Teeny Tiny Steps!

Jingle bells

Trainers smell

Hills get in the way

Oh what fun

It is to run

On a grey and rainy day hey!

 

Jingle bells

Achilles swells

Toenails fall away

Oh what fun

To train to run

A marathon in May!

(April actually but it didn't rhyme)

So from where does all this festive cheer originate ? Well the leaves have all but fallen and here we are in currently a very mild winter only 7 sleeps from Santa's imminent arrival.

Days switch from overcast and drizzly to full on rain or cooler and bright but as always the time of year brings some fabulous skies to behold.

Well after 6 weeks of no running and bah humbugging, as if carried by elves themselves from the far distant North Pole my Christmas sort of arrived early, last weekend I ran !

Not once but twice !

And not very far either, however I ran with little trouble leg wise which is rather super. Two 2 mile runs in 3 days and no excessive ill effects could this be the return of Plod, back to hammer the roads and lanes of Bedfordshire?
Well lets not get ahead of ourselves, I am under strict instructions to take it easy so very unlikely that I'll run more than 3 miles before the New Year but this is indeed a beginning.
I'm not going to be breaking any records, but if piece by piece I can get myself back up to marathon distance in time for the 24th April avoiding any further mishaps that'll do for me.

Apart from the beginning to run I've been continuing my PT/kick boxing sessions every week. This also came with a little Christmas bonus as my PT decided to extend this weeks session by an extra half and hour free of charge, thanks! no really THANKS!!!
I can already now throw a pretty hefty punch and kick a leg higher than a can-can girl (well a can-can girl with arthritis) if I carry on at this rate I'll soon be ripping tissues and jumping off dolls houses all over the shop!

So my journey to "Superherodom" continues, watch this space for the next exciting episode.

As with the views from my bathroom window below, you can often see the same thing in many different ways, the trick is to view them positively.

Wishing you all a fabulous and peaceful Christmas with a New year full of exciting things!
Paul

Three is a magic number (Pffft)

Well I've not posted for a while because basically I've had nothing to say, nothing, nada, niet....

I currently don't run and haven't for nearly 4 weeks, so writing on a running blog seems rather an odd thing to do.

I could start a non running blog and post the frustrations of all of the people who ever got injured but that would hardly be very cheery or inspiring would it ? I would become the Scrooge of the running world, "Bah humbugging" anything and everything that involves a pair of trainers, shouting in frustration at all those cheery running souls as they passed by my gloomy house of woe.

I am simply suffering from the dreaded "3" you know what I mean, the things that come in threes, currently very annoying things.

Firstly these, my legs which for a number of joined up reasons aren't working properly. So I have this Achilles tendinitis in both (I've mentioned it I know) which is linked to very tight calves which in turn is linked to "Apparently" my gluteus medius not firing properly, so ok now we are blaming my arse!

This astounding realisation was followed by a delightful dose of flu which laid me up in bed for a few days and the remnants of which still linger almost 3 weeks later.

Finally just to add insult to injury (See what I did there) I was working on a punch bag at my PT session taking out my non running frustrations when, a badly timed punch as the heavy bag came back at me, sent a shooting pain through a muscle in my side just below my ribs.

Tender, snotty and torn, not a firm of local solicitors but indeed my magic combination of three huge irritations.
Now I haven't recently kicked any cats, pushed in front of any pensioners in a post office queue or punctured the football of an annoying child, so this can't be Karma, no, apparently it is "One of those things" a statement you can just about take from a fellow runner but from a non runner.....never. That would be like me saying when your Sky Sports doesn't work and the dogs just emptied its bowels on you favourite armchair, "Oh well its just one of those things"

Anyway I write this post in sympathy and solidarity to any runner who is, has been and will be injured, keep the faith, ignore the ignorant and exercise your arse.

Not a frustrated face....not at all

Oh well December is here, Christmas just around the corner and then the New Year looms large with the next marathon challenge, I'm hoping by then I'll be back out there puffing an panting with the rest.

In the meantime if aliens invade the planet and force us all to live on only brussels sprouts for the rest of our days whilst producing methane to fuel their space crafts, don't worry, its just.....
"One of those things"

My Dad, The London Marathon and the Big C

Let me tell you a little about my Dad.

His name was Peter or Pete to many of his friends. He grew up in Thornton Heath. He always loved cars as you can see but eventually became an aero engineer through an apprenticeship at De Havilland.

