The Finish Line.

I knew I was to travelling up to London on my own, and running the race with 35,999 strangers and no familiar faces in the crowd, a little different to 2010 when I shared the experience with Nic Pengelly and my brother was able to come down and support me with his family, but that changed on the platform at Exeter Train Station. I asked the couple next to me if I was on the right platform for Waterloo. They thought so as that was where they were heading and she was doing the London Marathon. I shook hands, introduced myself and we got talking. They were Steve and Julie from Launceston, with Julie running for the first time.

It immediately made a difference to me, it was nice to know someone else who would be running the route at the same time. We talked, I read a bit, enjoyed the views and on arrival at Waterloo we went our separate ways.

The Excel Centre was a little nerve wracking. If you’re going to train for a marathon and make it all the way to London, you really don’t want to balls it up at the final hurdle. I got my entry pack and the chip registered then started to relax and set off round the great hall to look at the stands and exhibitors. They had a new innovation from last time, photo booths with a twin print out, one to keep and one to pin up on their “Wall of Fame” with a message underneath.

The weather was crisp and clear, with not a cloud in the sky, it was cold in the morning and toasty in the sunshine by lunchtime. The rest of the weekend was made up of relaxing, catching up with old friends and eating Jaffa Cakes, Tracker Bars, pasta pots and drinking Lucozade sport. Until Sunday………

Sunday 21st April 2013.

I woke ahead of my alarm but managed to doze through. Got up, stressed over the packing of my kit bag, forced down a bowel of cereal, fitted my “names” wristband and the taxi arrived. It was a short drive from Ladywell to Blackheath and I even recognised part of the route we took. It was pretty much identical to last time, a couple of barrage balloons up in the air and a half dozen Hot Air Ballooons on the ground, with various people milling around, but not busy……yet. 

I wandered across the frosty grass in the general direction of the Red Start. 

Walking through Greenwich Park was very pleasant. Daffodils were out and there was a still in the air. Our actual start and the baggage lorries were situated next to a bandstand. I milled around taking in the runners and some of the fancy dress. Bagpuss was probably the most impressive, but there were a few super heroes, an awful drag, Luke Skywalker with Yoda on his back and a couple of fairies.

It was a lot of waiting, but it all contributed to the feel, the event, the weekend as a whole. I spotted some guys wrapped in the bacofoil sheets and managed to blag one from the St Johns Ambulance stall this gave me the chance of staying warm if there was a loong wait at the start line. I used the urinals (Oooo how exciting) which was all part of the plan….. A plan that could have turned out to be very embarrassing. 

At about 830 I took off my spare clothes, vaselined my feet and chest, strapped up my knees and packed my bag. I got a couple of photos taken before the bag went in and then headed over to pen 9, the final pen, which I had been allocated to. As I was nice and early, I got to the front. It was right on one of the entrances to the Start Zone, so we were able to watch all the runners arriving and this they did right up to the 1000 start time. I got talking to a (very) talkative young lady next to me, from Bournemouth and after we had exchanged pleasantries, she wouldn’t stop….. 

At around 950 I felt I ought to finish my “plan of Action” and with the foil blanket wrapped around me, I subtly reached inside my shorts with a drinks bottle, rather awkwardly “docked” and started to pee….. Just as everyone round me started waving frantically…… at the tv camera pointing straight at us!!!!!!! My arms stayed rooted inside my space blanket and I smiled, weakly, maniacly, wanly, I don’t know, I was a little self conscious at taking a whiz on national TV. Possibly. A few minutes later the camera did another pass and I waved this time. I was to be told later that I had been spotted on tv on the start line and I still don’t know if it was the first shot, or the one of me holding an Apple Juice bottle!

The weather was sunny, incredibly sunny, but with a chill in the air, in the sunshine it was warm and standing around at a loose end wasn’t really a problem.

Shortly before the start we were joined by the obligatory Rhino. Then another and then a troop of about 8 all in a row. Our particular pen had a dozen Squaddies in full kit just march in at the front but no one complained. Then there was a muttering over the speaker system and a whistle blew shrilly. The signal for a pre arranged 30 second silence for the City of Boston and the victims of the bomb earlier in the week. Someone in the massed runners hadn’t got the info ‘cause they cheered loud, then realised that everyone else had frozen….. The birds sang in the trees, someones mobile phone went off and a plane droned overhead, but all those things just emphasised the quiet of thousands of people. The second whistle blew and applause rippled up and down the massed runners and supporters. 

Shortly after that we were off and started the long walk to get to the start line. Partway along there was a Cornish contingent, with several St Pirans flags pinned to the railings, I debated, mulled over and when we got almost alongside I couldn’t resist. “OGGY OGGY OGGY”. And it wasn’t just them that replied the place boomed with it. I finished the war cry and immediately after a voice said to someone, “Well I’ve never heard that before!” Coming out of the park through the famous gates, I made a point of lining up with the cameras and then it was a straight line to the Start. All in, it had taken about 21 minutes from starting, to start. It was busy, congested, but we were moving steadily, if not at the pace I wanted, but I was patient.

 It was odd running though the first three miles or so, it could have been any town or city. Nothing really distinctive about the suburbs and throughout it was a case of listening to the crowd, Hi-Fiving a few and getting a feel for the road. But it was busy…. A lot more congested than I remember from last time. Having said that, my timings were bang on….. 10 minute miles one after the other, or just under. A niggle at the back of my mind though was keeping some time in reserve should anything happen, but I didn’t want to push it. 

 The problem I have, now, 24 hours later on a train heading back to Devon is that the ending was so positive and exhilarating, I am struggling to remember the early stages of the race. 6 miles, one hour of running in the sububs of London. The crowds, the children, every age, nationality, cars with open doors pumping music out and across the road. It all kind of blends in until I got to Greenwich park and the Royal Naval College. A beautiful area, landscaped to an inch of its life and then past the Cutty Sark. Unmistakeable!

 I missed it in 2010 due to the boarding and scaffolding being up and around it. This time though it was a lovely sight to see, majestic and with smatterings of supporters cheering from above us. Then round the corner and there was The Gypsy Moth, the pub I had visited in October before the Muse concert and onward through Greenwich itself.

