Filed under: running | Tags: British Heart Foundation, how to lose 8 stone and run a marathon, London Marathon, running, sambuca, Simon Peevers
It’s not that often that my personal blogging world and professional world collide; in fact, I try to keep them fairly separate for various reasons. But recently, they have become linked – in a good way.
I came across Simon Peevers’ blog – How 2 lose 8 stone and run a marathon – a few months ago, via one of the other running blogs – can’t remember which, I’m afraid. It’s a hugely entertaining account of his training highs and lows ahead of this year’s London Marathon. Anyway, I stuck it into my reader and followed his progress. Not long afterwards, he starting doing some work for the sister company to mine and we finally met last night for a natter over one too many sambucas (me) and a glass of fizzy water (him).
The detail on drinks is important for two reasons. Firstly, it demonstrates Simon’s dedication to his training schedule and diet (everyone else in the company was annihilated by about half past ten); secondly, it goes some way to explaining why I bottled on to him about my own two London Marathon appearances for several hours. (Believe me, I paid for this several times over with the hangover from Hell today.)
Anyway, lovely story though that is, it’s of limited interest to anyone else. But I mention it because Simon is running for an excellent cause: the British Heart Foundation. His minimum pledge is £3,000 and I know from experience that it’s almost as tough doing the fundraising as it is doing the training. The cause is close to Simon’s – erm – heart, as he had a valve replaced in his little ticker a couple of years ago following previous surgery for a hole in the heart as a baby. If you can spare the cost of a pint or even a little bit more, please do consider sponsoring him – every few quid helps, and you’ll have a clearer head in the morning as a result. I rather wish I’d turned down one or two of those pesky sambucas myself…
Filed under: Reading Half Marathon, running, walking | Tags: how to be a good race supporter, Reading Half Marathon
I should be writing my race review after yesterday’s Reading Half, but it wasn’t meant to be this year. Instead, I am congratulating my brother and Phil on an excellent race. With a little help from my brother (whose PB is 1:36 over the half marathon distance), Phil managed to run his own PB of 1:55.
I have very mixed feelings about this. Of course, I’m proud that he managed to put in such a great performance. But, if I’m being honest, I’m also absolutely gutted that we didn’t do it together: I’ve never managed to break the two-hour barrier in a decade of running, incorporating at least ten half marathons!
However, I must not be churlish. Instead of a race report, this post is dedicated to being a good race supporter.
- Study the course. Race packs always come with a course map, so study it and work out where you’re going to stand to look out for your family member/mates. Unless it’s a point-to-point race like the Great North Run, the chances are you’ll have a few chances to spot your loved ones.
- Watch the time. Ask your runner what time they expect to finish, write down the time they are anticipated to pass each mile marker and plan your own route accordingly. Remember to factor in enough time to get to each spot and allow a good ten minutes either side in case they are a bit faster or slower than they think they’ll be. Also, remember you might not be able to move as fast as you think you will if there are lots of crowds. I managed to see my boys at four points yesterday: around 5.5 miles into the race, just before the 7-mile marker, just before the 11-mile marker and just before the finish. But I was on the move for the whole two hours myself – half walking, half running at least five miles in total. My bike might have been a useful accessory.
- Get your runners to look out for you too. It’s actually quite hard work at a big race to spot the people you’re looking for! A moment’s distraction can mean you miss them completely. That nearly happened yesterday when I was jibber-jabbering to another spectator – but luckily Dan and Phil saw me because they knew I was going to be there.
- Take a camera. Runners love seeing pictures of themselves in a race environment, even if they pretend not to. They will moan later about looking all sweaty and tired, and more often than not wonder why they don’t appear to be moving. But they love it really.
- Make some noise! I’m always surprised at how many people line race routes to “support” the runners, but don’t make a sound; just attempt a half-hearted clap every few minutes. I suppose it might feel a bit weird to stand on the side of the road yelling at thousands of strangers, but it really does help to motivate the tired runner. I tend to make a beeline for someone else who is making a bit of a racket, stand next to them and join in. And so it was that I stood on the side of the A33 in Reading at 11 miles, screaming like a lunatic, next to a Scottish man doing the same. Dozens of runners raised their weary heads to acknowledge our efforts. Never underestimate the power of a few kind words.
