Xmas Low

I'm afraid to admit that since the Nike Run London my training has been sidelined with the numerous social appearances that clog the diary this time of year. Unfortunately it's a double negative with running swapped for eating and drinking far too much. Luckily I'm looking at it as an extra challenge..... I had started to think it was all a bit easy after watching the NZ ironman on TV.

With the extra time being thrown at me from all directions post xmas the training should get back in full swing. Benny's gammy knee being on the mend should get him hitting the streets with me too, so that will help - and a final point is that the move to Canary Wharf should see running to work a significant possibility. With a list like that even I shouldn't be able to find many excuses for shirking in the New Year.

I hope you all have a super xmas, and feel free to pledge money or give me the cash anytime you want - season of good will and all that,

Take care,

Will

Ran London

Well last Sunday was the Nike 10k. Ben managed to twist his knee so pulled out. To be fair it was probably a wise decision and so I won't hold it against him. Tovey took his place and we managed to slip Clarissa into the first wave despite her designated wave 5 allocation. The shambles at the start meant that we crossed the line 6 minutes into the race. I ran with the other two for the first few hundred meters before dashing (big headed - moi?) off. Unfortunately the course was quite crowded and I spent most of the time darting through people. Saying that, I came in at 45'37 which I was pretty pleased with considering my training regime of beer and pies.

My legs felt pretty sprightly on Monday but for the rest of the week they haven't felt too clever. I'm afraid that these last couple of weeks have marked the start to Christmas with a decline in training and an increase in all things bad. At the moment I'm teetering on the edge of a gluttonous xmas or a self-controlled blip in Marathon preparations. Sadly it looks like January is going to have to see a training burst as I'm already feeling the extra warmth of seasonal insulation.

Have a good weekend,

Will

Long Runs & Charity

It's been quite a good week in terms of the campaign. I've run further than I've run and I've been made to feel worthy..... but more of that later.

The long run at the weekend with Ben turned out to be a long run, much longer than was originally proposed. The level of my concern of running through the Rotherhide tunnel was only matched by Ben's inability to find it. A long 15km run turned into 22km as we ended up heading over Tower Bridge on our way back to Blackheath. Saying that, it was a good feeling to know that I should at least be able to get half way. Another positive was how well I managed to retain the capacity to walk for the rest of the weekend. Tired legs but not the crippling I was expecting.

To avoid overloading the legs I went swimming for the first time in ages on monday which was a welcome change. It was also the start to my London Triathlon training where swimming is going to be the biggest concern.

Tuesday night I went to the launch of JDRF's marathon campaign. A couple of speeches about diabetes were all in good humour and suitably down to earth. Paul Dickenson, the BBC commentator chap, gave a general sporty talk and talked about his Marathon commentating. I really wasn't sure who he was until he started talking (I'm pretty certain there was a collective 'ahhh' when he started).

Anyway, I'll leave you with a quick google result taken from one of his commentating moments:

"There's men here who'll hammer away until their bodies have squeezed out every drop."

Personally, I don't get it.

The Race is on

It looks like the race is on as Clarissa has squeezed to the front and slapped down the first cash, setting the bar at a high level with a very gernerous donation. Not only is she a benefactor to worthy charities, she is a lover of fine art and even finer wine. Coming in as a stunner too, she is the all round package.

If that won't encourage more people to donate, I don't know what will.

Thanks Clarissa, good job.

Online Sponsorship

In today's inbox there was an email from the JDRF saying that they have finally decided to allow online sponsorship. There were cost concerns but now it seems I can easily collect from the more forgetful and international of my sponsors. Anyone else who wants to is more than welcome to drop in and give me some cash.

The site is http://www.bmycharity.com/marathonwill and you can choose to either donate the cash now or pledge the money and get a reminder email after the marathon. To save the JDRF money if you are giving big donations, or feel that you can remember to write a cheque, it would be best if you send me cheques made out to the JDRF. If you do decide to send me a cheque, please still fill in the pledge form on the donations page so I can keep an up-to-date tally and I have something to hold you to..... I can click something when I get the cheque to make sure you don't get an email.

Those of you overseas, just whip out your credit card and splash out, it's not real money after all....

