I know I know I have not posted in a week !!!!

Apologies to all for the delay in my post, but there has been a lot going on !!!!

I got the 10 miles done as you all know felt really good about it for days afterwards, was a real boost. The following 10 days were an absolute disaster, the training regime just grounded to a halt due to work commitments, what with a shore ex accident, broken ship, earthquakes in peru it stopped everything !!!

I managed to get 5 miles in last Thursday as I took a day off work, this was just a slow jog around Bitterne and Sholing but it felt comfortable to get some miles down I must admit.

Sunday was time for the big run, on Saturday night I did all the right things, lots of rest , big bowl of pasta. Sunday morning I took my energy drink (which I have decided are far too powdery for my liking) and off I went.... a story of several parts

Mile one and two - straight out of home, down Bitterne Road heading into town, a nice long drifting hill which is a nice run. Turned onto, Bullar Road. When I got to the top, I felt that I was going to implode. Had to sit down for a minute or so to catch the breath. Picked myself up then and kept going

Miles Three to Six - Quite a lot of hills as I went through Portswood and through Highfield, then all the way down Winchester road, at this point was feeling pretty good.

Miles Six to Eight - All the way down Shirley High Street. Managed to get a really good rhythm going at this point, although had a couple of twinges in my right knee, managed to run them off with no real issue.

Mile eight to ten - From the bottom of Shirley high street past West Quay and up to the Itchen Bridge. Had to take a stop by the retail park as the little twinges were getting a little worse. Kept plodding on a little slower and by the time I reached the ferry terminal it was quite clear I was in trouble !!! Managed to get to the itchen bridge though !!

Mile Ten to Twelve - Walked up the Itchen Bridge and then slowly started jogging down the other side. Half way down I pulled up and had to stop, that was that from then on I walked the last two miles back home

Injuries - Mainly an issue with my right knee which has caused me some problems over the last week, then of course I was compensating on my left leg and now my left ankle is pretty banged up as well !!!!!

I have realised a couple of things, number 1 there are a lot of hills on my route and secondly, I am crossing lots of roads and what roads mean are kerbs, one on one side and one on the other, coming on and off the kerbs seem to be making it worse so i am gonna see about avoiding kerbs !!! not quite sure how I will do that......

A couple of other things, my running shirt arrived this week, went for a large one but it turns out that large was not large enough and it makes me look like the michelin man so I have put in an order for an extra large.

Sponsorship has picked up this week as I put out an email to everyone I know and the entire company, so now at about 30% of my total, come on people !!!!!!

Working on recovery now and will update later in the week!!! meant to be doing 3 runs this week but the chances are pretty slim as I can just about walk !!!!

On to this week !!

Another week of training starts and it really is starting to creep up on me now, so I will tell you how the last week has gone and what is coming up, plus a few other bits if I remember them !!!

Last week

A tough week of training last week, due to Valentines Day I moved my long run of the week from Sunday morning to Monday night, I think that is where it all went wrong last week (hang on, got to go check on Jack). The long run was 8 miles and to be honest it went really well, went out, through Bitterne and up to Swaythling as planned. Got to about 6 miles and stopped for a water intake, completely lost the rhythm of the run and then hit a big hill !!! from that point it did not go well but I made it!!!

On Wednesday I went out for 4 miles, that went really badly, I started out really well but actually have my self to blame there, went out and run really hard out of the blocks, that, I think was my downfall of the whole week (I think) struggled round through Bitterne but felt like death !!!

Basically then did not make another run until Friday night and then it was a 6 mile run. Oh my god what a nightmare that was. After about a mile I had huge aches in both my feet thighs, got to St Mary's and had to walk a fair bit, however was pleased to get over the Itchen Bridge without stopping.

Got home and literally died on the sofa, then the whole of Saturday seemed to wander round in a distracted daze !!!

On to the massive milestone of the week !!!!!!!! the long Sunday run. This week up come 10 miles, this equals my longest ever run, which was the Great South run back in October, so I had several things to prove to myself

• Could I get round another 10 miles
• Could I do it faster
• How would I feel the day after

Anyway, I set out from home, I picked Tom up at 3 and a half miles, then off we went up the avenue and round the common, I tell you what I did not know that common was so bloody big. Then back down the avenue past the stadium and back to Tom's.

Must admit there was quite a bit of walking, probably about a mile in total and it ached so bloody much BUT and it is a big BUT !!!!!! I made it round

We did it in just under 2 hours which is 15 minutes faster than the great south run!!! afterwards I did not feel too out of breath but my legs ached a lot.

However, and this is where the week turns positive !!!

i have realised that one of my main issues is that although I am stretching, I am not doing enough. Last night I spent quite a lot of time stretching and this morning I felt preety good. If I think about how I felt after the Great South, I could not walk properly for a week. Today I have been absolutely fine, a few aches here and there but nothing major.

Another positive about today, 10 miles is a real milestone for people, last week when I told people at work Id run 8 miles it was met with positive comments, but today when you say 10 miles, it is a real milestone, people are really bowled over by 10 miles!!! it felt good that people saw that as a milestone and were really positive for me. It has given me the boost I needed when it was getting a little harder. People probably do not realise the amount of motivation they provide you !!!! long may that continue !!!

This Week

Last week was last week, and I have come to realise that whatever happens last week does not matter, it is all about this week !!!!!!

So we have 4 miles then 6 miles then 4 miles then a long 11 miles.

11 miles will be the longest I have ever ever ever run, therefore, the good thing about it is that it brings another goal into play, previously I have just been running distances that I had done before, this week is a new distance and a new challenge.

