Failed

Well that was a little disappointing - understatement of the year. I think I ran a sensible race today. My 5k splits round to 30k were the dogs. Everyone was 21 minutes - a testament to the 3:00 pacers - they were brilliant. I stuck with them all the way - all the way until it went tits up, that is. At about 32k my groin strain kicked in. I've had it for a while, sitting there in the background. In all honesty it didn't slow me too badley. Yes, I dropped off the pacers but only very slowly and I still felt OK to break the big three. Round to 35k the split only dropped to 22 - another one of those, even a 23 and I would have been fine.

I'd been a good boy on the way round, taking water at all the water stations on the way round but in such a big marathon why the hell do they use cups? What the hell is that all about? Surely bottles are the way to go. More water went up my nose and down my front than in my mouth.

Just after the 35k point I blew. Which I now realise was dehydration. With about 3k to go I began weaving all over the place. I have no recollection of any of the sights or the route from that point on - we walked back down the course and I couldn't recall running there! I just made it to the finish before collapsing and then being carried to the doctors tent as I couldn't stand let alone walk. I was not in a good way. I spent ten minutes lying down with the doctors - stop it - before being allowed to go down the finishing channel to collect my medal. It took me about thirty minutes to get through to the end - and it was all of 800m. After about 2.5 litres of water I was fully compus-mentus and able to walk at more than a shuffle - a few times I came to a stop during those thirty minutes and ended up taking a few steps backwards before going forwards again. It wasn't pretty.

I was over here with a few of the guys - and girls - from the gym. They were all pleased with their respective times. Steve from the gym finished in 3:07, just 12s ahead of GWR's Andy Smith, also in 3:07. Next up was Simon from the gym in 3:24 then followed by Bitton's Steve T in 3:41 and Cathy from the Gym in 3:42. Cathy was over the moon with her time as this was her first marathon. I don't know the score as to Marcia, she will have got round I'm sure - and she was happy with all the shopping she's done - think she may have been close to a pb on that front :) Hats off to all of them.

Anyway, that is almost certainly my last marathon. I know when I'm beat and I think that moment is now. I've enjoyed my time over here in Berlin and I think we've all had a good time. I have not acheived what I hoped I would in the Berlin Marathon but it was a pb so I suppose I should be happy to get something - and now I can at least get back to the fell running. Now, whose getting the beers in...

Thought for the day: Better to know than not

PS. Only 63 days to go until the Luton Marathon [turns to camera and winks]

Tootle pip...

No turning back now...

Thought for the day: A ship in the harbor is safe - but that's not what ships are for.

PS Running number 11624

T minus 20 hours till radio silence

At around 5pm tomorrow evening I shall be slipping under the radar as I enter the Berlin Zone [twilight zone music plays in the background]. From then on in until late Monday night I shall be maintaining radio silence. Obviously there's been no hint of any training tonight, just taking things easy.

Roger, Charlie, Wilco, Foxtrot, Samba, Waltz, Break-Dancing - got carried away there - Over and out...

Thought for the day: Errors have been made - Others will be blamed.

Once more unto the brink

Well, that was my final session - read jog - before Berlin. Ich habe mein Deutsches practinge - haven't really cracked it yet.

I was running marathon pace 5k reps tonight with a five minute recovery. I made sure I ran even lap splits. It felt really easy. My last rep was as controlled as the first. In fact it was bang on the same time - but that may have been down to the fact I only ran one rep - don't know what the hell the five minute recovery was for!

Anyway, it was a short measure with regard to the lads. It was down to the stalwarts of Nick, Sean, the now ever present Jamie and Matt to hold the fort. They were running some kind of pyramid session - all very Egyptian.

Off now to start preparing body, mind and sole for the challenge ahead - and get my gear packed. Now where did I put my lucky underpants?.....

Thought for the day: Stress is when you wake up screaming & you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.

Need a bigger trophy cabinet...

Whose the daddy? No, really, who is the daddy?

The mad bad runner man claims a second piece of silverware for the trophy cabinet. I'm in danger of needing a larger one - oh, er misses - cut it out. Yes, third place in the Bridge Inn summer series for my category - the criminally insane - granted there were only two of us. Didn't see that one coming, very nice surprise though. [Turns to camera and gives a little 'bootie jig' - whatever the hell that is]

I took things easy in tonight's race and paced Suzanne H to destroy the 20 minute barrier. We managed pretty even pacing throughout. It's onwards and upwards for her now - 19 minutes coming to road race near you - soon...