Rotherhithe was interesting. Something wasn’t quite right, a slight niggle in the left of my groin and my thighs ached a little, in an unusual manner, nothing serious just out of the ordinary and I had also spotted a couple of pacemakers with the 4:30 flag, in front, but I had caught them up, did that mean I was ahead of time? Not according to my watch which reckoned I was bang on or a little behind. I tried not to think about it, but I kept drifting back to it. It was also around that point my headache took hold, base of the back of my neck and relieved every time I took water on board or damped myself down, but it didn’t last long and just to top it off I hadn’t brought any painkillers!  What caused it I don’t know, I can only guess. My liquid intake was little and often (every drinks station, only missing out a couple on the 20 to 22 stretch, I kept as cool as I could, looking for shade and using spare water to splash over me. The only thing I can think is the direct sunlight…. I am suffering a little at the moment with sunburn on my shoulders, forearms and below my chin, whether that is what brought it on combined with the noise of the crowds….. It’s all I can think of. 

 Tower Bridge was fantastic. 

Majestic and once again I looked up and down river as I crossed, then spied the photographers and gestured towards them. The crowds were great the encouragement reigned down and on we went………..

After the bridge though things turned nasty. My legs were heavier and my thighs ached more, my breathing was fine, not even slightly laboured, I could just feel my pace ebbing away. It was Docklands….. I didn’t like it last time and I didn’t like it this time either. The pace setters drifted out of view and I was caught up by a 4:42 man instead. My head got worse, I started to feel tetchy, annoyed whenever the field bunched up, teasy at the screaming spectators and out and out pissed off at the ones constantly blowing a whistle or clack-clacking the clacky things. It hurt my head and shifted my focus and my pace suffered. My legs felt like they were drying up. I began to think I would be quicker walking fast rather than running slow, I could smell the sweat and odours from the runners, the barbecues, the docklands themselves and thought I was going to be ill. It. Was. Punishing.

From 14 to 20 I battled it out, looking at the names on my wrist, visualising the finish line, willing my legs just to keep moving at whatever pace. I tried NOT to think about how far it was to get back to the Tower of London, how my timings were slipping, whether I would have to pull up. It was mental, in several senses of the word and there were times when in my head at least, I was shouting at the crowd “Will you please just SHUT UP!”

Mile 20 or thereabouts I dried up. I could barely feel my legs. It was like operating on sticks and I drifted back into a slow jog and then fast walk. One leg in front of the other, look straight ahead, smile if you can when someone shouts your name, but no thumbs up, no wave of acknowledgement, just keep moving forward. Limply grab a bottle of water, drink, splash, drink, pour, drink and feebly toss it to one side. Pick up the pace, c’mon pick it up. Lift your leg up back to a jog, run, aim for the roundabout, c’mon get round, automatic pilot are you there, can I run without thinking , no, mind drifts back to the legs, where are they…..6 mins of running again. It’s gone again. Now what, walk, save yourself now, run later. Just before Blackfriars, there was a huge placard over a bridge saying Run if you can, walk if you must, but finish for Boston. I was back up by then, but it rang so true. Somewhere between 20 and 22 I was given a major boost, back to a running gait of sorts I spotted a figure on a set of railings. Staggeringly it was Steve, the guy I had met on the train on the way up, I ran over, shook his hand on the way through and said something along the lines of “Lovely to see you” and carried on my merry way.

It got better, very, very gradually, but there was one fear filled moment when something stretched and bunched in my left thigh, on the inside…. Cramp was threatening, and I twitched, growled at myself (getting a few odd looks into the bargain) and concentrated on keeping it at bay. Feeling the movement of my legs, what worked and what didn’t.

I think there were three sections where I had to walk and push and focus but by the time I had hit the tower of London for the second time I had some sort of rhythm albeit a relatively slow one. It was all gradually coming back, I felt different, like running on tickover. Then came Blackfriars bridge and tunnel. The monkey on my back from 2010. The stretch which I had walked and then struggled with cramp afterwards.  

This time it was well and truly the opposite I hit the underpass nice and steady and inside it was lined with miniature hot air balloons each with an encouraging message. But surreally and it still feels like a daydream, the Whomping Soundsystem they had set up started up “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC. Track two on my running play list and an all time favourite. I ran, I sang, I punched the air and from that point on, I didn’t slow down.

Emerging onto the Embankment held mixed emotions. I knew where I was and what was left, but I couldn’t see the London Eye and when it did drift into view, round the bend in the river, it looked an awful long way away. But the crowd. Oh, the crowd. Whereas earlier they were a hindrance, a brain rattling annoyance who I wished would just bugger off and leave me run in peace, now They were glorious. The cheering, the personal support, the clapping. They could feel my pain, they could see the hurt in my eyes and those of the runners around me and they spurred us on. I clapped them in return, new found energy to thank them for just being there and getting me through, It was emotional and painful and so very, very different to 2010. I saw the faces lining the embankment, Cleopatra’s Needle, the South Bank, The Eye, I applauded The “I-Can” team at the 25 mile mark I was overtaken by Wolverine running in Jeans and a leatherjacket, I watched the South Bank drift past and the Westminster Tower loom ever larger. 

Passing Big Ben I singled out the photographers, lost seconds but pointed at the cameras, gave them the thumbs up, smiled like a loon. Dammit I didn’t just enjoy the ending, I freakin’ loved it and just to top it off, with Big Ben on my back it boomed out three o’clock. Thanks for that! 

Birdcage. An obvious change from every other year the marathon has been run, it’s now three times longer!!!! I tapped a walker called Andy on the shoulder and told him “Come on, just round the corner. He overtook and beat me 60 seconds later. I eyeballed Buckingham Palace, looped round the Victoria monument wide, into my own space for the cameras and then started doing things with my hands. Two in the air, John Travolta, pointing at camermen and then the finish. I looked square at the camera, pointed at the sky and smiled. It was elating. The last 3 miles had made up for everything that had gone before and so much more. Running the stretch I had walked in 2010, made me feel like I had finally completed it. The pleasure and excitement round the last few streets, the energy I felt, the support of the crowd. It was wonderful. 

And my time? Well, it wasn’t too bad. The initial aim (January) was 11 minute miles which worked out at 4:48:12, but after training and before my norovirus, I was comfortable aiming for 10 min miles and a bit, leaving me with a target of 4:25:00. Actual time was 4:47:43. Very satisfied with that and the fact I won through a tough mental battle, very warm temperatures and a headache, gives my finish an added bonus.