Now - the race is on to see who will start the totaliser rising....?

Cheers

London Calling

So I just put a link on the Runners World forum to this in order to give me the kick to get it going again. My last weeks in Japan were hectic followed by a month of Eastern Europe. Croatian beaches and Czech beer really isn't very conducive to a productive running regime, although my 'Summer Training Camp' did provide suitable R&R.

Now working in a Transport Planning office - don't ask, it shouldn't be for long - I'm starting to ratchet up the search for a proper job. In the meantime the training has been continuing. 10km race around Hyde Park last month was in 44'35 or so, but then an email afterwards confirmed that they had marked it wrong and it was closer to 9km. My watch put it at 9.6km, so it still wasn't a bad effort.

Most of my training has been with Ben (of therunningben.blogspot.com fame). Previously quite a fat b*****d (of his own admission) but I was phoned on Saturday to be told his weight had hit a 4 year low at just under 14 stone. Needless to say this is a further poke to get on the road.

I've got the Nike 10km coming up and I should soon be sporting the charming luminous yellow running top with my race number that I'll be picking up sometime this week. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is launching its marathon campaign next week, which should be interesting. Trying to drag dad along to get him back to his old office where it's being held, although I'm not convinced how keen he is to go.

Otherwise, things back here in Blighty are pretty typical. Life goes on. The girlfriend is on good form and pubs are still in business.

Back, by popular demand!

Well silence has hung over the MarathonWill training camp in recent weeks. After the 10km Omi race I am ashamed to say that running has been somewhat on the backburner. A week of rest and relaxation after the race led into a hectic weekend in Tokyo (even if Fuji remained unsummited) and then a week of birthday celebrations. To make matters worse, temperatures and humidity levels have been steadily rising, leaving a dash to the car a strength sapping, sweat drenching exercise.

But excuses I shall make no more! I intend (although make no promises) to head out for a run this evening (be it at 10 o'clock when hopefully the temperature should be around 26C). I shall update on Monday with my head held high or ashamed and pathetic.

My actual birthday last Wednesday was a quiet affair with just a few of us propping up the bar before some karaoke action. The full scale of the night was not really acknowledged until half way through my reading of Peek-a-Zoo to a mother and sub 3 year old's group. I figured I still had it when I made a kid cry with my first roar of the revealed lion but by the time we were uncovering the rhino the beer et al was not wanting to be forgotten and the rest of the morning was a little shaky.

On Saturday Brian, Sonja, Valerie and I went up to the water jump in Hakkuba. Me and The Sonj did the jumping (kinda) and our support team took photos/videos and generally caught the sun. Turns out the jumping is pretty easy, it's just getting down the fake slope that's a bit tricky. Laying the matting on concrete means that not only do I have a bruised arse but my left hand is still having issues. Sonja's cheeks also, I am told, did not escape unpunished. The good news is that a video replay has confirmed that I managed a 360 - granted it was as I fell over the lip of the jump, but I definitely did spin.




Saturday night we started on the 'lunar' beach before more bar then karaoke action. A bloody good time all round and I'd like to say thanks to the chaps that made it. To those that didn't.... what kind of excuse is being thousands of miles away?




Anyway - more photos are up here and I shall again state my intention to drag my bruised bum out running tonight.

Take care, and be warned - UK return in 19 days and counting.

Omi 10km Road Race

Well I just about did it... A very poorly timed Friday night drinking session with some teachers from school could have done a lot more damage but fortunately my bid for a sub 50 minute 10km was successful and I came in with an official time of 48'41 (although my watch said 48'36 - but what's 5 seconds eh?). Seriously hot (27-28C) and seriously humid meant that I was not a particularly happy bunny most of the way around, but I finished which is the important thing.

And talking about my watch, the clever little chap kept my pace pretty well and it was pretty close with the km markers finding the course to be around 10.08km, less than 1% out and it would have measured all those extra meters going around people etc. The map below is using the data from the run. The track on the left hand side is the race - it was 5km out then 5km back on the same route. I kept the run on the right to give you guys a better idea of Itoigawa. It starts and ends at my apartment.

Anyway... My legs hurt and I want to sleep so I will catch you later.