Not feeling quite 100% having woken up this morning with a bit of a sore throat. It's definitely not got worse through the day but I'm just feeling a little bit 'fluish' at the moment...hopefully just a passing bug (fingers crossed!).
Probably not helping that this British weather is so rubbish....that's 3 weeks of virtual solid rain (seems that ever since we were told we were officially in a drought, it's rained!) and there's no let up in sight. Went up to London again today, this time to watch the Army thrash the Navy for the Babcock Trophy at Twickenham - really great atmosphere and we were treated to the sight of 3 male strippers being chased by various embarrassed security guards across the pitch...add to that Peter Pan, Tinkerbell and Aladdin also giving the officials the slip and it all made for a fab spectacle!
John and I popped over to Blandford after work on Friday to see if we could see for ourselves a wild otter as there have been quite a few sightings of them by the weir next to Morrison's supermarket. We'd only been there around 5 minutes when one appeared right infront of us...and amazed us by seemingly ignoring all the spectators that had arrived on the banks of the river and on the suspension bridge, and carried on fishing. That's a first as we have never seen a wild river otter in the UK and we couldn't stop beaming...we're hoping to go back early tomorrow morning to see if we can catch it again. Well worth going over there to try to spot one - apparently last October there were up to 9 seen in the vicinity which is great news....they're back!
Saturday 28 April 2012
Wednesday 25 April 2012
Bake off!
To boost the fundraising coffers, it was decided to hold a cake bake sale at work today. Whilst I took in 3 offerings of my own, I was absolutely amazed at the number of others who volunteering to show off their culinary skills : we had everything from Christmas cake, chocolate Rice Krispies, Oreo chocolate brownies and triple chocolate cake to amazing cup cakes and scones complete with jam and cream (which way round do you put those!?).
Friends at work didn't let me down on the eating stakes either and most of the goodies were swiftly polished off with no donation considered too small. The final takings for the day were a fantastic £110.27 which has just pushed my total past the £1,900 mark.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to bake something and to all those who demolished them during the day. A special mention must go to Tina who not only baked various goodies but also promoted the event right to the bitter end....thanks matey xx
Friends at work didn't let me down on the eating stakes either and most of the goodies were swiftly polished off with no donation considered too small. The final takings for the day were a fantastic £110.27 which has just pushed my total past the £1,900 mark.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to bake something and to all those who demolished them during the day. A special mention must go to Tina who not only baked various goodies but also promoted the event right to the bitter end....thanks matey xx
Monday 23 April 2012
Marathon # 4 - London
Traveled up to London on Saturday and spent a bit longer than usual at the Expo. Unfortunately, encountered no problems with the organisers issuing my number so no excuses not to run! Invested in a souvenir hoodie - it has 'London 2012' on the back over the top of a Union Flag which has a certain ring to it don't you think...? OK, so it may not be the Olympics tomorrow but I'm running in London in 2012 - it's the next best thing. Just to make things extra special, after I'd checked into the hotel I hopped back on the DLR and headed north to Stratford hoping to get into the Olympic Park. Unfortunately couldn't get any further than the wire fence surrounding the venues but it was still a bit special to see the main stadium up close and personal.
Spent the rest of the day lounging around 'off my feet' as you're advised to do the day before running a marathon. Met up with Debs, Mike and their two sons Matt and Jons, and Caro for a meal in the adjoining restaurant and was back in bed just after 9. However, didn't sleep much at all - actually very nervous about tomorrow. This is going to be the first time I've run a marathon on roads since Amsterdam last October and for some reason, I'm really feeling the pressure. I've nothing to prove to anyone or indeed myself and I'd already told myself that I'm not looking for any particular time or goal : just to enjoy it as much as possible.
The forecast wasn't particularly good for the Sunday but once again, they got it wrong...hoorah! Greeted by sunshine and although it's still below the norm, the temperature wasn't as cold as we were expecting. After downing some porridge and a slice of toast, Debs, Mike, Matt, Jons, Caro, Claire and I set off on our journey. The train wasn't anywhere near as packed as we've known it and we had room to breath! Disembarked at Greenwich and we would normally walk through the park to the red zone and then out onto Blackheath. Debs, Caro and I were all in the 'good for age' green start whilst Claire, in her very first marathon, was in red. However, the 3 of us were sent around the perimeter of the park in order to get to green and we didn't really have time to even say good luck to Claire.
