Twas the night (or morning of the night)...

...before Christmas and HMC decided to step on some scales (at the parents, he doesn't own any)....

It's been a while. I've never been a light man and never expect to be so as I haven't done any exercise for around 2 months, this wasn't going to be pretty. 14 stone is pretty much standard for me and anything around that I'd be OK with. (for 'OK', read disappointed but not disappointed enough to actually do anything about it).

On we go... Huh? Problem. Step off, reset to 0, step back on again and same reading. A smidgen over 13 stone. Huh? What the _____? When in all that is holy did that happen and second question is... If I seem to have lost a 14th of my body weight, WHERE THE FUDGE HAS IT GONE?

I put it down to bad scales and got on with my xmas of cold, cough, chest pains, no appetite and needing to sleep during daylight hours. This was a horrible xmas personally. I've never been wiped out completely before but on my 31st xmas and George's very 1st, Daddy was not good!

Anyway, next was off to the in-laws for more food, drink and merryment. Again, I wasn't good but they did own scales which enabled me to test myself again. This time though, just after a meal and fully clothed (bet you're glad I left my nakedness out of the earlier weighing session now aren't you!). I came in just under 13 and a half and therefore have lost some weight somewhere.

After a couple of days, I think I've sussed it. No running or cycling means all my muscle has turned back in to fat and that's lighter. That's the only theory I have. I wish I'd known earlier in my life that if didn't exercise I could lose weight. Things would be so much easier.

Anywho, good luck to all the frankly disturbed and freaky people doing Janathon. I have no idea why! The only way I found time for Juneathon was running at 5:20am most mornings and that was before George was born. 5am on a January morning when I already fight for sleep every night? Behave people! But good luck anyway. I will be following you. Now I have 2 weeks to get myself able to do the re-organised Grim Challenge on Jan 15th. Don't suppose snow is due is it?

Non Grim based title

It's been a while and I haven't run but I was still really looking forward to Grim today. Don't get me wrong, I knew it was going to hurt but it was so good last year that i felt that eatingtrees could just kind of drag me through the puddles backwards if it got that point. Never mind. It gives me a chance to go for a run in the meantime and do at least an ounce of training prior to the new date.

There is one lucky point through, while clearing the snow with my foot last night, I jarred it into a piece of ice and was in pain all night with it. How do I get these stupid injuries??? It certainly would have made it even slower and painful. Actually, I guess the puddles would have numbed it so probably wouldn't have made a difference.

A few updates from me, we've got married a few weeks ago, it was a wonderful day and now LG (lovely girlfriend) will become Mrs HMC. We had a week in Egypt (no not a honeymoon) with George and learnt both how much fun and how much hard work, taking a 3 and a half month old boy on holiday can be. (For the record, don't be scared of flying, he was a star on both flights).

I also have a fantastic pair of sunglasses to try out from those lovely people at Polaroid but due to lack of motivation and absolutely no sunshine, I haven't been able to go running in them yet. I can say though, while lying by a pool or walking along a beach in a different country's sunshine, they performed wonderfully. Obviously a full review will follow when the sun comes out and I strap on a pair of trainers.

A short note

Numerous things mean I'm not running much at the mo. Some I dislike, some I don't mind but overall a lack of 'want' is happening currently.

I haven't been back to Ashtead Running Group since my first session. In fact, I haven't run full stop since my first session. Annoyingly, that first following Tuesday was the day I was held up at work for ages then when I got home, had loads of little things to do and then the following Tuesday was just late back from work again and now the motivation has dropped but I think therein lies the other problem. My shitty job.

When I get home, occasionally stressed, I know that a 'blow the cobweb's away' run would do me some good but what I find is that I'd rather spend that precious hour giving George some cuddles and getting him ready for bed and then after, spending some time with LG than out running. It's just where my priorities are at the moment and I'm not going to beat myself up about it.

This is obviously no good for either keeping weight down or lowering blood pressure (I think a new job would help that) so it's just a case of trying to eat healthily so I don't balloon in weight.

As for Grim, I'll be there... I wouldn't miss it for the world. All the mud and water is so much fun but I think eatingtrees may end up leaving me for dead. 8 miles with little training through mud, water and cold. Who could ask for more!

An Ashtead Running Group virgin

Well last night I went for my first run with the Ashtead Running Group. Very nice people but mother-of-crap that hurt!! I think I've realised just how much of a slacker I can be when I run (or not) on my own.

Typically, the night I want to go out is the day I get held up at work and by the time i got home, I had approximately 4 minutes to get changed and out of the house to get to the pub where everyone meets. I made it. Just. Only after I ran. Which just caused more pain later I reckon.

After standing around in the cold for a few minutes with the others, someone stated that the medium group would be doing a particular route. I saw it. 10.77km. That was pushing the boundaries of my max distance over the last few months but after finding out my Ashtead 10k time, they all said the medium group was best so off I went, part of a group of 4.

The starting pace was pretty quick and I really had to concentrate on not falling behind but eventually, I settled in to it OK. Someone then mentioned that if we headed in to Epsom first and then continued, we could make it a little longer. OK I said while I silently wept inside.

Then came Chalk Lane hill.... That would be the bit between 3-5km on the elevation chart below then. There are a couple of things in my favour here. Firstly, I'd never seen this hill before so was only going on reputation and secondly, it was pitch black with tree cover, no street lighting and everything was done by the light of 2 head torches. That meant I couldn't see the top, the incline or my own feet. I think this helped a lot! We all made it up without walking although it was touch-and-go near the top for me but once there, we walked a little bit to get our breathe back. I'm not sure if they usually stop or whether they were just being kind but thank you anyway!

Some further decline and inclines followed and the pace was generally dependant on the the terrain but I pushed on and eventually finished the 10.92km route in 1:02:38. Hang on! This really doesn't do it justice. It works out at 5:45 min/km which is a lot slower than the 10k I did on Saturday! That was 5:15 min/km but without doubt, last night's run was the better and harder workout and much better for my long-term training. For the first time in a long time, my muscles were screaming at me by the time I got home and still ache a little this morning. I think that means I've pushed a little!

Eatingtrees recently mentioned that he had a goal of running the 10k in under 55 mins. I think he could do a lot worse than meet up with a running group, run with people who are all fitter and faster, along a route he doesn't know and therefore could get lost and left on his own. It certainly ups the motivation to keep the pace up! I'm looking forward to returning next week but this time with a head torch and something to eat! I've seriously over-estimated my own fitness level and now I need to up my game!

It has it's ups and downs

I really do have to lose some weight at the moment and as LG is putting me to shame with her running group, I yesterday, vowed to do a 10k this morning to blow some cobwebs away and get back into it.

I knew the course I had to run. Well when I say I knew the course, I knew the roads I had to run on but couldn't decide on the order in which to run them. Do I do this one with a fast downhill start and a punishing second half...

or do I do this one which is more undulating throughout?

I went for option 2 in the end. I decided there was no point in having a fast start if i was just going to be in a world of pain later on.

It was however, a thoroughly enjoyable run. 10.04km around the streets of Ashtead and Leatherhead in 52:44. I could feel my stress levels drop the more i ran. I just need to do it more often now.

Going forward, Ashtead has a running group that meet every Tuesday night which is meant to be very social and also my favourite price... free, so it looks like my Tuesday nights will now be spent running around in the dark with some other local people which suits me just fine and may be just the thing i need to increase my mileage. This is something i certainly need to do pre Grim as the less time i have to spend running around in the puddles and mud, the better!

