Sixteen Stone Alone

The dedicated route from a mission to lose weight to a full marathon

[16stonealone]

Be grateful for what you've got!

A pretty blunt title, but thats how i felt after successfully completing the 2016 London Marathon two weeks ago. What an experience! All the nerves and the anticipation of the final day, with the build up of the final small easy going runs on my last week of training taking place I was getting together my attire for the final day. Emma and I visited the Marathon Expedition on the Friday evening before the Sunday run to collect my final bits and check out all the great stands there! The atmosphere up at the ExCeL was brilliant and what a great way to get you in the mood for the big day!

  I was up early on the day, full of energy, with plans left right and center on meeting people, connections on trains and of course the run itself. Of course the main objective was the run, but the other little ones I was happier with them ticked off my list too. Travelling up to Waterloo with Em and meeting Mum and John inside the station before I went my separate way whilst they would go for breakfast. I was so jealous of the thought of a nice breakfast but I was trying not to think about what I couldn’t have too much. Once alone there was no more questions for me, I turned my phone onto airplane mode and was un-contactable, I felt like I was alone now and that the concentration began. I trained to London Bridge and then on to Maze Hill for the short walk to the starting area I was allocated to. I knew from the previous day at the expo, when collecting my race bag that I was in the same meeting point as a good friend of mine Ben Roberts. It was so busy, people absolutely everywhere, it made sense why there had to be multiple starting pens now and the organization was unreal. They had everything you need. I said goodbye to my tracksuit and gathered only the things I would need for the race and loaded my bag onto the lorry, which would painlessly meet me at the finish line. I kept an old jumper and some cheap gloves with me though, it was drizzly when I left and chilly too so I wanted to make sure I kept warm. I briefly switched my phone off airplane mode and made contact with Ben, we managed to meet up and headed to the starting pens together. It was a great few minutes of last ditch confidence boosting and a chance to get a small distraction from what we was about to undertake. Ben has different objectives for his marathons and he completes them in great times but also being able to take in the day with a lot more of a laid back approach than myself. He gave me some sweets to take with me too and we went our separate ways… Haha he had loads of sweets, nutter!

  So this time really I was alone and I was focused in my starting pen. There was loud music and it was motivating just hearing the cheers of excited people. I was excited, but these people making noise must have been ultra excited and it was great, there energy was travelling. Jogging out of the starting pens and over the start line and there really was a huge feeling of no going back now. The race had begun, all this time all this training it had all be completed and now we was underway. The first few miles flew by, I was travelling a touch slower than I had hoped but the pure volume of participants was the only reason for this and I was trying not to be too frustrated, just to accept it was the event and that’s the way it was. Too my surprise this continued for the first 10/11 miles and didn’t really start opening up until halfway. Nevertheless I wasn’t far of the speed I wanted to be and the first 10 miles did also seem like a breeze, it was starting to brighten up so by mile 12 I sacked off the jumper and the gloves didn’t last much longer either. I crossed the iconic Tower Bridge and new I was close to the halfway point, the majority of my family and friends were going to be between here and Limehouse and I was excited to see them.

 First up for me to see just after half way was Emma, Mum and John, when I heard them my heart lit up and I looked over to the side where they were shouting my name and the excitement ran through my body. That is such an amazing feeling as my arms raised up either side of me, I felt proud and automatically emotional, making that weird noise you make before you go into a hysterical cry but without the tears! Maybe the early stages of dehydration saved them. Straight after, literally 45 seconds, I see a sign reading ‘GO BENNY GO’, a sign my sister had made and I see Sophie and Jen, I was feeling great again, it would have been a little funny if they see me actually crying. It was made the the emotion ran through again. Next up was my Dad, Adam, Sue, Lee, Dean and the kids, it was my Dad and Adam that really stuck out though, as my Dad shouted my name at the top of his voice and I knew it was him straight away, it made me proud that he shouted so loud, I knew that’s how much he wanted me to have his support and I could feel it! Last up , bear in mind this was all in the space of half a mile was the boys, Terry and Strug really sticking out at this point and as they called my name, I span on the spot and threw a clenched fist up, shouting my self ‘COME ON’!