I grabbed the finisher next to me by the shoulder and congratulated him. I hugged the 6” 2’ grey haired marshal there to greet us and guide us. I walked up the ramp, had my timer snipped and went on to get my reward bag, then my kit bag and I miraculously found a small tent with fold up seats. If I’d sat on the floor I wouldn’t have got up again. It’s a strange sensation feeling like you can’t walk but doing so, aching so much you want to lie down but knowing if you do, you’ll ache even more, in different places. I sorted my bags, dug out the Odd Duck T-Shirt and phoned home. Staggeringly I got through, normally the amount of mobile traffic at the end just clogs the entire system up. Turns out they saw me cross the finish line on the television, having tracked me round the course on line!!!! I kept moving, walked to the embankment and had to take the long way round the to “Hispaniola” the river boat “I-Can” had hired for a get together and rub down. I reckon the massage just about saved me as my aches and pains are distant now. I chatted with the I-Can team and took on some more water, had a few photos taken and then made my way (on foot to keep things ticking over) to Leicester Square. I ended up in a noodle bar and tucked into my tempura vegetables, sweet and sour chicken and chicken noodles. It was slow going though, I was fading and at times didn’t have the energy to eat, I reckon it was the Tango that got me going though. After eating, I fulfilled a promise I had made to a friend, the news editor at Penwith Radioand gave him an “exclusive” interview.

Ever since leaving the immediate finishing zone, people, strangers, were congratulating me, wishing me well and asking how I had got on. It continued, even on the train out of London Central. A delightful turnaround to the usual city life. I  made it home had a bath as cold as I could bear and then topped it up with warm water. I dressed, flopped out on the sofa listened to my interview on Penwith radio and caught up with around 87 FB updates….

Looking back over the run, much of it is a blur, towards the beginning I passed about four other “I-Can” runners (I found out later there were 22 in the race) not all at once, but I made a point of patting their shoulders and introducing myself (hopefully to see them on the boat at the end) There was a knight in shining armour, a gorilla towards the end, Jazz, Reggae, Rock, and Big bands. The big ole Chinese drums were again early on, in the underpass, echoing and booming out, a couple of brass bands, Scots Guards, mobile DJ’s and huge support at the pubs along the way.  Did anything in particular go wrong? I don’t know. I felt hotter than last time, though I reckon it was sunnier rather than ambient temperature. There’s the bug I recovered from just two weeks previously. How much did that knock out of me? And the Red Start. I loved being there, with everything going on around me, the camaraderie, the fancy dress and the sheer volume of people, but for the best part of the race I was having to back off here and there, dodge other runners, change gear or simply slow down in the pack.

London 2013. A fantastic experience, the good and the bad. It was very, very different to the last one and should it ever happen again, I reckon that too would be a unique experience. There were similarities though, with the crowd giving the lift and my disappointment running through Docklands. But for now that’s it, no intention, no plan to put myself through it again. Coming out the other side is one thing, but the build up, the training, the effort and time, the cost and the dieting……it’s a different world and one I have lived in twice now. The rewards are huge, but I’m not a greedy person. I am satisfied and very, very happy. 

Penultimate....

I got a second run in at 6.5 on Wednesday, but afterwards, my muscles hurt, it felt like I had run 13/14/15 miles and took more than the usual 24 hours to settle down. Questions started arising in my mind, had it all gone? Would I remember how to run a long distance? How much of my strength had the sickness taken from me? I wanted to run again, but at the same time there was trepidation.
 Sunday came along though and I was determined to get in a decent turn. Saturday had seen me eat a few things which didn't fit in the plan and of course that would be my downfall on the big day!!!!!
 9.1 miles. 3 small circuits on the inner road of St Marys. It felt comfortable to start with, but the "energy" I had felt in previous runs didn't seem to be present. the rhythm was there, the breathing was good and I had music as a distraction. and of course, things settled down and time passed. It was sunny though. One of the warmer runs I have done, I was looking for the shade and trying to stay out in the wind at the same time.

On the second lap, I did something I haven't done in all these last four months. I ran 'with' someone.  An old school friend was back on the island for a few days and out for a run, to start with, in the opposite direction but changed and joined me for ten minutes. It was nice and distracted me from my concerns and thoughts. And the last lap and a half ticked over nicely.....and just to top it off I was ecstatic at the timing. 9.1 miles in 87 minutes, 4 under the 10 minutes mile pace. .........

But that's it. No more training. No more running until the day, tomorrow is a recovery day, Tuesday is Coastguard and Wednesday is final preparations before I leave on Thursday.......

Easing back in.....

Last Friday evening, things seemed to be getting worse, although my liquid intake continued, I showed more signs of dehydration than I had before, but Saturday was a new day, things had........settled down shall we say and I ate a little more than previously. Sunday I felt nearly normal and actually ate well, then Monday was back to work and what a day it was, short staffed and with disruption the afternoon was particularly heavy going and (having planned an easy run) my legs ached as I went home so I called it off. But that wasn't the last of it. the ache never left, and when I went to bed at around 11, it got worse and worse. Real pain, like a crushing sensation and it was all centred on my left leg. I couldn't sleep 1, 2 o'clock, and my mind of course was turning over the possibilities. Would I have to give in and call the doctor what if I couldn't walk, what was the actual problem and depending on the answers.... would it affect my chances of making it to the start line???
 I woke up with the alarm at 645 and had a pain free day at work. Still bemused by what it was, but it's gone.

And tonight, I headed out on a throttled back easy going circuit of the island. It was nice to get on the road and having taken it easy all the way round, it was gratifying to see my time at the end. 48 mins for 4.6 miles. It'll do, it's added to my mileage and shown me that all is not lost. A gentle build up now and all will be well.

Not the weigh I wanted it. ***WARNING UNPLEASANT CONTENT***

The day after my Exmoor exploit I became ill. Just a dodgy feeling, tiredness and vague nausea mid afternoon, it was off to bed to sleep it off, then the vomiting started. Aches and a bad nights sleep due to uncomfortableness, got me through to the following morning then the diarrhoea started. A day in bed reading Elvis Cole, Wednesday came and went, uneventfully except on asking for first aid advice Vicki was (politely) requested to leave the site along with anyone else in the chalet. Suspected Norovirus, though the rest of the family showed no symptoms. It’s now Friday morning and I’ve lost the weight I wanted to prior to the run, just not using a method I would have chosen. There are 16 days to go until London 2013. I need to start eating again, build up my strength, get a little exercise slowly but surely, maybe a run or two a week down the line. I have the stamina for London, I just need to be at full health….

Sunday 31st March 2013

A beautiful, still, sunny day on the edge of Exmoor. Of all things, I had with me, a “Bum-bag” and it was in to this the camera went. I looked ridiculous and after the event I had a solid bruise on my right hip, but it was worth it. 