Beanz Meanz Stitch

7 weeks to the day after giving birth to George, Lovely Girlfriend went on her first run yesterday. This was the first time since we found out she was pregnant back at the beginning of December '09. LG was just starting to get in to her running at the end of last year and numerous times during her pregnancy, she would tell me that she missed it and would love to get back out again.

Well now she can and through a local Ashtead running shop, she has joined a beginners running group with a few other people. This works perfectly as she doesn't have to run alone in the dark at night once I get home and can get her fitness back. £30 for 10 sessions which includes a training diary and 'homework' seems great value to me.

The only downside is that George pretty much whinged/screamed/cried from the moment she left until 30 seconds before LG's return. Picture the scene as LG walks in to a wide awake inquisitive baby lying on the bed with me looking like butter wouldn't melt and then picture my face which looks like I need a large glass of wine and some quiet time. He's a clever little bugger!!

Anyway, deciding that wine wasn't a good option (never said that before) and being slightly jealous the LG has enjoyed her run, I decided that I should get my butt out too. I'd eaten just over an hour a go so this should be fine right??

I decided to resurrect my Juneathon 5.14km route to get the legs moving. 10 mins gone, MUST STOP. The stitch I had was excruciating so a bit of a walk was demanded which doesn't happen very often. Apparently, beans on toast with grated cheese (I eat like a King) is not the best fuel for a quick 5km round the block.

Anyway, I managed to get moving again and loved running past the quite frankly, eeire Ashtead Common. The mist was just rolling across it. It could have been a horror movie! Past the church and up the poorly lit road saw me only looking down and trying not to trip up on the raised and cracked pavement. I made it back to the main road still without having fallen on my arse and then set in for the home stretch. No more walking after that first time but it certainly wasn't pretty. 5.14km in 28:03. My second slowest time ever on that route. Room for improvement then and maybe a little prior dinner planning will do me some good next time!!

Race Report - Ashtead 10k

Since moving, this is my home town race so I was looking forward to this one albeit once again, with no training to speak of. One day I'll write a post telling you how well training is going and how I've just smashed a PB. This will NOT be one of those posts.

Billed as an 'eco race', it meant they sent no paperwork out in the post and therefore you had to register in the scout hall. This meant it was a whole 15 minute walk from my house to the start and that included the slight detour to register. This is how all races should be. It had a huge family feel to it as there was a 2k fun run as well and everyone seemed to know everyone else. Well all apart from a lonely looking bloke wearing number 14. Yep, I was number 14. Luckily this was just a race number and had nothing to do with my required finishing position.

It was due to be an 11am start so at about 2 minutes to 11am, a guy with a microphone in what can only be described as the scariest union jack shorts ever, led everyone in a rendition of the national anthem. To say I was a little taken aback would be an understatement but each to their own.

I, like many others, knew this route like the back of our hands due to the fact that anyone who does any form of training around Ashtead Common will have run some, if not all of this route before. Mind you, that we also knew how completely evil the ground is during the first and last (due to this being an out and back event) km's. Stare at nothing but the ground because if you hit just one of those bumps badly, say goodbye to your ankles!

The rest out the course is undulates a lot but every bit of respite you have going downhill hurts doubly so on the uphill return leg. The marshals were great and they gave plenty of encouragement throughout the course and most people seemed great and encouraged each other too. Mind you, seeing those quick runners come back at you when you're at 4km and they're at 6km is a little depressing but a quick clap and a 'Well Done' and I continued on.

As I came onto the finishing straight (or field), I looked across and saw LG and George coming towards the finish which was nice although George obviously had no interest and was fast asleep the entire time! Nice encouragement son! 52:07 was the finishing time so quicker than expected and only 30 seconds off a PB.

Well that's about it really. Awesome medal and nice t-shirt seems bloody good value for a race just down the road. I'll be back next year trying to find those 30 seconds

I did it, I did it!

Finally got out for a run today and although I didn't blow any cobwebs away, I certainly dislodged a few. After getting up with George to allow LG a bit of extra sleep, I felt I needed this run and was going to take the opportunity as soon as I could. Turned out that was around feed o'clock so LG got up and took over George duty and I put my trainers on and headed out on an unknown route for an unknown distance for an unknown amount of time.

Now some cynics may argue that I kept getting lost. However, I put it to them that I was just taking multiple unplanned detours and you know what, it was a lot of fun. Various surfaces, various inclines and a lot of guess work (and yes OK, a couple of stops at the Common maps to check I was at least vaguely heading in the right direction).

After plotting it on runningahead, it turns out that my 8.47km were completed in 45:28 which I think is pretty good for me 2 weeks before the Ashtead 10k and under 3 weeks after the birth of my son!

While stinky and horrible, the lawn got mowed and now showered and dressed, I have pictures to frame, a cot to move and a trip to Tesco to complete. I'm going to try and get 10 minutes later and read a book but I'm not counting on it!

Previously... on HaulingMyCarcass.com

I'd been for a run. I don't think it was a bad one either. It was the last run I did. I told myself I wasn't going to do a write a new post until I'd been for a run but I haven't and I thought I'd better say hello.

The reason for my thorough lack of exercise on my feet or on my fixie has been the arrival of this little man. Meet George Caleb.

2 and a half weeks old now and showing no signs of letting his mummy and daddy have 5 mins to themselves, he obviously wants a fat, cuddly daddy who gives lots of hugs rather than a fit healthy daddy that is dripping with sweat.

This is great in some ways but at the moment, if I do have 45mins or an hour spare, I'd rather catch up on some sleep than wake my body up. I do intend to go for a bit of a leg stretch this weekend though. Now I'm back at work, I do owe it to myself before my stress levels begin to rise again!

Anyway, I'll leave you with a couple of other pics of our little bundle of joy. Enjoy!

Weekend of stuff!

Well it's been a productive weekend. A 7.87km run on Saturday morning followed by a tour of the maternity ward which we'll be visiting sometime in the next 3 weeks and hopefully sooner rather than later. Then I did some more tinkering with Yolkey and went for my first short ride! It's taken just over a month but I've managed to turn this

into this!

I also watched some of the cricket which I have a particular interest in as I'm meant to be going to the next test match at the Oval on the 21st but let's be honest, that is completely dependent upon when bump decides to make an appearance!LG dragged me to the pub last night as she was getting cabin fever and who am I to argue with the almighty?

Sunday has seen me give up entirely on the concept of sleep at about 7am this morning and attack the ironing. Following this, it was breakfast, a tidying of the spare room where the building of Yolkey had been taking place, taking the car to be cleaned and then a 5 ish mile trip on the bike in order to try and diagnose more little bits of tweaking that need doing. Now, it's time for some more of the cricket before another 'delightful' week of work beckons. Oh joy!

A week of frustration

Tuesday morning was the usual 5:30am route. A 5.14km route to stretch the legs and try and ready myself for what, unknown at the time, was to become a really crap day at work. I had then planned to run this (Thursday) morning too but after another truly horrible day in the office yesterday, I got home and immediately announced to LG that I was going out for a run. No words about it were exchanged as she could see how worked up I was and just said OK, see you soon. That's one of many reasons she's wonderful. She didn't ask lots of questions or ask me to do anything. She knew a run would help sort me out. And it did. I picked a route that I knew would contain lots of hills and therefore hurt more and help clear my mind.

