As promised, herein lyeth the true account of the Great North experience.....
Saturday 15th September; the day before
I had been having nightmares months before of forgetting things; showing up at the race without my timing chip, my Team GB Headband, my running shorts. As a result the majority of Saturday was taken up with - technical term here folks, are you ready? - 'fannying around'; quadruple checking all the things I needed; almost convincing myself that the kitchen sink was essential. Considering it was just quick nip over to Newcastle for a bit of a jog (??!), the tick-list was pretty immense, and I daren't tell you how close I came to forgetting my race number!
On reflection it was not the most ideal build-up to a half marathon I could imagine. The motorway was shut (sat nav to the rescue! but an hour extra) and the hotel left something to be desired.....oops....did I say 'something'?....what I meant was 'EVERY FLIPPIN' THING'! No hot water, dinner only being served until 7 o'clock, and karaoke so loud and SO bad it made it up three floors to my bedroom. I could have complained, but the focus was just on getting some rest and maintaining my......err.......focus.
On a positive note I did laugh - a LOT - when I saw the view out from my hotel window; this has now been added to the Great North slideshow. I didn't make use of the facilities, but if you believe in signs this is surely one to tell me I am in the right place at the right time; regardless of how bad the hotel was!
No, Saturday night was certainly not all doom and gloom. As the restaurant did not seem too keen on serving me I made for what turned out to be quite a lovely town of Hexham, and what turned out to be an equally lovely Italian restaurant (no dessert, but a couple of beers, fishcakes and spaghetti carbonrorra hardly touched the sides!). On reflection I should have taken something to read as sitting alone on a table in a busy restaurant does not score high inconspicuousness (spelling?) points; fortunately I was not alone, and although I didn't ask them I assume that many were in the same pre-race pasta-fest boat. Even the waitress that served me told me that she would be running too!
More good news is that the bed was a comfy one, and once the Tom Jones strangling a cat wannabes had naffed off home I got a relatively good nights sleep considering the jangling nerves.
Sunday 16th September, pre-race
Logistically things could not have gone any better. Arrived at a deserted Newcastle tram station by 8:30am and shared a pleasant six-stop trip with a seasoned Great North Runner. He was brilliant, and focused on the simple fact that I would love the atmosphere (he was right); top bloke! He also gave me his sage advice on completing the run; 'don't go careering off like an idiot and you'll be fine.' Met my cheering section (brother, brother's partner) and we made our way towards the start. Even at that early time it was teeming with people. A quick scream at Sue Barker for a wave and I was off past the elite athletes start......past the white numbers......past the orange numbers........past the green numbers........past the blue numbers.......joining at the rear of the pack in the pink zone (stop laughing); most of us were kitted out sensibly, but a few yards ahead I distinctly saw a dinosaur and one - possibly two - Scooby Doos (I said STOP LAUGHING!!). Our location was over a kilometre from the start line!!
For me this race had a very different vibe to the one at the Great Manchester. The furthest I had ever officially run was 10 miles (10 years go!), and the farthest I had run in training - in the gym, on a nice cushioned treadmill - was just over 11 miles. This was uncharted territory, and the word from everyone was that this was going to be a brutal run with much of it uphill.
The sound of a hooter and the bang of a gun could be heard somewhere in the distance and we began to inch slowly forward towards the start line, our trail blazed by the stunning red, white and blue exhausts of the Red Arrows. It was cold, it started to rain; but as we slowly crept forward I was buoyed by the atmosphere, by the tannoys telling us what was happening, by the feeling of shared experience with all those around me (yes, even the Scoobies!), but most of all I was buoyed by the fact that the moment was finally here; fit and healthy, and ready as I would ever be. As long as I didn't go careering off like an idiot, I would be fine.....wouldn't I??........
Thursday 27 September 2012
Monday 24 September 2012
I am so tremendously sorry!!!
It's just dawned on me that if you are one of those wonderful few tuning into this blog who don't know me - therefore having no other connection with me other than being interested in this journey -you have no idea how I fared a week last Sunday. My posting has been sadly lacking and for this I offer my most sincere and abject apologies; please don't be angry with me!
If you had images of me being defibrillated mid-course, sat in the casualty department of the Freeman Hospital (Newcastle; see?! I do my research!) wondering why I ever had such a daft idea as to run the Great North, or even simultaneously lying in the local mortuary and badgering St Peter to let me in to the pearly gates ('oh go on Pete, I was barely involved in that sacrificing goats to the druids incident; honest!') cast them from your mind at once. I'm fine, and what's more; I blummin' well did it! 2 hours, 31 minutes and 14 seconds.
