Blisters from Amsterdam

No blisters, just fond memories

2009-11-17T12:46:00.000-08:00

Signing off. Not quite a journey's end, but without doubt a significant mile stone. All said, all run. This blog will be confined to the electronic annals of time, but nothing will erase the fact that I was there, I did it.

From this temporal distance I remember only the elation of the finish, the miles all unwound. But at the time, it was a different story. Tired, and more than a little achy.

Pain omnipresent. The tin man left out over a harsh winter. Shandong Province the unlikely source of a bottle of red playing WD40 substitute.

And the music, oh the music. Bands all along the route, some drumming, some singing, some saxophoning. The lasting image of a sulken cymbal player, passed twice. A forlorn fleece the epitomy of drab colourlessness, but the stripy pants, oh lordy, the stripy pants would have had Joseph himself thinking - Nah, not today. Her face implacable, victim of a change of wind. Thoughts flitting from past to future and back like Audis on the autobahn.

A sign, 18 miles out: "A marathon is just a 10k race with a 20 mile warm up". Will this warm up never end.

Sated banana cravings, high-fiving kids, sponge lined straats, whiffy Italians and stern Copenhagers.

Shine on, followed immediately by Shine, hallucinating on the night that Minnie Timperley died, believe it or not. 21 miles - Mr Blobby down in the tube station at midnight, keep on runnin'.

As I walked to the start line Eleanor Rigby put her face back in the jar by the door and glancing down the street spotted a certain little Ukelele player leaning expectantly against a lamp post.

Coming down the final approach to the Olympic Stadium, just as I began my deluded push for glory, it was ".... run rabbit, run rabbit, run, run, run" which spurred me on, on, on...

...but I'm afraid John, John, John it wasn't to be as the final bars faded out just as the fabulously faded glory of a 1920's icon fell prostrate before me - to be replaced by roaring crowds, my wonderful support team screaming from the stands, and little Sandie Shaw assuring me that there will always be "something there to remind me" - most probably the scars of the operation I'll now need to shore up my knees.

From the Vondelpark forth the clock was ticking ever quicker, the four hour target which seemed always within reach starting to appear like the merest reflection of itself in a muddy puddle. Come on, you lazy, f, f, f, r. You may never be here again. Legs suddenly spurred on. The last quarter mile the fastest of all and 3:59:02the digits which made it all the more satisfying.

The finish line was never but sweet folly. The point of running was to run, to run, to run. There is no respite just around the bend, there is no final race, nought else, no end.

Anything planned for the weekend?

2009-10-14T12:21:00.000-07:00

Well, yes, actually, thanks for asking. On Saturday it's my wonderful wife's Birthday so I'm whisking her and the family off for a long weekend in Amsterdam. Oh, and on the Sunday, as it happens to be on, I'm going to run the Amsterdam marathon. Shouldn't take too long, about four hours I reckon, and it'll be nice to do a bit of a tour of the city by foot. Training? Yeh, I've done a bit, but being such a fine speciman of humanity it only takes a few laps of the local park once a fortnight for me to keep my fitness level up. Yeh, flying out from Birmingham tomorrow so probably won't get the chance to blog any more. Can't wait. Everyone has been incredibly supportive and I'm taking with me loads of good wishes. Not to mention 109 sponsored songs. That'll keep me moving even when the searing pain cuts through every muscle and sinew (yeh, that'll be from about mile three onwards). Right, best get on and finish the packing, still got a few bits and bobs to organise. Before an early night. Give this cold a chance to rampage through the body and out. By Christ I need a drink. Rally struggling to keep up the abstinence tonight. Ah well, not long to go and the first glass post run will be all the sweeter for it. Adios anonymous reader. And don't forget, as the playwright/President once said, its a game of two Havels. Total mileage to date: 948ish. Ha, ha, ha.

Against all odds....

2009-10-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

... and possibly medical advice. A ten miler today, an eight miler yesterday, a five miler the day before. Sounds good until I mention the five day gap without running prior to that. Ooops. It all started with a cripplingly painful lower back, and ended on the floor of the 7:14 to New Street. Apparently Co-Codamol can do that to you. Weird. Never experienced a blackout before, and don't much care if I never do again. Hence the break, but we're back to it now, desparately trying to work the mileage back up, trying not to faint again, trying to convince myself that I can keep it going. Despie the odds stacking up against. One week to go. Chip, chip, chip. Total mileage to date: 937.45. Weight: about where I want to be.

Ow, ow, ow

2009-10-03T00:18:00.000-07:00

As Brucie never sang..... Pain, is the name of the game, and I don't wanna play the game no more.

The biggest mileage week of the training programme last week with a total of 45 miles clocked, including the big twenty miler on the Sunday. Trouble was, I went into it with a sore back which has got progressively worse as time has gone by. This lead to an emergency call to the Osteopath (simple message: "help") and two highly painful sessions on the couch this week, with much pulling, prodding and pushing. At the end of it, despite the progress I can feel, the back is still incredibly sore, interrupting sleep and wildly diminishing the desire to move, never mind run. Add to that the problem I've got across the top of the left foot - which feels like that brittly crinkly red wrapper on the horrible quality street - and I just feel like I'm falling apart at the moment.