Once we'd got to green start, we only really had time to join the long loo queue once then check out the celebrities before squeezing into our allocated start pen ready for the 9.45 gun. I've never known the crowds to be like they were today : 5 deep in places and, other than around Billingsgate Fish Market between 19/20 miles, they were constant. The noise was amazing and I took it all in. Cutty Sark was back in place after the devastating fire 5 years ago and the sight of the runners streaming round her bow, reflecting in the glass casing was amazing. People were shouting and screaming constantly. When going along 'The Highway' around 13 miles, I had the chance to see the leaders in the men's race, going through 22 miles on their way back. They look to be running so easily yet so fast - I can't sprint at their speed...how they sustain that for 26.2 miles I have no idea. Coming back down the other side of The Highway later on, I could see the masses making their way through half way, 9 miles behind me. It would be quite an incredible sight to see the helicopter view from the first to last runner...how far does that stretch?
Emerging from the long dark silence of Blackfriars Tunnel into the sunshine along Embankment was just into a wave of noise. I didn't hit the wall once although don't get me wrong... I'm not saying the run was in any way easy. Down Birdcage, in the last mile, I caught up with a New Forest Runner and it was 'game on'. My Boston marathon time of 3.23.33 passed whilst I was still down Birdcage but I wasn't concerned in the slightest. It was only once I was in The Mall that I realised that I could possibly beat my second fastest time ever...3.25.44 that I'd run in London 2010. I sprinted as fast as I could for that line then stopped my watch...3.25.45! How on earth can you run 26.2 miles two years apart and have the times just separated by a single second? I could!!
Then I was a little bit ill.....
Having got that over with it was then a case of having my timing chip removed, collecting my medal, goodie bag and clothing bag and sitting down in the sunshine to just remember what I've just gone through. I was so proud of myself and what I'd just done. One of my toes didn't feel like it should and I'm sure my legs will start to complain soon but right now....I'm happy.
Once home I looked up Niall (FitScottishBloke) to see if he had achieved his target of sub 3.30....he did : 3.27.36 so huge congrats to you (obviously must have been that training run I took you on in Bournemouth at target 8 minute miles that clinched it :o) ).
London, you sure do know how to put on an event....thank you!
Spent the rest of the day lounging around 'off my feet' as you're advised to do the day before running a marathon. Met up with Debs, Mike and their two sons Matt and Jons, and Caro for a meal in the adjoining restaurant and was back in bed just after 9. However, didn't sleep much at all - actually very nervous about tomorrow. This is going to be the first time I've run a marathon on roads since Amsterdam last October and for some reason, I'm really feeling the pressure. I've nothing to prove to anyone or indeed myself and I'd already told myself that I'm not looking for any particular time or goal : just to enjoy it as much as possible.
The forecast wasn't particularly good for the Sunday but once again, they got it wrong...hoorah! Greeted by sunshine and although it's still below the norm, the temperature wasn't as cold as we were expecting. After downing some porridge and a slice of toast, Debs, Mike, Matt, Jons, Caro, Claire and I set off on our journey. The train wasn't anywhere near as packed as we've known it and we had room to breath! Disembarked at Greenwich and we would normally walk through the park to the red zone and then out onto Blackheath. Debs, Caro and I were all in the 'good for age' green start whilst Claire, in her very first marathon, was in red. However, the 3 of us were sent around the perimeter of the park in order to get to green and we didn't really have time to even say good luck to Claire.
Once we'd got to green start, we only really had time to join the long loo queue once then check out the celebrities before squeezing into our allocated start pen ready for the 9.45 gun. I've never known the crowds to be like they were today : 5 deep in places and, other than around Billingsgate Fish Market between 19/20 miles, they were constant. The noise was amazing and I took it all in. Cutty Sark was back in place after the devastating fire 5 years ago and the sight of the runners streaming round her bow, reflecting in the glass casing was amazing. People were shouting and screaming constantly. When going along 'The Highway' around 13 miles, I had the chance to see the leaders in the men's race, going through 22 miles on their way back. They look to be running so easily yet so fast - I can't sprint at their speed...how they sustain that for 26.2 miles I have no idea. Coming back down the other side of The Highway later on, I could see the masses making their way through half way, 9 miles behind me. It would be quite an incredible sight to see the helicopter view from the first to last runner...how far does that stretch?
Emerging from the long dark silence of Blackfriars Tunnel into the sunshine along Embankment was just into a wave of noise. I didn't hit the wall once although don't get me wrong... I'm not saying the run was in any way easy. Down Birdcage, in the last mile, I caught up with a New Forest Runner and it was 'game on'. My Boston marathon time of 3.23.33 passed whilst I was still down Birdcage but I wasn't concerned in the slightest. It was only once I was in The Mall that I realised that I could possibly beat my second fastest time ever...3.25.44 that I'd run in London 2010. I sprinted as fast as I could for that line then stopped my watch...3.25.45! How on earth can you run 26.2 miles two years apart and have the times just separated by a single second? I could!!