It was along some pretty busy roads crossing once under and once over the M25 and that cheered me up a bit. At least I wasn't stuck in the long jam around Junction 9! The hills hurt and slowed my down but 8.14km was completed in 42:48 which works out at 5.15m/km. I'm pretty happy with that but generally my angry runs are faster so maybe the hills really did slow me down.

Project Yolkey, my lovely fixie bike project is coming on OK but is also causing me a headache right now. I have a wobble in the headset which I just cannot solve. The below is from an email I recently sent to eatingtrees asking for divine intervention.

'I changed the order of the pieces, switched the bearing cages (although Identical), given the cups an extra tap to make sure they're in properly, filed down a little of the paint to make sure the lower race was sitting pretty and you know what, the ONLY position that I get no wobble is by putting a washer below the top adjustable race which then means it doesn't sit properly and leaves a gap for all sorts of crap to get in and means that the top locknut sits too high. I've checked every website in the world and I'm not missing any parts and all parts seem in great working order so I just can't figure it out.'

As you can see, it's a frustration! Maybe I'll have to replace the whole lot unless anyone can think of something obvious that I might be missing?

Less than 3 weeks until the due date now. I'm now getting closer to jumping out of my skin every time the phone goes...

I don't trust joggers, they're always the one's who find the bodies

That was my thought process this morning when I wanted to do a run along the common relatively early. I can't remember whose joke it is but i didn't want to be the first one through the woods this morning just in case.

In the end, I headed out at 8am for an unknown distance and an unknown time. I knew the vague direction I was going to head in but I left the measuring until I'd finished. In the end it appears I did 9.08km in 47:56. That's 5:16 km's which is not bad going considering the undulating nature of the route. I don't actually remember running on a flat it was constantly up or down. Anyway, after Tuesday and Thursday's very early run's, it was nice to change the route up a little bit.

Now after my eggs and bacon i had for breakie, I have a day of bike tinkering and a barbeque to look forward to. The weekend's looking like it's going to be a good one! Enjoy it!

In a fix

Knowing I've been neglecting my legs recently in favour of assault courses, fixie building and I believe 'nesting' is the term, I made sure I got up and did an early loop this morning. Pretty quickly for me too completing the mandatory 5.14km in 25:27. None of the quite random aches and pains I've had for the last 2 weeks (caused by lack of use) flared up which is always good and I really enjoyed it. I should think about doing it more often!!

My current project is this little beauty you may have seen me mention a few weeks ago. I've been working to strip, file, clean, and generally abuse it and turn it into my ultimate fixie.

At the moment, after a visit to the powder coaters and awaiting delivery of numerous parts, it looks like this! Awesome I think is the word I'm looking for! Meet 'Yolkey'.

I love all the old frame detail and so I topped it off with the old school reflector off the original frame.

I'm going to have to wait until next month until I can buy the wheels and a few other little bits and pieces but I'm delighted with it so far.

Speaking of next month, only 4 weeks until due date! In theory he or she could turn up at anytime now which means I don't have long to complete 'Yolkey'. I better get ordering!!

Cranleigh 10k Race Report - Possible DNF?

Nearly double the distance of any of my Juneathon runs on an unknown course in an unknown village and a Saturday night spent doing stretches as my legs seem to have tightened up completely after 3 days of no running or cycling! Things weren't looking good were they.

I had high hopes for this race though. It gets tremendous reviews for pretty much everything and to be honest, I was impressed with the whole thing. Great marshalling, lovely course (with plenty of tree cover), 2 drink stops (yep count 'em 2, not the standard 1 you usually get) and plenty of parking and toilets.

So my race, it didn't start well with something giving me tremendous stomach cramps from about 9.45am onwards. Really painful and came about every 10 minutes. I nearly pulled out but decided to wait until the start and see how I felt. The cramps came back pretty much every 10 minutes. I went for a little jog across the field to see what that did and certainly didn't make it worse so I continued to hang around. At 2 minutes to 11am, they asked everyone to assemble in the predicted time pens so currently going through yet another pain, I hung around right at the back debating what to do. I wanted to do this race that much that in the end, I went to the start and set off hoping that it would be OK and if not, a marshall would be able to help.

Early pace was my recent 5km pace which I knew was NOT going to be kept up the whole way but the first 4km are along a dismantled railway track which is flat, tree lined and relatively cool. It was a good start. The 2 guys I'd decided to use as pacers started moving off after around 3km and I dropped back and ran on my own for a couple of km.

At around 5km with a bit of open ground and the sunshine beating down, I caught a guy and slowly passed him. He was very heavy footed so at times, all I could hear was his footsteps. However, we then proceeded to stay very close to each other for the rest of the race and neither of us getting more than 10/15m in front of the other. Perfect. I had my paceman until the end of the race. There were slight inclines plus no shade between 7 and 8.5km and I noticed that my pace had dropped so I had to mentally tell myself to push harder. In the end, this section cost me.

I came in at 51:54. 17 seconds off a PB and knowing exactly where I'd lost the time. I also can in about a yard behind my nominated paceman and as I crossed the line I thanked him for giving me the pace and therefore helping me. He turned round, and said with a sly grin, 'No problem but thank the girl up there' as he pointed ahead 'I just aimed for her'. I finished 82nd out of 196 runners and I can't wait until next year. I'll be back. This course owes me 17 seconds!

Juneathon. Day 30. Completion

And with another early morning run, my Juneathon is over. 3 days rest is going to happen now before I find out whether running lots of 5k's is good training for a 10k race or not.

I tried to push it today to break my Juneathon PB but in the end, I couldn't get near that angry day I had.

I've completed 201.65 km on the bike in 8 days and 110.72km running on the other 22 days. The pace for the runs I'm pleased with at 5:06 m/km (or 8:14 m/m)




June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01) 
June 19th: RUN 5.14km (25:23)
June 20th: BIKE 87.44km (a long, long time) 
June 21st: RUN 5.14km (26:50) 
June 22nd: RUN 5.14km (26:28)
June 23rd: RUN 5.14km (25:59) 
June 24th: RUN 5.14km (26:00) 
June 25th: RUN 5.14km (26:58) 
June 26th: BIKE 16.87km (a while including a Homebase stop) 
June 27th: RUN 5.14km (25:55) 
June 28th: BIKE 12.31km (not too long) 
June 29th: RUN 5.14km (25:49)
June 30th: RUN 5.14km (25:37)

Juneathon. Day 29. Just a little early

Finally, finally, finally we got some rain this morning but dagnammit, 90 mins after I'd run! Oh to feel that cooling shower as I run. In fact, I actually had a dream last night that on the 30th June, I got up to run and it was a light shower. I hope my dreams come true! Bliss!

I'm not sure if I'm going through the male equivilent of nesting but I continued with my creative side last night in painting the nursery drawer unit some baby friendly colours. This after applying the jungle animal decals on Sunday night. I think this is where the bike buy came from too. I need projects at the moment. I'm finding it very difficult just to sit down with a book in front of the TV at night. Better not say too much though or LG will start finding tings for me to do.

As Juneathon draws to a close, I really don't envy Shaun having to pick a winner. Personally, I believe the winner should come from the slightly insane pot of people that are running everyday in the original spirit of Juneathon and there still seems to be a few people doing this however I reckon a few will have tripped themselves up with the whole blogging everyday bit. There have certainly been some misses. I will say though, and without a hint of American enthusiasm, everyone has done bloody well. Good Work!

