One thing I definitely WON’T be doing in 2007 …..
… is the 2007 FLM (that’s the Flora London Marathon) as I got my rejection letter, magazine and 'fleece' today. The one option I have left is to get a guaranteed charity place by raising approximately £1,500 but I think I’ll leave it until next year. The most I’ve run is, let’s not forget, 8.2 miles so I need to build up my distance slowly whilst avoiding injury.
I will however be there on 22nd April opposite Embankment tube station handing out jelly babies.
The road to recovery is going very well. Did a 2.5 mile run-walk last Thursday with the proviso that I could stop and walk whenever I want to. I think I ran a lot less than I could have done purely because (and this is psychological as most things are running-wise) I had it in my mind that it was fine to walk. So I did. Far too much.
Also did a couple of 1.5 mile runs ( my usual route – chip shop and back) which were bloody hard work. I feel my 2nd run was slightly easier and faster than my first but I’m not sure, at this early stage, how much my fitness has deteriorated in the 5 week lay off period. I’ve been told that I can build up to my October fitness fairly quickly as I’ve got a base fitness that will return. Does that make sense?
Also used my Garmin (see previous posts) on thee 1.5m runs so typed in my ideal pace and it told me how many feet ahead or behind my ‘virtual partner’ I was. Quite brilliant and exactly what I need. Shame the batteries ran out in the middle of run 2.
** FULHAM 2 – ARSENAL 1 **
Where was I? Knees and thighs ached a bit both during and after runs but calf muscle seems to be absolutely fine. Touch wood.
Healthwise the following is happening:
- I’m seeing a podiatrist who’s making special things for my shoes as I pronate (or over-pronate, I forget) on my left side which may or may not be down to an ankle I broke playing keepy-uppy 9 years ago.
- I’ve cut down on snacking both to, from and at work and walk instead of catching the bus every night.
- I MEAN to walk up and down stairs at work instead of getting the lift (especially from floors 11 to 7 and back again) but haven’t quite managed it yet more than once or twice.
- I really, really wish that I made more (or indeed any) effort with sport and fitness when at school, college and my extensive beery football-based bachelor days. Still, better late than never.
Just found out from a neighbour that there’s a 10 mile race locally in March (Chiswick, Richmond) – a perfect distance and will help with my half-marathon training. That makes it 3 10 mile runs and a half-marathon planned in 2007 so far. Double eeek.
3 slightly random points:
1 – Anyone want to go and see Lily Allen with me in 2007 in Hammersmith? Don’t really want to go on my own but will if I have to.
2 – Found a very, very funny website in the style of ‘The Onion’ but far funnier. www.newsbiscuit.co.uk – brilliant AND started up by a Fulham supporter.
3 – Some people say “Do one thing everyday that scares you”. I say “NO”. Why do you think it scares you in the first place? Trust your instinct, that’s my advice.
My wife has just pointed out what a very good influence she has obviously been on my health and fitness (on the basis that she wasn’t there at school, college or those long gone beery-football days). Fairly true.