And what a pb by the Finesmyster - 22s seconds off her previous, down to 17:39 - I've no bloody hope of ever being that quick - pants.

Well, there 'tis. My final effort before Berlin. I will be at the track tomorrow but only just jogging as I keep out of everyones way.

Thought for the day: If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

PS. It was the senior men category - and there were a few more than three really - honest, it was at least five...

And I know you're all itching to catch a glimpse, so here she is in all her beauty and majesty...

Well slap my thigh...

You know, I'm really starting to get into the Berlin groove. I can hardly wait. I'm to the point where I actually don't care how well - or not - I run. I don't think that matters anymore. Win or lose, lose or win, I just want those pesky 26.2 miles run so I can get my hands on the tin of soup - there will be a tin of soup won't there? I'm just so excited. Will it be Mulligatawny? or Minestrone maybe? Heaven forbid it be cock-a-leekie - hope I won't be cocking or leaking on the way round though. As Berlin is one of the greatest marathons in the world, it's sure to be one up on the Bristol half's chunky vegetable - the suspense is almost to much for me. Ooh, I've come over all weird - don't go there, sssh, no, stop it - need to go lie down in a darkened room.

Suffice to say it was a relaxed, easy, rest day today - other than getting stressed driving over to the other side of Bristol and back - during rush hour - to get the posts for the finish funnel at the Bridge Inn 5k tomorrow night - the things you do for love...

Thought for the day: He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless dead.

Up to Ashton

An easy 50 minutes up at Ashton Court today. Hardly broke wind - I mean sweat, hardly broke sweat. It was the elite group of Rick (obviously, goes without saying), Jerry, Heidi and Liam and little ol' me.

Well, it's all down hill from here before Berlin. I mean, it's only short, easy jogging from here on in. I'll be running the the Bridge Inn 5k on Tuesday but I won't be running it quick - twenty dead I reckon.

Thought for the day: I thought I wanted a career - turns out I just wanted the paycheck.

Middle for diddle

The women - yeah, women and not ladies, so I don't get told off - had a great day at the Midland Road Relays taking the silver and backing that up with 5th, 8th and the fourth team placing in the twenties. What a result and four complete scoring teams as well - cracking.

The men didn't fair quite as well and to be honest I left before the results were through but the A team was out of the medals. I imagine that they and the B team would have qualified for the Nationals though, where hopefully they can put out a stronger team (after suffering with some injuries for this one). My team, the super C team, would have been somewhere back in the forties but there are usually about 100 teams so that isn't a bad result really - especially as they have to scrape the bottom of the barrel and get me to run for them!

I had a decent enough run. Not my quickest but not too bad. I'm happy with the way I ran. I picked up one place and gained time on the two or three runners just ahead so I'm satisfied with that.

Off up to Ashton Court tomorrow for the customary Sunday morning hour. Nice and easy does it...

Thought for the day: Ham and eggs. A day's work for the chicken, a lifetime commitment for the pig.

PS Forgot to mention Nick T and Ed P - both stepping up to the Big Boyz league - and doing so pretty nicely as well. Nick was about a minute and a half ahead of me - git - and ed was just the right side (for me) of a minute ahead. Also, well done to Rick W for beating me as well - and he claimed he was only jogging. Was there anybody who didn't beat me? Even the 'girls' would have whooped my sorry ass if they'd run the same route - bum.

Midland here we come

Off on a day trip to sunny Sutton Park for the Midland Road Relays tomorrow. I'm chauffeuring up some of our talented juniors. I myself, might be needed to run or I might not. Am I bovered? Not at all. If required I will run as hard as I can, me being a team player and all. If not then I just go for an easy jog and give some support to the team as I pootle around.

I had an annoyingly unsuccessful day at work. Now when it comes to PLC's (that's programmable logic controllers) I'm your man but I'll be damned if I could get the old clockwork 'thing' they use in some of their older plants to play ball. Ho hum. I know what I'll be doing on Monday - giving it a damn good kick and maybe a whack with a hammer - that should do the trick. Suffice to say I couldn't be arsed to do anything training wise tonight - sod it.

Thought for the day: There are 3 kinds of people: those who can count & those who can't.