He was very suave and could rock a pair of gauntlets and wellington boots on his trusty Triumph Tiger Cub motorcycle which he sold to buy my mother an engagement ring.

Dad was well liked by pretty much everyone, a great sense of humour, fantastically kind and devoted with great talent for painting and cartooning to boot. He was one of those people who could listen and give advice and support without ever appearing condescending or judgemental which is probably one of the reasons his later career change into management training was such a success.

Along with mum, dad taught me the good things to know about parenting. How to be tolerant, allow children to make mistakes, allow them to develop at their own pace but all the while constantly supporting and advising, and lord knows they had their hands full with me sometimes.
I have a sister and two fabulous brothers who are all a testament to their great parenting skills.

Above all though dad was a character, his own man, strong, kind and good.

He couldn't choose a chocolate from a box without fully reading and assessing the menu card, this could take some time as we all looked on awaiting our turn. At Christmas lunch we could often get him into hysterics commenting on this habitual lengthy chocolate selections, which in turn would lead to him shaking, tears in his eyes with the odd snort to indicate how much he was actually laughing inside.

He once came to my house for lunch when my kids were at the "Drag chairs across a tiled floor as noisily as you can" stage, he said nothing and was his usual lovely self.
However the next time he came he had a pocket full of rubber chair feet which he fixed to each and every chair, I don't think he felt anyone deserved to listen to that noise.

Sadly in August 2006 he died in the Isabelle hospice from bowel cancer only really a matter of months from initially being diagnosed, it was too late to really do anything.
He retained his dignity and humour to the end and I know had a huge impact also on the great nurses supporting him.

Bowel Cancer is the UK's 2nd biggest cancer killer claiming 50 lives everyday, but caught early is ultimately treatable. I now will have regular screening due to my family history and yeah OK the thought of having a camera up your bum isn't the most attractive idea, but there is no need for embarrassment and honest it's not as bad as it sounds.

So to the London Marathon 2016, a race I will run in memory of dad and in support of the Beating Bowel cancer charity.

The charity aims to improve bowel cancer awareness amongst both medical professionals and the general public, by providing authoritative information about the disease, symptoms and the treatment choices available. They also offer support and help to anyone affected by bowel cancer.

I have run two marathons before, both with trepidation I might add, and this one will be no different. I'm currently on a Physio induced running ban due to my previously mentioned Achilles issues and this looks set to last for at least another couple of weeks while I perform pressure release activities rolling a small hard ball into my buttocks. This coupled with various stretching and strengthening exercises will hopefully get me back on the road in time for a good training lead in.

Dad had one foray into running, he decided one day he wanted to run the St Albans Half Marathon, bought himself some shorts, shoes and a training book and that was that.
Followed the plan religiously achieved his goal and ran a HM, I will have to keep this in mind as my training re starts.

Everyone has their own reasons for running a marathon whether it be for a charity, a loved one or even just for yourself.

This one is for dad and a charity I know he would want me to support, if you can help please do.

Support me here

Silly idea Achilles!

Sometimes I find myself being a bit of a loon, my enthusiasm and slightly addictive personality clouding the "Bleeding obvious"

This past week was a perfect example. I was so excited and happy about having run the GSR and had such a good day I couldn't help but immediately look for another race to enter.....quickly!

In spite of the fact that I have had Achilles discomfort in both legs and came out of last weeks race really struggling to drive home, I thought with a weeks rest and another long run I could get myself a late entry into the Poppy Half on the 7th November.

With total disregard to any warning signs and a childish belief that all would be fine I set off on Sunday for an 11 mile run to prepare.

It only took a relatively steady 4 miles to realise that my plans were not the be realised. Both Achilles were sore and bruised feeling and I had to stop knowing that any more would cause bigger problems.
A pony in a field next to the road gave me a knowing glance, "Why the long face?" I said out loud drawing on my vast wealth of "Dad" humour. 

The point of realisation

I had a look around, took a drink and started to walk.

Was I frustrated? Hell yes, but something was rather fine about walking along in the sunshine in beautiful countryside. I had the usual discussion with myself about how annoying it was and how much I'd wanted to run the Poppy half, but I couldn't help but enjoy my surroundings and just being outside, as Johnny (@dunsrunner) a running bud always says, "The outside is free"

Breakdown point

I wandered along towards Lower Gravenhurst spying the church in the distance, "so I may need to take some rest and do some rehab but hey what a fine day".