  That half a mile was truly amazing and I know there was more of my friends there but it was the main things that stuck out at that stage. I had such a high over the last few minutes that when I actually carried on I started to feel less energetic and low. Now was the time for my pace to accelerate though and as more space made way in front of me I took it on, raising my pace at this point and keeping it steady over the next 6/7 miles. It was pretty grim over these miles though and running past Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs was hard work, lots of up and down hills. By the time I reached mile 20 I was seriously feeling it and my pace then started to slack just a touch. I honestly felt like I wanted to stop and I had enough. My legs felt incredibly heavy and lifting them seems hard work in every single stride. I had no choice though and I wasn’t going to stop any time soon in the next 6 miles, no matter how much my mind wanted to. As I ran from Limehouse now back down the embankment it was a huge pleasure at every mile check point, I was becoming weak but a few more faces stood out and kept me going, In the last few miles up to Westminister I see Terry and Elaine Peirson, Dennis and Corinne Larkin, Baker and Sam, Linda and John, as I approached the end I get to see everyone I had seen just after halfway again as I headed towards the final half a mile. Lee and dean grabbing photos of me and Big Ben too lol. The final 800 metres felt never-ending and I was trying so hard to pick up my pace and push on! I haven’t mentioned it yet, but my Nike running app was telling me miles quicker than the official course markers so during the race and come the end I could listen to it for a pace maker or correct timing as it was out for some reason, I’m still unsure why? Maybe as it runs on data and data would have been busy with the amount of participants and spectator’s? As I piled my body towards the finish line, with it now insight I had a relief of almost being there! My feet were smashing the floor and my whole weight was coming down on them, there was no spring in me anymore.

  I crossed the line and came to an immediate hault! It was a sense of achievement and exhaustion at the same time. I slowly moved on and stood up next to a fence trying desperately to take some weight of myself without sitting down. I felt light headed and a paramedic asked me if I was ok and told me to keep walking to not seize up. As I literally struggled to walk for which felt like an eternity to my baggage lorry I thought about my time, I thought about getting to my family and friends! I used my phone twice when I got my bag, I rang Emma to tell her I was ok and that I was on my way to meet her and I read a message from my mate Tom Varney, he congratulated me on my run and sent me a photo of my times. I knew straight away reading the last time that I hadn’t beat my previous at Brighton two years prior, but I knew I had put everything into the London Marathon 2016 and there was no way I could of done any different personally to change my performance. I had completed it in 3:20:35! I felt proud still and I knew I was looking a seconds per mile and for the amount of runners there were at London I realized that running for a better time was not as achievable as I had thought. I was no way going to let it get to me, I was incredibly happy with completing my second marathon in one piece and it was time to celebrate.

 Of course… Emma was to me first, and rightly so, she is a star! We walked over to all my friends and family and it was a hugely emotional experience, seeing everyone and all their efforts to be there to support me! It was overwhelming and I was as close to tears as I was 13 miles ago on the course. Massive hugs and kisses with them all before the ushered me away to go for a massage and get changed up. They made me feel like a real hero! When getting to the Scope UK post marathon reception we split up and a few of us went n and I was going to meet a few of the pothers later in the pub on the way home for some celebrations. I had the most amazing massage, I’d never even had one before and it was so relaxing. I was feeling good by now and although I could barely walk I was feeling like I was the other side of this huge task! I went to get changed and came back feeling worse for wear, staggering back from the changing rooms I went and sat alone on a chair. The fantastic Scope staff grabbed me some orange juice and salty crisps to get my levels back up, I felt faint by now and was becoming very uncomfortable. I asked Emma to get me some help as the worst cramps were shooting through both my legs and I couldn’t get rid of them. The scope staff got the St Johns Paramedics and they done some tests, by this time Larissa had gone to the shop and got me a couple of big bottles of orange fizzy Lucozade, so I started on one of these when she returned and I started feeling more alive. Still being in pain though and my tests my St Johns weren’t great so they took me back to there tent a few minutes away for further tests. I was feeling a lot more like myself by the time they wheeled me to the tent and they carried out further tests where my results improved, all by my ECG.

  My ECG results were coming back slightly abnormal and multiple doctors and paramedics discussed my results in strange circles far enough away from me that I couldn’t hear but there eyes looked over me again and again. The doctor decided to sign me off as ok and suggested I take my ECG to my own doctor in due course. I felt relieved, kind of.

 Massive shout out to Em, Dave, Strug, Riss & Steph who were there waiting for me and looking after me the whole time!

 I was feeling so much like myself again that I decided to go to the pub to meet the rest of the gang that hadn’t even heard about my downfall yet. I only managed a couple of diet cokes but It was great to catch up with everyone and thank them for their support too! Me and Em headed home a few hours later and the real rest time begun, with a nice day off the next day for us both to look forward to!