Not that its stopped me. I'm a stubborn bugger at the best of times and with the help of regular Voltarol rammed down the throat I've kept on the road through the week, lets just hope I can hold it together for another two weeks. Two weeks, just two weeks. It may cost me a fortunate in Osteo fees, but I'm determined to do it. Come on.

Mileage to date: 907.55 (doesn't look like I'll quite make a thousand, darn) Weight: an incredible 12st 2 at the end of the 20 miler, briefly, but more regularly about 12st 9.

Worcester Half Marathon

2009-09-06T23:52:00.000-07:00

The last scheduled pre-marathon race yesterday with the inaugural Worcester Half Marathon up at Top Barn. Didn't really know what to expect with it being advertised as multi-terrain over various surfaces, but it turned out to be interesting and something of a challenge. The two lap course looped and twirled around fields, quarries, riverbanks, Lakes and pools in quite a convoluted manner, confusing and bamboozling, but there were enough marshalls to make sure no-one went astray. A couple of pretty steep, but blessedly fairly short, hills took it out of you at key times but I still managed to sneak in with a PB of 1:43:42, finishing a pleasing 37th out of a field of 186. Tired at the end, and a bit achy today, but it was an encouraging run and I was chuffed to bubbles to come in under the 1hr 45 barrier. Some soreness in the tendon that runs down to my big toe on my left foot, and a slightly tight achilles have distracted me from the painful back (a trip to the osteo might be in order this week) but no "new" injuries to report. Not long now. Total mileage to date: 775.77, weight: 12st 11.

Next month

2009-09-02T13:29:00.000-07:00

I'm running a marathon. It feels a bit weird to be saying that. Makes me think about that finishing line, the miles all behind me, nowhere left to run. A damp one tonight, wetter than a Julian Clary handshake under a waterfall in monsoon season. Eight and a quarter miles down a soggy canal but still an improvement on previous times for the run, so despite the fatigue, the encouragement is still there. Training hasn't been going too bad over the last week or so. I managed to slip in an early morning eighteen miler on bank holiday morning. Sneaking out of the house at six o'clock without waking the clan. Padding my way up the towpath as the sun rose. Saw more Herons than Humans and the highlight was a definitely a rare sighting of a Kingfisher, a flash of startling blue cutting through the morning gloom as it harassed a pigeon then streaked off along the bank. Definitely a spirit lifter. Positive news from Adoption UK too, with some great support now coming from their fundraising and press officers for which I'm very grateful. Around £500 now pledged and the songs continue to sell. Another push over the next couple of weeks and who knows where we'll end up. But I know one thing. Next month I'm running a marathon. Total mileage to date: 751.81

Its been a while...

2009-08-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

...since my last post. Due partly to a problem with the blog when I last tried to post, but also because I've been off doing my "warm weather training" (ha!) in North Devon. To be honest, with the hols and other family commitments I've not been able to fully adhere to the training programme, mixing things up a little and keeping it going as best possible though. I've probably lost about three or four runs over the last couple of weeks, and I expect a few more to drift away from me in the month to come, but hopefully I'm getting enough done to keep at a decent level as we move into the final period. At least I got plenty of hill running practice when off camping, as the landscape fitted with the name of "Hidden Valley" and dictated that whichever way I went from the site I was faced with a pretty steep climb. The road I ended up taking several times was about a 1 in 4, consistently, for the best part of a mile - a real grueller to pull up, and too steep to run down comfortably, but different, and quite satisfying. The "highlight" though was an 18 mile run last Friday - a good 4 to 5 miles further than I've ever run in one go. Ever, ever, ever. To reduce impact on the family holiday I timed it to coincide with a cycling trip down the tarka trail. A friend came up for the day and we hired bikes for everyone (except me), S enjoying her first trip on a tag along and C doing ever so well by cycling himself. We all headed off together for the first four and a half miles, then while I carried on over the Taw Bridge and down towards Bideford, the others carried on into Barnstaple to a park and cafe for lunch, meeting up with me again as I returned after 13.5 miles and sticking with me for the final push. It was tough, not helped by a torrential downpour, but that was perhaps to be expected and having some company and support for part of it really helped. But most importantly, what I did find is that I could just about keep going for the duration, and although I was very tired, it makes me think that I am capable of doing the full distance - particularly if I can get in a few more runs of this sort of length. So overall a positive. Since that time I've only done two runs, a short 3+ recovery run and a steady five and a half miler last night - a very listless affair. Joints are a bit sore and one or two muscles could do with a massage, but I'm still trugging along. Tomorrow's another day, another run. Total mileage to date: 704.48, which has now had me running for over 100 hours at an average of 8 mins 32 secs per mile. It all counts.