I have been really struggling to do 3 runs midweek and although I will try this week, what I dont want to do is tire myself out so that I can do the long run justice. I tell you one thing, I will not be running on a Friday night again. I will only run up to Friday morning just to give myself time to recover!!!!

So all my training runs midweek must now build to the Sunday run, nothing must jepordise that run on Sunday

Other things

My stupid Ipod sensor has stopped working, which means it is not picking up my distances. Although this does not matter as I am still doing the distances, being the geek I am means that I cannot really track my distance miles/min etc etc

Trying to think about the actual marathon weekend, logistics etc etc.

11 Weeks to Go - Trying to get better at blogging

Blogging is more difficult to do than I thought, with the amount of time I spend sat in front of a PC, you would think it would be easier!!!!! Must try harder !!!

So it is 11 weeks to go, technically it is 10 weeks and 3 days which is more scary !!! this week I definitely feel that I am getting into the training programme as the mileage is really starting to build up.

On Sunday I went out to do 7 miles, leaving home, going through hedge end, up to Botley Grange Hotel, through the retail parks, up to the rose bowl, through Bitterne and finally home !!!!! it was a cold morning and I probably did not do myself any favours wearing just shorts. However, I did get on quite well. The route was pretty hilly and this definitely took it's toll on me during the middle section !!!! but I made it.

My training plan has me taking a rest on Monday and on Tuesday I was in London so no running then either.

On to Wednesday, I went out for 4 miles and for the first time come back with quite a few aches and pains which I was a little bit concerned about but I did make it running 11"36 per mile. In the end my back, kness and ankles were sore, took some Tylenol and did some stretches. So was a little bit miserable that I may be in for a rough ride!!!

Come home this evening knowing I had to run another 5 miles, the complete opposite from last night, no aches and pains and quite a nice run round Bitterne and Woolston, completed that in 11"26 a mile !!! I have started trying energy drinks and gels now, drunk half a litre of energy drink and took a gel about an hour before the run. As the distances increase my energy levels and things like drinks and gels are going to become really important so am taking the opportunity when there are less miles to practice !!!

Another 4 miles tomorrow and on to the long 8 miles on Sunday !!!!

Gotta go ..... dont forget sponsorship is required

13 WEEKS TO GO !!!!

It is now just 13 weeks (last Sunday) to go before the Marathon, training has been going well this week. Since the last blog I have run twice, on Sunday I run 5 miles, round via Tesco at Bursledon, along Portsmouth Road, up station road then all the way down Kathleen. It was an afternoon run and after the first couple of miles I really got into it, although the last mile did kill me.

My training schedule this week is -


Short Run - 3 Miles
Medium Run - 5 Miles
Short Run - 3 Miles
Long Run - 6 Miles

Already completed the short run, will be doing the other short run tomorrow morning and the medium run on Friday.

Time to get serious.......

You will no doubt be asking where I have been since November, and then will ask if I am actually still taking part in the London Marathon. Let me start by answering the 2nd question. I am definitely 100% still running the Marathon on April 25th this year. So on to the first question.

The last time I posted I was going to the US for work, well I went and enjoyed a great 3 mile run whilst there. What really annoyed me was that the local marathon was taking place right outside my hotel whilst I was there, there were numerous distance options and I could have quite easily run 5k!!! I was not impressed, particularly when all I could hear at 7 in the morning was someone belting out the star spangled banner !!!

I got back from the US and for a variety of reasons, ranging from my Birthday to work and finally Christmas meant that I only managed a couple of short runs. I did begin to feel really guilty at this point and was pleased when January arrived !!!

I will write more about my training plan in the coming weeks but basically I am training on a 16 week program, 4 days a week. This officially started on 4 January and I enjoyed my first run on 3rd January, a short 1.5 mile run round the block and then 3 miles on the 4th. Yes, I was back on the schedule and then...........

SNOW

The snow managed to put me back by about a week and a half, I did think about risking a run on the Ice, but, surely those that know me will realise that it could only have ended in tears so I didnt.....

Now the snow has gone and I am back at it, in the last week I have been out 3 times and run 2x4 miles and 1x3 mile run. It is not a lot but is exactly where I need to be with the training and a good start. I must admit it has felt good to get back into it and over the period of those 3 runs I have felt a lot more relaxed and comfortable. On Sunday I am going for my long run which for this week will be either 5 miles or 6 miles, a lot will depend on how comfortable it goes, will report back soon on that.

I was in London this week and the taxi took us down the Mall, it was empty but suddenly thought what it would be like to run down there after 26.2 miles, that is motivation for you!!!!

The other thing I am going to be doing is pushing the sponsorship so if you have not done it yey then get on with it.

Going Stateside

I am off to Los Angeles tomorrow, well more specifically I am off to Santa Clarita Valley which is about an hour outside of the city.

The plan is to do two runs whilst there, the first on Sunday is going to be on a dry river bed which I have been told about which should be interesting and the second will probably just be around the town area.

Should be interesting to see how I cope with the heat. Hopefully there will be pictures to prove I was out there running !!!! see you next week

After the Great South Run

So it has been a week since the Great South Run and so far I have not got back out on the road. Have been away this weekend so need to get back to it tomorrow morning !!! 6.45 am.

Still feel really great after the run last week and it has given me a great boost and insight into what running and finishing the marathon will be like. I have been asked a few times this week if I am still 'Up For It' and to be honest I am more committed to doing it now then I was before.

The fundraising has started for the marathon and I am already at over £125, which is 6% of my target, which is great for being some 5 months away from the big day. Thank you to all those who have already dug deep for me.