Only one more morning to go and I warn you now, there's going to be graphs involved!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01) 
June 19th: RUN 5.14km (25:23)
June 20th: BIKE 87.44km (a long, long time) 
June 21st: RUN 5.14km (26:50) 
June 22nd: RUN 5.14km (26:28)
June 23rd: RUN 5.14km (25:59) 
June 24th: RUN 5.14km (26:00) 
June 25th: RUN 5.14km (26:58) 
June 26th: BIKE 16.87km (a while including a Homebase stop) 
June 27th: RUN 5.14km (25:55) 
June 28th: BIKE 12.31km (not too long) 
June 29th: RUN 5.14km (25:49)

Juneathon. Day 28. If you go down to the woods today

you'll probably have seen me sweating a lot while out on the bike! Which I guess isn't the best thing for other people but I had fun! There was another reason for going out on the bike today. I am delighted to announce that this Juneathon, my had built bodge job of a bike has taken me 201.65km!!!! That I'm proud of!! Not the fitness thing, the fact it's still in one piece!

However, there will not be many more single speed outings for this one as I'll be putting the gears back on it in the near future. This is because I'm susceptible to the power of suggestion so yesterday, with 11 seconds left of the auction and with LG telling me to do it, I bought this!!!

Now I know it doesn't look like much at the moment but give me a few months, and when I'm not changing nappies, feeding, cleaning, not sleeping and everything else involved with impending fatherhood, I'm going to turn this into a fixie thing of beauty!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01) 
June 19th: RUN 5.14km (25:23)
June 20th: BIKE 87.44km (a long, long time) 
June 21st: RUN 5.14km (26:50) 
June 22nd: RUN 5.14km (26:28)
June 23rd: RUN 5.14km (25:59) 
June 24th: RUN 5.14km (26:00) 
June 25th: RUN 5.14km (26:58) 
June 26th: BIKE 16.87km (a while including a Homebase stop) 
June 27th: RUN 5.14km (25:55) 
June 28th: BIKE 12.31km (not too long)

Please wait

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Juneathon. Day 27. Out but not quickly enough

I may be stating the obvious here but the sun really does appear to be pretty damn hot. Even at 7am. The little bits that were in the shade were the highlights of my run and also the only times I didn't feel like I was going to fall over in a big sweaty puddle! Oddly, as I write this, I have the book I'm currently reading next to me. Sahara by Michael Palin. Strangely, I feel I know what he's going through.

A smidgen under the 26 minute barrier today but with an achy shin pain on my right leg but hey, if that's the worse it can throw at me with only 3 days to go then HA! I laugh at you Juneathon!

Lot's of people out and about including a what I assume was a Grandad pushing his sleeping Granddaughter along. Made me laugh as I bet the story was something like 'child didn't sleep, parents needed rest, Grandad volunteered'. Only 7 weeks to go and that'll be LG and me. Uh Oh! 

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01) 
June 19th: RUN 5.14km (25:23)
June 20th: BIKE 87.44km (a long, long time) 
June 21st: RUN 5.14km (26:50) 
June 22nd: RUN 5.14km (26:28)
June 23rd: RUN 5.14km (25:59) 
June 24th: RUN 5.14km (26:00) 
June 25th: RUN 5.14km (26:58) 
June 26th: BIKE 16.87km (a while including a Homebase stop) 
June 27th: RUN 5.14km (25:55)

Juneathon. Day 26. A functional Juneathon

Well after 5 days running in a row (sod you lot still running everyday, you insane people) I decided to get on the bike today but with the parents coming this afternoon for a BBQ, I had to multitask. So, the decision was made and I got on the bike and cycled to Homebase to buy a lawnmower. Luckily I had the 'Tour de Homebase' support vehicle driven by LG meeting me there so I didn't have to attempt to carry a lawnmower on my back.

Knowing that LG was off to Sainsburys on the way back, I went the long way home and through the quite lovely Ashtead Common and followed some of the course I'll be doing on the Ashtead 10k that I've signed up for in September. Should be a fun race although it's pretty undulating!

Anyway, after the ride was done and the support vehicle turned up, I proceeded to mow the lawn. I say lawn but actually mean, dead patch of yellowish grass that was once a lawn. This was after picking up an entire bag of crab apples of said patch of garden so they didn't just rot into the ground!! LG and I have then tidied the entire flat to give the illusion that we're actually tidy people in general and I've just sat down for the first time since 7.30am. Is it beer o'clock yet??

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01) 
June 19th: RUN 5.14km (25:23)
June 20th: BIKE 87.44km (a long, long time) 
June 21st: RUN 5.14km (26:50) 
June 22nd: RUN 5.14km (26:28)
June 23rd: RUN 5.14km (25:59) 
June 24th: RUN 5.14km (26:00) 
June 25th: RUN 5.14km (26:58) 
June 26th: BIKE 16.87km (a while including a Homebase stop)

Juneathon. Day 25. A meandering plod

I have no idea where I was today but my head wasn't attached to my plodding legs as they ran the loop they've come to know pretty much on autopilot. Well they had to, to be honest as I forgot to put my contacts in and was therefore blind except for about 5 yards in front of me. Thoughts that crossed my mind during today's 26minutes and 58 seconds were about which colour scheme to have on the new bike that I'm not going to build as I have a baby on the way and have better more important things to spend my money on and whether to have a flip flop hub so I can flip between a fixie and freewheel on the new bike that I'm not going to build as I have a baby on the way and have better more important things to spend my money on.

Also what does a man-in-a-van put through someone's letterbox (the same person's letterbox) almost every morning and then drive off. I can't fathom what it could be. The first time I assumed it was an invoice or something. That's a lot of final demands if it is!

And another thing. Baby's names! When does that get easier to work out??? As we chose not to find out whether it's going to be a pink or blue one, it's twice as bad so you have to pick a name and then see if it reminds you of anyone you hated at school, or that you've worked with, or anything else not appropriate to naming your child.

Then I remembered I was meant to be running and was not exactly near my recent pace. See what happens when I don't concentrate.... I slow down! I'm almost surprised I didn't stop, look around and wonder where I was! 5 days to go!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01) 
June 19th: RUN 5.14km (25:23)
June 20th: BIKE 87.44km (a long, long time) 
June 21st: RUN 5.14km (26:50) 
June 22nd: RUN 5.14km (26:28)
June 23rd: RUN 5.14km (25:59) 
June 24th: RUN 5.14km (26:00) 
June 25th: RUN 5.14km (26:58)

Juneathon. Day 24. I'm nothing if not consistent

Wahoo!!! 6 days to go!!! After a crappy journey both in and out of work yesterday, I was delighted to have run yesterday morning and that was the only thing that got me out of bed this morning. Although that was after I'd got out of bed to turn off the alarm, then got back into bed after deciding that I'd do something tonight instead and then got back out of bed again as I couldn't sleep (after at least 2-3 minutes of trying) and decided that I may as well run anyway as the alternative was a hot and slightly worse kind of run tonight. There was a lot of thought processes involved in those first 5 minutes of my waking existence this morning but I don't think my lovely, nearly 33 week pregnant girlfriend quite appreciated my dilemma and promptly went back to sleep.

I seem to have established my level this Juneathon though. Out of my 24 days, I've run the same route 15 times!!!! I've looked at the times involved too and if you take out my angry fastest run and not coincidentally, my slowest run the following morning, they've all been within 1 minute and 17 seconds of each other. Today's and yesterday's were within 1 second!