Choice

2009-08-05T04:25:00.000-07:00

Carl Beeston last night. It was never going to be spectacular, but I got out there and did a job. I would have preferred to have rested up, particularly as the knee seems to have got worse with all the attention I've been giving it (stop rubbing the darn thing and it probably won't be so sore) but the training programme called for 6 miles, starting slow and getting quicker if not too tired. The element of choice provided by that "if" was enough for me and I took advantage by starting slow and staying steady. At the end of the day a little over five and a half miles at an eight thirty average was fine and I have to just put it down as miles banked. Knee very sore overnight though, so may contemplate a longer break to give it time to recover. Looking back on Sturminster Newton now it doesn't seem such an awful performance. Lining up amongst all the Dorset Doddlers, Littlehampton Harriers, Micklethrumpton Muckle Trucklers and the like it was never going to be easy and I was only about a minute and a half off my Malvern PB. Not too disheartening. An encouraging start to the sponsorship collection yesterday too. There are some extremely generous people around and I've no intention of letting them down...... whether the knee holds out or not. Total mileage to date: 613-ish. Weight: generally around 12st 12.

Fade to grey

2009-08-02T23:46:00.000-07:00

Zola Budd. A bright start but faded away to nothingness. Blimey Sturminster was tough, the hardest run I've done since Stoke. In all honesty I wasn't feeling on top form before the race, but throughout the first 6/7 miles I was tidily ticking off the miles in just under an 8 min average. Weather was kind, if a little on the warm side, and the course has to be called "rolling" in the kindest parlance. By eight I was starting to fade a little but decided to give it a go at 9 and put in a 7:40 mile. Come 11 I'd set myself up for a chance of a PB and was jollied along by the two clowns at the final water station (and I mean that literally), belly-laughing at all the runners as they went past. What I didn't know was the reason why as the next mile and a half was a steady incline - a real killer which put paid to any chance of a good time. I really fell away at this stage, struggling lke crazy as the people I'd gone past at 9-10 all passed me. Cramp set into the right calf half way through that hill (not steep, but never-ending) and I was so thankful to see the finish line, hobbling over in 1:46:39 and finishing 194 out of 416. Not my Guy Garvey finest hour, but a decent enough run over a tough course in a race mainly involving club runners - top half going down as a reasonable achievement. Need a rest now though. Total mileage to date: 608.25.

Here we go again

2009-08-01T01:06:00.000-07:00

Sturminster Newton tomorrow. 595 miles on the clock. Knee a concern. PB unlikely. Weather forecast okay. Bring it on.

All about my mother

2009-08-01T01:01:00.000-07:00

Friday - Pedro Almodovar - a fast start, but became hard work with the continuous hills. Bright spots though and plodded back feeling satisfied.

QI

2009-08-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

Thursday was Stephen Fry, the run-swim-run combination making it Quite Intersting, but with a lumbering, thoughtful feel.

Copacabana

2009-07-28T13:48:00.000-07:00

Barry Manilow. One heck of a schnozz to chisel out.

One step forward...

2009-07-28T12:03:00.000-07:00

... and at the moment it feels like two steps back. From a high point post Malvern when the miles seemed to pass (looking hazily lazily backwards) with consummate ease as I floated along on the back of a PB, I've reached the point, a few days before my next half marathon at Sturminster Newton, where every mile gained has to be chiselled out from a lump of solid Granite with pummelling foot falls and pounding arms. Training is reflected in the sun shine and showers of the weather, only without the sunshine, and all I can gain from it is the fact that I'm still getting out there. Typically, having taken pleasure in reaching a parenting clearing, behaviour has rapidly deteriorated and we're back attempting to fight fires by fanning the flames and cutting down branches of the forest while tripping over the debris we've failed to clear away. Everything seems hard work. I guess I'm simply weak-minded, insufficiently insulated against negativity and too sensitive to atmosphere. Too easily influenced by the mood and attitude of others to be able to achieve. Successful athletes appear able to steer a highly individual course, single-mindedly determined in pursuit of their goal and able to control their emotions, channel them, to an unparalleled extent. Who wants to be like that? Not me, there needs to be some room for simple humanity, but I would like to be a little more untrammelled (is that a word?) a bit more like the oil tanker, able to pursue a smooth, straight course through choppy waters rather than the lightweight sail boat I seem to be. Anyway, things will turn around I'm sure. The sun will shine through August and spirits will be lifted across the board. In the meantime I'll keep getting out there and chiselling away, after all, Simon's incredibly generous faith in me needs to be justified.... I mustn't disappoint my public. So tonight it'll be some speedwork, complementing the long run of the weekend and the steady run - with swim in between - of yesterday. Tomorrow enforced rest before hills and a general tapering off towards the weekend's race. The tendonitis in the right knee is a constant niggle, but its not been too bad lately and seems under control with ice and anti-inflammatories. There was a boost yesterday when after the session 12:8 appeared on the scales for the first time in probably ten years, but that was mostly dehydration and I know I've a long way to go dietary wise to get the weight off properly (and even further after tonights KFC). Hi-ho, hi-ho, its out for a run I go. One step forward. Total miles to date: 577.93.

Are we nearly there yet?

