Not entirely sure where to start on this one. Did the 8.2 mile run on Sunday (Kingston) and it was brilliant. Been dreading it for months , then feeling confident about it after doing a couple of 6/7 mile training runs, then back to dreading it after doing something to my back last weekend although Becky thinks that was purely psychological. Not convinced myself but I do know that there wasn't so much as a twinge in either my back or my knees for the duration of the race.
Had a massage immediately after the race then met Andrea (who did the 16 mile version) and Neal (who had to pull out after 9 due to injury) and then Becky and the kids for lunch.
In my post-race euphoria I've now fine tuned my running plan to include a couple of 10 milers in early 2007 with my ultimate 2007 aim being the Reading half-marathon in March (I'll be raising sponsorship money but not until 2007 as promised). Eeeek. I've applied for the London Marathon but almost definitely won't get in. Let's cross that hurdle in early December when the ballot results come out.
Pictures of the run are at http://www.sportcam.net/site3/public/results.php?bib_number=&family_name=lowit&event=645&search=1 and for once I may actually place an order.
Quick note about ipods and whether to use them in a race. YES. If someone wants to chat then take them off and don't use them at the beginning or the end when there's likely to be a crowd but for the boring middle bit I think it's a good idea. Glad that's sorted.
There's a website I told you about last time called http://www.fetcheveryone.com/ which basically combines all the training/running statistical analysis you could need/want with the usual forums concerning training/racing and general running talk. It's very light hearted but has helped me enormously and I'd definitely recommend it to everyone. One of the stats it churns out are your best times for 1 mile, 2 miles ..... 8 miles (in my case) and the same in kilometres. When I start running again, at the weekend, I'm going to try and beat all my previous records starting with the 1.5 mile run to the chip shop and back.
The only other thing to report is I may be famous soon. Becky and I went to see Russell Brand in Shepherd's Bush on Monday night and I got called up on stage so he could ring a massage parlour on my mobile phone! It was recorded for his Xmas DVD so if a) they think that bit of the show was funny and b) they're not recording Tuesday and Wednesday nights then there's a chance (slim but a chance) I may be featured. Not sure I'd show the kids/parents the DVD as the language is a bit colourful at times.
Little Britain on Saturday night and I'm sitting at the back!
I've done it. I got a bit carried away with the 8.2 mile run last weeekend and after booking a couple of 10 mile runs in the New Year I've also signed up for the Reading half-marathon. I'm raising money for CLIC Sargent (Cancer and Leukemia in Children) and will be doing a sponsorship 'push' in the New Year as part of my 'hassle people once a year' pledge.