I'm finding Juneathon as horrible as I thought I would but I'm glad I'm still going. Although I haven't run everyday, the mental strength to either cycle or run and then make sure the blog is done every single day has been really tough. With only 6 days left, I know mentally that I can get to the end now which is wonderful after my 4 day attempt in 2009. I just wish this had been done as Octoberthon as we wouldn't have to deal with the heat!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01) 
June 19th: RUN 5.14km (25:23)
June 20th: BIKE 87.44km (a long, long time) 
June 21st: RUN 5.14km (26:50) 
June 22nd: RUN 5.14km (26:28)
June 23rd: RUN 5.14km (25:59) 
June 24th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)

Juneathon. Day 23. One week to go, one week to go, la la la la le la, one week to go!!!

The ankles and knees ache but I was encouraged by the fact we only have one week to go, one week to go, la la la la le la, one week to go AND a lot of the England flags will have to come down today if we play anywhere near as badly as we have done so far! Hey ho, at least the French are out!

Plus we beat the Aussie's at Cricket which always helps. I ran 1 second under 26 mins today. Talk about cutting it fine!!

Anywho, a run was needed this morning firstly to not having to run in that EVIL heat and secondly in case anyone hands me beer later to stop the pain of the England result.

Today I saw 2 milkman, a postman, the greengrocers and a lady walk a dog. This is the most people I've ever seen at 5:30 in the morning when running!! Also, I know I shouldn't need them but I really need some sunglasses for the last mile. Right into the sun! It's lovely though, I'm not complaining!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01) 
June 19th: RUN 5.14km (25:23)
June 20th: BIKE 87.44km (a long, long time) 
June 21st: RUN 5.14km (26:50) 
June 22nd: RUN 5.14km (26:28)
June 23rd: RUN 5.14km (25:59)

Juneathon. Day 22. s'ot

I had an argument with myself this evening about why in hell I didn't run this morning and had to go out in this stupid heat, stupid sun and stupid humidity.

I lost the argument and had to run. It        was        a        realllllllllllly       slow       jog that was horrible and I deserved the pain for being a lazy git this morning. I won't make that mistake again and will be waking at 5.20am tomorrow to make sure it doesn't happen again!

I don't know what kind of running style was going on today but my knees kept knocking together. I haven't figured out why and how but it was an interesting development. Oh also, I got my first stitch for the first time in absolutely ages. I can't remember the last time I had one. Bloody heat!


June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01) 
June 19th: RUN 5.14km (25:23)
June 20th: BIKE 87.44km (a long, long time) 
June 21st: RUN 5.14km (26:50) 
June 22nd: RUN 5.14km (26:28)
     

Juneathon. Day 21. Not half as bad as expected

Day 21 was an early wake up once again in order to see what damage yesterday's bike ride to Brighton had done to my legs. Well I'm delighted to report that apart from some tightness in the calves (helped by sleeping in some compression socks last night), it was fine. It wasn't quick and it's never pretty but it's done.

Back to yesterday's enjoyable bike ride to Brighton, here's a quick report.

My lovely LG kindly dropped myself, eatingtrees and lots of bits of bikes in a side street in Balham and after putting everything back together, we headed off to Clapham Common for the start. The organisation seemed really good and everything was made VERY easy which must be a tough thing to do with 30000 people on bikes to deal with. The first hour, only 8 miles was covered with all the stop starting but that's to be expected and as long as you're there for a bike ride and not a race, you just expect it and accept it. There's lots of good banter with the police and marshalls too so it doesn't even get frustrating.

There's a few hills one of which is called 'How Lane' which could be cycled up but as they're narrow, eventually someone will walk and then it becomes the equivilent of people braking on the M25. After a few minutes, everyone's walking. A quick toilet break was had around 9 miles but after that, I was determined to get past the half way point before having a break and despite complaints from my backside (and the same complaints coming from eatingtrees) we stopped at 29 and a half miles for flapjacks, peanuts, wine gums and plenty more fluids.

Back on the road and it was Turners Hill that caused the next delay. As everyone seems to stop for a break, it's not even walking pace. It's like trying to get onto the central line during rush hour. Once past that though, it was plain sailing (or cycling) until a couple of miles from The Beacon and just 50 yards from the front, everyone was stopped due to an emergency on the Beacon itself. We were held there for over 50 mins and it turns out that a guy unfortunately collapsed on the way up and subsequentially died. My thoughts are with his family.

The police and marshalls were again really fantastic and helpful and the crowd of bikes (which at this point must have stretched back at least a mile) were then released in batches to ease congestion both up and down the Beacon.

The up is tough. Lots of short, sharp hills that don't flattern out at all. I made it up around a quarter of the way on the single speed beast before I lost momentum by having to go round a few people and that was it. I was walking from then on. I'd like to try it on a geared bike one year as I reckon I could make it!

The other side of Ditchling is a speed freak's dream and after leaving eatingtrees at the top (due to his restricted speed legs) I just free wheeled for fun. Then I scared myself and had to apply the brakes. Checking after, I managed 39.8mph!!! The ride into Brighton was great with all the cheering crouds and we were even serenaded by a guy miming the words to we are the champions, with Queen playing loudly out of the windows of his flat while we waited at the lights.

Onto the sea front and it was completed and great to meet up with LG and LG's Lovely Parents. I wasn't too tired and my legs felt OK but I decided against the run with eatingtrees due to my ability to be sane and not slightly demented.

Again thanks go to a 7 month pregnant LG for driving down to Brighton to take us back so we didn't have to deal with the coach and lorry situation!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01) 
June 19th: RUN 5.14km (25:23)
June 20th: BIKE 87.44km (a long, long time) 
June 21st: RUN 5.14km (26:50)

Juneathon. Day 20. Cycling to to seaside

Today was D-day. An 87.44 km ride to Brighton. I've only just got home and I'm starving so this is going to be a quickie.

Great fun. Loads of support. 39.8mph achieved. Managed to cycle around a quarter of the way up Ditchling Beacon on a single speed. Legs feel OK. They may not in the morning. As long as you don't take it too seriously (this is a note to the lycra clad bunch) it's a lovely bike ride. I'll be back next year without a doubt!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01) 
June 19th: RUN 5.14km (25:23
June 20th: BIKE 87.44km (a long, long time)

Juneathon. Day 19. Now I'm nervous

I got up and ran early today in order to get it out the way and give my legs the maximum rest time before tomorrow's Juneathon task of cycling to Brighton. Why o why did I agree to that!

I had a lay in this morning so didn't head out til 7.30am but what a beautiful morning it is. Warm, sunny and with a slight breeze. My usual route this morning and what was meant to be a slow jog to stretch out the legs turned out to be the second quickest time I've run this June. Oops. The problem was I noticed my time half way round and realised I was around 30 seconds up on yesterday's effort so I had to give it a go! 25:23 is none too shabby for me. Under that 5 m/k (8 m/m) benchmark anyway.

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01) 
June 19th: RUN 5.14km (25:23)

Juneathon. Day 18. Up and almost at them

You'll be unsurprised to hear that day 18 was a repeat of day 17 and many before that and although it wasn't a bad time, I just cannot even anywhere near the pace of my angry day on day 7. I'm determined to beat it though. Mind you, I'm also determined to try and have the ability walk after Sunday's 54 mile single speed cycle to Brighton so you won't find me committing to anything such as beating my best time or breaking that 25 minute barrier! Oh no, you won't find me doing anything quite that stupid!!Also not sure how I'm going to cope with a 10k 3 days after Juneathon when all my distances have been considerably shorter!

