Training - Day 78

Went to the physio this morning and she gave my legs and feet a real pounding. Asking whether she'd managed to find the sore spot did, however, seem a little unnecessary as I hung from the ceilng by my fingernails, wailing like a baby. This evening was a 40 minute jog and if you can imagine running with milions of tiny needles in your legs and feet and every time your foot hit the floor someone wired them to the mains, the first 5 minutes were worse then that. Then, miracle of miracles, the pain started to fade away ....until at the end I was no longer running like the stage 2 of the evolution of man, hunched over so that my knuckles dragged on the floor. 45 minutes of stretching and I was a completely new man. I could walk pain free and was fully able to enjoy the sight of 2 personal trainers posing in front of a mirror - don't they know that we can see them doing that....?

Training - Day 77

If I've learnt anything from yesterday, it's that I've not been taking things seriously enough. I'm carrying a stone too much and eating what I like and drinking each weekend is doing me no favours. So, it is with heavy heart that I cast aside alcohol and rubbish food until the race is complete. So, to give it all a darn good goodbye - it was chips, wine and more wine last night. Awoke feeling a little worse for wear but to be fair I was much better than I deserved. Even my legs only scored a 6 out of 10 on the hurt scale and they have got better as the day progressed. A well deserved training free day today - back to the treadmill tomorrow

Training - Day 76

Today is a pivotal day – no question about it! I’ve gone from  “a bit nervous about the whole event” to “how the blinking hell am I going to do this”.  Training this week has been impaired by my foot hurting but I had no idea the effect was going to be this bad. Two weeks ago, I ran 19 miles slowly and had enough “in the locker” to speed up over the last 2 miles to finish with a decent time. So, this time I thought I’d follow the training plan’s mantra by starting quicker and slowing up which is what normally happens. At 5 miles I was ahead of marathon pace, feeling pretty good. At 12 miles I’d slowed considerably and just finishing was the goal – who cares about the time. At 13 miles I broke my personal trainer as she had started the route exhausted from a week’s decorating, so I was on my own. By 16 miles my only thoughts were that of survival. My legs were like lead, my feet killing me and mileometer on my watch had stopped completely – or so it seemed. A wise man (Karrsey – yes I know it’s difficult to believe but true) said earlier this week that the “wall” that runners face was as much mental as physical. I now know what he means. When the pain starts to kick in, it’s the fact that you still have so far to go that is the killer. True, most people hit it at the 18 – 22 mark when they want to give up, but it starts so much earlier. I must MUST wear an ipod next time because all I had to think of was how much it hurt and how far there was to go. At 18 miles Joss and Hattie were stood at the side of the road with water and cheers and I was really pleased to see them – but just had nothing left in me to do more than smile. The last 3 miles were more torture than was needed as my mind completely went and went the wrong way so the last 2 were spent going uphill. I counted the fractions of the last mile down and finished right in front of a packed bus stop. Embarrassing enough, you might think, but my body had a extra little trick to play. Having stopped, my legs decided “oh good, that’s over” and stopped, literally. So, the chortling audience, who had watched me barely moving coming towards them, saw me stop in front of them, then shuffle away like I had my shoe laces tied together – brilliant!! 21 miles took a shade under 3 hours and 13 minutes, the 1 mile walk home took approximately 40 minutes. In fact I was so long Joss came looking for me, pity I’d reached our road before she drove up to me. Another stretching session and cold bath ensued –  to Eloise’s raucous laughter and I’m now walking around like I’ve done something nasty in my pants. Overall – a lovely productive day – bring on the chips and wine!!

Training - Day 75

Getting a bit nervous about tomorrow's run. Today was a rest day and a dress down day so had the perfect excuse to wear trainers to give my foot the best chance of recovery. Also gunning down the anti-inflammatories just in case they might help as all the pain looms. Was very pleased with myself as every time we go for a run we go past Asda and the smell of hot-cross buns is so lovely it's not fair - so on the way home remembered (finally) to stop off at Tesco and bought 8 - that's probably enough ;-) - I'm not sharing, though......