2009-07-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

I used to think that kids sitting in the back of cars saying that was the stuff of lazy advertising execs. An urban myth born of years of back seat bickering between hyperactive siblings and road-weary parents. But now, well now, I hear it nearly everytime I leave the drive. Usually followed by "Is this the motorway?" and "Can I have a sweetie". 500 miles of training ticked over at the weekend and I find myself thinking the same. But as I was chugging along on tonight's steady 6 miler I was also thinking about the kids in a more positive light, prompted by something Jane had said. Its fair to say that having stumbled and tripped our way through the parenting jungle to date, we've finally reached a clearing. With C settled after his first year in school, and S chomping at the bit to get started, the stars are shining nicely in the sky and we're happily toasting marshmallows in front of a roaring log fire. Obviously it won't be long before one of them wanders off into the darkness, burns a hand on a still hot ember or gets spooked by an unidentifiable howl from beyond the trees, but for now, for now, its calm. Nice. Mileage to date: 516.42. Weight bubbling around the 13 stone mark.

Ticking over

2009-06-26T23:57:00.000-07:00

Its been a while. But things haven't been going too badly. Training for the Malvern Half Marathon was okay and the only thing that looked like it would put a damper on proceedings was the weather. Freezing and piddling down on the day of the race. Lining up at the start it was truly miserable, but then - miracle of miracles - as we all pounded off on the route the rain abated and things started to warm up to create the perfect conditions. The race itself was a good one for me. I set off at a rather rapid pace, logging in under 8 mins for the first four or five miles and completing the first 10k in about 49mins - not far off a PB itself. Fully anticipating a drop off in the second half, it didn't really happen and I continued to feel pretty strong, being helped by a Chepstow Harrier keeping good pace just in front. At the eleven mile mark I was looking like I could get under 1hr 45 and pushed on with that in mind, crossing the line in 1hr 45mins and 7secs, although the Garmin tells me I ran 13.17miles, a bit longer than the official distance. Still, a PB by more than 3 mins on Cardiff and good progress.

Following on from that I've had a couple of weeks of just keeping things ticking over really. The half marathon training programme over, the 16 week marathon training programme starts next Monday. I managed to get in some warm weather training in during the family holiday in the South of France. Near to the site we were staying on was a fab wooded area called the Lido with a course sportif consisting of a series of rustic items of exercise equipment - hurdles, monkey bars, sit up bench and the like. Although it was darn hot - even at 10am being around 25 degrees - it was a wonderful opportunity to run out each morning and do a 5 mile loop and one I managed to get in on five occasions. Since getting back, the mileage rate has dropped off a bit, but I've managed to get in a few well-paced shorter runs........ just keeping things ticking over.

Next week the real fun begins. More attention to diet. More attention to speed and strength. And the mileage. Only one way to go. Total mileage to date: 437.43.

300+ and still going strong

2009-05-22T23:59:00.000-07:00

Not a bad week this week. My first ten plus miler on Monday was survived, if not particularly comfortable and that's been followed up with a further 20 miles over the course of three runs, mixing it up a bit. The first of these, on Wednesday, was another run with the backpack, getting off the train at Bromsgrove and running back to the car at Droitwich along the canal. A nice run once you pick the canal up, all downhill with some pleasant scenery, although the weather was a bit against me with a couple of really heavy downpours forcing me to shelter. Still, good to do that one for the first time and I'm quite happy to give it another go, hopefully making it a weekly event as its far more relaxed running away from the train rather than towards it, with the inevitable time pressures that brings. Thursday I did a bit of "speed" work, although "slightly quicker than slow" would be a better definition. Then last night I signed the week off with a seven mile run, aiming to complete in under an hour, which was achieved reasonably comfortably. The pace aspect seems to be improving with regular miles under eight minutes on the flat, but its distance where I need to focus in preparation for the Malvern Half Marathon - there's a definite need to get a few more ten mile plus runs under my belt before then, as long as I can find the time and mental strength. Still, rest day today, the triple century now behind me. The sun is in the sky and the motivation's high. Total mileage to date: 309.58.

One in the bank

2009-05-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Thursday night. Dreary and weary. Rain falling steadily. Home warm and cosy. J: "are you going for a run?". Me: "Yeh, I've got to". J: "You don't have to". True, I didn't have to, and it would be easy not to have. Very easy. It wasn't a fun run, and I didn't feel great afterwards, but I guess if I'm going to get to where I want to be, it was important to get out there on Thursday night. I planned a negative split, running at a (very) easy pace out along the canal from Blackpole to Offerton and turning on 30 minutes. The rain was consistent and the canal was eerily quiet - no boats, few ducks and me, plodding on. Sniffing. It was hard work to keep going and I'm not sure it actually did me any good, but I just about got back within the hour so mission accomplished. One for the bank. Total mileage to date: 269.42.