After my message on Facebook last night to do with the absolute mound of washing that Juneathon appears to be generating (1 run or ride generates: running shorts, over shorts (as no-one needs to see my arse in that much detail), t-shirt, buff or bandanna and socks plus a cap if it's raining), can I put a request in, that next years Juneathon prize is a months supply of washing powder, fabric conditioner and a small donation to my electricity bill??? Thanks

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23) 
June 18th: RUN 5.14km (26:01)

Juneathon. Day 17. A simple one

It wasn't as nicer morning as it was on Tuesday when I last got up early. A bit misty with a slight chill in the air when I first set off although the cold doesn't tend to last long when you you have to lumber through 5.14km built like me but a successful run it was even if not the quickest. The calves ached a bit due to the windy ride yesterday but no real problems.

My random thought of the day was about a green grocers. There's a little local one in a row of shops that I run past and every morning, the little old man and his little old lady wife get everything out and ready for the day. At 5.30am!!! Now not being funny but apart from the milkman, the lone runner that I've seen just once and the beautiful and noisy green parakeets that inhabit most of the South London area, NO-ONE appears to be up. Why then, does the shop need to be ready and open?!?!?!

My other random thought was last night after ready Shaun's blog. It got me thinking. As a big geek in the world of playlists and how they affect my running, I found it a surprise that at no point during the whole of my Juneathon exercise have I listened to music and to be honest, I have absolutely no idea why.

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)
June 17th: RUN 5.14km (26:23)

Juneathon. Day 16. It's windy out there.

Back on the bike today to make sure all the nuts and bolts I tightened yesterday hadn't made my bike fall apart or anything. They didn't although I do have a request... If anyone has a bit of old inner-tube they want to send me to stop a particular annoying rattle I have on the chain tensioner, please do. I only need a bit about an inch by 2 inches. I'm seeing if I have anything else to bodge it with at the moment.

Anywho, 18.58 km done today in most of the time it seemed to be into a head wind although I reckon that's my imagination. Also, why to my shoes start rubbing my toes now!!! 4 days before L2B.


June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33) 
June 16th: BIKE 18.58km (45 mins ish)

Juneathon. Day 15. The Half Way Point

How many blogs are going to be titled something similar today but it's just such a relief to get here!! It's done with another standard route/time/pace/aches, by 6am this morning, the first half of Juneathon was complete. My legs are really feeling it now but as I got out of bed 6 minutes late, I didn't want to dawdle so it was completed in my second fastest time so far. 4:58 km's or 7:59 m/m. Just scraped under the 5 min barrier for only the second time this June.

I'm pretty please with my stats this year and absolutely delighted I didn't go the 'run every day route'. There are quite a few people starting to suffer and I don't want to imagine how much worse it would have been if I'd attempted it but keep going all of you, you're braver than me!! At the half way point, I have the following geeky stats. RUN: 54.36km (average pace of 5:07m/k or 8:15 m/m). BIKE: 66.42km

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)
June 15th: RUN 5.14km (25:33)

Juneathon. Day 14. This isn't going to be an exciting one

Yup, same 5.14km route. Same stupid time in the morning. Same heavy legs and same repeating thought process of how the hell am I going to manage another 16 days of this??? 26 minutes dead for todays effort which is still OK. Getting harder on those sprint finishes down my road though!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June 13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)
June 14th: RUN 5.14km (26:00)

Juneathon. Day 13. Achey legs have arrived

Yep another day of the 5.14km running route and a distinctly noticeable tightness in the calves and ankles has appeared. Possibly through lack of stretching so I just did a big stretch session then so hopefully they'll be fine on the march to the half way point. Nearly there!

This was my 6th attempt at this route and only the 3rd time I've scraped under the 26min barrier and as it was, it was only 4 seconds under!!!

The beer, BBQ and football were all good and I didn't at all feel guilty seeing hotshoeshuffle out on her run when I arrived at my friends loaded with beer and various meat products. At that point I was delighted I'd got the bike ride done and dusted in the morning!

Right I need to make a quiche and get the BBQ ready for today's chargrilled food offering!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 
June13th: RUN 5.14km (25:56)

Juneathon. Day 12. Random route

With a good night's sleep, some online banking completed and a bacon sandwich in my tummy, I set off into the unknown to get a few more miles in the tyres prior to L2B next weekend. I purposely didn't plan my route prior to heading out because I tend to look at the hilly parts, know when they're coming and then dread them so I just turned when I felt like it or when I thought it might head somewhere interesting.

Epsom Downs look pretty stunning on a clear day but as it's the downs. you know there are going to be hills. From there, and with a lot of uphill leg work and downhill speed work, somehow, I ended up in Cheam and then came back through Epsom Town Centre and back into the village. 24.85 km was completed and once a little bit of maintenance has been done on the single speed bodge job, I'll be as ready as I'm ever gonna be for L2B. It's gonna be tough! 

Right, I'm off to drink beer, eat BBQ and watch footie. I almost feel like a real man


June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)
June 12th: BIKE 24:85km (approx 1:10) 

Juneathon. Day 11. Out of the way

An early start again today for my 5.14km loop as I couldn't face getting home from work again and having to go out to exercise on a Friday night. It wasn't a fun run but it wasn't a bad run either. To make it a bit different, I tried running in smaller, faster steps more akin to if I was running barefoot. Eatingtress was talking a lot about it the other night with a shisha pipe in his hand so I did it to try and break the monotony. I don't actually  have anything to report about it except my calves hurt more but that could be more to do with the 11 days consecutive exercise or maybe just the fact I was using different muscles. The thing I can say is that if my mind wandered and I thought of anything else, I went back to my heavy, lumpy style immediately. Also I found it harder when going uphill.

It's Friday, I've just had a sausage sandwich, the world cup starts today, I have BBQ plans at the weekend (possibly under a brolly) and I won't have to get up at 5.20am for a whole 2 days! Where's a bank holiday when you need one? Enjoy your Juneathon weekends people, only 19 days to go!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: RUN 2.83km (15:16)
June 11th: RUN 5.14km (25:48)

Juneathon. Day 10. Juneathon = Antichrist

I love the idea of Juneathon and there lies the problem,  I love the idea. The actual practical side of the entire thing is absolutely horrible. We're a third of the way through and I am hating it. Maybe it's because works been horrid this week (see day 7's post if you're unsure) but this is just tough.

I went for my shortest Juneathon run yet a few minutes ago and got soaked from the rain, blown by the wind and the ONLY reason I did it is because I really, really don't want to quit 2 years running. 2.83km today in a very slow and can't be bothered 15:16. I was hardly out of breathe at the end. What's the point in a run like that hey? Never mind. Role on tomorrow and more of the same.

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)
June 10th: Run 2.83km (15:16)

Juneathon. Day 9. Barely awake

Today was the closest day yet, of nearly missing my daily Juneathon 2010 exercise. Reason. I must be sleep typing at the moment. I'm sooo tired. Last night turned into a bit of a journey from hell. It was going so well too but after getting a lift to Waterloo from a friend of mine, I made my train with a couple of minutes to spare and sat down with my book and my ipod. 45/50mins and I'd be in bed and after a 5:20am start, my bed was what I needed. The train set off bang on time. Result!

It wasn't to be. After a train stopped in front for someone being ill and then we stopped again later for a signal failure, I got home over an hour later than it should have been. When my alarm went off this morning, it was like I hadn't even slept!