Church in Lower Gravenurst

The sun cast long shadows on the road as I walked and thought and planned. "So I have PT, I have a bench, dumbbells, Swiss ball, medicine ball, mini trampoline, wobble cushion and strength bands, everything I need to keep fit and strengthen if indeed I can't run for a while. Failing this I can train for the circus".

Deceptive incline and dodgy car area

I walked to Upper Gravenhurst delighting in the day, it was quiet, peaceful and glorious.

Church from another angle

View towards Shillington

I passed a little road called Recreation Rise. It was at the end of this road that I coached football to 7 and 8 year old boys and girls a number of years ago, remembering once mowing the pitch by hand before an important match when the council had let us down, great memories.

Church in Upper Gravenhurst

Coming out of Gravenhurst Village, the highest point on my route, there were as usual fabulous views towards home.

To the Cow Bridge

In a sudden rush of blood to the head I decided to run again, only a mile before I had to return to walking telling myself "See you were right first time".
I walked the rest of the way home.

From Upper Gravenhurst to Meppershall

My 11 mile run had turned into a 4 mile run, 2 mile walk, 1 mile run, 2 mile walk, but I honestly enjoyed it and everything nature had to share with me (oh and lets face it I still covered 9 miles).

So I am not down about things, I know my Achilles will get better if I'm sensible, I know I can walk if I must and I can focus on other aspects of training until I'm ready to go again.

I have big plans for 2016 and between now and the end of the year I'll be building my base for those.
Happy running
Paul

Spooky Running!

 

 

It is the eve fore Halloween

 

What ghoulish sights could soon be seen

 

On cold dark evenings out of sight

 

There lurks a most disgusting fright

 

For in the distance now resounding

 

Rhythmic terrifying pounding

 

Heavy breaths vapour expelling 

 

What could that be? No one is telling

 

Closer now the sounds appear

 

A gasp a rasp the sounds of fear

 

Dim head height glows illuminate

 

Past trees and cars and garden gates

 

Then into sight all sweat and blunder  

 

Oh look its Paul,

 

You know,

 

The runner



Jeez I've lost weight

Enjoy the weekend folks!



What puts the "GREAT" in a Great Run?

On Sunday I headed down to Portsmouth for the Great South Run the second time I had entered this race having had such fun the previous year.

As before this entailed a 4:30am alarm call, early morning porridge and honey and a 5:30 departure with peanut butter sandwiches for the journey.
The roads were relatively clear, the temperature reading +1 degree as I headed down the M1, M25 and onto the A3 with anticipation growing.
I arrived at Gunwharf in good time, there's a great multi storey car park there which, whilst £10 for the day,  enables you to leave without any of the traffic issues of car parks closer to the start.

My usual table - well annually!

I left the car and headed up to a coffee shop where I ordered a latte and took up residence at the table I had sat at exactly a year previous when I met Mark, Jo and Emma.
The café was already buzzing with runners of all types obviously excited and some slightly nervous of the coming event. There was an overwhelming yet unspoken acknowledgement between runners everyone giving each other a nod and a smile.

I waited a while and then Mark (@staplesma) and his partner arrived, it was great to see them and their arrival also heralded the realisation that Bex (@runbeckrun) and her friend were already in the café secreted on a corner table.
We sat and chatted and Bex, who relatively recently had started her own business Therapy2fit as a sports massage therapist, updated me on how things were going.

After a while Bex and Mark decided they would make their way down to the start area, but knowing that Steve (@stedge27) Graham (@whickhamrunning) and Emma (@run_twinkle_run) were still to arrive I hung on.

The three amigos along with Steve's wife duly arrived and we headed off to collect our foreign correspondent Julie (@lazydazz) from her hotel.
I had met Emma the previous year but this was the first time I'd met Steve and Graham and it was at that point I realised what actually makes a "Great Run" "GREAT"
It is the people, people you maybe haven't see for a year, people you meet for the first time, the people are what make the whole thing so special.

Graham had flown down from Newcastle the previous day to compete, Steve actually I found doesn't live a million miles from me and Emma is a relatively local girl to the race.
We wandered along chatting and laughing, easily discussing the mornings toilet habits and indeed Grahams fluorescent pink nipple tape (apparently the only thing that works).

Steve and Graham - great lads!