Crowle 10K

2009-05-13T23:05:00.000-07:00

Nice. A little on the warm side, but no wind and a bright morning made it excellent conditions for a romp around the lanes of Crowle. The kids both ran in the quarter mile fun run - C setting off like a rocket and then stopping every 50 yards, S keeping a lovely, steady pace and actually finishing just in front of her brother - so it looks like we've got one sprinter and one endurance runner. Individuals with individual needs as ever. In the main event I managed to knock six minutes off my time from two years ago, coming in in a steady 48:21, making me 142nd out of 470 finishers. Not bad, but tempered by the realisation that I'd have to improve by a couple of minutes even to make the top three in the over 60's category (in fact I was beaten by a chap who proudly proclaimed to the crowd on the run in that it was his 68th birthday the next day). All encouraging stuff though and if I can keep the training going for the next few weeks then I'd hope to crack 2 hours at the Malvern Half on June 7th. Just need to keep on chugging along.

Bagman

2009-05-13T22:58:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I made a few errors of judgement last night. Number one, I should have left my work shoes in my locker at work rather than stuffing them into the backpack - the extra weight was a real killer. Secondly, I should have had a trial run adjusting the straps on the backpack for a comfortable fit. Getting those two right might just have reduced the flapping and flopping up and down up and down which afflicted me from the start of the run. Finally I should have simply allowed more time, taking into account the slowing effect of the backpack. D'oh. As it was I ended up pushing it right to the limit with no time for slippage - not helped by being unable to access the canal where I thought I could and the number of rather rough areas which had to be crossed. I made it. But by the skin of my teeth. And spent the entire journey watching the sweat dripping consistently off my head disappear into the rough ridged carpet on the train floor. There are lessons to be learned in that. Total miles to date: 262.47. Weight: Hmmmmm.

Slow coach

2009-05-08T23:44:00.000-07:00

I know that at least one person is reading this blog occasionally, even if he isn't bold enough to become my first follower. Step forward Paul Scanlan. And having discussed one or two issues with him (I await his alternative theories on Asthma treatment) I'd like to offer him the position of unofficial body coach and nutritional advisor. Come on Paul. If you think you're ready for the responsibility step up to the plate and devise me a programme which is going to keep my muscles and intestines in the best shape over the next six months. You know you want to.

Run, run as fast as you can

2009-05-08T23:37:00.000-07:00

But not too fast, I'm no Gingerbread man. Hampered by a calf strain the last couple of weeks, and trying to adapt to a new working routine now that I'm back in the Insolvency Service, so the mileage has dropped off a little, but I've managed a couple of confidence boosting runs this week which have put me in reasonable stead for the Crowle 10k on Sunday. Birthday gifts bought a boost too with some smart new gear from Janey Baby, not least a wonderful lightweight jacket which must have made me the only runner in Worcester praying for rain, which never came. I'm also breaking in a new pair of trainers - New Balance 859's as recommended by the running shop in Birmingham - which hopefully won't blister my right instep like the Mizunos have tended to. Birthday money also funded a lightweight backpack and the plan next week is to get a run in after work by heading from the office down the canal to University and picking up the train there, or alternatively getting off at Bromsgrove and running back to Droitwich to pick the car up. As ever, its just a case of getting into the right routine. Onward and upward. Total mileage to date: 246.77. Weight: moving in the right direction.

Curioser and curioser

2009-05-08T23:33:00.000-07:00

One of the fun aspects of running is slapping on the i-pod with all songs shuffled and wondering what song is going to come up next. The contrasts and coincidences can be wonderful. On a long-ish run the other day I was forced to listen to an interview I'd given in relation to a piece of writing several years ago. After the interviewer rounded off with "thank you Rob Clarke" the classic XTC track "Mayor of Simpleton" kicked in...... there's a lesson to be learned in that.

Never, never, never

2009-04-20T05:40:00.000-07:00

never, never touch the tail of a whale. Believe me, after that run the possibility of touching a whale's tail seems a whole heap more likely than running a marathon. I'm sweating like a fox at a hunting convention after a four mile session picking up the pace every three minutes... OMG. There's oh so far to go, and only six months to get there.

The sun is in the sky, and the clouds are rolling by...

2009-04-20T01:25:00.000-07:00

A while since I posted and I just know you'll be dying to know how I got on at the Peopleton Scenic Six....... and the answer is pretty well by my standard. Conditions were excellent, with dry, mild weather and I managed to clock a creditable 48:45 for the 6.1 mile course, which is a steady 8 minutes per mile and almost four minutes better than last year. Better still I came in 115th out of 317 entrants which is a good 21 places higher than last year too, and although I was pretty knacked afterwards (being honest) it was worth the effort.

Since that race I've been pretty much sticking to a half marathon training schedule cribbed from Runners World, with varying success given the temptations of Easter. The "Easy" and "Steady" distance runs I can generally manage, but its the speed and tempo work where I fall down, my "fast" intervals being run at a barely perceptible increase from the steady. More work definitely required but with the sun now shining and the lighter nights getting longer the motivation is easier to find so I'm not too downhearted.

Yesterday saw an 8.5 mile run along the canal into Worcester and back via the Racecourse and riverside. A nice route to run with plenty of visual interest, but I was really struggling over the last few miles and a sore calf and tight hamstring is testament to the continuing lack of fitness. Blisters seem to be more of an issue these days too and I feel the need for a new pair of trainers - something with a little extra cushioning to molly-coddle my namby pamby civil servants feet. Either that or I'll have to start walking on hot coals to toughen them up a bit.