Training - Day 74

In the past I've been known to sleep talk, walk and even decorate (don't ask) but today was a new one for me - sleep gymming. I stayed in bed a little longer but was still exhausted going to the gym and I have no idea how I did any weights. It got so bad that I closed my eyes when I was doing some sit-ups and got the fright of my life when I opened them to find that there were 3 other gym goers on the mats around me!! Where did they come from - and just how long had I had my eyes closed!!! Hopefully it wasn't too long and they assumed I was concentrating hard on what I was doing. Either that or they saw me gently snoring and dribbling into the mat......but I like to think it was the former

Training - Day 73

You know the old song "The knee bone is connected to the - thigh bone" well it turns out that there's more truth to it than I expected. At the physio this afternoon, I was told that my back injury was causing my hamstring tightness, which in turn was causing the knotted calf muscle, which resulted in my foot hurting. Who'd have thought it - unless it was her subliminal way of suggesting that as everything was so connected that I should try acupuncture - veerrrrry cunning - still not convinced. After work I went to the gym and went up a level on the bike but still didn't sweat too much so not sure if it did me all that much good. The stretching regime that I've now been given seemed to hurt quite a bit so I assume it's working. Big run on Saturday and that's what this week is all about!!!

Training - Day 72

Getting up and going to the gym first thing in the morning is tough. We all know that. Getting up and going to the gym first thing in the morning when there's no school, so no-one else in the house has to, or does, get up just isn't fair. I sulked over the injustice of it all throughout the first few weight machines but found that that seemed to keep people away even more than usual so at least I've learned something useful. The session itself went well but my foot is still hurting. I can't believe that I was so worried over my bad back and yet it's a part of my body that has never caused me problems before that seems to be the weak point. Maybe me pounding the pavements carrying the extra stone of blubber has something to do with it. More salads for me I fear....

Training - Day 71

Had a bit of late night last night so today I've been feeling a little "sluggish". My foot is showing no signs of real improvement so I switched from running to the x-trainer figuring that there wouldn't be much pounding and so would be better for me. Nope - still hurt way too much. I stopped after 5 minutes and went on to the bike. Managed to get my foot on the pedal in a way so as to not press down on the sore bit and managed to go for 30 minutes. As I sit here typing this, my foot is resting on an ice block and the coldness has so far gone as far as my knee, and just like these blinking cold baths, I just hope it's doing me some good because Saturday's run is going to be unbearable at this rate

Training - Day 70

That's it - 10 weeks complete. Today, as is every Sunday, is a rest day. For the first time in a few Sunday's, however, I had a full and proper lie in and it was bliss. I have been so naive throughout this process. At the beginning I thought as long as I kept up with the training I'd be fine. I really didn't take into consideration the general wear and tear it would have on my body. Today we walked to the shops and by the time I'd got there it would have been hard for me to point to some part of my body that didn't hurt. I did enquire about using one of the mobility scooters but was too scared to fight the old lady that also wanted it. Joss was game though and carried me home afterwards....

Training - Day 69

I know that I am not the first to come to this conclusion and I won't be the last but I feel it's important to say - I'm an idiot. I could end today's entry right there and most would be perfectly satisfied but I should put some unnecessary meat on the bone. Leading up to the marathon, the remaining Saturdays are split between long runs (20 miles +) and short runs (10 miles or so - I know I know not that short). The reason for this is so that your legs and lungs get used to running long distances and are " rested" every other week to prepare yourself for the long run. What you are meant to do is run all of the runs at a similar pace to conserve your strength and prevent injuries. What you are NOT meant to do, is run the shorter runs 25 seconds per mile quicker than you need to, cos "it's only 10 miles". Guess what I chose to do?  So punishment was required  and so it was another cold bath in my pants and t-shirt. Funnily enough - these baths are not getting any more pleasant and for Joss to join me (in the bathroom, not the bath) and laugh throughout really was the icing on the cake. Still, I guess I brought it on myself

Training - Day 68

Today, someone came up to me and said they were following me into the blogging world for a scheme of his own - I won't say who it as and what the plan is as I don't want to spoil it. When he told me I said how brilliantly motivating it was in that when I didn't feel like training it made me do it because I knew I had to write about it. Of course my smug spouting hadn't taken into consideration my underlying and not inconsiderable laziness. Instead of going to the gym to do some weights as I said I was going to do, I settled for going home and having a kit-kat. In many respects, I think you'll find the benefits are much the same....