 The run took me out of Butlins, along Minehead seafront and up a couple of back roads, onto North Hill………… and what a hill it was. The intention was to run, but at my level and with a gradient like that, my pace “running” was probably slower than a fast walk and with a lot more strain. I walked, at a push……

Pacing across the edge of Exmoor was magical. I’ve said it to others, it’s the only place in recent years I have encountered “Silence”. With no wind, birds, vehicles, sea, people, nothing. The views were stunning with  a few ponies along the way, the only problem was that I couldn’t find my turning. It reached a point where I had to decide to return along the road I had come.

But part way back there was a footpath heading off to Bratton, and Bratton was where I was heading for only now via a different route. The best decision I made through the whole training program. A stunning run over open hillsides, through woodland and past holly bushes, 

alongside streams, nice soft ground, challenging at times and smooth and comfortable at others. It was also notable for a complete lack of other people. On the road at the top, there were a few cars, bikes and walkers, but down this trail, it was just me, the sheep, a couple of squirrels and a woodpecker!

It didn’t come out exactly where I expected it to, but Woodcombe was pretty and I ended up running all the way down Minehead Main Street!!!!! I had been out for 2 hours exactly and moving for 1 hr 47 minutes, more than I had intended, but understandable. I got carried away….. on Exmoor. 

Mainland Again.

So, after  the long run, I had TWO days off. I was contemplating going out on the Tuesday but there were a couple of knots in the side of my thighs which I felt needed to work out first. The Wednesday we were due to fly off the rock for a weeks holiday , but the way things were feeling I I wanted to get out on a sensible run. I put in a 6.5, which was steady and sensible and finished a minute under the aim.

After heading to the mainland though I had a bit of work to do. Biiiiiig Chinese meal on the Thursday night and a McDonalds breakfast, Friday, meant that the “Vague” idea I had, to run on the mainland had turned into a necessity….. 

 I planned my route on my map/distance planner on my netbook and headed out on the Friday afternoon. It was supposed to be just over 7 miles on the back roads of West Cornwall. From St Erth, down Long Lane (Hmmm I wonder why it’s called that???) left at Relubbus, up Gurlyn Hill (which looked scary enough on my screen), Left and Left again and I would be home. 

 It was fine…. Except there was a lot more “hill” for my dollar and I decided one of my turnings wasn’t a turning and I ended up in St Erth Praze…. Not too bad, just gave me an extra 20 mins and 2 miles…..

Now I’m on the coast, on the edge of Exmoor, I am going to make the most of it……weather permitting (and for once I am going to be a fair weather runner…..I’m on holiday for crying out loud) I’ll be out twice on 2 different Exmoor routes……. Just got to work out how to take the camera with me!!!!!

Virtual Marathon Training Update

I may have completed my run to Broadstairs from Lands End using the direct route, but I am still at it, still transferring Island mileage onto a route across the south of England calling in on friends and family along the way......

This week got me from the edge of the New Forest, through Sarfampton, into Protsmouth and I even borrowed a boat to pop in on a friend across the Solent on the Isle of Wight. I got to see my cousin on his birthday, an Uncle and Aunt, 3 friends and also five schools affiliated to "I-Can". But where next? Did I carry on across the South Coast or aim directly for London and the start line..... we shall see.

El Gordo

Following on from my last blog, I got in the 6.5 and the 9.1 and the times for them were encouraging. Day off on Saturday in preparation......... Alongside that, I was packing in the past, baked potato, jaffa Cakes and doritos and I'm learning to loathe them all......

Sunday, The longest long run. For the last 18 odd hours, everything has been focussing on it, thoughts, food, plans and I was nervous, like waiting for a performance to start and at 1, bang on 1 I headed out. I was kitted out exactly as I will for London. Same shoes, socks, knee supports, shorts, and my official "I-Can" running vest.

 It was cold, but from the outset it also felt comfortable. The plan was four laps of the island (4.6 miles each) and a mini lap (1.9) bolted on. The first two I felt invincible, they positively floated by, the third and a half was steady and it was only the last 3 miles that felt a little stodgy. Timings were very satisfactory, 46, 47, 48 and 48 minutes (46 is the 10 minute mile marker) and the last section was 18 minutes, just inside the plan. Add to that the rolling terrain and cold conditions and to be frank, it instilled me with confidence. Ice packs went on as soon as I got through the door and there was a hot bath to follow.

One thing I very much appreciated about this run over the 18.4 two weeks ago was the psychological side. Last long run my mind was wandering and I struggled to focus on the run itself. It felt longer than it was and though the run itself was fine, it did seem to drag out..... Todays run was so much different and better. The miles ticked by and my mind didn't wander at all. I've just run the third longest distance of my life and spent 3 hrs 27 mins non stop pounding the roads of St Marys.....

It was also something of a watershed. From this point on the training backs off. Officially it's called tapering, the hard work is done and from this point on, you can't really improve your fitness, just increase the risk of injury. Having said that, I do still need to lose about 10lb in weight. I have dropped from 222lbs down to 202lbs which is great for a start, but if I could shift a bit more, it's less baggage to carry round the streets of London.

I feel ready.

On the Road again......

Four days ill. Was either a serious cold, or mild flu, I felt rotten, lethargic, wooly. Struggled to walk to the school and back and at one point was remembering what it was like having pneaumonia a few years ago.... I must have bottomed out on Monday, picked up a bit on Tuesday (typical! Both were my days off this week!) and felt an awful lot better being back at work today. I was glad I was there at the airport as there was a lovely group of three ladies, interested in the run, the charity and my life with Joshua and his Aspergers. It was lovely to chat and laugh with a small group of people I hadn't met before about the personal nature of the run.

Come the evening I went for an "Easing back in" 4.6 mile run which was in an expected 48 mins. I'm happy with that after a nasty virus bug thing! BUt I've got a feeling I'll sleep well tonight. The plan from here is a 6.5 tomorrow, 9.1 on Friday, Saturday off and then "The Big One" on Sunday. Let's just see how things go.

Another Milestone achieved today though was my virtual run across the South of England. Though I am reeeeeeaallly taking my time and an indirect route visiting friends and family, If I had gone direct, running via the A303, Farnham and Dorking it would be a distance of 368.1 miles. And today at the end of my run I had totalled 368.3. I have run from one side of the country to the other!

Just one more thing......

I've just noticed that I didn't update my "Virtual Training" on the Mainland last week, which means there are two weeks worth of stuff to get through and a new photographic visualisation!!!!