 So as it stands I’ve been to my own doctor and have to undergo blood tests and also wear a heart monitor for 24 hours in a couple of weeks. I’m sure its only precautionary but its always worth it! I’d stress so much to any of my friend thinking about taking part in a Marathon to get in touch with this fantastic charity called CRY, the specialize in Cardiac Risk in the Young and will screen the hearts of anyone between the age of 14-35. I had this done back in January before I started my training and you can find out more info here;

 http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/cardiac-screening/

 It’s been a serious 3 months of tough training and of course the race day but id like to say a huge thank you to everyone that has sponsored me and donated to Scope UK. The support I’ve had through my training to this day, all my friends and family have been so brilliant and I hope I’ve made you as proud as you’ve made me. The total sum raised to this date is £1,570.24, but including gift aid this total is taken o £1,804.05 which is fantastic, so a well deserved congratulations to yourselves, you’ve all played a part in my success. 

 I threw some figures together out of interest to see how much work has gone into this achievement;

 Official marathon chip time: 3:20:35

 Training programme: 104 Days

 Total runs: 71

 Total distances covered: 514.24 miles – That’s the equivalent of driving from Oxford to Inverness

 Total minutes ran: 4107 Minutes

 Total calories burnt: 71.300

 Average distance per work out: 7.24 miles

 Average minutes per work out: 57.8 minutes

 Average calories burnt per work out: 1104.2

 Consecutive days with out an alcoholic beverage: 36

 I really hope you have enjoyed following my blog and being part of a truly amazing experience for me. 

 Thanks again,

Ben

[16stonealone]

How’s my luck?

Week fourteen, at the start of the week, just 9 training sessions to go to reach the big day and with the training minutes starting to rapidly reduce as strange sense of slowing down and not covering big distances start to hit home. Obviously it makes sense to calm the runs down in the final few weeks before this race or any race but it just feels odd, almost like now my focus is about mentally preparing for the race day rather that the previous 3 months of training more physically. I’m feeling an introduction of nerves, the anticipation of the race, as much as I am looking forward to it the stage is much bigger than Brighton two years ago and I will be overwhelmed by this come the 24th. Its now Monday 18th and I’m off work today so I get the leisure of the rarity of writing my blog during the daytime. Looking back on last weeks runs in my diary and they are also seen below.

  As you can see the durations of the runs dropping, the runs seem inviting and make me feel like I have more time around me, I not sure that’s entirely true though, there’s always something else to do. Speaking of things to do… hearing things going on for the following week after the marathon and planning other things later in the year are making me realise just how close I am to this huge run next Sunday. I want to throw out a huge thank you to Emma, she has been brilliant this last week, I literally unpacked the delivered shopping by Tesco’s about an hour ago and its loaded with carbs and other foods she knows id be loving to consume on this final week. The funny thing is I remember her doing the shopping online the other day and I’m not even thinking whilst she is considering how important it is for me to be consuming the right foods in the final countdown. Thank-you.

 My week was full of long hours, well, we’ve just started an new trial shift pattern and at the moment I’m working Tuesday through to Friday 6:00am to 4:30pm, with the option of various overtime on other days if fancied. So I started the week in fact working a 12-hour day Monday as overtime and the rest of the week as per my scheduled shift. I was in fact working Sunday too, which turned out to be a long day but at double time and Monday off I wasn’t worried too much. So this explains why I am off today and I have also booked this Friday off to get plenty of rest prior to Sunday, so a cheeky little three day week this week is a nice way to give me some essential preparation and rest time.

  I ran five times this week and starting Monday with 30 minutes easy paced was nice, after working the full day Monday as overtime I was tired, in fact id driven to Ipswich and Norwich, as you can see above when I left in the morning the sunrise looked worthy of a photo. The easy run was just that though and I was looking forward to just getting home after the long day out, getting some dinner and resting up. I’m introducing a bit of rest crazy into my final week. Talking of dinner check out these great mince loaded peppers and tomatoes with mozzarella melted on top.