Then I was a little bit ill.....
Having got that over with it was then a case of having my timing chip removed, collecting my medal, goodie bag and clothing bag and sitting down in the sunshine to just remember what I've just gone through. I was so proud of myself and what I'd just done. One of my toes didn't feel like it should and I'm sure my legs will start to complain soon but right now....I'm happy.
Once home I looked up Niall (FitScottishBloke) to see if he had achieved his target of sub 3.30....he did : 3.27.36 so huge congrats to you (obviously must have been that training run I took you on in Bournemouth at target 8 minute miles that clinched it :o) ).
 |
| On the way to Greenwich |
 |
| Completing the 'hike' to the start |
 |
| Nervous smiles! |
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| Caro |
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| Me! |
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| Civilised queueing for the loo! |
 |
| Looking back down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace |
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| Proud to be British on a day like this |
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| 5hrs after the gun, runners are still streaming along The Embankment at 25 miles passing The London Eye and with Houses of Parliament and Big Ben straight ahead |
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| In the final 200m, looking happy |
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| I earned this!! |
 |
Amazing crowds, amazing day |
Tuesday 17 April 2012
Taper and eat.....
Completed my last 'long' training run last Sunday and again, once pretty darn accurate on the mileage stakes : I set out to do 12 miles in around 1.35 and ended up completing 11.92 in 1.33. Definitely couldn't leave it there so ran up the road a couple of times to round up to the targeted 12! That's it really until Sunday and the London marathon and all I need do now is stock up on fuel internally, which I have no problem doing to be honest.
Got the first of what I think will be many emails from RelayGB re the world record attempt happening just 2 weeks after London. It included a detailed map of my particular route and when I look at it, it scaringly looks a very long way! Most of the route is along country lanes where I know there are no street lights but as I'm running in the middle of the night, the support crew should be with me the whole way either in a car or on a bike so I will have some company. I know most of the route pretty well (one part of it is the old Purbeck 10k route so have run that many times. Now I have to run along the whole stretch of road rather than just half of it - that's my penance for always saying the route was boring!).
Had to 'up' the fundraising target yet again today : I've started to go round with my old fashioned paper sponsor form and it's working - another £85 promised so, as I was getting quite close to the £1,500 mark I've now upped it to £2,000 (hope it continues to need increasing!).
Weather isn't very good at the moment - extremely windy, wet and cold and the forecast for the weekend isn't looking particularly great. Really hope it improves in the next few days.
Got the first of what I think will be many emails from RelayGB re the world record attempt happening just 2 weeks after London. It included a detailed map of my particular route and when I look at it, it scaringly looks a very long way! Most of the route is along country lanes where I know there are no street lights but as I'm running in the middle of the night, the support crew should be with me the whole way either in a car or on a bike so I will have some company. I know most of the route pretty well (one part of it is the old Purbeck 10k route so have run that many times. Now I have to run along the whole stretch of road rather than just half of it - that's my penance for always saying the route was boring!).
Had to 'up' the fundraising target yet again today : I've started to go round with my old fashioned paper sponsor form and it's working - another £85 promised so, as I was getting quite close to the £1,500 mark I've now upped it to £2,000 (hope it continues to need increasing!).
Weather isn't very good at the moment - extremely windy, wet and cold and the forecast for the weekend isn't looking particularly great. Really hope it improves in the next few days.
Monday 9 April 2012
4 more marathons entered!
It's raining....what else to do other than browse the web for my remaining 4 marathons?! Job done....I've now entered the South Downs (very, very hilly!) on 9 June, Salisbury 54321 (love this one, having run it many times in the past) on 12 August (which will be just 5 days before the Anglesey CC), inaugural Purbeck event on 16 September (starting in Swanage and then reversing part of the 3rd day of the Jurassic but as a loop, finishing back in Swanage via Corfe Castle) and finishing on 23 December with the Portsmouth Coastal marathon. So 3 more trail / off roaders now appear in my final 20. I may have to look for one other as possibly won't be able to run in the Clarendon as we're looking to take a couple of weeks holiday early October.
Completed my last long training run (at least for now!) yesterday when I ran 18.3 on Easter Sunday. Ran from home down to Holdenhurst then across Iford fields to Tuckton, Wick Fields to Hengistbury Head then headed along the seafront to Bournemouth pier. Took the lower / upper gardens to Coy Pond then over Talbot Heath to the uni, back down to the Stour and followed it back to Throop. Unfortunately very dehydrated when I got home so struggled the last few miles : the weather is still chilly but I'd underestimated how warm I would get and in hindsight, should have taken a drink with me. Managed to grab a few mouthfulls of water along the prom but wasn't enough to see me home in good shape. Pleased though with the accuracy of my mileage guesses - needed to do 18 and had worked out the route in my head before setting out....almost bang on target! 2.30 so pretty good steady running at just under 8 minute miles and was comfortable until I got thirsty!