Gyminy cricket

The taper continues. So twas just the gym today. A little bash on the weights and half an hour on the bike is all. But I feel I am getting really rested. On level 12 (of which 14 is off the seat hard and 20? Well I ain't never been there) I didn't manage to get my heart rate above 100. I reckon another week of this easy stuff and every muscle in my body will have gone on holiday. Just hope I will be able to get them back to work come Sunday 30th!!! My body has never known so much rest...

The other good piece of news is that I'm managing to keep the weight off. Normally on the taper I can't stop myself eating as much as I do during full training and the pounds pile on. Of late I've been working hard to get down to my racing weight without loosing strength and this time round I'm managing to keep it there, 10st 7lb - which is nice. Oh, for October 1st and European Pie Eating Day - beauty.

Thought for the day: Never mess up an apology with an excuse.

Ticking over at the track

Just ten days to go until the big day and it was another light session for me. I decided to blow out the k's and run the session wit da lads - hark at I, what am I like?

It was almost the usual collection of waifs and strays but we were missing one or two of the regulars. But like Arnold, I'm sure 'they'll be back'. Sean was present but unable to run because of his blistered feet - the world of work is coming as quite a shock to his system but he'll get the hang of it - in the end. He's not sure how to treat his blisters. I say pop 'em - works for me - just don't use a rusty nail.

We ran six 800m reps - well they did. I only ran four but I was so slow it was unbelievable - even for me. I wasn't able to go any faster and just felt tired. It might have been partly due to all the sitting around I've done today but I'm not really fussed. I managed 2:40 to 2:46 with about a minute recovery. It was wet, windy and miserable out there tonight. Am I down? - the hell I am. I just have to stay injury free, after all 2:46 is way above the pace I will be running in ten days time.

Thought for the day: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.

All systems go

Another restish day. Just a gym session and half hour bike. Not sure if there is a session on the track tomorrow but I will go up anyway and pull out my now routine kilometre reps - hang on, I didn't do them last week or the week before. OK, I'll pull out my not so routine kilometre reps. Just need to keep my eye in really - keep the brain happy. Certainly not going to be pushing it. Roger, over and out.

Thought for the day: If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?

Don't mention the war...

Nothing to do with the blog, just makes me smile.

I forgot to mention that the ladi.... women also won the Clevedon Road Relay yesterday. It wasn't so much as a forgot, more of a didn't know but I should have, as it was pretty obvious. Anyway, it's done now, so well done to everyone. First, first and first - can't be bad.

It's also been pointed out to me that the victorious OAP's gave the B team a sound thrashing - damn you.

Anyway, I haven't trained today. I'm letting the body recover and have some rest. Not sure what the plans are for the rest of the week so I'll take it a day at a time. I will be traveling up for the Midland Road Relays on Saturday and for once I will be just as happy not to get a run as if I get one - what with it being so close to Berlin an' all.


Thought for the day: I'm not cheap, but I am on special this week!

Clevetastic

OK, so perhaps not Clevetastic but certainly Cleve-pretty-good. As you might have guessed I had a good run out on leg 3 (of 5) of the Clevedon Road Relays. I was 27s slower than last year but I've been focused on slower pace long distance work for the last few months and whenever you do that you expect to lose some speed over the shorter distance. Even so it was my fastest 5k for about 6 months so I'm pleased to have run so quick - and it was windy, and the road relay course is known to be a long measure 5k - here we go again, excuses, excuses. I'm not trying to make excuses - honest. I can't hide the fact I ran it 27s faster last year can I? - now there's an idea - but I feel confident that on today's performance I could 5k at around 18:20 at the moment and that surprises me - in a good way.

Now the race. Pete S and Nick 'Speed Man' Todd got our 'B' team away to a good start in the race. I held my own on leg 3. In fact I gained at least one place and made time on the man ahead of him. I overtook a second man near the end but I wasn't sure if I was lapping him or catching. I suspect I was catching because as it was only leg 3 their team would have had to be going very slow and although I went past quickly he wasn't running that to badly. Anyway, Dave T took over from me and broke the 20 minute barrier for the first time in - shall we say a fair while? Graham C ran the glory leg - perhaps not that glorious but he had a good run and finished with both legs still attached.

The 'A' team took the title with another quick performance and the Vets, including a certain Mr J Hogan, took the OAP title.

It's been a good weekend and as long as everything goes to plan in Berlin - of which I have to say things are looking good - I'm going to try and put in some quality 5k training, ready for some quick races. Hopefully, I can capitalise on the marathon strength and add some devastating speed - well, maybe not devastating - but certainly a little pacier.

Thought for the day: Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.