Therefore today, I got on the bike with my thinking that at least on the downhill parts I wouldn't have to do as much work and the uphill parts would give the training needed for London 2 Brighton in 11 days time! ARGHHH!!!! I ended up going longer than planned as I went the wrong way ( I didn't plan on doing a Half Marathon) but it was completed with a numb bum and aching legs. Right, I'm off to bed.

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)
June 9th: BIKE 21.65km (approx 53 mins)

Juneathon. Day 8. PB to PW, the not so steady decline

After 1 shower, some beans on toast, some blog writing, 1 episode of Nurse Jackie and less than 7 hours of very disturbed sleep, I headed back out for another run on the same route as day 7. I'd have much rather not been back on the pavement again but with plans to meet up with eatingtrees and another friend for Lebanese food and Shisha tonight, I didn't have much choice.

It was SLOW. I knew it wouldn't be as fast as yesterday's anger fuelled run but this was really slow in relation to the start of Juneathon. I ran my 5.14km at a slower pace than most of the Half Marathon's I've done so it is with delight that I'm NOT going to get up at 5:20am and run again tomorrow. I'm going to treat myself to an extra 40 mins in bed and go out on the bike in the evening after work. After 3 runs in a row and a niggling pain that is creeping across the top of my left foot (a pain I first seemed to have blogged about in March 2009!) I'm going to give up the 2 feet for 2 wheels for a day and I can't wait!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)
June 8th: RUN 5.14km (28:33)

Juneathon. Day 7. What a complete shocker!

If I was a cynical bastard, I would suspect that a person I work with, called in sick today and left a HUGE pile of crap on mine and some other colleagues desks, as he couldn't bring himself to come in as he knew if was going to be a shite day and would rather dump that on his colleagues desks who have had no input in the jobs up to this point instead of dealing with it himself. If I was a cynical bastard, that's what I'd think. Call me a cynical bastard.

Because of the above, I left the office a lot later the planned and as I'd had to abandon an early run in favour of a visit to a printers (rock and roll life, me) at 7am, it meant that when I got off the train tonight, not only was it later, but also I got very wet after a walk home without a coat and I still hadn't exercised. So on came the trainers and I headed out on my 5.14km route that has helped me through this Juneathon. I wasn't in the mood to hang around at the start and seem to have a lot of anger to burn off. It seemed to work. I knocked over a minute off the route I've done twice already this June and went under 5 min km!!! Yup. 4:51's as an average which is 7:50's in m/m. Result! I should have a bad day more often but to be honest, you can have that minute back if I can have an easier day tomorrow. It's not going to be an easy start though, in less than 8 hours, I have to get up again and run that same route!!! Juneathon is going to be the death of me!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)
June 7th: RUN 5.14km (25:02)

Juneathon. Day 6. 5k's are the new 10k's!

See when I wrote in yesterday's blog that I fancied a 10k, I obviously hadn't factored in the state of my heel after a day on my feet in thin flip-flops. Bruised and cracked would be a good description.

However, I knew if I didn't get out, I would be rubbish come the afternoon with so much of the house to sort out so off I plodded on the same route as day 4 but in reverse this time which is silly really as this ends up with the long, slow incline at the end which hurts. I did however see other runners so apparently, 9am on a Sunday is the time to go! Anyway, 10 seconds slower than Day 4. I can't decide whether to blame the heal, the hills or the increased exercise.

As a side note, the people who are running everyday. You are all insane but I commend you all. Seeing sorelimbs stats for the week so far filled me with fear. Nearly 32 miles in 6 days and all in under 9 minute miles. Good work sir! Rather you than me!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)
June 6th: RUN 5.14km (26:15)

Juneathon. Day 5. Record Breaker!

I've mentioned before that it's not a great record but at least I've done it.

I obviously needed the sleep this morning as I didn't wake until 7.30am and due to a few tasks needing doing (picking up an ebay carrycot, picking up a phone from the post office, shopping, washing and sitting in the garden with cider, BBQ, masses of food and more food), it wasn't going to be the long cycle I thought I may do. However, due to a sight test to check if I've got more blind or not (I haven't, well I have but only with contact lenses?!?!?) I used the opportunity to cycle into Leatherhead and back and thereby completing 8.61km on the single speed without any padded shorts. I WON'T BE DOING THAT AGAIN!! Tomorrow, I fancy a run. Maybe a 10k... Let's wait and see..

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)
June 5th: BIKE 8.61km (??:??)

Juneathon. Day 4. A record equalled

Yep, as 4 days was all I managed last year, I now have matched last years record. Tomorrow I go for the big one! Admittedly it's not tough to beat but still, if I knocked a second off a PB I'd shout about it so why not this too!

I got up at 5:20am again this morning. It's lovely to run at that time in the morning once the initial 'what the fudge am I doing out of bed at this time of the day' thoughts have gone and with the weather so nice at the moment, it's hard to argue against. Ask me again on a day when it's cold, wet and miserable. I'm pretty sure I'll turn the pillows over and go back to sleep. Also, the earlier the better is even more true on a Friday when you take into account that my journey home is longer now so by the time I get there, I'm much more likely to open a bottle of wine than go for a run.

I slightly upped Wednesday's route to make it at least a 5km but while the first half is generally downhill, what goes down must come up in running loop terms. So with aching ankles (tomorrow will be a rest from running day) I plodded round 5.14km in 26:05 which is 5:04 min/km pace (8:10 m/m). None too shabby for my 3rd run in 4 days but I'd like to break the 5 min/km barrier some time this month please. And so:

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)
June 4th: RUN 5.14km (26:05)

Juneathon. Day 3. A change in mode

Today I was working from home most of the day due to some standard blood tests that needed to be done on LG for the bump at the hospital and with LG pretty much passing out at the thought of needles, it's best not to let her drive! That was for 3 hours but did mean i didn't have to get up at stupid o'clock to run.

However, I now realise that I'm not good at going out for the sake of going out so I've decided that during Juneathon, on the running days, I'm going to get up early as it gets it out of the way. (Also the cars with the England flags aren't out of bed yet which is nice!).

Today's exploration was on the bike. Seeing as I have London to Brighton in 2 and a half weeks, needs must! This seemed more sensible than another run but maybe that'll be back again tomorrow.

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)
June 3rd: BIKE 11.31km (??:??)

Juneathon. Day 2. I haven't dropped out yet

Well day 2 was another early start due to the same reasons as yesterday (I get a lie in tomorrow though so YAY to that). I ran/jogged/ambled in the other direction to yesterday as I'm still not completely sure where I live and just tried to go a circle. It worked too. Not as long as yesterday but 4.46km (2.77 miles) was completed in 22:31 meaning giving me a rather spritely pace for me of 5:03km (or 8:07 m/m). For me, that's quick!

2 days completed and if I do just 3 more, I beat last years attempt when I picked of a variety of stupid niggly injuries and dropped out in a pathetic manor. This year, I'm going to at least TRY and complete it mainly due to the need to get fit again and in an attempt to lose the sympathy belly that's still growing in tandem with Lovely Girlfriends bump!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)
June 2nd: RUN 4.46km (22:31)

Juneathon. Day 1. Let the pain commence

And so it was that after 2 solid days of moving furniture and boxes and then a further 2 solid days of unpacking furniture and boxes, I found myself having to get up this morning at 5.20am so I didn't fail Juneathon on the first day!! See, I have no internet connection at home and therefore I wouldn't have been able to blog from home if I exercised after work and blogging prior to exercising is not allowed (I don't think?? Correct me if I'm wrong!) so therefore, getting up at stupid o'clock was the only option.