We collected Julie and her Hubster and headed on laughing and relaxed in each others company, none of us were actually going to run with each other but that was irrelevant the camaraderie and social element to this race made it "GREAT"

Looks like an album cover (with the elusive Emma)

We arrived at the start area, agreed where to meet after the race and all headed off to our respective starting pens, Julie and Steve in orange, myself in white and Emma and Graham in Green.
I checked in my bag and headed to the white start zone only to realise when I got there that I needed a wee. I managed to find some male urinals set up behind a kind of maze of fences, did the appropriate and headed back to the pen.
By the time I returned there were 100's of runners milling around leaving me around half way down the pen but still fortunately in time.

Anticipation before the start

There was music and a warm up arranged for the runners. Now usually I just sway from side to side during these as I know what a twonk I look doing Mr Motivator moves, but this day I thought I could use all the help I could get so entered into the warm up with gusto.

And so we were off, a samba style drumming band thumping a rhythm that you couldn't help but run in time with, along the front seeing ferries in the distance and towards the historic dockyards with their tall ships.

My plan was head out at 10 min mile pace and once I got to mile 5 see how I feel from there, hmm this wasn't to happen.
The crowded first part of the course and a number of places where it narrowed made running any kind of controlled pace a little tricky, I dodged and swerved my way along until eventually the field split out a little and the course widened.

The support was great, the course interesting and the weather stunning, sunshine, very little breeze and around 17 degrees. I eventually reached mile 4 as below

So not 10 min mile pace then, ho hum I thought lets just see how long I can keep this going.

My Achilles were aching, I'd been having problems the past few weeks, however I was in a race now so that gets pushed to the back of your head.
At mile 5 a group of chaps burst into "Living on a prayer" by Bon Jovi, "Wooooaa we're half way there" their rendition was loud and enthusiastic and welcomed by spontaneous applause from all runners including myself, I love this shit!

On we ran through miles 6 and 7 then the least favourite mile for me, mile 8 through residential streets anticipating the reappearance of the seafront. A sound system belted out the Specials giving me a lift and then we were back on the Esplanade, the final 2 miles to the finish.

I saw a woman dressed up as a bee ahead, Janice !!! (@beesrun) I ran up behind her shouting "Janice" she ignored me, it wasn't Janice, Janice had decided to run as Janice, this was someone else dressed as a bee, I stared ahead trying to pretend I was shouting at someone called Janice in the distance.

We were getting closer, I could hear the announcer telling people not to overdo it in the final mile as it was hot, overdo it, I couldn't do anymore than I was doing.

I found my way to the finish in 1:32:44 only 40 minutes too late to meet one of my heroes.

Another hero of mine Jo Pavey -2nd in the Women's Elite race in 52.41!

I grabbed a water and collected my goody bag with T Shirt Medal and various other bits and bobs and worked my way through the crowds.

All of a sudden I went a bit wibbly, maybe the heat who knows but had to sit for a bit to save falling embarrassingly over and ending up on my face.
Service resumed I headed to collect my bag and meet the others, sadly this all took rather too long and I missed them at the agreed meeting point, but Emma texted me and said that Julie would still be around at her hotel If I fancied a drink.

Speedy Steve and Julie

The whole gang had finished well, some helping others on their first runs, some running rather quickly, but we all did it which is the coolest thing, 20,000 runners and us amongst them.

I wandered down to Julie's hotel and met both her and her husband for a well deserved drink and a good old chin wag in the bar, the event was over but the friendships hopefully live on.

Julie and I - Pic courtesy of Mr Sunshine! 

As I left to head back to my car I got lost, and couldn't quite orient myself for a little while resulting in the following pics.

Aha yes I need to be over there !

I finally collected my car and headed off home. Was it a good race? Yes, was it a great race? Yes, what made it great? The people purely and simply, Thanks Julie, Emma, Steve, Mark, Bex, Graham and the oh so elusive Janice!

 



 

The Inimitable Sarah!

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Sarah a long term on line running buddy for the first time. I have chatted to Sarah since before her first ever marathon and last weekend she completed her first 100 mile ultra marathon.



How it all started!

Sarah is one of the most humorous runner/bloggers I know and has absolutely no worries about recounting her "Warts and all" adventures, including toilet activities so be warned!

Sarah was selected from thousands to be in the Asics target 26.2 team run by Runners World magazine and was followed through her training right up to the Paris Marathon.

As a 3:23 marathon, and 1:33 half marathon runner she is definitely no slouch!

Sarah's journey has been inspirational from "Lardy couch potato" (Sorry Sarah) to awesome runner, ultra runner, trail runner and triathlete.

2 years ago I asked her about her favourite run and this is what she told me