  Tuesday was my first of two interval runs of the week and it comprised of 10 minutes easy, 15 minutes at marathon pace, (60 seconds at threshold, 60 seconds walking x4) and finally finishing of with 10 minutes easy, totalling to 43 minutes and covering just short of 5 miles. After the marathon paced part It was interesting going into short 1 minute intervals but the walking part of it was definitely a nice way of catching my breath back.  Wednesday was similar but a bit more demanding, with no walking and longer durations at tempo speeds. A 50 minute interval run 10 minutes easy, (2mins tempo, 2mins jog recovery x5) 10 minutes marathon pace and finally 10 minutes easy again. I was sweating after this one, I’m always sweating after every run but this one got me feeling like a work out, the two-minute spells at a tempo pace are tough to maintain. Id completed these first three runs of the week in the gym and was also finishing up on the treadmill again for Thursdays run. I wasn’t enjoying the four runs all in a row but the fourth run of the week was the same as Monday, a 30 minute easy paced run, and in-fact I mimicked Mondays run to a tee. Running the 3.23 miles at and average pace of 9:17 per mile, just a nice easy pace, just how I’m looking to wind down. I was going out on Friday with some mates so there wouldn’t be much time to squeeze the run in before or after work with the night out planned too, so four days on the bounce it had to be! On the plus side this did make for a nice feeling for the rest of the weeks with only one run left with three days to complete it in.

  So with the weekday runs complete I had the night out to look forward to, minus the excitement of watching all my friends drinking the night away the food was great and we had a good laugh. Making up for my lack of alcohol I decided to push my food limits and order this massive burger. Ill let you decide from the picture below but 18oz chuck steak, 200g pulled pork, 6 rashers applewood smoked bacon & 6 slices American cheese in a bun with chips was enough for me! We had some seriously hot ‘viper’ chilli chicken wings too, which made a good laugh at the table. Of course most of the gang wanted to keep going after so we headed a few doors down to the pub. My plan was to do my run Saturday and it was only, I say only, but in comparison 70 minutes seems short to the previous runs throughout the training. First things first though I was up early with Luke, we was doing a trip to the rubbish dump to get rid of a few bits I had been storing for him for a while and we managed to creep in a sneaky bit of breakfast too which went down a treat. Not sure my body would of loved all the fatty foods had I not been doing so much running though and my excuse was id run it off in the next week or so. Ha, ill have to be careful after the training though. This run was only an easy paced run too, so I didn’t have much pressure on me for it, just to get out and do it! I wasn’t feeling ill but I noticed a sharp pain and lets just say it wasn’t pleasant. By this time I had planned my run and didn’t want to miss getting out there and completing my run, especially with work the next day, (Sunday) so I braved it and headed out. Bang on half way through my run I stopped to use a toilet and I had the same pain again, this time more serve. I thought how’s my luck and decided to keep running get home and get down to the NHS walk in centre. After a few hours waiting around, surrounded by sports injuries and drunken falls from peoples previous night out I saw the doctor and she assured me after a sample that I had a urine infection, and this was causing the pain… Great! Fortunately she prescribed me some antibiotics and they started working that day, straight away removing any discomfort and touch wood 2 full days later, all good. I’ll finish the course and hopefully that will be that. So frustrating though, I’d come this far in training and I was just praying that nothing would stop me now, I would of hated for something to get in the way, just bad timing. I had to make the decision to go to the walk in centre over going to Chelsea that evening too, gutted I had to give up my ticket, but I just had to find out what was wrong and get treatment ASAP with the run looming. The run was fine as a run, just a nightmare of 70 minutes of worry, especially after the halfway point. In the 70 minutes I ran 8.08 miles at an average pace of 8’40 per mile, a nice easy pace.

Saturday night I was relieved to be on the mend and chilled in doors with no intentions of going out just to get a good rest before work the next day. My last rest day of the week was filled with a long 12-hour working day but at least it was worth it. I knew I wouldn’t be getting involved with any overtime this final week before the run so it seemed like a good idea to get as much in before as possible. Em and I finished up the week with a trip to Nandos, id hardly eaten all day and Em was hungry so we order plenty of chicken, before coming home to chill. Now it being Monday afternoon and on 6 days away I’m really looking forward to these last few days, they will fly by and Sunday will be here before I know it. This week is all about training little, getting plenty of rest and eating lots of carbs for me and I plan on doing just that. All bar I’m popping out tonight to watch a good mate in his football teams cup final, so good luck Pas!

 Every single person who has spoken to me about the run or visiting on the day to come and watch is such a huge support to me and I see you all as part as my team. I’m just the legs for the team and we are all in this together.

 Next Sunday in emoji’s…

[16stonealone]

Birthday boy!