Training - Day 67

It was a toss up between 30 minutes x-training or rest and as I had the day off I chose the rest day. Hadn't figured on the scale of walking Joss had planned for me so will be spending the rest of the day mostly sitting, and sighing

Training - Day 66

I've actually remembered to bring some bottled water to the gym - it's about time. Today was a quicker paced 6 miles which is just about the limit I can go to on a treadmill. I was a bit worried about my leg but within the first 2 minutes that wasn't going to be a problem, well, not compared to the pain in my left foot. It felt like I was running with a golf ball in my shoe and the more I limped away from the pain, the more the other side of me started to hurt as I over-compensated. So, I turned up the audio book and hoped for more deaths (not my own) to take my mind off it all. It did sort of work but I was looking at the distance monitor every few seconds so the miles seemed to be passing at a snail's pace. At 2, 3 and 4 miles I was ready to quit. Was it worth continuing if it might jeopardise Saturday's run? It was at 4 miles that a class of moody kids were led to the treadmills for part of their training only to find that there weren't enough treadmills for all of them and the ones due to miss out were clearly unhappy. That was all the spur I needed to stay for the final 2 miles. They won't learn how to take situations gracefully if I just got off at the time they wanted me to, would they? Cheered up no end after that and was genuinely pleased I got to the end

Training - Day 65

I was up at 6, yes, read it again, 6 in the a.m. to go to the gym. It was freezing cold and pouring down so ended up doing weights looking like michelin man with all the layers I was wearing. Some of the more cruel might suggest that's what I look like all the time....Anyway, the weight's session went really well. I fully rested my aching feet and legs and have now totally knackered the top half of my body as well. As I finished the obligatory stretching I noted that there were very few parts of my body now that doesn't hurt - who said getting fit was good for you!!!! From there I've got 36 hours to get ready for my next run hmmmm - I wonder what else I can read between the lines, maybe a nice sit down with a glass of wine....

Training - Day 64

i love my wife she's the best trainer ever love her love her love her. Went to the physio this morning and after a bit pf prodding and pulling she suggested I tried acupuncture. I told her I didn't believe that sticking pins in me would help as I reckon that you have to believe in that kind of thing to feel any benefit and I just can't see how it could possibly work. I think this must be a reaction she must get a lot as it didn't seem to phase her and it looks like it's still a possibility. Throughout the training I've pretty much stuck to the training plan but I think it's time to start "reading between the lines" - so, when it "suggests" I jog for 40 minutes, I now can see the small print that says that if your foot is hurting, 30 minutes of gentle bike riding will do just as well - so that's what I did. Did enjoy the new kids being taught how to use the rowing machines and was especially pleased to see a boy try to ride it side-saddle. Finished with some stretching and decided to have a hot bath tonight instead of the cold one's I have been having - much better. Note to self - don't let Joss type up my blog while I'm having a cup of tea - even though the sentiment is right!!

Training - Day 63

Woke up this morning with my head hurting more than my legs which is the best result I could have hoped for. The reason for that is I have a vast and extended experience / knowledge or curing headaches - whereas training pains are still relatively new. Rest day today so just did the exercises the physio gave me and that was that.

Training - Day 62

The day has arrived - 19 miles carrying injuries to back and both legs. It was a scary thought and we had to be up even earlier than usual to get kids ferried to various locations so preparation wasn't great. I decided that I had to be sensible about it and set off at a deliberately slow pace. The first mile was agony but as I climbed the hill past Upton house the pain started to ease as things loosened up. Joss had mapped out an extra part to the route to go round Upton and it was at that point that my feet started to hurt. I decided, though, that the more you thought about pain, the worse it seemed to get so tried to put all thoughts of that out of my head and concentrate on the take-away and wine I had planned for the evening. It was a long, hard run but the weather couldn't have been better and I was glad with my decision not to do any of the water carrying - if my legs hurt I wanted it to be for the running and not because of what I was carrying. At the end of the run there was the biggest high that I've felt throughout the training and we stopped and hugged in the street. Sort of regretted, though, that the end point was right outside the pub. WE knew how far we'd run/cycled but the locals after a few pints didn't.....
As we walked back home I shared with Joss my thoughts of not concentrating on pains and said how my feet had started to hurt in Upton (3 miles into the run) but I manfully thought past it. As you do when you speak, you act out what you're saying and so when I mentioned my feet I pointed to them. It was at this point I noticed the new red motif on my sparkling running shoes. Maybe I should have taken more notice. At home the reveal was non too pleasant but luckily Joss knows my strengths and weakesses and so had the smelling salts handy so it only took 5-10 minutes to come round after seeing all the blood. Another frrezing bath (they had better be doing me some good) cleaned me up so that you'd notice the blisters on the other foot more than the cut on the first and I feel that I have been truely initiated into the running world. That was nearly 3 hours of running - just another hour and a bit to go and I'll have run a marathon.....

