Running vest is prepared!!

Ironed my name and nickname onto my NSPCC Team Go running vest today....looks good!

Not long to go now.  I'm trying to travel light as my wife will be carrying our stuff around with her whilst spectating and cheering me on.  A lot of it I'll be taking to the start, where the organisers store it for the runners.


However, there is still a fair amount I have to take.  In no particular order:

• Knee support
• Train tickets
• Hotel reservation
• Lucozade
• Water bottle
• Granola bars
• Shredded wheat
• Nip Guards (don't ask....)
• Go Gel and belt
• Trainers
• Running stuff (vest, t-shirt, underwear, shorts)
• Jogging bottoms
• Registration form
• Passport
• Virgin magazine
• Garmin and heart rate monitor strap
• iPod and earphones
• Vaseline (don't ask...)
• Ibuprofen
• Spare T-Shirt and underwear
• Spare phone and charger (I'll be running with an old phone in case of emergencies)
• iPhone and charger
• Safety pins for running number
• Oyster Card
• Camera

So, quite a lot of stuff bearing in mind I'm just going to London for a little run....

Other than that, today I did 7 miles or so, which went well.

Last short quick run

Went out on one of my 'normal' routes today (about 4.25 miles) and did it in a quick time for me.

In terms of training, I've basically got two more training sessions before the marathon, which feels good actually.  Other than that, I'm just eating sensibly and stretching a lot too.

Self inflicted bad run

Not a great run today, but I have to confess it's a little self inflicted.  I've been on holiday this week, and whilst being careful to eat reasonably healthfully I'm afraid I did "rebel" last night and we had out first BBQ of the year...and of course a few beers to wash it down with. 

Still, I did what I set out to this morning, but it was a very slow run as I had to stop a couple of times for the loo (note to self: don't be tempted to eat burgers and sausages the day before trying to run a marathon....).

4.4 miles

A slow 4.4 miler this morning, as I'm on holiday from work.  It was actually quite hard work today because my legs were still feeling it a bit after the 21.5 miler the other day.  Also, on Sunday we walked 16 miles (between pub stops and a curry in the evening....), but I'm glad I went out.

I took it easy yesterday and Tuesday (apart from dropping off 500 or so election leaflets to some properties) as I was getting a bit worried about my back.  I injured my back 3 or 4 years ago and every now and again it feels uncomfortable, so I'm doubly making sure that I'm doing plenty of stretches.  The physio says that runners can suffer with bad backs, as runners can tend to have tight hamstrings, which pull the hips forward, which in turn throws the back out of alignment.  However, today my back had no problems, so all is good.

17 days to go, and counting!

Philosophy of a runner

I was out with friends yesterday and we got talking about running and the thoughts that go through your mind when out training, and it got me thinking.  What motivates people do these things?  Obviously there are the things like raising money for a great cause, the personal sense achievement of doing something that a few months earlier wouldn't have been possible or using an event like this as a motivator to get/keep fit.  But what else?

I was reading someone's Blog (which is a fantastic read by the way) the other day and he's probably summed it up better than I can, as everything he has said in this post I think I agree with.  As well as the natural "comparing yourself to others", the thing that has really struck me is the sense of "being part of a group".  It's a great feeling on those mornings where the sun is just rising and you're out for a run and basically the only other people you see are other runners.  Some runners are "in the zone" and hardly notice you (this is fine and is not meant as a criticism by the way!), others have their iPod's in and are running along admiring the scenery as much as doing a "serious" run and will give a little wave (this is probably me) and others look like they maybe out for one of their first runs and are just starting a new regime or something.  I always try and give them a little wave or a "keep going....you're doing well" as I know only too well what those first few runs out can be like.

Over the last 2 or 3 weeks, I've noticed a few people out who are also doing the London Marathon.  Like me, they're practising in their charity running short/vest and there is this instant 'bond' ("I know what you're going through mate.....good luck!").  It's strange, but I get motivation from this (and I hope the other runner does too).  Also, on my last long run the other day, a few people in cars were beeping their horns and giving me a little wave, which is really great.  I've heard before that the "buzz" of running the London Marathon is something that can't be explained.  If I get around, I'll try my best to on here after the event.

I've read dozens of blogs, posts and FaceBook discussion threads over the last few months and I really do feel like I'm part of a "group" (maybe a slightly mad, psychotic group, but a group none the less!).  I've had my ups and downs during this training and in all honesty, there have probably been more downs than ups.  However, it's never really seriously crossed my mind to pull out of the training (in all honesty, I did have a wobble in the new year, when I was awaiting results of blood tests), and I think I've done all I can now.

Reading back over my Blog the other day was interesting.  I think I've come a long way, but I've also pretty much kept to the schedule that I created for myself back in October, so I'm pleased!  In fact, the very act of keeping this Blog has been a great motivator....I've had a few comments on here, and also a few emails saying 'enjoying the blog....good luck', which is fantastic and really appreciated.  I'm just looking forward to the event now, keeping injury free, keeping my weight consistent and hopefully getting around the event in one piece.