- Apply TLC. Your runner deserves a bit of a fuss afterwards. Admire their medal, run them a bath, show sympathy for their bleeding nipples, aches and pains, and make them a nice meal. My roast chicken and herby green risotto went down a treat!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: charity, cycling, David Walliams, Davina McCall, Elton John, Land's End, Patrick Kielty, Sport Relief Million Pound Bike Ride
Sport Relief almost passed me by this year, but I happened to catch the programme on the Million Pound Bike Ride on BBC1 last Thursday. David Walliams instigated the ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End, with a group of celebs including Davina McCall and Patrick Kielty. I’m not a big fan of celebrities-doing-their-charity bit on the whole, but I have to say I was impressed with their determination on this one. The team cycled a non-stop 1,000-mile relay over 82 hours. They dealt with icy roads, snow and temperatures as low as -15°C – on virtually no sleep.
Well done them.
They’ve already raised over £1.3m, but if everyone who reads this gives them another fiver – they’ll raise about another grand. You can easily donate five quid by texting the word “bike” to 70005. Alternatively you can give a larger amount on the Sport Relief website.
And if you want to watch the programme, check it out on iPlayer.
Filed under: British Military Fitness, injuries, Reading Half Marathon, running
Thank you for the kind messages following the ankle incident before I went on holiday. It’s an awful lot better than it was, though it ruled me out of today’s Reading Half-Marathon and probably next week’s Hambledon Horseplay event in Henley. Shame really, as I was quite looking forward to the fancy dress element of the latter. Though I was thinking more tweed-lady-with-headscarf than the clobber that Phil seems to have in mind…
I haven’t sought any professional advice: I didn’t want someone to tell me I shouldn’t ski before I went to La Thuile, and haven’t got around to it since I got back. The other BMFer who sprained her ankle the same evening has suggested a few exercises to help with the rehab – one-legged squats, standing on a wobble board – but I have to accept that it’s going to take a few weeks before I’m back at British Military Fitness or running any sort of distance. Pretty annoying really, now it’s finally starting to warm up and get lighter after the longest winter in living memory.
So it’s back to the gym for cross-training, spinning and maybe a few weights. I miss the fresh air and my mates at BMF. I hate the smell of sweat combined with cleaning products and the bitching in the changing room. But it’s still better than sitting around doing nothing and getting fat!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Aosta, Italy, La Thuile, skiing, Snickers, snow
I have a love-hate relationship with skiing.
On a good day, I find it exhilarating to zoom downhill, can’t wait to get on back on a lift to go again, then stop off for a hot chocolate, or get some much needed winter sun on my face while lolloping in a deckchair with a Snickers bar.
On bad days – when I don’t feel I’m making any progress, old knee injuries are aggravated, my quads are burning, I can’t see where I’m going and it’s freezing cold – I f***ing hate it. As I was heard to exclaim on one particularly chilly day in La Thuile, Italy. I think it was this one (below); it might look pretty, but it was -15°C and blowing a hoolie.
"What the hell am I doing here?"
Fortunately, despite the ankle injury, I had more good days than bad. Even dosed up on Ibuprofen, getting an instrument of torture a ski boot onto my bruised and swollen foot every morning was excruciating. But, once in, the boot braced my ankle fairly effectively and I was able to skid around ok, albeit fairly gracelessly. It wasn’t until day five, when the swelling went down a bit and I could do my boot up properly that I made any hint of progress. It helped that that was the warmest day, and we were over in Courmayeur. Red 13 marked a turning point, I leaned into the wind and sped down squealing with delight. I just wished that had happened on day one!
"Wooooooooo! This is more like it..."
It was a really good trip on the whole. I went with eight others, and loved the group atmosphere. I also discovered the Bombardino – a warming concoction comprising coffee, brandy, advocaat (or something similar) and cream. Our hotel – the Piccolo San Bernardo – was basic but clean and comfortable, with friendly staff and good food.
I have to say, it was incredibly cold for the first week in March and La Thuile was quite exposed. But, the excellent snow conditions did make up for it – absolutely beautiful to ski on.