As the actress said to the marathon runner; this is a bit of a short one. It's purpose, just to allay your fears that the heart is still breathing and the lungs are still beating (??!). I promise to be posting very VERY soon with more of a blow by blow account, as well as what I fear is going to be a gargantuan backstep in weight. Not only this - I know, more spoiled than the ambassador with his Ferrero Rochers! - I will have some more video and photos for you to feast your eyes on......or frighten your kids with, the choice is yours!!
If you had images of me being defibrillated mid-course, sat in the casualty department of the Freeman Hospital (Newcastle; see?! I do my research!) wondering why I ever had such a daft idea as to run the Great North, or even simultaneously lying in the local mortuary and badgering St Peter to let me in to the pearly gates ('oh go on Pete, I was barely involved in that sacrificing goats to the druids incident; honest!') cast them from your mind at once. I'm fine, and what's more; I blummin' well did it! 2 hours, 31 minutes and 14 seconds.
As the actress said to the marathon runner; this is a bit of a short one. It's purpose, just to allay your fears that the heart is still breathing and the lungs are still beating (??!). I promise to be posting very VERY soon with more of a blow by blow account, as well as what I fear is going to be a gargantuan backstep in weight. Not only this - I know, more spoiled than the ambassador with his Ferrero Rochers! - I will have some more video and photos for you to feast your eyes on......or frighten your kids with, the choice is yours!!
Saturday 15 September 2012
Right then........
Okay folks, this is me signing off until after the run that must not be named (as I've named it often enough!)
The nerves are certainly jangling, and right now thirteen point one miles seems like a really, REALLY long way away. Nothing can help that now; all the platitudes of 'whatever happens you've done brilliantly', 'trust your training' or 'you'll be fine' (true though they may be) just aren't going to cut it this close to the event. I really just want to get started.
Right now, 10pm - Strictly Come Dancinged and Doctor Who'ed - and sat waiting for Match of the Day on the telly; in some ways it feels like I've already started this half marathon and it's going to take over 15 hours to run; I'll be glad when I can run, and get on with the last two and a half hours. A good nights sleep, nice bit of brekkie and then Newcastle awaits.
Wish me luck!!
The nerves are certainly jangling, and right now thirteen point one miles seems like a really, REALLY long way away. Nothing can help that now; all the platitudes of 'whatever happens you've done brilliantly', 'trust your training' or 'you'll be fine' (true though they may be) just aren't going to cut it this close to the event. I really just want to get started.
Right now, 10pm - Strictly Come Dancinged and Doctor Who'ed - and sat waiting for Match of the Day on the telly; in some ways it feels like I've already started this half marathon and it's going to take over 15 hours to run; I'll be glad when I can run, and get on with the last two and a half hours. A good nights sleep, nice bit of brekkie and then Newcastle awaits.
Wish me luck!!
Wise Words
It's going to be fairly hectic over the next 48 hours - just off to pack my gear and make for Hexham......not sure whether I will be able to find Internet access there as it's in the middle of nowhere; come to think of it, is there electricity in Hexham?? - if so if this is going to be the last of the PRP's (pre-run posts; look, I don't know half the text abbreviations out there - lol - so to get my revenge I'm going to add one of my own!) I would like to share with you a good luck card I received from my sister; both the cover and the wording within. A sweaty Muhammad Ali was emblazoned on the front, with one of his many quotes on the front....
'I hated every minute of training, but I said, don't quit; suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion'
You are well within your rights to scoff at the over-dramatic nature of a line like this, but for me it is nothing short of inspirational. Whether you are looking to lose weight, get fit, run a half marathon, win a boxing world title, start a business, decorate a house; surely the concept of 'effort now leads to long term benefits later' speaks to us all? It certainly does to me, and I assure you that over the course of the Great North I will be having flashbacks of all those days leading up to this moment when times were hard, when training was tough, when the distance between where I was and where I want to be seemed so great. All those memories of what will contribute to a moment I will never forget. Although I don't speak from experience, I suspect that it will be worth it.
Inside the card was a message from Clare herself......
To Adrian, wishing you all the luck and success in the world! I am so proud of you! You have achieved so much on your personal journey!
Thank you for this tribute to Dad by running for the British Heart Foundation, this is also a tribute to the runners who ran in the name of their family or loved ones whose efforts helped Dad.