Well week 9 saw me pretty much cross Dorset with a little run around in the middle, from Bridport to Bournemouth, I managed to pass the hospital where I was born, my first home, playgroup and school, following roads and lanes on Googlearth that I know so well. I called in on my first girlfriend (I was 4 at the time!) in Blandford and made my way past the Lifeboat training college in Poole before finishing my week at Parkstone. Where something very odd happened. The following morning there was a news report on the BBC about a fire at a private school in Parkstone. I had a look and the address zoomed in EXACTLY on the drawing pin I had left..... I had "virtually" been staying at exactly the spot it had happened..... freaky.

Week 10 saw me visit Chris Clifford and Rachel Legg on my tour through Bournemouth, Aunty Doris in Highcliff, a lovely run through the New Forest passing the place I crashed a car in 2001 and a stop in Brockenhurst to visit Mark Kermode. The end of the week should have seen me plough through Southampton, but due to illness, I was left high and dry, just short in a village called Ashurst. It looks a little like this..........

Peaks and Troughs

Meh. That's how I feel right now. Thursday morning I had a bit of a sore throat, Friday I was a bit under the weather and then yesterday (Saturday) was a real struggle, wooly head, blocked nose, poor nights sleep, bit of a wheeze and I should have seen it coming!
 I still went out for the 6.5 mile run, time was average, for a couple of weeks ago (66 mins) but it felt heavy all the way around. I was aching in the evening, though it was joints rather than muscles and I collapsed into bed a lot earlier than the norm. And today, in preparation for an 18.4 mile run I had a crap nights sleep, can't breathe at all through my nose and feel as though I have been squeezed through a mangler. It's a cold, but a bit of a brutal one. The run today is out of the question. :-( and in some respects that's not such a bad thing. My training program has been a steady increase of weekly mileage and the Sunday long run getting steadily longer. Many training programs have a dip. Long run distance increases week after week but then once or twice over the period of 16 weeks, the distance drops back, say 14, 15, 17, 13, 17, 20. So in this circumstance, I'm dropping back, enabling my body a slightly longer chance to recover. That's the upside, the downside is, to my OCD mind, I've missed out on 18.4 miles in the total and the equivalent distance on my "Virtual" journey across the South of England.

Amazing what an 18 mile run can do for you….

With plenty of stretching after Sundays event, Monday wasn’t too sore and the straight 6.5 I headed out on, on Tuesday seemed to float by even though it was incredibly cold. 

Hill Climb Wednesday brought 8 return trips over Church Hill and nice and steady it was too, coming in 2 minutes under the 10 min/mile mark as well, which was most satisfying.

Then there was Thursdays big push….. 9.1 miles. Granted the route is the flattest of all my routes but it still incorporates Lunnon, Holy Vale and Parting Carn rises and in this run it was each one, THREE times! And at the end of it all….. I came out in exactly NINE MINUTE MILES. It was comfortable and in each of these three runs I’ve felt there is more in the tank. 

With it is a subconscious psychological thing after breaking the 18 mile mark I don't know, but as exertive as this week has been it's as though my body is a separate entity and is quite aware that it is capable of a lot more than these mileages. Distances are gratifyingly comfortable and my pace has picked up..... all of it's own accord, no conscious decision on my part to push. Maybe it's converting the vertical effort of the hills into horizontal pace, whatever it is, I'm quite happy for it to continue

Another 18.4 this Sunday coming, after Saturdays 6.5 to ease back in…. Quietly Satisfied.

Stuck In A Groove.....

It's been ten weeks since the intensive training started. The routine has settled in and I'm getting the twitches one the recovery days. It was also the week I upped the anti, trying to bring it back in line with this stage, three years ago.

Tuesday was a warm up, 6.5 miles in a very sensible 64 minutes
Wednesday, 7 times over Church Hill (7.5 miles) I used hazelnuts to keep count
Thursday was a mistake! I thought I would throw in an extra "Lomg" run to boost the mileage. I was aiming for 13.8 miles (three laps) but everything just wound down like C3-PO going into standby after the 11 mile mark. Fortunately I was able to adjust the route home and though I walked on three occasions I completed a 12.5 run just 4 minutes outside the 10 min/mile pace. There was just no energy, my legs stopped pounding and would only stride. It was a bit stop start, but I ran the bulk of the final stretch. The reasons behind the shutdown were, I believe, collective. It was a lot warmer than I have been used to, I did drink on the way round, but I don't think enough. I hadn't eaten well that day, it was the third day of training in a row and it was an extra "long" run, out of synch!

Saturday was another 6.5 to ease back in and then there was Sunday..........
Sunday. 18.4 miles. Preparation started in the morning with a big bowl of porridge and a couple of bananas at 10:30. It was cold and very, very windy. I purposefully set off at a steady pace with no pushing and NO MUSIC or audiobook to keep me company, just me and the road. The first lap was probably the most pleasant outlap I have done to date. I hate the first 30 mins, striking a rhythm, letting the breathing settle down and just easing into it. Today was different. Lap 2 and 3 breezed by. I was zoned in, the running was smooth and there were no untoward pressures. stark contrast to Thursdays fiasco!!!!
Lap 4. I didn't stop. and that's about the only good thing I can say about it! It was a lap of attrition, I FELT my pace slowing. My mind was wandering, I felt colder, the distance I had to go seemed to get longer between each water bottle, not shorter and I was no where near as sociable when I had friends or cars pass me :-)

Another week over, a complete week, 5 runs, 51.4 miles, the long run of 18.4. After 10 days of March I have run 73.6 miles and for total training mileage read 333.1, enough to get me from Lands End to Maidstone in Kent!

Strange to think......

..... that a normal week these days consists of work, meals, internet, 6.25 hours of running and 44 miles pounded out. This week was a normal week. Day off Monday, a 6.2 mile straight run on Tuesday to get back in, Hill climb for over an hour on Wednesday and a mid range 9.2 mile run Wednesday (2 laps of the island). Friday to recover, 6.5 miles on Saturday to get back into it and then the long run today. The long run....

The Long Run. 15.7 miles, 3 circuits and an extra small loop. I had a bad nights sleep last night, conditions were very and I went in with a slight sense of trepidation. The run presented no particular difficulties other than the psychological stretch of being out on the road for 2 and 3/4 hours. But I could see it coming from quite early on..... It just felt "Slow" and slow it was. 2hrs 47 for a distance of 15.7 miles, exactly 10 minutes outside the 10 minute mile pace I am after BUT there's three things to remember. 1) I have a few weeks of training left, 2)Running on St Marys is up and down, up and down, it's over training for the streets of London and 3)10 minutes out of 2 and a half hours isn't that bad.... not really.

