A warm glow

It's nice when people ask your opinion, even nicer when they seek you out for advice, Having run for a while now, I get asked how to do things, when to run, what to wear. I feel like a real expert not that I am but it does feel good. The training is going nicely, tonight's run in the rain felt comfortable, several short bursts with longer strides did not cause me too much grief and I am getting confident of a sub 2 hour half at Coventry and moving up to a full Marathon.

London Marathon

For years I have sat on the sofa watching the London marathon thinking it would be good to do that but secretly thinking i'll never get off me arse. Today I have run ten miles in the heat and better my previous best by over five minutes. Half way through my Coventry half training plan and it seems to be coming along nicely, today is one of those upbeat positive days. A big well done to the two guys from Facebook doing the Marathon, well done Ian and Matt.

trying to fit it in

Despite having Monday off work work I have had extreme difficulty fitting my runs in this week, football matches, rock gigs have taken a deal of my time and I now find myself having to fit runs in Friday,Saturday and Sunday, Today's run was hill based with bursts up hill, one of my least favourite sessions but it went very well and recovery after the hill was quite impressive. I have stuck to my weight watchers religously and hope to have lost big this week.

long slow run

Nice day for a run-not too warm so off I went on a mixed route down roads, canals and lanes for nearly 12.5 miles, nice and steady at just over 2 hours. pheasants,ducks, swans and a heron all helped me along the way. Friendly canal barge owners, occasional biker rider and people all said hello or morning, the exception being a guy running the opposite way (considerably quicker than I) who didn't acknowledge my presence-must read Runners world. These so called elite types do seem to look down their noses at us ordinary types. If anyone who has seen me run and thinks I have a funny running style should see the two pheasants legging across the field so funny.

Today

Today has been a proper pain. Down to do eight miles today to complete week two but Mandy developed an injury, unfortunately it was in the countryside and I couldn't bring myself to carry on. I had to walk home and Mandy hobble the three miles home. Fortunately I am off to work tomorrow and intend to run 10+ miles. Today also saw my beloved Spurs lose to Portsmouth thanks to a dreadful slip and a very poor referee. Thank goodness I only have to rely on myself which brings me back to Mandy she may well have to go solo from now on.

it's a mystery

I have no idea why but for the first time I had to stop running whilst not being injured. Three miles into a run, a run I have done many times I could not carry on. I had no energy, nothing in the tank, my legs were heavy and I had to walk home. On the positive side my sprained ankle was ok.
Tomorrow is another day and I have a four mile run with 30 second bursts.

The best laid plans always seem to have a negative aspect for me its germs and injury.

using the tools

Even at my low level of ability anything that can help you improve is to be used. My latest tool is a website called fetcheveryone it records all your training, racing, weight and ranks you amongst your peers.

aches and pains and costs

when I started this "epic" journey of trying to get fit little did I know that it would be quite as expensive as it is and that I would have as many aches and pains. To date I have had runners knee, Itb syndrome, pulled muscles and a numb foot, possibly Morton's neuroma. To help this I am about to being yoga, I am reliably informed that the Sun Salutation or surya namaskar to give it it's proper title will help.
Running in theory is free of charge after all you can just go into the street and run. Theory never works and in practice the very minimum needed is a pair of running shoes-no not trainers. The problem does not end there running in ordinary socks may well give you blisters. Those Matalan shorts will look particularly naff especially when running in a race. A decent top will help with the sweat and of course if it is cold you will need a hat and gloves. When it rains you'll need to have a wind/shower coat. Is it posssible to have just one set of everything? So therefore a free of charge activity has cost so far over £100 and that assumes entry level gear.
Bearing in mind my advancing years I also take the following suppliments: Glucosamine sulphate, cod liver oil and vitamin c.
This brings us to the entry costs so far I have been in five races and entry fees alone have cost £65.
Training itself doesn't come cheap-gadgets such as watches, heart rate monitors, gels and something to hold these things when your doing this all add up.
So why do I do this so called free activity because I love it.