Virgin London Marathon 2010

Wow!!! a truly amazing experience... 4 hours 19 minutes of sheer adrenaline.

Next stop.... JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge (Jul 2010)

This is it!

Well who'd have thought it? I've managed to get through winter training, early morning, weekend and lunchtime running (not to mention countless trips to the physio) to finally arrive at this point. 12 months ago I certainly hadn't even contemplated running the London Marathon - I now find myself 6 short days away from putting myself through a truly unique experience.

I'm feeling good, getting plenty of sleep (8 hours) and starting to load up on carbs. Getting the odd pang of pre-race anxiety and 'what if' thoughts play through my mind however I guess that's to be expected.

Anyway I'm about as prepared as I'll ever be - so roll on race day!

I leave you with a quotation from one of Canada's finest athletes that struck a chord...

"To describe the agony of a marathon to someone who's never run it is like trying to describe colour to someone who was born blind" Jerome Drayton (3 time winner of the Fukuoka marathon '69 '75 '76)

*** My next post will be after the race..... my very best wishes to all those running on Sunday 25th April ***

Berkhamsted Half Marathon - nailed it!

A real fitness test in prep for the big one, and my 1st half marathon. Decent conditions for running although quite chilly. The route was ridiculously hilly, and it felt like I was in a Fell run at times! Rina and the kids were there to cheer me on - so I didn't want to disappoint! The race went really well. I paced myself up until the final 3rd of the race, then really went for it. Finished in under 2 hours!! official chip timing was 01:56:50.


Some bloke decided to run as the Stig. As I passed I could hear muffled whimpering come from his blacked out helmet - out of which a steady trickle of sweat poured...... poor sod!

Another good week

My training is starting to really gather pace. A couple of 10k lunchtime runs and finished off with a 13k lunchtime run. My running partner today was Joe, who has run the London, Madrid and Athens marathons, (nice bloke apart from the fact he supports Liverpool - I guess he's a big fan of Channel 5 now). Another 21k run this Sunday, that'll set me up nicely for the Berkhamsted half marathon next Sunday.

Keeping on track

An interesting week - not bad for training as it goes...

Mon - 5 mile lunchtime run
Tue - Football
Wed - 5 mile lunchtime run
Thu - Pega drinks in the city (whoops!)
Fri - 6.5 mile lunchtime run (extra mile to work off last nights excess) Sat - rest day
Sun - 13.1 miles - great preparation for the upcoming Berkhamsted half marathon on Sunday March 7th

Thought for the day (courtesy of Jon Rowlings - an odd friend)
What is it with diabetics? One minute they're on the floor with a loved one standing by screaming "Give him some chocolate! Give him some chocolate!"
The next day someone offers them a piece of chocolate and quick as a flash they say "No thanks, I'm diabetic." I wish they'd get their story straight.

Weekend – the Long Run (target:10 miles)

Teamed up with a fellow runner (Jason) for my long run on Saturday morning. Nice crisp morning and good running weather. Route taken was a network of bridle paths that criss cross the countryside around Radlett.

The paths are a favoured route for Radlett’s horse riding fraternity, by the time I started my run the chopped up ground bore a striking resemblence to that of a recently ploughed field...certainly made for an interesting run! Anyway, managed to get through in a good time and with everything intact. Plan for this weekend is to extend to 11 miles.

Treatment table – I hate needles!

So as a result of my constant pavement pounding, my knees have started to complain. My physio suggested a course of acupuncture I foolishly agreed. All seemed fairly painless until he stuck a 2 inch needle into a muscle nerve, very unpleasant! By the time he’d finished each knee cap looked a spitting image of the Millennium Dome. The good news is that my general all round fitness level has improved and my original lower back issues are almost sorted. Now treatment is preventative as opposed to addressing a specific issue.