Two weeks now to London so need to start to pile on the food and taper the running - excellent!!
Completed my last long training run (at least for now!) yesterday when I ran 18.3 on Easter Sunday. Ran from home down to Holdenhurst then across Iford fields to Tuckton, Wick Fields to Hengistbury Head then headed along the seafront to Bournemouth pier. Took the lower / upper gardens to Coy Pond then over Talbot Heath to the uni, back down to the Stour and followed it back to Throop. Unfortunately very dehydrated when I got home so struggled the last few miles : the weather is still chilly but I'd underestimated how warm I would get and in hindsight, should have taken a drink with me. Managed to grab a few mouthfulls of water along the prom but wasn't enough to see me home in good shape. Pleased though with the accuracy of my mileage guesses - needed to do 18 and had worked out the route in my head before setting out....almost bang on target! 2.30 so pretty good steady running at just under 8 minute miles and was comfortable until I got thirsty!
Two weeks now to London so need to start to pile on the food and taper the running - excellent!!
Wednesday 4 April 2012
What an amazing run....
Something incredible happened on Tuesday evening - I had an email at work from a guy called Niall (blogsite fitscottishbloke) who works in Geneva, Switzerland but was over in Bournemouth for a couple of days : did I fancy going out for a run with him and in return, he would sponsor me per mile. That was a proposal I couldn't really refuse!
Weather has turned chilly (last week a place in Scotland posted a record heat temperature for March...now it was lying under 6" snow!) but met outside his hotel at 6.45 to take him on a tour of what Bournemouth has to offer. Shot up through the Upper and Lower Gardens, bursting with new spring growth then uphill to Branksome to then follow Branksome Chine back down to the seafront. Back along to Alum Chine and then followed the route of the Bournemouth Bay 1/2 to Durley Chine and along the overcliff back to his hotel.
The weather was just perfect and the company was great - he was telling me all about the amazing running routes he has around the mountains and lakes near his home, including a more recent experience where he was 'making up' his route as he went, and he was getting further and further away, and climbing higher and higher, from where he wanted and needed to be, by a certain time, in excessive heat! His post-run recovery schedule wasn't too clever either....downing lots of water followed by a can of Red Bull quickly saw a rapid reverse of everything he had consumed! Told him I wouldn't be following his example :o)
Although only an 8 miler, we finished before it got dark and were bang on target of 8 minute miles which had been his goal (he's hoping for a sub 3.30 in London). He then presented me with his donation....a whopping £100....I so nearly fell over! When he'd said he was sponsoring me per mile, I didn't even ask how much per mile (but secretly hoped it wasn't anything less than £1!) so to have such a massive donation was amazing. That's now taken my total to over £1,200 in just 2 weeks....how much can I actually reach by the end of the year?
Thanks again Niall and very good luck in London....my mantra...."challenge your limits and believe in yourself"
Weather has turned chilly (last week a place in Scotland posted a record heat temperature for March...now it was lying under 6" snow!) but met outside his hotel at 6.45 to take him on a tour of what Bournemouth has to offer. Shot up through the Upper and Lower Gardens, bursting with new spring growth then uphill to Branksome to then follow Branksome Chine back down to the seafront. Back along to Alum Chine and then followed the route of the Bournemouth Bay 1/2 to Durley Chine and along the overcliff back to his hotel.
The weather was just perfect and the company was great - he was telling me all about the amazing running routes he has around the mountains and lakes near his home, including a more recent experience where he was 'making up' his route as he went, and he was getting further and further away, and climbing higher and higher, from where he wanted and needed to be, by a certain time, in excessive heat! His post-run recovery schedule wasn't too clever either....downing lots of water followed by a can of Red Bull quickly saw a rapid reverse of everything he had consumed! Told him I wouldn't be following his example :o)
Although only an 8 miler, we finished before it got dark and were bang on target of 8 minute miles which had been his goal (he's hoping for a sub 3.30 in London). He then presented me with his donation....a whopping £100....I so nearly fell over! When he'd said he was sponsoring me per mile, I didn't even ask how much per mile (but secretly hoped it wasn't anything less than £1!) so to have such a massive donation was amazing. That's now taken my total to over £1,200 in just 2 weeks....how much can I actually reach by the end of the year?
Thanks again Niall and very good luck in London....my mantra...."challenge your limits and believe in yourself"
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