Only 3 weeks to go now!!

A few musings

A few things today, as I have a bit more time to Blog this morning.

I know this is a running blog, and I've been mentioning poker a few times.  Well, that's because I absolutely love poker and kind of see it as a sport....my mates think I'm mad when I say I can sit down and watch a poker game on TV, but I love the tension, gamesmanship and tactics.  I also love the poker terms: limping in (calling, without raising, considered weak play), raising it up (betting), under the gun (acts first before board cards are dealt), he's got the hooks/ladies/cowboys/bullets/kojack (Jacks, Queens, Kings, Aces, King-Jack) he's flopped the nuts (the best possible hand on the flop), etc.  The great players really do have "reads" on other players and can win a pot with the worst hand, which for me is the great thing about poker.  The players can win a huge pot with not necessarily having the best hand, or in some cases any hand at all.

The Internet has really shaken up the poker world, with loads of young players from the Internet taking on the old guard.  When they meet in live tournaments it can be a great watch.  I'm "friends" with a few poker pros on FaceBook as it's great seeing their pictures and videos and reading their blogs and hand reviews.  There is a fantastic player called Luke Schwartz, who plays as FullFlush online.  Here is a great example of Luke taking down a huge pot with a rubbish hand, pre-flop, with the legendary Jesse May ("voice of poker") and Phil Helmuth (arguably, the worlds most successful poker player) commentating.

I guess it's a very tenuous link, but most of poker is in the mind, which as I've blogged in the past, is the same with getting the training in and running long distances.

Anyway, back to running and stuff.  I woke this morning after my long run yesterday, and my right leg had seized up!  I've stretched it out and it's better now, but I'm still hobbing around a bit.  I'm sure I'll be fine in a day or so....I'm glad I've got a couple of days off work after the main event on 25th April.

Music wise, I'm of to see Pendulum in May and as WikiPedia puts it Pendulum's "sound is typically heavy beats accompanied by low, buzzing basslines, overlaid with synthesized leads", which basically means they somehow manage to merge rock and dance and do it brilliantly.  I have one of their albums so stuck that on to run to yesterday, and it's great.  My favourites were 9000 Miles, Midnight Runner and Propane Nightmares but the whole In Silico album is good to run to.

I've mentioned Eddie Izzard's great achievement in the past, which was really motivating and inspiring.  There's another guy on the TV at the moment, who is a world record holder for cycling around the world, and videoing it himself.  Currently, there is a show called Cycling the America's where the same guy is doing another endurance event over several months and is another great watch.

Anyway, that's it from me.  I'm off to watch the Malaysian F1 Qualifying.

A big day today, with my last Long Slow Run planned

My last slow run is planned for today, and the weather is bad.  I have to go out though....this is my final practice.  For some reason, I'm feeling strangely nervous.  I suppose there is a lot riding on this, and it has to go well.

I've eaten very well (lots of carbs and fruit) and have had plenty of water over the last couple of days.  I'm practising the 'routine' today:
- up and had breakfast of shredded wheat at 7.30am.
- banana at 8.30am
- stretches
- I'm running in the exact kit I'll be using on the day
- on the day, I'll be starting between around 9.45 and 10am, which is what I'm planning to do today.  This means running through what would normally be lunchtime for the first time, which is another reason why fuel is so important.
- iPod and Garmin are fully charged
- I'm practising with the water, Lucozade and gels to coincide when they'll be available on the day.

On a different note, I've written before that I'm a huge poker fan.  Well, Vicky Coren, a world famous poker player and the first woman to win an event on the EPT (pocketing £500k in the process) was on TV last night.  She was on Question Time, and did brilliantly.  Poker really is moving into the mainstream, if it isn't already there.  Being a poker fan, I've read her autobiography which does give a glimpse into the world of poker and is a good read.

Anyway, off out for my LSR....

The above was written before my run, with the below being the aftermath of the run


.....and I'm really pleased to say that it went well!  I did 21.5 miles, which is the furthest I've completed, so I'm chuffed as I could have carried on if I'd wanted to.  That's it for the long runs now, and my tapering starts. I'll probably do a 10-12 miler next weekend and maybe a 6-8 the weekend after (interspersed with some smaller runs during the week) and then it's the race weekend.

I think I've got my fuel strategy sorted now as well, as today after the run I feel pretty good considering.  Today I:
- drank 1 3/4 litres of water!!
- drank almost 1 litre of Lucozade
- consumed 3 SiS Go-Gels.

Today, I think it's fair to say that the weather was changeable.  I started out and it was raining hard, but that passed and then the sun came out.  Then after about 18-19 miles it absolutely chucked it down with rain, but I suppose it wasn't too bad.

So all in all, a good start to the Bank Holiday weekend and I'm pleased I got my last LSR out the way early!