Marathon season always falls on a special time for me and with the Brighton Marathon falling the day after my birthday in 2014, this time it was approximately two and a half weeks before the race my birthday would fall. I turned twenty-eight on Tuesday and been strict and dedicated to the cause kept any birthday celebrations to a minimum. It can’t be helped, ill just have to extra celebrate post run. We were now heading into week thirteen of the training and having a quick flick back at previous runs in my running diary and it seemed amazing how much training I had undertaken so far. I thought back about some very long training runs and how far I now had come, how much the weather is changing, going from wearing hats, jumpers and jackets to just shorts and a tee and taking in the heat just like last week. As these runs slow down and easy paced short runs kick in its important that I keep my focus on the training and although ill physically easing of, I’ll need to keep myself mentally at the same level. This weeks runs are below;

 So with playing football the previous day the Monday run was now to be cancelled as I had definitely covered this run on the football pitch on Sunday and it was important to find the rest day and not over do it. In fact Monday I was aching a lot from my heavy run on the Saturday and football on the Sunday, the football really gives you post work out aches a lot different from the running. Using different muscles and a lot more of a constant need to stop start and alter you direction causes certain muscles to be used which just wouldn’t be as likely used during my runs. So Mondays rest day was perfect and after being at work I was very much looking forward to getting home and relaxing. Apart from the fact there was an hours shop round Tesco to be done, never mind lol. Monday had a bit more of an up to it than usual too, finally after sixteen days my replacement 6S iPhone had been repaired and sent back out for delivery and I was also collecting it Monday during the working day too. Picking it up at lunchtime I was so eager to get it home and restored from my back up but I knew that was hours away and didn’t end up getting it done until about 9pm. Bliss, haha, totally the wrong word to use for it but it just was. After over two weeks of minimal contact with anyone it was a pleasure to have a phone back and be in contact with everyone again. It sounds so stupid but all my music, banking everything…. You know what its like. Turned out to be a bit of an early birthday present and for the near future its wrapped in bubble wrap!

 I was starting work early on Tuesday and had to leave at 6am, so being my birthday and my OCD of immediately wanting to thank people for my cards and gifts was active I got up at 5am, waking Emma up and opened cards and presents. It actually was great fun and even though it was still so early it was exciting and the age 28 definitely wasn’t showing. Nah, honestly I was going to be back home until late on Tuesday so I wanted to open what I had been given and be grateful to the people who had sent cards. I got some amazing presents and it left me feeling great heading into the day. With the rest day on Monday I knew I had to start my running week off today so it was birthday to the back of the mind after work and to the gym for the first run of the week, a 60 minute interval run combining of 12 minutes easy to start, 3 minutes at threshold pace followed by a 90 second jog recovery (x8) finishing up with another 12 minutes easy again. This was by far the easiest run of the week, by far. It was a huge bonus having my music back, God, so much more of a distraction and for the first time in weeks I had run on the treadmill and been able to listen to music, its runs like these, the 60 minutes that its great to have it for and the time flew by, I made the most of this as I knew once I get used to the music again that would soon change. The run was great and it set me off for a good week, covering 6.91 miles in the hour and burning just under 1000 calories too. After gym I was meeting Em and she was taking me out for some food as a birthday celebration too. Em and Sophie had been gym so it was great to see Soph too and Em and I headed out to Waga’s for dinner. We was so hungry and luckily the service in Waga’s was fast and it suited us down to a tee. I was honestly chuffed on my birthday this year, getting the phone back, amazing cards and presents, a good run and finally a lovely meal out just made the day great. Tons of messages from friends and family too, I really cant remember a birthday I’ve enjoyed as much as that for a long time, best of it was I spent 11 hours of the day at work. Who said getting old wasn’t fun.

 With all the attention and the excitement coming to and end now it was soon back to reality and work without a birthday just didn’t bring the same buzz, although the few remaining cupcakes Em had brought me I shared with a few mates at work and kept it slightly alive. I was heading for a 60 minute steady paced run after work on Wednesday and decided with the light evenings now that outside would be great. I was keen to use my Nike running app for the first time in a couple of weeks too so that made me interested in heading away from the gym too. I covered 8.25 miles, with an average pace of 7’16 per mile for the hour too, a good run with a nice pace. I was very pleased with this pace and I felt comfortable, I didn’t feel like I was pushing myself too hard yet I was hitting a very successful level. Its not very often when I rate my run on the app that I give it a full high rating and for the first time in a long time this run got that. I ran from ine down towards Epsom, cutting in back towards Horton Park and towards Chessington. I was planning on not finishing my run at home for a change but at Tolworth station to meet Em on her way back from work. She beat me too it but as I ran from Chessington to Tolowrth I soon caught up with her and we walked back together, by this time me freexing cold. Its amazing how cold it gets as soon as you stop, I almost wanted to run home just to stay warm.