Training - Day 61

I was giving my hamstring a good pummeling this morning (not a euphamism) and found that quite a bit of that area felt numb. When I went to the docs last week she specifically asked for that and at the time it wasn't the case so I panic-booked another docs appointment. Once in, I explained that I had been asked previously about numbness but wasn't told whether it was significant or not. She looked at me with an 'of course it's not' expression and explained it was just another symptom, adding "now get out and run you malingerer" - well - not quite but that was the message. So, mind put at rest I'm taking this as a rest day and although I just don't know whether I'm going to be able to do it - I've set my mind on the 19 miler tomorrow. Joss has been brilliant and mapped out a new course to keep it interesting - let's hope for more downhill stretches than uphill!! If I make it, it will be the furthest run so far and I'm expecting it to be the most difficult - but as I've said before, if it was easy - what would be the point!!

Training - Day 60

If the cold baths have had any effects I'd hate to think what my legs would be without them because I can't imagine my legs hurting much more than this. The left leg is now being overshadowed by the right and I'm walking like Egor, dragging the leg as I shuffle by. I still got up this morning and went to the gym but thought running might be too much for me so went on the bike. I did it at a level that was just shy of it turning the pedals automatically and then did some weights. That all seemed to go ok and then I spent ages doing some stretching. As the day went on, my leg got worse, putting the Saturday run in jeopardy. So, I stopped off at the shops and got some 'deep freeze' gel. I had a hot bath first to get the most contrast and then liberally spread the gel over my leg - rather too liberally as it turns out - still, I now know what it feels like to stick my leg in a furnace and then jump in a plunge pool - so I can tick that off the 'must do' list. Rest day tomorrow with as much ibuprofen as is humanly possible as I'm determined for these 'niggles' not to stop me.

Training - Day 59

Went for a run down Holes Bay this lunchtime with Gary. Always infuriating running with him as he always looks like he's running at a pace that's too slow for him, which encourages me to go quicker and quicker until I feel sick. Luckily, or not so luckily, my right thigh was hurting so much speed was never going to be an issue. We ran for just under 4 miles and to be fair it did feel easier as it warmed up but it is like it's niggling all the time with the menace of what might happen. Ibuprofen helped a little more and there was nothing for it - I had another cold bath. This time I wore a t-shirt and swimming shorts but when I got in it was still horrible. This time though I made it worse for myself as I hadn't put enough water in. Now, getting into icy water takes your breath away - sitting in a bath that is slowly still filling with more cold water is like a slow motion death. Managed to stay in for 15 minutes before fear of anything dropping off got me out. Not sure if it's worked on my legs but if nothing else it's given the rest of the family a laugh

Training - Day 58

It was a low day today. My legs were sore, my throat was getting sore and work getting me down!!! After a trip to the doctor's for Kieren's all clear (thankfully) there just wasn't time for training. No that's not true - for the first time I just didn't want to. Even the exercises I've been given for my back I can't seem to get right. I'm meant to flatten the stomach muscle below my belly button but try as I might, I can't feel anything moving. Admittedly it is a bit like the princess and the pea trying to feel a muscle through my full keg (so much more than a six pack) but still - nothing. Hopefully I'll get back on track tomorrow....

Training - Day 57

Went to the physio this morning and was a little alarmed as she started to chuckle as she looked at my back. Apparantly my pelvis is a little out of line and the muscles in the left side of my back are spasming so much she could see them jump. "No wonder you're feeling a little discomfort" she said. Well, that's nice, at least I'm not faking it. After lots of pulling, prodding and massaging she got the pelvis back into line and the muscles had a little rest. Tonight I went to the gym for a 40 minute warm down jog. Quite possibly the most painful run so far - lots of pain in my legs which the physio said was to be expected. But this is just 40 minutes super slow - I've got a quick 4 miles on Wednesday before a 19 miler on Saturday!! Seems very daunting at the moment. One of the other pieces of advice was to have a bath in cold water after stretching after a run - so I gave it a whirl. Now, I don't know where she comes from, no idea about her background. So it is only an educated guess that she hails from a very hot place, run by a fellow with a pointy tail, horns, and a less than happy disposition. It was unbelievably horrible and I said words in that bathroom that would have made a sailor blush before settling down to some serious sobbing. No cure should be like this, should it? I managed to stay in for 5 or 10 minutes before any real frostbite damage was done but since then I've had a hot shower but still feel freezing. There's quite a large part of my being that hopes it has no beneficial effects at all as I don't want to think about doing it all over again!!!!!!!