I think of myself as a pretty smart bloke, but I confess to never having thought of this. The money raised for the British Heart Foundation comes too late to help my own Dad, but in doing this I both honour him, honour the people who in the past raised money that did help him; and I take comfort that someone elses father will benefit from this money raised. I am confident that some of those someones will pay it forward, just like me.
So much happening to take inspiration from.......
'I hated every minute of training, but I said, don't quit; suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion'
You are well within your rights to scoff at the over-dramatic nature of a line like this, but for me it is nothing short of inspirational. Whether you are looking to lose weight, get fit, run a half marathon, win a boxing world title, start a business, decorate a house; surely the concept of 'effort now leads to long term benefits later' speaks to us all? It certainly does to me, and I assure you that over the course of the Great North I will be having flashbacks of all those days leading up to this moment when times were hard, when training was tough, when the distance between where I was and where I want to be seemed so great. All those memories of what will contribute to a moment I will never forget. Although I don't speak from experience, I suspect that it will be worth it.
Inside the card was a message from Clare herself......
To Adrian, wishing you all the luck and success in the world! I am so proud of you! You have achieved so much on your personal journey!
Thank you for this tribute to Dad by running for the British Heart Foundation, this is also a tribute to the runners who ran in the name of their family or loved ones whose efforts helped Dad.
I think of myself as a pretty smart bloke, but I confess to never having thought of this. The money raised for the British Heart Foundation comes too late to help my own Dad, but in doing this I both honour him, honour the people who in the past raised money that did help him; and I take comfort that someone elses father will benefit from this money raised. I am confident that some of those someones will pay it forward, just like me.
So much happening to take inspiration from.......
Thursday 13 September 2012
Subject of the Month - Thank You For The Music
I'm becoming a regular little blogmeister these days aren't I?! Positively flooding with posts at the moment.....
Yes, it is unusual to start a subject of the month - and one unrelated to training - a matter of days before the big run, but I promise there is method to my madness (although admittedly; most of the time, it is just madness without the method!). Music truly is my first love (I can't say it is also my last - sorry John Miles - as the only way that can happen is if music is my only love, and I would like to categorically state for the record that I do have other loves.....I think. Over-thinking again.....I know!). Songs that make you smile, make you laugh, make you dance, occasionally make you cry; songs that inspire, songs that touch the soul, and most definitely songs that bring back memories; I've got them all.
Plenty to talk about on this subject, but for now I have a request of all you lovely people; and in particular the lovely people who believe in the power of positive thought. I have a running elite playlist of those songs which reeeeeeally get me going (no, not in that way; honestly, mind in the gutter again....what am I going to do with you). Emotive words, a good beat, or just a blummin' good song are the selection criteria. They really help me on my sweaty way (and if you're all good boys and girls I may share the list with you in its entirety in a subsequent post.....but what are the chances of that - me you being good boys and girls I mean - let's be honest?!!).
For the moment, you have a mission which I very much hope you choose to accept. Within this elite playlist there is a super-elite list of three songs. They are the ones which in the gym I skip to if I am starting to feel weary, and suddenly I am focused so much more on the songs and the feelings they engender that I forget all about the brain-squishing pain emanating from my legs (not nipples any more though!......obsessed much?!). I am a firm believer in the philosophy of there existing something more in the world than just what we can see, feel, hear, smell and taste. I am also a firm believer in the power of positive thought. So I am asking you to join me - as I run the course on Sunday - in playing the following songs........
11:10am BST - 'Shine' - Shannon Noll.......(courage)
This should be just about the time I cross the start line
12:30pm BST - ''Duel of the Fates' - John Williams, The Phantom Menace Soundtrack.......(power)
Roughly 9 miles and will be on the murderous uphill section
1:30pm BST - 'Faith of the Heart' - Russell Watson.......(achievement)
With a bit of luck and a following wind should be about the time I cross the finish line
Play them loud, feel the music, send me those positive vibes; and take comfort in the fact you will be with me, without literally being with me! At worst, you hear some good songs that you haven't heard before; at best the same thing, and I feel that boost of energy that seemingly just comes from nowhere. It's a win-win, so what have you got to lose?!!
Yes, it is unusual to start a subject of the month - and one unrelated to training - a matter of days before the big run, but I promise there is method to my madness (although admittedly; most of the time, it is just madness without the method!). Music truly is my first love (I can't say it is also my last - sorry John Miles - as the only way that can happen is if music is my only love, and I would like to categorically state for the record that I do have other loves.....I think. Over-thinking again.....I know!). Songs that make you smile, make you laugh, make you dance, occasionally make you cry; songs that inspire, songs that touch the soul, and most definitely songs that bring back memories; I've got them all.