  Friday we was going out for a meal with all the family to celebrate mine and mums birthday the week before mine so I was keep to run Thursday instead of Friday to give myself some time on Friday after work before heading out. This would mean the third run of the week in three consecutive days, and another long run, this time 65 minutes and I’d head to the gym for this run with it being an interval run. A bit more drawn out than the usual short interval bursts and jogs and this run particularly was actually quite demanding. I knew this before I even stepped on the treadmill, as you can see above it read; 10 minutes easy paced, 20 minutes steady, 20 mins at marathon pace, 5 minutes faster and finally a 10 minute easy paced interval to finish up. Once the first ten minute interval was done, it was then 45 minutes of some serious running, and knowing each time the interval changed it was stepping up a gear. It was ok though, I had mentally broken the two twenty minute intervals into 4 sectors each and before I knew it I was flying through, also concentrating on my rest day that I had now worked hard for coming up the next day. In sixty-five minutes I covered 8.09 miles at an average pace of 8:02 per mile. Its funny these times on the interval runs never seem very impressive to me but when you think this is an average pace based over the whole duration of the run, which always includes easy paced starts and finishes, its not that bad. My third run of the week complete and just one more to tick of the list at my leisure of the weekend. The fun just didn’t end there for Thursday though and when we arrived home Em jumped in the shower and after 10 minutes asked me why I was running the hot tap in the kitchen, for once I wasn’t and puzzled we checked out the water, oh no! There was no hot water, poor Em. Fortunately I had showered in the gym as usual but Em had to then go round to our friend Nat and Pas to shower, whilst I was left with ringing the emergency insurance cover. Great fun!

  It wasn’t going to be Friday though that was for sure and luckily I had run on the Thursday as I was late home from work Friday and would not of had much time to squeeze in that 65 minute run. Em had managed to work from home so that Dyno-Rod could come check out our hot water tank and tell us what we already knew; that there was no hot water and that the heating element had failed, of course the guy didn’t have the part, I mean why would he? Anyway, having kettle washes it was and heading out for our meal was a great way to start the weekend and nine of us were heading to The Emperor for a Chinese meal. Its not the finest of restaurants be its definitely the place if you just want a good reasonable meal with a group of friends of family. Ordering as much as you can eat of the menu has its perks until your full and you just want to roll over on the floor, of course we did just that, except me and mum had to endure the embarrassment of hearing happy birthday sung to us with a single wax candle melting into a scoop of ice cream served in front of us too. Still it was all good fun and plenty of drinks flowing for the drinkers between our party. A few more presents and cards came my way and it was a nice evening with everyone. I was working the next morning and had to be up at 5:45am so come midnight I was well tucked up.

 Up and about early for work Saturday in Maidenhead and it was only the morning so getting back for 1 was great, phoned the insurance company, asked them what ‘emergency’ meant and we discussed our difference in opinion about the word and it ended with, we will call you back today (Saturday) to update you, of course its now Sunday approximately 20:45, I think I get the message, ill call back Monday… Life goes on and its not like we could live without a bit of hot water for a few days so like planned I headed out for my run, but with the need for a warm shower after I decided to drive to near the gym park up and do my 90 minute easy paced run around Richmond Park and North Kingston. The key to this run was ‘easy’, so with only two weeks to go until race day it was time to ease up and allow my body to slow down before the final last push on the day. I parked near Ham parade actually and headed down Richmond Road towards Kingston and left back towards Kingston Gate and into Richmond Park. In the 13 weeks so far I had used the park a lot for runs and there’s just not many places much better, with a much of inclines and declines, different terrain and most importantly the amazing park itself. A great place for any run but for this particular run where I wouldn’t be going at much of a pace a great place for taking in the surroundings and adding to that vital distraction too. I headed like normal anti-clockwise around the park, I was only a few minutes in the park when my phone rang, it was a mate Ricky and I managed a full blown chat whilst running which was good, they always say if you can hold a conversation at a pace then your comfortable at that pace, so we chatted away for a good few minutes and that passed the time by early on. Heading towards Roehampton and Sheen Gate before making it to Richmond and out of Ham Gate to run back towards where I had parked in Ham. I had listened to the football 3pm kick-off’s as I ran round and it was certainly different, I had always listened to music and to listen to talk sport for 90 minutes was something new. I wouldn’t do it again I don’t think, although that maybe because we lost 1-0 and it didn’t make for good listening lol. In the hour and a half I covered 10.4 miles at an average of 8’36 per mile which I was pleased with, I’d set out to run at 8’45 per mile for this easy paced run so not far off after the 10 and a half miles and the quicker side of it anyway. Time to go for that well deserved, luxurious shower. Nat, Pas and our god-kids were round for fajitas and tacos after too so that was good fun, another night of eating as much as we could, suits me post run.

