the next episode

No not the Dr Dre song but my next venture into the world of half marathon running. I am entered into the Coventry half on May 23rd and running as a part of children today. Children today are trying to get into the record books for biggest group I have started an eight week plan. Last night ran 4.7 miles from work to home and during the run ended up having to help and elder rather drunk gentleman called Fred and his motobility scooter into his flat. That episode and two blisters made it a run i'll never forget. Now five pounds lighter than last run.

after the lord mayor's show

Bit of a strange feeling having completed my first half where do I go from here? The answer is another so I have signed up for the Coventry half on the 23rd of May. Now feel fully recovered and with eight weeks got to work on the speed to get under the two hour mark. Determined to loose a stone by then as well. Many thanks to all at Weight watchers for the round of applause. Lost two and a half pounds since the last weigh in can't till this weigh in feel much better already

stafford half marathon

My first half has come and gone. So glad I was part of it, the moving one minute applause and local support was fantastic, as you can see I have my name on the T shirt and the locals called my name, youngsters wanted to high five me and the dj name checked me at the end. The course was hilly and I got the pacing all wrong and missed my target by 3mins 11seconds. God Tixall bank was a killer. Can't wait to get back to this race-loved it just loved it. Once again so glad that Mandy, Chris and Emma managed to attend for the race-their support is invaluable.

nearly there

Well tomorrow's my big day and I'm a bit nervous, have no idea why. The distance shouldn't be an issue, it's just a question of time. All the kit is ready just got to get up at 7am on a Sunday.

Impatience

Impatience is taking over, really want Sunday to roll round. Mandy is feeling poorly and I hope she gets well and does'nt pass it on. I will be really pissed if I'm ill.

last week approaches

My big race day is fast approaching and its last minute training. Long slow run tomorrow 10/12 miles and then a couple of short jogs. Have come across Google street views which shows one decent hill and some country lanes.

Street entertainers, Dj's etc to keep my valiant supporters entertained for the 2hrs approx'.

2000 runners is going to be a touch scarey and I can only hope I get the start right and don't get bogged down.

The injury's seem to have ceased and have been practising using the gels when running, isotonic drinks to see if my stomach takes it ok.

The web page events section has been updated to include proposed future events which I hope to enter beginning with a half Marathon in Coventry.

banana smoothie

1 banana
splash of orange juice
200ml of orange juice
2 tbsp of low fat natural yoghurt
handful of muesli

blend the banana with the splash of orange (or other juice)-add the 200ml of juice, natural yoghurt and muesli-blend till smooth and drink.

two weeks today

Well I'm down to two weeks to my first big effort and I have woke up all week feeling I have a cold coming. Yesterday's run went nicely although Mandy missed the hour target by less than a minute and a half, it was a good run. The course at Long Marston is run down but the organisation is enthusiastic. A big thank you to the kind lady from Lucozade who donated some gels for my big run and some advice on their usage. Off for my last long slow run then tapering down .
Felt a bit leggy probably due to yesterday's run, the gels are easy to use even without water. On a different note what is wrong with drivers that haven't got two seconds to wait while you run across a junction.

nothing in the engine

Tonights three mile run was as poor as I have known-putting it down to lack of fuel, no energy, nothing in my legs and to make things worse I needed to pee for most of the run.

I have my number for the Stafford half Marathon sooooo excited number 104.

Mandy's first competative 10k in Straford at the Long Marston airfield-have previously ran this race, flat and P.b is achievable here. Hoping to get her round in sub 60 mins.