Things to say about where I've moved to. It's no longer flat. At all. This should do wonders for hill work but mostly it just hurts. My flat runs around the river are no longer an option. I thought my run today was horrible and slow but it turns out, 5.95km was done in 31:48 meaning an average pace of 5:20 per km or 8:36's if you prefer your miles. All that with the following elevation!



Anyway. Day 1, done!

June 1st: RUN 5.95km (31:48)

Wheathampstead 10k Race Report - The effects on the human body, of running a 10k without a single run in the previous 49 days

Well you'll be pleased (I hope) to know that I survived. I wasn't quick and it certainly wasn't pretty but I managed to run the Wheathampstead 10k, on an undulating course, in 27 degrees, without a run in the last 49 days and without stopping in 59:32! I had pitched myself at 1:05:00 so I was delighted to scrape in under an hour.

In an absolute refusal to get a burnt head (it happens a lot), I looked more like I was dealing with the heat of the Marathon des Sables than in Herts in May. A buff going down the back of my neck with a cap over the top, sunglasses and a healthy amount of suncream on my arms and face. It was a bit scary.

But can I still walk. Well yes. Slower than normal and with a slight grimace but yes. The legs are as stiff as they used to be when I first started running and I can feel the tension across my shoulders oh yeah and I have the coolest blister along my left foot but that's about it. No knee pain, no calf pain. THAT is great news.

It's not an easy route an involves a lot of inclines, uneven ground and 2 sets of steps but it has a great feel to the event with the family 2k that's run before and with the bouncy castles and the like.

My race was all about completion so when myself and eatingtrees took ourselves to the start, we headed towards the 55-60 marker. Once we started eatingtrees headed off through some of the runners and just as I was about to follow, I felt that I was going to struggle if I did that so I just settle back and started running. It was quite surreal with no one to talk to AND no mp3 player. All I could hear was my own extremely heavy breathing but however hot and slow the race was, I kept thinking back to eatingtrees comments about last year and the constant downpour of rain. It must have been a bog in places so we were lucky in that way I guess.

I have to say that I don't really remember much of the run after that. It was just about finishing and judging by my spilt time, I ran at pretty much the same pace all the way round in a kind of daze. First 5k: 29:45. Second 5k: 29:47. As I said, not in anyway quick but at least I didn't have to stop!

My happiness of my achievement was so much, I've signed myself up for the Cranleigh 10k at the beginning of July. Let's hope Juneathon doesn't destroy me in the meantime.

Juneathon or not Juneathon. That is the question

I can't decide about this whole Juneathon thing. I mean it's a brilliant thing to do and anyone who completes it in my eyes deserves a world of respect but being one of the people who dropped out last year, I can testify about just how tough it is. Doing some form of exercise every. single. day. and blogging about it every. single. day. takes a hell of a lot of motivation for anyone who's not training for some insane kind of triathlon event.

To be honest, after my failure to run in the last 40 odd days and the increased size of what I'm calling my 'sympathy belly', I really should be taking part, winning and halving my excess weight but I'm not sure I can commit. Mind you, if I don't even try, I've got no hope so hope so decision made, count me in and I'll try my best.

By then, I'll be living 15 miles away from work so there goes the 'easy cycle day' and as eatingtrees mentions, the last week is going to absolutely kill after competing in London2Brighton on the bike on the 20th! I think I may have to get the press ups and sit ups involved to help me through my lazy days.

Join us for Juneathon. If you don't have a blog, you have no excuse either! Just put all your daily updates the soon-to-be Juneathon 2010 Facebook page which I'll add a link too as soon as it's live. Come on, join the pain. I mean fun. Join the fun.

Oh no, I've only gone and done it again

Without a shadow of doubt, I have run out of training time for the up and coming Wheathampstead 10k. This means, come the 23rd May, I may have a very interesting blog entitled 'The effects on the human body, of running a 10k without a single run in the previous 49 days'.

Oh dear. That's even worse when I put it in writing. I just can't see when I'm going to fit a run in though. In the next 10 days, I'm out of the country for 4 of them, in a different county visiting friends on 1 of them, at work for 5 of them and for the evening's of those, I'm out one night and packing for our impending home move on the other 4. I'm going to have to try though.

Maybe I'll have to run home from work but as that's 5 miles, if I break myself I'll be in trouble for the 10k. I can't fit my gear in my hand luggage so that's out too. Maybe I'll just have to up the miles on the bike to and from work in the hope that the muscle that may have built up in my leg might possibly help me through. Any thoughts people? Will getting on the bike more help at all?

Picking a positive note to finish on, maybe I'll surprise myself and be amazed by my natural fitness... Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Sorry, that's brilliant. Someone my shape doesn't have 'natural' fitness. It's going to be painful, hard work and LG will probably have to be the designated driver but hey, I then have 6 months to train for my next event. I think I'll owe it to myself to at least aim for a PB to shatter the thought that I have a blog about running yet haven't done it since the 4th April!

weeeee..... that was fun

Yep I'm a child and I have the grazed knees to proved it. Coming off by bike during a 32.64 mile ride isn't unexpected for me. Coming off going less than 1mph rather than the heady heights or 33.9mph on the downhill is somewhat embarrassing though. It was good fun though and well worth it. I'm planning another route of a similar distance next weekend where I'll do my hardest to stay on the damn thing! 54 miles for L2B isn't looking as scary anymore.

The brusied knee stopped any chance of a run yesterday though but hopefully by the end of the week, I'll be pounding the pavement again. Even more so as I've just checked my calendar and see that I have the wheathampstead 10k in less than 3 weeks and haven't trained at all. Plus I'm away the weekend after  next. This certainly isn't looking like PB territory but should be a laugh anyway. Eatingtrees seemed to enjoy it last year anyway.

Looks like Hellrunner's a no go for me though. The week before Grim and in a month when I already have a HM? I think I'll pass this year!

The futures bright, the futures Grim

The want and need to sign up for races that are a little bit different than the norm has today, made me sign up for what was without doubt, one of my favourite races last year. Yes, the mud, water and freezing temperatures will once again be in my sights as Grim'10 has been paid for and I'll be there on the Saturday along with eatingtrees. I'm already excited about it! Enough to be thinking about Hellrunner too...

However, the important issue of mine and eatingtree's (& possibly LG and crying bump's) foreign half marathon janut for 2011 is still to be decided. Prague was awesome but tough with the cobbles, Lisbon was lovely with the exception of the 13.1 miles in the middle of the trip so next year.... It could possibly be one of these which frankly, look beautiful or disturbing, depending on which one you click on! The Lausanne Half Marathon, the Polar Night Half Marathon or the Midnight Sun Half Marathon are the current options!

Obviously I need to get myself pounding the pavement again soon which I guess I'll try on Monday as we don't have to go to work or next week sometime. Firstly, I have the small matter of a 25-30 mile cycle ride tomorrow morning in 'training' for L2B. I have a feeling that by the time I finish, every part of my being is going to wish I'd kept some gears on the damn thing. Eatingtrees has sorted the course and says things like 'it's a mix of everything with a few hills thrown in for good measure'. Oh good. no really. Joy!

Myself, LG & bump have also found somewhere new to live so we just have to pack up the entire flat now and move it to the country. I'll no longer be in London which is great for many reasons. The reason it won't be is I have a lot of new route planning to do and I can't even avoid the hills if I don't know where I'm going!