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.

Sore feet

Wednesday is a traditional day of rest from sporting activity and having run about 50km in the previous three days thought it appropriate. Sunday's run had included a 5km minimalist run and today I spent the day in the office with my aqua shoes. Tonight my feet feel a little tender

The Club run

 I had the opportunity of a run at my club last night, my first for about a month due to working commitments and it was on my way there whilst running through the deep mud and water in the darkened woods I decided that I didn't want a particularly fast or tempo run so went for an easier pace, one where I could tick over under no pressure. 

It was during this Easy run that we came to the last long hill to the end that I stepped onto the road along a  cycle lane (better lit, no trip hazards) that I went into "The Zone" for about a mile and when I came too I found nobody was around me! Knowing I had zoned out I thought the group must have turned off somewhere and I hadn't heard them so I went back down the hill to meet them 400 yards down the road! I couldn't believe it as I thought I was lacking but this gave me new confidence something missing in recent times.

Going home

Later, after saying my farewells to my club mates I returned via the woods, something I wished I hadn't done as my feet were still tired and I found that in certain parts my ankles turning and the upper foot feeling quite tender as they twisted and yawed in the mud.

Today my feet feel a little battered so it is good I am not out on the road today and hope they recover before tomorrow's run

Run Fat Boy, Run

This is why the Fat Boy Ran!

I have just found this picture on an old hard drive which I have been meaning to post for ages as I often refer to it. This is the pivotal picture as to why I started to run again in 2007.

The Prelude

The date of the photograph is 22nd April 2007 and we are in Horse Guards Road, London and my Brother-in Law had just completed the Flora London Marathon in just over 5 hours and 30 minutes. Secretly I was in awe of him, a super hero and so fast. We had traveled up to The Mall, London to watch him finish and that is when the picture was taken and I stupidly agreed to run with him the next year (I was rejected in the Ballot)

That Night

That night the Delightful Mrs S showed me the picture on her mobile phone and after, away from the family I cried inconsolably. I never realised that I was so large and in fact was just over 200 Ibs having given up a 20-30 cigarette habit up the year before and found solace in food. This was the first time I had seen myself like this as my own body image always saw me as a svelte-like person but now at the age of 42 years old was going to seed, had a sporadic dry smoker's cough and refused to walk if there was an offer of somebody doing it on my behalf.

The Next Day

I bought a pair of Nike Pegasus  from a dodgy old shoe shop

The Next, Next Day

I joined a running club, ran 3 miles and looked the same colour as this at the end of it. The Delightful Mrs S asked me (kindly) never to do it again and as any good husband does at the request of his darling wife does...ignored it and.......the rest as they say is history.

So many people have so many reasons to start running but mine was a supposedly inconsequential  photograph from a sub-standard camera phone.

Let's Make a New One Then

"Oh how I needed this run today!" I was heard to exclaim as we topped the hilly path, feet and legs caked in wet woodland mud, sweating and looking across at Duncan it was obvious he felt the same.

Earlier that run

Duncan had returned from his recent holiday on the Kent Coast and had run the cliff tops as I had a few weeks ago. When meeting Duncan was calm and relaxed as opposed to my somewhat hyper, over-stressed self. We agreed there was no route and we would just run for as long as we wanted and we did just that, me jabbering on about this and that, Duncan as usual patiently listening to my extended stories. Ever so often one of us would point to a hidden path or open trail and as one would turn down it until the next one was pointed out.

It was about 30 minutes into the run when I pointed to what I thought was a vague path but soon found us standing in a section of woodland containing low lying brambles it is here I said to Duncan "I don't think this is a path" to which Duncan's matter of fact logic replied

 "Let's make a knew one then"

 and realising too late stepped over a clump to feel my left calf get raked by a strand , then again as I stepped over the next and then strafed by a third.....I yowled as it stung like hell and without looking knew it was a bleeder, I cared not a jot and we ran, splashed, joked and laughed our way back waving goodbye at a suitable turn that would get us home, I taking the path, Duncan the road and woods to his house. 

Not content on using the bridge I leapt into and cross the stream below to wash off but was instantly muddy once more having crossed it and away home feeling so much better just to get out and have a break