.

Off to the gym tomorrow for a good cycle ride and get me prepared for carb-loading for the marathon on Saturday.

On ya bike!

Motivation was high today and what with my bad toe I was desperate for some exercise after missing my run last night. I therefore decided to go to the local municipal gym and have a go on the exercise bikes. I thought a one hour cardio-vascular workout would do the job and decided to do two 30 minute workouts, one at constant and the other at a random setting.

One thing I forgot about gym cycling was the amount you sweat, I was absolutely dripping by the end but the one thing I found really hard to do was get my heart rate up to the desired amount. The monitors are supposed to adjust to the difficulty of the workout but I found it didn't do it very efficiently.

Never mind, a good workout and made me feel better about my preparations for next week. Toe showing the bruises now and the swelling has settled and it is less turgid so may have a little run tomorrow after our day out, just a little one ;-)

Wow, what a hill

Isn't this the most awesome hill? Somehow I feel it is not going to happen this year, but there is still time ;-)

Panic over

Great news, well I suppose you should say better news. I finally decided to go to the Accident and Emergency tonight to put by doubts to rest over my toe. I was only there for about 80 minutes having a short wait, an x-ray and a diagnosis.

The good news is I have not broken my hallux just badly bruised it. It is going a lovely purple colour around the joint and is swollen. I have been told to max out on painkillers and rest up. I am going to see how it goes over the weekend but I think that if I grit my teeth I'll be able to run the marathon next week.....one step at a time I hear you say, one step at a time.