In terms of the Virtual training I am doing on the mainland, I've put in some good mileage and fought my way out of Somerset to work my way through West Dorset, I've called in on five friends, 1 place of work and 3 "I-Can Schools and my progress looks a little something like this

VMT?

As I’m stuck on an island in the Atlantic ocean where the biggest road circuit available is 4.6 miles (avoiding running through town that is!) I thought I would make things more interesting (primarily for me) by transferring that mileage and seeing if I could run the distance from Lands End to Broadstairs (furthest West to furthest East in the South of England). But to make it more ‘accessible’ for people following my progress I decided to wend my way left to right calling in on friends and family along the way.

 And on top of that I noticed that “I-Can”, the charity I am running the London marathon for, have affiliated schools across the country with clumps of them in Plymouth, Somerset, Kent and so on, so I decided to call in on them as well, wherever possible. Friends and Schools are red, Daily markers are white and Yellow markers are for the end of each week.

Progress has been good so far with over 60 friends and family having ‘virtual’ doors banged on and twelve schools called in on. I’ve made it through three counties am currently in Mid Somerset. If I’d taken the direct route, I’d be half way between Andover and Basingstoke!!!!! 

But where’s the fun in that!

Just Like The Old Days.....

Having been out with the injury and had a disrupted weeks running with a holiday on the mainland, this week was back to the old routine. Five runs planned with Monday and Friday off to recover. One difference though was adding an extra long run on the Thursday. Monday and Tuesday were uneventful, putting in 4.6 and 6.5 then Thursday was my longest run to date, 11.1. It was smooth, comfortable and quite gratifying as it felt like I was capable of more.

Saturday was different to say the least. The temperature had dropped significantly on the islands and I made the decision to run in jogging trousers. Several times on the circuit and a half I ran in snow flurries and was grateful for the choice when I had finished up.

Then there was today. The plan was for 13.8 miles, three straight circuits of St Marys it was a sunny but chill day and I decided to stick with the usual shorts and running shorts. Circuit one was as it usually is, a bit of a plod and settling in for the first 25 minutes but after Pungies, the rhythm really kicked in. Circuit Two was so comfortable I barely saw it and the final circuit was alright until I got to Sandybanks (about the 12.8 mark) when it started to hurt, but by the time I got to the top of Church Hill, Things had settled down.

So what are the raw stats for me in preparation for VLM 2013. 45 runs. 237.6 miles but only 5 "Long" runs due to injury knocking out 3. Since starting in earnest on 1st January, my weekly milaeage has increased from 23.5 to 42.5.  My pace has increased and I am now marginally outside the marathon aim of 10 minute miles, fro example todays 13.8 should have been in 138 mins but was completed in 142 (240 secs out) and over the course that works out at an additional  17 seconds in every mile. I can take that!

Killer Sounds.

I made two more runs down past Rosevidney and by changing my recovery days, by the end of the week I had got in the desired 5 runs and the weekly mileage wasn't what was in the 'original' plan, but at 31.7 miles for the week, is the second best week I have had this year.

The two follow up runs on the mainland were incident free, though they were a little longer each time.

The strangest thing was, on my return to St Marys on the Saturday, the 6.2 miler I put in felt as though I was starting from scratch. Rather than flowing, I felt every footstep. The energy levels and breathing were fine, but transmitting that to my legs just wasn't working. It was a mental push to do the second lap, but it was by far the better of the two.

Then todays was similar. I had been psyching up to it, got the warm up done and boosted my fluids intake. The first lap was stodgy and dragged, the stiff southerly wind didn't help either. But this time (easing back into it all) I was listening to music and on the second lap I changed it from Muses "2nd Law" to Hard Fi and "Killer Sounds". It was a real boost, I love the drama and gravitas of Muse but the bouncy, lively tracks being fed to me by Hard Fi was much more upbeat and..... relaxing I suppose.

So a day off tomorrow to recover and then back into the sling with another long run chucked in to try and get me back on track.

In terms of my Lands end to Broadstairs tracking, I had been stuck outside Newton Abbot for five days, and after a "Too" early comeback, just outside Chudleigh for nine days. But since getting back into it, I have explored the Devon Coutryside just outside Exeter, looping up to Crediton and back down to the big smoke. All being well, I'll be breaking out of the county next week and going all zig zaggy over Somerset.

Breaking Radio Silence.....

We're on the mainland for a holiday (just a week) my foot has been rested and the cross trainier in the living room has been used to keep some degree of fitness going. My last two runs were on 26th January and the first of February. Both were problematic to one degree or another with pain at the base of my right calf muscle. Now though...... I have been several days without any twinges or feelings of the muscle being "stretched" so this morning I set out into the freezing (literally) air of rural West Cornwall on a very set run. The Aim. to run around 4.5 miles in one hour. Slow by my standards (should take around 46/47 minutes) but with good reason. No rush, no strain, no pressure on the leg. A couple of walking sessions to break it up and an ease back into the punishment to come.

It went well, a lot of it is psychological. I believe that running on a regular basis puts your brain into a lot closer contact with the rest of your body, a kind of "running diagnostic" you can feel and sense different parts working, warming up or doing things they shouldn't... which was probably the downfall to the first start of the run. There was too much thinking and feeling, particularly in the first 20 minutes. But once I reached the 30 minute mark and started the run home, it was a lot more comfortable. Smoother and with more rhythm, it felt like I covered the ground a lot more efficiently.

Just to top it off, I went for a swim at lunchtime and put in a few laps at the leisure centre (I won't mention the KFC we had in the evening though)

Tomorrows effort involves the same route but at a steadier pace from the outset and see if I can cover a greater distance. No pushing though.......... not yet.

Not Happy......

I struggle with plans changing at the best of times, but with a short time scale and a definite deadline I find myself having to adjust my plans and I don't like it..... at all.
 Ultimately though I suppose it is a case of good news/bad news. I saw the doctor today about the strain in my right leg. It had seemed a lot better for the last two days until this afternoon when the tension had returned., but I had already booked in to see the doc so it fitted in nicely.

Good News. It's not my achilles. The strain is too far up to be the achilles, it's much more likely to be the bottom of the calf muscle.

Bad News. The Doc adivises rest, for two to three weeks. Though only rest for that muscle.... if cycling does not stretch it, crack on. I have a break away on the mainland for a week come Saturday (which would have been fine if I had been running ) which could indicate getting back on the road on 16th February and building the mileage up again.

Tonight is a case of planning the way forward, between now and then, how to get back into it and from that point to the 21st April, how to develop a program that will get me round the streets of London in the currently revised time of "Under an Hour"!!!!!

Bugger!

Best Laid Plans.....