Plenty to talk about on this subject, but for now I have a request of all you lovely people; and in particular the lovely people who believe in the power of positive thought. I have a running elite playlist of those songs which reeeeeeally get me going (no, not in that way; honestly, mind in the gutter again....what am I going to do with you). Emotive words, a good beat, or just a blummin' good song are the selection criteria. They really help me on my sweaty way (and if you're all good boys and girls I may share the list with you in its entirety in a subsequent post.....but what are the chances of that - me you being good boys and girls I mean - let's be honest?!!).
For the moment, you have a mission which I very much hope you choose to accept. Within this elite playlist there is a super-elite list of three songs. They are the ones which in the gym I skip to if I am starting to feel weary, and suddenly I am focused so much more on the songs and the feelings they engender that I forget all about the brain-squishing pain emanating from my legs (not nipples any more though!......obsessed much?!). I am a firm believer in the philosophy of there existing something more in the world than just what we can see, feel, hear, smell and taste. I am also a firm believer in the power of positive thought. So I am asking you to join me - as I run the course on Sunday - in playing the following songs........
11:10am BST - 'Shine' - Shannon Noll.......(courage)
This should be just about the time I cross the start line
12:30pm BST - ''Duel of the Fates' - John Williams, The Phantom Menace Soundtrack.......(power)
Roughly 9 miles and will be on the murderous uphill section
1:30pm BST - 'Faith of the Heart' - Russell Watson.......(achievement)
With a bit of luck and a following wind should be about the time I cross the finish line
Play them loud, feel the music, send me those positive vibes; and take comfort in the fact you will be with me, without literally being with me! At worst, you hear some good songs that you haven't heard before; at best the same thing, and I feel that boost of energy that seemingly just comes from nowhere. It's a win-win, so what have you got to lose?!!
Wednesday 12 September 2012
Weigh in (63)
Oh my God; I never would have considered myself a person to use text abbreviations, but OMG! You recall the fundraising pledge to mailshot the village high street? One of many pie-in-the-sky straws being clutched at to raise some money. I went into it without much hope of result; sure that my leaflets would be consigned to the same fate as those made by pizza stores, ppi insurance companies and the local leaflet delivery agency. If nothing else, the delivery process itself was a trip down memory lane, it felt just like the paper-round I did in my teens (the only difference being that I actually delivered the mailshot!); however I was in constant fear of rottweilers, and occupants storming out, looking me straight in the eye and with evil smile ripping my carefully written note into shreds, chucking them into my face (overactive paranoid imagination?.....who me?!!).
Happily, none of that happened; nevertheless my expectations were along the line of the cupboard belonging to Old Mother Hubbard. No way was the totaliser going to go up by so much as a bone. But as I have asked previously, do I dare? or do I not bother for fear of something being an abject failure? I dared, and blow me if the dare has not been worth it. First of all 'fella who helps with deliveries at the Chinese takeaway next door who I think may be married to one of the employees and not only that I discovered had a quadruple heart bypass' (don't think that's his real name) pledged a fiver; then, last thing at night I bob onto the justgiving site and there was another donation, this time a tenner from Kath and Richard down the road. Who the hell are Kath and Richard?! which direction down the road are they?!! (I have no idea, and left I think!) but right now they are my best friends and are welcome to pop round for a pot of tea, coffee or something stronger any time they like!
I'm going to be delivering a few more leaflets after the gym tomorrow, but whatever happens now I don't care; as far as I'm concerned thanks to fella-at-Chinese and my future bridesmaid and best man K and R (my pet names for them) respectively this venture has already been a success. So this post is dedicated to them; thank you so very much. You have made a man slightly disillusioned in people into a believer that if you look a little, the ones who reach out and do good for others still exist. The thought of that will be worth a few miles on Sunday.
I've got that 'left the gas on' feeling; what am I forgetting?!! Come on brain.......there's something else
isn't there.......what is iiiiiiiiiiit?!! Oh aye; the Weigh in! Well, officially neither a gainer nor a loser be I; still 15 stone 10 pounds and happy to be so. Unofficially I have actually lost 0.2 pounds (9.8 as opposed to 10 then); so I am afforded at least a smug smile. Considering the distraction of the impending run, this is fine by me. It has very much been a case of preparing for Sunday whilst leaving the diet to take care of itself and hoping for the best. Been a good boy, but had a naughty Chinese tonight (left it until 9pm before contemplating what to eat; not good), so that along with the high-carb diet my marathon book has instructed me to go on for the next few days might lead to a tricky one next Tuesday. What could be even more tricky is the fact that I am going to have a bit of a week off next week; nary a chip has passed my lips these last six months, but I think it might well be time. There could be some damage repair required a few weigh-ins from now!!!