  This left Sunday as rest day and with the final game of the season for our Sunday league reserve team I went down to help out and watch the boys. Unfortunately after last week we had nothing to play for and the opposition had the league in their hands, there was no stopping them, the just got the job done. The less said about it the better really, still not a bad season finishing 3rd, and a cup final for the first team for us all to go and support them in too. More importantly that the loss today we finished of with lunch down the pub though and a good laugh with the boys, that’s what its all about really isn’t it?

  Including gift aid we have now reached £909.05 !!!

 This is Brilliant and id like to again thank everyone who has made donations, you all now how much it means to me.

 X

[16stonealone]

Craving a rest!

These weeks are rolling by one after the other so fast, I’d happily wish all this training away when I see the bigger runs and look forward to the shorter runs coming up and now they are only around the corner. I got my Marathon run vest out and hung it up earlier in the week, I will wear it to train in at some point over the next fortnight too, just to try it out.

My phone still hadn’t been repaired and is actually due to be delivered before midday on Monday 4th so I had another week of keeping myself distracted during another five runs this week too, its become increasingly boring now after breaking it 16 days ago. I did borrow Em’s phone again for my two hour run on Saturday, I guess she doesn’t mind seeing as her Nike+ account is taking all the credit for my hard miles.

Week 12 was the last week where a big run at the weekend was going to be a push and after that the last three weeks will tame down with easy paced runs and the actual Marathon day at the end of the third week. I’m pretty sure the last run of last week, that 21 mile run had definitely had more of impact on me post run than what I had initially thought. I was feeling quite shattered come the Sunday evening. Fortunately Monday was a bank holiday and I had the chance to have a lay in. I was straight into a 40 minute easy run Monday too and I headed to the gym at my own leisure for the run. It was dead in the gym so that was great, I suppose everyone had better ideas of how to spend their bank holiday. I had my lack of music and I starred at the TV screens for the next 40 minutes, the first twenty dragging and feeling a lot long than it should of and the second half of the run seemed to fly by, a very usual situation. When you’re on a journey somewhere eager to get to isn’t this always the case? The anticipation of getting there seems to take forever where as the return flies. Still after Sundays big effort and no rest day scheduled directly after my legs where heavy and this most likely didn’t help towards the first twenty. I ran 4.31 miles in the 40 minutes averaging 9:16 minutes per mile. Not much to take from these easy paced ones like this, but I wouldn’t skip it unless I’ve done what it says on paper. Grateful to have my first run out of the way on the Monday whilst still being off work was a bonus and I planned on my second run being on Tuesday allowing me to rest on Wednesday as per the schedule. When Tuesday showed up I had packed my gym things and headed to work, by lunchtime I was feeling quite exhausted and didn’t feel myself, I knew something was up. I contemplated running over it and powering through like I had done so many times over the years, man up basically. I manned down, I deteriorated over the next few hours and was feeling shivery so I headed home and didn’t move, I felt so rough but almost like pre-flu rough. Funny enough, my mum was ill and had been off work the next few days, John was feeling similar to me so we though maybe we had caught something. I got home and straight in bed, track suited up and covers where I was so cold, I was exhausted, falling asleep watching Pointless, I don’t even like Pointless but I could be bothered to move or change the channel. Sleeping four hours and waking up briefly and back to sleep until 5:30am when I was up for work. I felt a lot fresher, I think it was just what I needed and I had reached a point of being over tired and pushing myself hard over the last few days never mind the past 11 weeks. All of a sudden I then had four runs to complete in four days, feeling glad about my decision to rest though I wasn’t going to complain and knew I needed to crack on and get going. I could have had a rest Saturday or Sunday but I wanted to be available to play football Sunday so that want an option.