I'm a patient man, but I'm also someone who likes making plans and does not like to have them change. The strain I suffered on Saturday knocked out my 12.5 mile run Sunday and I had a recovery day Monday anyway. Tuesday, and it was still a little tight but Wednesday morning nothing felt out of place or out of sorts and I was prepping food wise and mentally for a 4.6 mile run to ease back into it.

But come three o'clock, there was something there, as my right foot left the ground, a faint niggle would flutter (if niggles 'can' flutter!) So I reigned myself in for another day. That's three planned training sessions missed and possibly one tomorrow. The upside is, if I go out Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, that's four in a row, building the mileage back up which is manageable, whereas going out tonight would have been five and I think (if you'll excuse the pun) a bit of a stretch!!!!

What I've said all along is that I'd rather lose a weeks training now, than get back too early and cause a problem that knocks me out for four weeks etc.......

Injuries are a frustration, but not unexpected. Three years ago I had a break in training due to illness on week  10 and the last four weeks I wasn't able to put in any mileage because of groin strain, though by that point the hard work had been done! This is week 5, with 10 proper training weeks to go, in the grand scheme of things it's a minor blip, but one I must not exacerbate.....

We'll see what tomorrow holds.......

The Good and the Bad.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Three days in a row banging in sensible runs in sensible times. Tuesday a relaxed 6.2 with music and no rush. Wednesday was six ascents/descents and back of Church Hill totalling 6.5 miles in horrendous rain and a little wind. Thursday again was a sensible plod round 6.2 at sub 10 minute mile pace no pressure. Friday was a day off.

And Thursday I was aiming for consistency, the plan was for a steady 6.5 no pushing and music to keep me company. It was all right, not euphoric or comfortable as on previous occasions but at the top of Pungies and the coastguard tower something felt tight in the base of my right calf. It faded, then reappeared at the POrth Loo duckpond. Tightening and sore. I walked, gently stretching it and easing it back to the way it should feel and at that point decided to complete the circuit at 4.6 but not go for the short addition to take it to 6.5 . I cooled down and stretched more than normal after the event and showered. It played on my mind for the evening, the what is it, what if and what next all running through my mind. There is no question about the Marathon itself. I have time to recover and crack on, it's the immediate future I am turning over. How do I treat this, complete rest, cross trainer, carry on regardless????? I was due a long run tomorrow (Sunday 27th) at 12.5 miles but, approaching midnight, I can't see it happening. Though I'll sleep on it and see how things are tomorrow.

It's a downer, after things had been going so well, but not unexpected. I think probably the thing that worries me most is the fact I didn't stumble, I wasn't sprinting, it wasn't a different pair of trainers and I hadn't set off dramatically..... It started half way round the route after about 2 miles. If I haven't got a reason I can't protect against it in the future.......

That was the week that was....

I've been lax.... in some respects. Exactly a week since my last blog and update on the marathon training but as you may expect, there are reasons. Along with work, family and training, Week 3 of full on marathon training saw the countdown shrink to double figures and THAT was the point (99 days to go) I had told myself I would start with the begging e-mails. Half a dozen a night, individually typed rather than copied and pasted asking for support at www.justgiving.com/marathonmez and yes, training was still required!!!

Tuesday was supposed to be a simple single circuit of the island, 4.6 miles but to make it a little more interesting I made it a Fartlek run. Varying the pace of the run after the warming up 10 minutes with bursts of speed, walking and pressured stretches, one of the most useful parts of this in "Mass" runs is it gets the body used to little bursts of speed required to accelerate past other runners.
Wednesday was "Hill Climb" with 10 ascents and descents of Church Hill here on St Marys and Thursday was again a straight circuit of the island, though this time, no Fartlek. The wind was pushing gale force, there was driving rain and though physically it was comfortable, it was a struggle against the elements.
Friday was a rest day and Saturday, to get me back into it I ran a 6.2, relaxed and with random running music playing.
Sunday was the "Long Run". A little stretch more than last week at 10.8 miles and....... it went well. In very chilly conditions (there was snow all across the mainland) and at a steady pace I was just 2 minutes outside 10 minute mile pace and after nearly 11 miles, that's something I'm happy with.

In terms of my Virtual Run across the south of Britain, I ran 32.1 miles round St Marys this week, equating to a run from Plympton to Dartmouth, calling in on three friends, two "I CAN" affiliated schools and about 16 family members in and around South Brent.

and that's what my training looks like, in linear terms rather than "Running round in circles".

I Can.

My progress in training is here for anyone to see, but what of the charity I am running for. I came across “I-Can” after Vicki had an e-mail from them asking for people to run. We had had information from them in the past through a group we are part of called “Isles Of Scilly Parent Carers”. Our son Joshua has Aspergers and as such, life is a little different!!!! He has certain quirks and idiosyncrasies which set him apart and in certain circumstances make communication difficult. Communication is what I-Can is all about. They have two specialist schools in England, provide facilities and support in schools across the country and provide on-line and telephone support for individuals and families. They help children with all forms of communication difficulty be it dyslexia, autism, stammering, speech and language and more.

I-Can is celebrating its 125^th anniversary this year, the same year I am running the London Marathon for them. Please support them, please support me. So far I have completed over 100 miles in training and I still have fourteen weeks to go. I am anticipating covering a total of 500 miles in training (health permitting), a distance which would easily get me from Lands End to Broadstairs in Kent.

The last time I did this in 2010 I said to people, “The Marathon doesn’t take place on a Sunday at the end of April, it takes place in the four months leading up to it. I’ll put the hours in and the mileage to get me to Blackheath on April 21^st, please will you donate something  to get me to my target of £2000 to help children across the country communicate.

 Please visit www.justgiving.com/marathonmez and be a part of my effort.

and look at      www.ican.org.uk      for more information.

Extending myself.....

Friday was a recovery day, yesterday was a nice 6.2 mile standard which was comfortable if not Euphoric (like the previous blog!) and this time it was Brandon Flowers' "Flamingo" which was keeping me company.
Today though was the longest yet, 9.2 miles, two straight circuits of St Marys and all would have been well had it not been for a somewhat 'burbling' stomach. I'm hoping it was a somewhat larger than normal lunch (though I left more than the minimum 3 hours before running) and sticking to usual foods in the future will eliminate the problem. It's something I have encountered before and looking back on it, I also started with the Lucozade Sport on this run which may be a contributing factor, so I'll be drinking it during the week (in moderation) to get my body used to it.
 Finally, it's the end of week two of full on training and I'm bang on the plan. Mileage is ticking over, I haven't missed a session and most importantly, no injuries.
Having started easy training at the beginning of December, today I clocked up mile 103. In terms of transferring the mileage to my Virtual run from Lands End To Broadstairs it gets me on the outrun from Plymouth, having crossed the Tamar Bridge yesterday and visited 5 friends and 7 schools supported by "I-Can", the charity I am running London 2013 for.
Thankfully, a recovery day tomorrow.