More tomorrow........
Happily, none of that happened; nevertheless my expectations were along the line of the cupboard belonging to Old Mother Hubbard. No way was the totaliser going to go up by so much as a bone. But as I have asked previously, do I dare? or do I not bother for fear of something being an abject failure? I dared, and blow me if the dare has not been worth it. First of all 'fella who helps with deliveries at the Chinese takeaway next door who I think may be married to one of the employees and not only that I discovered had a quadruple heart bypass' (don't think that's his real name) pledged a fiver; then, last thing at night I bob onto the justgiving site and there was another donation, this time a tenner from Kath and Richard down the road. Who the hell are Kath and Richard?! which direction down the road are they?!! (I have no idea, and left I think!) but right now they are my best friends and are welcome to pop round for a pot of tea, coffee or something stronger any time they like!
I'm going to be delivering a few more leaflets after the gym tomorrow, but whatever happens now I don't care; as far as I'm concerned thanks to fella-at-Chinese and my future bridesmaid and best man K and R (my pet names for them) respectively this venture has already been a success. So this post is dedicated to them; thank you so very much. You have made a man slightly disillusioned in people into a believer that if you look a little, the ones who reach out and do good for others still exist. The thought of that will be worth a few miles on Sunday.
I've got that 'left the gas on' feeling; what am I forgetting?!! Come on brain.......there's something else
isn't there.......what is iiiiiiiiiiit?!! Oh aye; the Weigh in! Well, officially neither a gainer nor a loser be I; still 15 stone 10 pounds and happy to be so. Unofficially I have actually lost 0.2 pounds (9.8 as opposed to 10 then); so I am afforded at least a smug smile. Considering the distraction of the impending run, this is fine by me. It has very much been a case of preparing for Sunday whilst leaving the diet to take care of itself and hoping for the best. Been a good boy, but had a naughty Chinese tonight (left it until 9pm before contemplating what to eat; not good), so that along with the high-carb diet my marathon book has instructed me to go on for the next few days might lead to a tricky one next Tuesday. What could be even more tricky is the fact that I am going to have a bit of a week off next week; nary a chip has passed my lips these last six months, but I think it might well be time. There could be some damage repair required a few weigh-ins from now!!!
More tomorrow........
Tuesday 11 September 2012
Moobie News......
(Distance trained so far.........341 miles)
Okay, I know I haven't been posting as much as I should of late (said that before haven't I?!); so the good news (for some) is that you lucky, fortunate, somewhere-in-my-youth-or-childhood-I-must-have-done-something-good people will have daily posts in the run up to the Great North (I know, I know; I'm too good/bad to you! delete as appropriate).
Considering the subject of this post, you may end up wishing I was back to the regular two-posts-a-week. It concerns joggers nipple to which I have previously alluded ('ark at me, I just used the word 'alluded'!........Mr. Crawford would be so proud). No, not some strange masonic greeting known only to runners; for those not aware, it is a condition suffered by many long distance athletes (of which amazingly, I am one! 'ark at me; I just called myself an athlete!) which involves chafing; need I say where?!
As the distances have increased, the original solution known as 'Vaseline Daub' has proved to be ineffective. The alternative solution however of 'bleeding profusely from my nipples into my jogging top' has worked incredibly well. With the graduation onto full marathon next year, it was becoming a real and worrying possibility that this of all things could and ultimately would mean a premature end to the challenge. I asked advice, I googled (never in public; I might be arrested) for solutions; not one of which worked. Plasters would slide off after about 4 miles, gaffer tape liberally applied would be off in six, Vaseline wore off, a super-duper, no chafing, wonderful answer to your prayers products called 'Bodyglide' was body useless. I even started shaving the chesticle region! Nope; the shirt was still oozing red by the time I was done, and the post-gym hot shower screams would make your toes curl let me tell you!
One solution remained. If compression shorts worked for chub-rub, perhaps compression tops will work for ouchio de nippolitana. They are as figure-hugging as their lower half partners; and I have been avoiding them as - although my figure is much less rounded than it used to be - I would much prefer to have my figure hugged in public by a lady than an item of clothing; but in this case needs absolutely emphatically must!
So here's the drill......