That long run was really to make up for "dodging" the Eastnor Castle Magnificent Seven, a hellishly hilly romp around the bottom end of the Malvern hills which I didn't fancy subjecting myself to at this particularly stage. Wimping out never sits comfortably, but ...... but ........ well, but nothing really - I'll stick to the Crowle 10k on 10 May, which has a nice family atmosphere and plenty for the kids to do, and then stick with the training through to the Malvern Half in early June.

Just got to keep going. Follow those clouds, rolling on by.

Total mileage to date: 188.71. Weight: A toddler too much.

'Ere we go

2009-04-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

125 miles down, and its time for an event. Tomorrow is the Peopleton Scenic Six and I can't wait to get back into running an actual, real, guts n'all race with actual, real, guts n'all other people. I haven't run with anyone else alongside for nearly six months, since the Cardiff Half Marathon last October, and its good to be getting back out there - it feels like I'm on a positive stretch, progressing. Training this last week or so has been okay. A couple of good interval sessions, on one increasing the pace for five minutes, then dropping it back down for five, and in another using 3 minute repeats - both over 5 - 6 miles. Its certainly lead to some improved times, with my average for a typical 5 mile run coming down within 8.30, suggesting that I'll soon get back to an 8 minute mile average for 10k pace, making the 8.30 - 8.45 average for a marathon attainable - if still a little daunting. The improved weather has helped too, although the consumption of an outrageous amount of wine and a joyously delicious curry on Thursday night obviously set me back. I still managed the 3.5 mile run down to the station to pick up the car the next day, but that was a bit of a trudge. So its a rest day today, then off to Peopleton tomorrow. Niggles? Some pain in the instep of my left foot which has had me searching for a local Podiatrist, and the back is as sore and stiff as ever, but I reckon I can get round without too much damage. A first race outing for the multi-terrain shoes purchased late last year and a target of 52 minutes - last years time - to beat. Actually, this is the first time I've ever competed in a race I've done before, so a good chance to measure progress........ or not. 'Ere we go. Total miles to date: 125.35. Weight: and see.

Onwards and upwards

2009-03-30T00:42:00.000-07:00

Finally it seems to be coming together a little with a return to something like the level of running I was achieving at this time last year. Yesterday was a cracking run (all references to Nick Park and Easter are void) completing a route I've run many times before in a best time by some margin. I was trying to do some "speedwork" (and for speed read slightly faster than snail) by running at 5 mins steady and then 5 mins quick (being an almost imperceptible increase in speed). The first twenty minutes with two "speed ups" was fine, but the third was a real drag, legs hurting, lungs hurting, head drifting. But it has to be said that it worked, putting in all five miles under 8:30 and an average pace akin to my best half marathon time. All very encouraging and a good way to take me over the 100 mile mark since I started to record the training in early February. In preparation for next Sunday's Peopleton Scenic Six I've also been doing a few cross country runs - heading out and up the banks of the River Severn near Ombersley last Wednesday and over the fields and along the canal on Thursday. My problem is that I get bored with running the same routes all the time, and although that is best for tracking progress, and they can always be reversed for a bit of variety, I'm always looking for somewhere new to run - which almost inevitably involves a short drive somewhere. Which is fine. It's all good, the weather is picking up, the mileage is picking up, and the races are about to roll. Total Mileage to date: 104.24. Weight: And see.

Tick tock

2009-03-20T13:59:00.001-07:00

Becoming conscious of time ticking on towards October with limited progress being made. With nearly two months of "training" complete the mileage level is creeping snail-like towards the 100 mark but I need to shift it up a gear, both in terms of distance covered and also mixing it up with some speed work, hill work, fahtleks, yogalates and the like. Although I've got to the stage where I can run an undulating 5 miles at an average of about 8:35, but that is less than the half-marathon pace I was running last year and well out of the 10k range I'm aiming for. Its now less than two weeks until my first event of the year - the Peopleton Scenic Six, so definitely time to step up to the plate. The Scenic Six is a lovely run in the Worcestershire countryside starting off on the main road through the village but quickly heading along trails and footpaths into the fields and along streams, and as its one I did last year, I've got a clear target to aim for. So it'll be off running along trails whenever possible to get some practice in, trying to keep the back loose and the joints lubricated. All the time wondering why. All the time knowing. Total mileage: 81.59 miles. Weight: all too static.

Its been a while....