 

A Good Week.....sofar.

Absolutely nailed it today. No idea why, it wasn't necessarily anything I did, but EVERYTHING came together. I had a straight run to achieve and was aiming for another 6.2 after Sundays 6.3. I set off and didn't feel any of the listlessness that usually acompanies me for the first 15 minutes. The first lap was comfortable to the point I "felt" energy towards the end of it rather than having to look for it. The second lap, was smooth, relaxed and I took a couple of the hills with ease and pushed easily on the others......UPHILL! home stretch was a breeze and even after finishing, it felt right. So what of the conditions, it was dark, very dark. Sometimes you can see a lot but tonight you could only see a little. It was cold and with a fresh westerly coming in. Dry on the roads and this time listening to Muse's The 2nd Law. My breathing was comfortable, I could feel my lungs fill up there was no real stitch and and and..... dreamlike!

Maybe, just maybe, the run I had yesterday was the set up. Wednesdays in 2010 were Hill Climb day and this time round it's no exception. four times up Church Hill and down the other side, AND back again. Four times. That makes it 2 miles running up, two down and half a mile too and from home. It was a good set up I think for today as it wasn't a struggle. Maybe not as comfortable as todays, but certainly sensible.

Monday of this week was a recovery day, as is tomorrow and Tuesday was a standard 4.6 circuit only this time in Fog and rain at lunchtime.

I'm not naive (enough) to think that everything is going to be fine in training and all runs are going to be like this, but psychologically it is a big lift to have a memory like this to look back on when things are nowhere near as good.

End of Week 1.

Satisfaction has been obtained. Seven days in to the 16 week training program and it’s ticking over sensibly. From here to 15^th April, I get two days a week off, Monday and Friday, every other one has a run of some sort and this week was simply to adapt to the intensity of what’s coming, nothing fancy, just time on my feet and steady. Thursdays run was much better than the previous couple. I had been aching in the morning, but stretching out regularly and when it came to run time the running action itself didn’t invoke any pain or stretches, it was opposite actions that had been causing the discomfort. Anotherther changes to Thursdays routine was a haircut, but I can hardly attribute any improvement to a close crop!

 It was a straight run, round the island only this time I listened to “Killer Sounds” by Hard Fi… seemed to work quite well as I finished up knocking 2 mins off the lap time and finishing with a time of 50 minutes.

Friday was a day off….sorry, recovery day.

Saturday I decided to experiment and NO MUSIC. I was able to listen to my breathing, think about what I was doing or allow my mind to wander on to other things. The rhythm of my feet barely changed and I was able to press forward (just a little) in my favourite spots. The end result? A 50 minute circuit, 2 minutes quicker than the previous day but a lot more enjoyable (though still a little struggle in places) and not an ache to be had.

Sunday (for the next 14 odd weeks) is “The Long Run” and it didn’t feel like it. Two shorter circuits and a straight gave me a distance of 6.3 miles in a very gratifying 60 mins flat. My pace is up and the mileage is building…..

In order to put this in to some form of perspective I am transferring the mileage run in training on the islands, into a mapped progress......map, so far since I started running in December, I have got from Lands end to 'almost' Dobwalls. That's the Yellow Pin, bottom left, to the yellow pin top left but not necessarily in a straight line...... I am calling in on friends along the way!

Bog standard Circuit

It was better again today (though still not back to the enjoyment of mid December) but still a struggle at times. The aim was a single lap of the island, 4.6 miles and that was accomplished. At times it hurt, at times my mind was wandering and almost over thinking what my body was feeling and there was no rhythm to it for much of the run. Having said that, there were stretches which did bring back the enjoyment, I've always enjoyed the run down Bishop View and past the boat park and the Tree Tunnel at watermill is another which always feels nice. The other BIG positive from tonights trial is the afterglow....My legs "feel" like they have worked hard and there is no escaping the simple fact that I completed. 
 The other difference for this afternoon was a change in music. Up to this point I have been relying on "Muse-The 2nd Law" but tonight it was back to The Foo Fighters Greatest Hits. It was they and Muses last release (Resistance) that got me through it all last time.........

Recap and Restart.

It’s the 1^st January 2013 and 58 days since I got my place in the London Marathon 2013. In that space of time I have worked on general fitness in the first month and took part in a 24hr rowing marathon, then for December it was an easing in routine of running every other day and increasing distances when I was comfortable. “Time on Your” feet is an important part of any distance training, it’s not there for cardio, muscle building, core strengthening or stamina. It’s simply conditioning, training your body and muscles to understand what is going on and to get miles under your belt, physically and psychologically “time on your feet” can give you a great grounding and carrying on simple straightforward ‘runs’ throughout your training program can be invaluable! So that was December, running round in circles on an island in the Atlantic……at least until I had the idea of putting my weekly mileage down on a map, plotting from Lands End to Broadstairs, The mileage looked good for a 16 week training program so I tweaked it to add a bit and intend on “Calling In” on friends along the way.

The first two weeks were all over the shop. Escaping from West Cornwall and twisting turning to see so many friends and family, it looked like this,

Week three was a little more sensible, St Day, Truro and Probus, calling in on my past primary school headteacher and sleeping the end of the week on a roundabout at Probus.

Week four was tough…………… I was under the weather, had an aborted run and a three day “temple specific” headache which I am putting down to a cold. On top of that it was Christmas. Lack of road running found me in a layby just short of Grampound, 

however…….

Week five started on January 1^st and the first day of a 16 week training schedule. Easing back into it after a week off with a 3.3 mile run. Not comfortable, but no where near as bad as the last (aborted) one. A change of kit for today as well as I have had a nigh on neon orange T-shirt made especially for day runs by a friend in the states………

In terms of my Mainland Challenge, I’m plugging my way along the A390, heading for St Austell next and a visit to my old babysitter, Anne Double. If any of you live south of a line between Warminster, Winchester, Reading and Romford, drop me a line with your postcode and I’ll see if I can “virtually” call in on you, on my way through.

All being well it’s a week of “time on my feet” to get me back in the swing of things and then to fartlekking and hillclimbing alongside the mileage. It’s 58 days since I got my place, and 110 days to go until the marathon itself…….