1. Shave the chest; and be VERY careful.....you know what I mean
2. Apply bodyglide in copious amounts
3. Apply gaffer tape in copious amounts
4. Don compression top
This pre-session routine means that an arrival at Haslingden Leisure Centre at 6pm gets me into the gym just after half past eight (kidding) but that said, I think I've cracked it (and no I don't mean a nipple)! It seems that the 'second skin' nature of the top both reduces friction, and encourages the gaffer tape to stay on longer. Okay, with my curves on show I may now look like a bit of a Mooby Dick in the gym but it is a small price to pay for no blood, and a shower that does not have me using language more colourful than Joseph's dreamcoat! Possible problems as I go beyond the half marathon, but I have heard of a product called 'Nipguard' which looks promising. If you really want to know, I will keep you posted! In fact, I will keep you posted whether you want to know or not!
Five days to go, and just starting to realise the enormity of what is coming. Panic has not set in....yet; but what has set in is a need to focus on absolute essentials: getting good nights' sleeps, eating properly and relaxing whenever I can. Whatever other problems are hovering round my head, they will have to wait ('ark at me, all logical and focused!!).
Okay, I know I haven't been posting as much as I should of late (said that before haven't I?!); so the good news (for some) is that you lucky, fortunate, somewhere-in-my-youth-or-childhood-I-must-have-done-something-good people will have daily posts in the run up to the Great North (I know, I know; I'm too good/bad to you! delete as appropriate).
Considering the subject of this post, you may end up wishing I was back to the regular two-posts-a-week. It concerns joggers nipple to which I have previously alluded ('ark at me, I just used the word 'alluded'!........Mr. Crawford would be so proud). No, not some strange masonic greeting known only to runners; for those not aware, it is a condition suffered by many long distance athletes (of which amazingly, I am one! 'ark at me; I just called myself an athlete!) which involves chafing; need I say where?!
As the distances have increased, the original solution known as 'Vaseline Daub' has proved to be ineffective. The alternative solution however of 'bleeding profusely from my nipples into my jogging top' has worked incredibly well. With the graduation onto full marathon next year, it was becoming a real and worrying possibility that this of all things could and ultimately would mean a premature end to the challenge. I asked advice, I googled (never in public; I might be arrested) for solutions; not one of which worked. Plasters would slide off after about 4 miles, gaffer tape liberally applied would be off in six, Vaseline wore off, a super-duper, no chafing, wonderful answer to your prayers products called 'Bodyglide' was body useless. I even started shaving the chesticle region! Nope; the shirt was still oozing red by the time I was done, and the post-gym hot shower screams would make your toes curl let me tell you!
One solution remained. If compression shorts worked for chub-rub, perhaps compression tops will work for ouchio de nippolitana. They are as figure-hugging as their lower half partners; and I have been avoiding them as - although my figure is much less rounded than it used to be - I would much prefer to have my figure hugged in public by a lady than an item of clothing; but in this case needs absolutely emphatically must!
So here's the drill......
1. Shave the chest; and be VERY careful.....you know what I mean
2. Apply bodyglide in copious amounts
3. Apply gaffer tape in copious amounts
4. Don compression top
This pre-session routine means that an arrival at Haslingden Leisure Centre at 6pm gets me into the gym just after half past eight (kidding) but that said, I think I've cracked it (and no I don't mean a nipple)! It seems that the 'second skin' nature of the top both reduces friction, and encourages the gaffer tape to stay on longer. Okay, with my curves on show I may now look like a bit of a Mooby Dick in the gym but it is a small price to pay for no blood, and a shower that does not have me using language more colourful than Joseph's dreamcoat! Possible problems as I go beyond the half marathon, but I have heard of a product called 'Nipguard' which looks promising. If you really want to know, I will keep you posted! In fact, I will keep you posted whether you want to know or not!
Five days to go, and just starting to realise the enormity of what is coming. Panic has not set in....yet; but what has set in is a need to focus on absolute essentials: getting good nights' sleeps, eating properly and relaxing whenever I can. Whatever other problems are hovering round my head, they will have to wait ('ark at me, all logical and focused!!).
Sunday 9 September 2012
Low Ebb
Hopefully you have gathered by now that I am a pretty positive person (whaddaya mean I am a misery-guts? which blog YOU been readin'?!); someone who knows the difference between those things in life within my control, and those things which just 'are' and - positive or negative, smile about them, moan about them - just have to be accepted. Half-full though I may be; I am unfortunately not wholly immune to the negative, and if I'm honest the last week or so has been a bit of a struggle.