Training - Day 56

End of week 8 and today's a rest day. My legs are hurting and so is my head - although that's nothing to do with exercise and more to do with yesterday's curry and beer. Today is mostly about lounging.....

Training - Day 55

Woke early this morning happy to see that the wind had died down....no hold on...it's blowing a gale - Brilliant!!! We set off at around 9:15 for today's 10 miles and within the first few yards my left calf and right thigh was already hurting  - this was never going to be pleasant even though it is 7 miles less than last week and 9 miles less than next!! It started with the wind in our faces, having to get up the hill by Upton House on the way up to Upton. As we approached it I could here Joss chanting "Hurry up dear, Hurry up dear" Cheeky s*d I thought. It was only when she'd fully caught me up that I realised she was actually saying "Curry and beer, Curry and beer" - that was to be our mantra for the whole way round. To be fair the Gods were with us and the wind  not too bad - except for the first half of the holes bay part of the run. Oh my goodness. I was running like the clappers but seemed to be going nowhere. I fared better than Joss though as at one point I swear she was going backwards. As we rounded the corner though the wind started to help and after we'd gone past that we passed a woman on a bike coming the other way. Joss loudly cackled in a pantomime witch way thinking of what this poor woman had to face. We made it to the end and although Joss happily remarked that it wasn't too bad, that was undoubtedly the hardest most painful run I have done. How have I lost the 7 miles I did last week? and how am I going to find another 9 for next week? As the mantra goes, it's beer and curry tonight, I'll worry about next week's run later

Training - Day 54

Rest day - hooorrraaayyy!! I have a knotted feeling in my left calf and my right thigh hurts so just as well. Tried to jog over to Mammys Baps at lunchtime (not as exciting as it sounds) and that was a mistake. Still - managed to get through the day so far without any painkillers so a definite step forward. Joss ran for a whole hour at the gym today - it's still not too late to enter.....

Training - Day 53

I was meant to do some jogging today but the only time I had for exercise was first thing in the morning and jogging and early starts just don't go together. So, I went on the bike and did a 30 minute hill climb. Whilst there, I recognised a guy that used to go to my previous gym. He's in his 50's and trains old school. Slicked back hair, white vest top tucked into army style tight jogging trousers. He walks around with a swagger and at the old gym he used to be part of a gang of similar minded / kitted guys. When they got together they always tried to outdo each other with tales of extreme training until it got to the point where they would just grunt at each other and say things like "Run ....Ice ....Fire...Mountains..Grrrrr!!!"  I did consider engaging him in my tales of exercising but feared I'd end up using too many conjunctions for him and I'd hate to see the look of disappointment on his face as I described my niggly back. Instead I went into "what I call" (something for Miranda fans) my room and did some stretching. Not quite back to fitness yet - but getting there

Training - Day 52

The pills worked a treat last night so feeling much more confident about today. Tried a quick run on the way to the loo at work and my back held firm although my legs hurt. Note to self - make sure no-one is around next time before trying that!! So today was 16 x 400m sprints - the second hardest session of the week. I couldn't believe it - I thought that all this exercising was meant to make me fitter and it would all get easier. Instead I felt shattered after run 3. By the time I'd got to run 6 my legs were hurting and by run 10 I was feeling sick. Fortunately for me one of the poser gym instructors had started running next to me and the male ego kicked in - there was no way I was going to collapse and have to be rescued by him!! Made it to 16 and felt fantastically happy and relieved to have made it. Then went to the stretching mats and the only one that was free had someone on the rowing machine next to it. Inspiration hit me at this point. There's a room in the gym where they do classes but there was no class at the moment. I took the fact that the doors being unlocked meant "Come in here if you want", so I did. It was brilliant!! No rubbish music to get on my wick and being miles away from everyone else. It was like a grumpy's paradise and one that I shall be visiting again and often!!

Training - Day 51

I managed to stay in bed all night last night so was feeling a little more rested. Saw the doctor this morning and have got some stronger painkillers and something to help me sleep. I've also been put forward for some treatment with a sports physiotherapist - first appointment next Monday so hopefully can get to the bottom of what's going on. I decided to take the day off exercise and instead went to watch Bournemouth win against Swindon. It certainly made me laugh to hear 7000 Bournemouth fans chant "Cheerio, Cheerio, Cheerio" to the 2 Swindon fans being escorted out of the stadium after only 9 minutes - hope it was worth the trip guys
;-)