2009-03-15T01:02:00.000-07:00

...and a lot can happen. So where are we now? Well, for the first time last night I completed a run which made me think I may be finally getting back to a reasonable level of fitnes. Only about 5k, but over an undulating course and mileage splits all under 8:30, taking over half a minute off the best time for that run this year. All in all pretty encouraging and although there's a heck of a long way to go, it makes me feel that I'm heading in the right direction and the Peopleton Scenic Six in early April is a realistic target for my first race. More threatening to the positive mood is the fact that the Mavern Half Marathon is rapidly approaching, giving me a nudge in the ribs and reminding me that I need to be upping the mileage on a regular basis, getting out there over 5 and 6 miles next week instead of the 3's and 4's I have been doing. Against this positive backdrop the health is on an upward stroke too. After the Asthma diagnosis things just seemed to get worse with the cough, back pain and tension being even more of an issue (although the two were clearly linked), forcing me from Osteopath's table straight back to the GP's office. That last visit resulted in a brown, Steroid inhaler being prescribed and although I'm still a bit rattly, the wheeze has improved and......... wait for it....... after a full four months I've finally stopped waking up with a raking cough every morning. Hurrah! What a relief that is, I can tell you. Okay, so I still have my moments, and the back is still sore and stiff, but I'm working on that with a Yogalates DVD and regular stretching to compliment the osteopathic treatment so I'm still hopeful it's not going to keep me off my feet. Just to add to the problems though I've rubbed up a tremendous blister on the instep of my left foot, which I think was mainly down to gathering mud on the bottom of my shoes when running along the canal, making them heavy and more prone to movement against the foot. Painful, yes. But it'll go eventually. So that's all the prosaic news, oh, that and the fact that on last Wednesday I was laid off by my erstwhile employer. A predictable meeting in Little Chef prompted a run across the Malverns - madness - talk about continuous hills! Truly exhausting but what I needed to clear the head in spite of the aching muscles on Thursday and Friday. So it looks like over the next few weeks the running will take on added importance to keep me on track as I look for a new job. It's an opportunity I intend to take advantage of and on the plus side I've got three months notice and a strong possibility that my former employer will take me back (if I bend my kness and tug my forelock sufficiently). Its all good. Total Mileage: 49.19. Getting better.

Minor irritations, major implications

2009-02-21T23:34:00.000-08:00

No running in the last week. Hardly a positive move towards the big day, but the health simply hasn't been up to it. A bit of cycling and a bit of swimming has kept things ticking over but the health is going to have to improve considerably before I can truly kick in on a full training programme. Tuesday saw more acupuncture on the back problem, which was incredibly painful but certainly eased up the left side, but Friday was more of a set back. Jane convinced me to head back to the docs with the cough that just refuses to die, and it didn't take long for a diagnosis of Asthma. Asthma. Me. Its a weird one. I always used to see it as a real weakness. The wheezy kids skipping off PE at school. Old men breathlessly struggling up the slightest incline. Not something which was ever going to afflict me. After all, its not as if I live in the middle of a polluted city, or work in an industrial environment. What could possibly bring it on? Hence, when first the doctor told me that was what it was I took quite a dip, immediately envisioning a bloated, useless Rob, gasping everytime he walked up a set of stairs.... but then I thought about Steve, who's not only seriously asthmatic, but also older and a far better long distance runner than me. And it didn't take long looking on the Runners World website to see that its an issue which affects thousands of people, but not one which they let affect them. Isn't Paula Radcliffe asthmatic too? So there's still hope. A chest x-ray has been done, an inhaler prescribed and an appointment with the Asthma nurse made. In the meantime although the doc suggested laying off the running while we "get it under control" I'm really interpreting that as avoiding running in really cold air..... okay, that's a rather liberal interpretation, but I don't think a quick jog out over three miles on a beautiful day like today is going to hurt. Overall, problems are there to be overcome, and this is just another set back to be countered. I'm still determined to be on that start line in October, and although it seems a long way off at the moment time ticks relentlessly on, and on, and on ..... it will happen.

Its dark these days

2009-02-15T23:10:00.000-08:00

I guess it is a fairly ridiculous notion. The fact that so many people have now done a marathon diminishes the achievement somewhat - talk of ultras and the like not helping either. Yet its still 26 miles. Its still a heck of a long way. How can someone with a dodgy back (which seems to be getting worse, not better, with the exercise) a couple of damaged lungs (the deathly rattle which awakens me each morning still being there after lord knows how many months now) and a wine belly which has taken years (and thousands of pounds) to perfect possibly drag his ancient frame so far. After puffing around a little over three miles last night, I just don't think its going to be possible. It seems so unlikely, so easy just to capitulate and opt for the easy life (as I so often do in other ways). Why put myself through this for a start? All relevant questions. But then why did we persist with the adoption process? We could have stayed in a very comfortable life with nothing to concern ourselves beyond planning the next citybreak. The answer has to be a rare form of masochism. A bloody-minded stubborn-ness which drives us on to do things which takes life down an altogether more pitted road. Almost relentless inclines with what seems like the briefest of moments to enjoy the view after any number of false horizons. No, from here I'm not sure I can do this. Its a long, long way. But then, I can look at our adopoted son snuggled under my left arm as I write this, and think exactly the same. As I did any number of times in the first few weeks he and his sister came to live with us. And in a minute I shall post this message, get their breakfast ready, wash them, brush teeth, dress them and get them ready to face the world. Its the only way. Another small step on the road. Masochists unite. Total mileage to date: 21.63, alcohol intake: never enough.