It kicked off with an official looking letter from the British Heart Foundation last Saturday; I could see the words 'London Marathon 2013 Application' through the envelope....sadly the 'and the winner is' Oscar moment on opening said envelope evaporated when reading the word 'declined'. Yes, it seems my charity services are no longer required by the BHF. Nothing in life is certain; but after offering my own place on the Great Manchester (wasn't secured through the charity) and currently working my arse off to raise money for the Great North, I thought that the loyalty would have been repaid. Yet it seems that whatever algorithm they use to decide who gets a place put me on the wrong side of the curve.
The timing - two weeks before running for them in a half marathon - is lousy, and the news puts my place on the race (raceplace?) in serious jeopardy. Considering the amount of time I am devoting to training - and squeezing normal life in around it - applying to other charities is something which I really don't need at the moment.
Then there's the whole sponsorship thing. It is a nerve-wracking process to know you have committed yourself to an ambitious target, and the money stacks up all too slowly. Imaginings of reaching September 16th with a paltry sum on the books have given me more than a few cold sweats (although they counteract the hot sweats during training, so that's okay then.....not!). Saying this sounds monumentally ungrateful to the people who have, will or for a good reason can't or won't donate; I assure you it's not. Whatever is donated is brilliant. Nevertheless the gap between where I am and where I want/need to be is a worry, with time running out.
On top of those two events have been a series of annoyances which on any given day would be water off a ducks back, but the above have reduced my tolerance level enough to turn molehills into mountains. Work stuff, not to mention a lovely letter from the inland revenue telling me I have underpaid my tax by nearly a grand; oh and the GPS tracker I have been hoping to use so you can monitor my progress is about to be tracked flying at breakneck speed out of my living room window (never buy Hong Kong merchandise with Chinese-English translated instructions; apparently if you want to know if the the device is switched on, press a button and a light will flash; and if you want to know if the device is switched off.....press the same button and the same light will.......flash.....).
Wallowing in misfortune does possess a certain novelty about it; but to be honest it has already worn off and I am getting monumentally cheesed off with being cheesed off. So here is what I am going to do. Yes; having to apply for the London Marathon through other charities is a pain in the backside, but if I want to do it badly enough (and I do; I will run a marathon in April/May next year, but if it can't be London I would be pretty devastated) I've got to do it (so get on with it Blaydon). The sponsorship money may not be flowing in, but by the time of the race has come along I will have done the following.......
The rest.....will take care of itself. I'm already pleased to report that the GPS tracker still lives, and seems to be working!!
Think I'd better get on with it.........
It kicked off with an official looking letter from the British Heart Foundation last Saturday; I could see the words 'London Marathon 2013 Application' through the envelope....sadly the 'and the winner is' Oscar moment on opening said envelope evaporated when reading the word 'declined'. Yes, it seems my charity services are no longer required by the BHF. Nothing in life is certain; but after offering my own place on the Great Manchester (wasn't secured through the charity) and currently working my arse off to raise money for the Great North, I thought that the loyalty would have been repaid. Yet it seems that whatever algorithm they use to decide who gets a place put me on the wrong side of the curve.
The timing - two weeks before running for them in a half marathon - is lousy, and the news puts my place on the race (raceplace?) in serious jeopardy. Considering the amount of time I am devoting to training - and squeezing normal life in around it - applying to other charities is something which I really don't need at the moment.
Then there's the whole sponsorship thing. It is a nerve-wracking process to know you have committed yourself to an ambitious target, and the money stacks up all too slowly. Imaginings of reaching September 16th with a paltry sum on the books have given me more than a few cold sweats (although they counteract the hot sweats during training, so that's okay then.....not!). Saying this sounds monumentally ungrateful to the people who have, will or for a good reason can't or won't donate; I assure you it's not. Whatever is donated is brilliant. Nevertheless the gap between where I am and where I want/need to be is a worry, with time running out.
On top of those two events have been a series of annoyances which on any given day would be water off a ducks back, but the above have reduced my tolerance level enough to turn molehills into mountains. Work stuff, not to mention a lovely letter from the inland revenue telling me I have underpaid my tax by nearly a grand; oh and the GPS tracker I have been hoping to use so you can monitor my progress is about to be tracked flying at breakneck speed out of my living room window (never buy Hong Kong merchandise with Chinese-English translated instructions; apparently if you want to know if the the device is switched on, press a button and a light will flash; and if you want to know if the device is switched off.....press the same button and the same light will.......flash.....).
Wallowing in misfortune does possess a certain novelty about it; but to be honest it has already worn off and I am getting monumentally cheesed off with being cheesed off. So here is what I am going to do. Yes; having to apply for the London Marathon through other charities is a pain in the backside, but if I want to do it badly enough (and I do; I will run a marathon in April/May next year, but if it can't be London I would be pretty devastated) I've got to do it (so get on with it Blaydon). The sponsorship money may not be flowing in, but by the time of the race has come along I will have done the following.......
- sent e-mails to Northwest Tonight to try and get some TV exposure
- contacted friends and family to give them the option of sponsoring me
- e-mailed work contacts asking for sponsorship
- got stuck in to the badminton club
- put notices up in the gym for this blog and justgiving website
- delivered a mailshot to the houses on my village high street
The rest.....will take care of itself. I'm already pleased to report that the GPS tracker still lives, and seems to be working!!
Think I'd better get on with it.........
Wednesday 5 September 2012
Weigh in (62)
This is definitely getting more difficult guys. Was feeling pretty chipper and confident of a good result last night, and although I am pleased to report an official 1 pound off; it is only an actual 0.4 pounds which goes into rounding down zone rather than the last couple of rounding up weeks. So it's 15 stone 10; in all honesty I expected better. I've said it before - and anyone who says they've said it before is undoubtedly going to say it again - it's just getting harder. The sins I could get away with before while still losing weight, I ain't gettin' away with no more. No fair!
On a positive note, I now have the definitive answer to my long-standing question of whether an identical diet and exercise regime which loses two pounds when you are 19 stone, also loses two pounds when you are say 16 stone; it's a resounding 'Nope!' followed by a sarcastic 'nice try sunshine, but no cigar'!
Generally things are at a bit of a low ebb for me at the moment - more later - so I'm going to try not to let this latest result get to me regardless of how much I want to wallow. I need to compare this result with last weeks weight, and not with my expectations of what it should have been. It's a weight loss after all. When life is frustrating the temptation to think negatively is almost overwhelming....... ............but I did say almost.
So where do I go from here? I'll tell you where if you give me a cotton-picking second! Take stock, and take a fresh look at what I am doing; what I am eating. Those 'little sins' that I mentioned have to go, or at the very least have to be reduced substantially. Keep clear of bread whenever possible, cut down on the three inches (I exaggerate.....only one inch, or am I just bragging?) of margarine on my toasted bagel in the morning, resist the lure of a Chinese takeaway, avoid the temptation of ordering a sneaky portion of prawn crackers in the evening (I didn't tell you about that bit did I?.......oops...liar liar, compression shorts on fire.....), and stop using dinner plates the size of a satellite dish (big portions).
With less than two weeks to go until the Great North, the focus is going to be - understandably - on physical, mental, logistical and financial preparation, leaving little exclusive time for watching what I'm eating. With a bit of luck, through the exercise - and stress! - coming up, the weight loss should take care of itself (shouldn't it?!). That's the hope anyway; looking beyond the Great North 'operation serious' springs into action!
On a positive note, I now have the definitive answer to my long-standing question of whether an identical diet and exercise regime which loses two pounds when you are 19 stone, also loses two pounds when you are say 16 stone; it's a resounding 'Nope!' followed by a sarcastic 'nice try sunshine, but no cigar'!
Generally things are at a bit of a low ebb for me at the moment - more later - so I'm going to try not to let this latest result get to me regardless of how much I want to wallow. I need to compare this result with last weeks weight, and not with my expectations of what it should have been. It's a weight loss after all. When life is frustrating the temptation to think negatively is almost overwhelming....... ............but I did say almost.
So where do I go from here? I'll tell you where if you give me a cotton-picking second! Take stock, and take a fresh look at what I am doing; what I am eating. Those 'little sins' that I mentioned have to go, or at the very least have to be reduced substantially. Keep clear of bread whenever possible, cut down on the three inches (I exaggerate.....only one inch, or am I just bragging?) of margarine on my toasted bagel in the morning, resist the lure of a Chinese takeaway, avoid the temptation of ordering a sneaky portion of prawn crackers in the evening (I didn't tell you about that bit did I?.......oops...liar liar, compression shorts on fire.....), and stop using dinner plates the size of a satellite dish (big portions).
With less than two weeks to go until the Great North, the focus is going to be - understandably - on physical, mental, logistical and financial preparation, leaving little exclusive time for watching what I'm eating. With a bit of luck, through the exercise - and stress! - coming up, the weight loss should take care of itself (shouldn't it?!). That's the hope anyway; looking beyond the Great North 'operation serious' springs into action!