The end of the road.... for now?

2009-02-12T23:47:00.000-08:00

All I want for christmas is a painfree back, a painfree back, a painfree back. After a few lengths in the swimming baths on Monday a working trip to London brought no relief in the back pain stakes. I plodded around a 5 mile run on Wednesday, just to try to get some time on my feet, but a trip to the osteopath yesterday has brought home the extent of the problems and she has recommended that I don't run for the time being. At least until my next appointment on Tuesday. The response? Rebellious thoughts that I could sneak in a couple of short, quick runs under heavy painkilling sedation? Of course, but it also prompted me to fix the puncture on my bike with a view to some cross-training to keep things at least ticking over on the exercise front. So for now, the mileage isn't going to increase much. Not the end of the road perhaps, but a temporary set of roadworks causing a tedious diversion. Total mileage to date: 16.49. Alcohol intake: too high to be healthy.

The slowest of starts

2009-02-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

One thing is for sure, my phlegm distribution skills have improved no end. There was a time, mainly throughout my school years, when I'd run a mile rather than get sucked into a spitting contest, knowing all too well the embarassment of slimy discharge dribbling down my chin as another failed fob was stillborn. Taking these first few faltering jogs down the road in the general direction of Amsterdam (via any number of yet to be determined local stop offs) the remnants of the murky cough which has dogged me for so long has guaranteed a steady supply of practice material, which - with a firm roll of the tongue - has been despatched some impressive distances for my standards, and occasionally in the direction I intended. As for the running, its a case of little acorns being planted..... and the green shoots of recovery being as slow to show as a firm offer on a Birmingham Penthouse. The snowy conditions are an excuse I'm happy to jump on, but the back has also been a major problem, with much pain through the middle of the week compounded by my inability to get an appointment with the Osteopath until this morning. I tried. Oh yes, I tried, racking up about five miles on Wednesday and another 3 and a half on Saturday, but its not been the best start - that I have to admit. Still, another trip to the Osteo this week and if we can get some motion going then the flow of miles should follow. Sure as phlegm follows a good old fashioned chesty cough. Total mileage to date: 11.48 (not even a measly half marathon). Weight: who cares. Alcohol consumption: Moderate to heavy.

Off and running

2009-02-03T23:02:00.000-08:00

Registration complete, flight booked, accommodation booked. We're now fully committed, and perhaps should be. A short run to start with. A familiar jaunt down along the canal towpath, the icy wind lashing into my face and a steady three miles which all but completely wiped me out. But it has to start somewhere and those first three miles were not a disaster, more a reminder of how far I've yet got to go - and only 250 odd days to do it. But I will. Clearly the mother-in-law has her doubts, questioning the wisdom of the venture as I stand with her in the chilly school playground, laughing as our son's face moons from behind the glass classroom door. But then I can understand that, and those closest to me will provide the support I need, the doubters only serving to make me more determined. It's going to be a question of slipping in the runs wherever and however I can - when the kids are asleep at either end of the day as the weather picks up, perhaps alongside a cycling family at the weekend, but for now squashed and squeezed around the necessities of work and domestic life. Perhaps we should get a dog. Spaniels seems popular around here, as I saw three on this first run, making me idly wonder whether different areas have a bias towards particular dogs - hard and short in the North, fluffy and leggy in the South, plain daft in the west. A spaniel would no doubt make a good running partner, their bouncy ears brightening the spirits on a long run, although a tendency to dart in different directions may prevent adherence to a particular route and pace. The idea quickly fades. Not yet. Suzanne - our daughter - is still at the stage of terrorising the cat and two highly excitable animals in the house would no doubt drive poor Lilly into a feral state. Perhaps once this is all over and I need a more routine exercise method. Perhaps then dog walking will appeal more. For now though we're literally off and running. The journey has started with a few small strides on wintery roads and I'm looking forward to the ride. Positive thinking. Distance run to date: 3.17 miles. Weight: 13st 4lbs.

It all starts here

2009-02-01T23:03:00.000-08:00

An icy cold February morning and a soon to be 39 year old, sitting behind a laptop and waiting for the registration for the 2009 Amsterdam Marathon to open. He's never done a marathon before, is carrying a little too much around the middle (well, rather more than a litte), has a cough which has been lingering since last November and possesses as much athletic prowess as a one-legged Koala. But it has to start somewhere.

Its fair to say this one-legged Koala has some experience of running. After all, he's known this moment has been coming for a good few years and has got some practice in by running away from tourists, climbing high for the juiciest eucalyptus leaves and generally using his training as a means to escape - work, walls, life - for a blissful half hour of random music and pulsing footfall, but - in truth - that was just playing, and in all seriousness it starts here.

Hopefully it'll end in the 1928 Olympic Stadium, in Amsterdam, on 18 October. Hopefuly it'll end within 4 hours of the B of the bang. With a fair wind and a whole heap of support from my co-koalas. Hopefully it'll end with a nice pot of money for Adoption UK, a smiley face and - of course - Blisters from Amsterdam. But for now, it all starts here.