 Wednesday, I didn’t even need to make my gym bag up as it was nicely untouched from Tuesdays fall, hitting the gym after work to crack on with my week and next up was a 60 minute interval run with 12 minutes easy, (4 minutes at marathon pace, 60 seconds faster and 60 seconds jog to recover x 6) finishing off with another 12 minutes easy. The chopping and changing in speed was the biggest distraction and I felt good running and the rest day before hand was the right thing to do. Burning just under 1000 calories in this session and running over 7 miles in the hour. Heading home to chill now, I was concentrating on making the effort to relax and knowing I didn’t want to be border-line exhausted again, please. With early starts at work again Thursday and Friday I needed as much rest as I could get before the weekend. Thursday we was going out for dinner after work with Cara, nothing major just a catch up, always good every now and then and I’m always looking forward to dinner. I didn’t get back from work until a little later than expected so I swapped Thursdays 64 minute run with Fridays 40 minute and headed out from home to complete my 40 minute easy run to allow for me to get back showered and meet Em and Cara before it would be to late. It was a nice easy run and to be honest I was looking forward to using it on Friday before my Saturday big run but that couldn’t be helped I cant have the best of both worlds and just had to swap, or miss dinner? Easy choice! Anyway the 40 minutes really were easy and I went 20 seconds per mile slower than my last 40 minutes easy paced run on the Monday, a nice light jog covering 4.16 miles.

 Even if the runs were demanding this week, work wasn’t to heavy and on Friday and I had a day full of surveys really after the first job in Old Street at 6am didn’t go ahead we headed to the café for breakfast and went about our days after that. Got this thing about poached eggs on toast at the moment, but anyway. I headed straight for the gym after work full of Friday beans, knowing no more work for the weekend was the feeling and even if it was music-free I had a good feel about me and it was just one of those days you could sing to yourself instead. It was the longest training run in the week, a total of 64 minutes with a 12 minute easy start, (2 minutes at threshold and 2 minutes recovery jog) x10 and of course the 12 minutes easy to finish off. The run minus the 2 sets of twelve minute either side of the intervals had a strong resemblance of the HIIT training we’d been doing last summer and it was nice to have a go of a bit of that in this training albeit to a heavier scale duration wise with marathon in mind. Still I was happy with finishing up and covering 7.22 miles. Leaving the gym drinking my water feeling fresh we grabbed a five guys for a Friday night treat seeing as we were going out at the weekend. I love five guys, it’s the closest thing we can find here to Shake Shack that we had in NYC, even though I’ve been told there’s a Shake Shack in Covent Garden, need to get on that. Watched a bit of TV and continued the chill, knowing I had to get up at 8am for Saturdays antics.

  Waking up miles before my 8am alarm on Saturday morning basically sums me up. I was up and made some breakfast, by the time Em woke up it was her time to feel ill now she didn’t feel good and was feeling sick. Fortunately with plenty of rest she’s feeling better now too, god knows what’s going on. I had the hygienist at 9am so I was out and my plan was to run when I got back, so straight after I set out with Em’s phone this time for my 2 hour run, purposely planning to get back for 12:30 to watch the Chelsea game on TV away to Villa. Saturdays run was 60 minutes and then turn and run home faster, I kind of adapted it as I didn’t fancy just turning and running back the way I came so I mapped out a 60 minute run at a steady pace and then another 60minute run at a slightly faster pace and stuck them on to each other, it worked fine. Covering 16.4 miles in total. I headed out on a very different route from normal, which was nice as these long runs and the same roads were getting tedious. Some of it has to stay the same, especially the roads near home, I’d have to run on them. As I ran from home towards Tolworth, Portsmouth Rd and north down the river heading towards Kingston Bridge, over the bridge and back down the river path to Hampton Court. It was great to mix in a bit of local greatness that I hadn’t introduced into my runs so far, the busy pathway has fond memories of days when Mum, John and I would run down there on Sunday mornings, encouraging each other, usually in the summer months for me whilst out of the football season. As I reached Hampton Court the palace looked amazing, my first ever 10k took place here so it held some good memories as well as the path. Crossing over Hampton Court Bridge I was hitting an average of 8:25 ish per mile, which was fine, it was how id set out on my mapping knowing it was going to be upped for the second half. The weather was nice and bright but I was surprised home much of an impact that had on me and as I crossed the halfway mark heading towards the Scilly Isles, I had to up the pace now and I was feeling thirsty, sipping my water occasionally and trying to make it last for the whole duration being as careful as not to waste any in the lovely warm heat. Funny thing was I didn’t think it seemed that warm when I left and I even contemplated taking a jumper, glad I didn’t now, I guess the running warms you up fast too. I headed up to Esher and around the one-way system. As I approached Esher I saw a familiar face when my dad was sitting traffic heading back form a local job, I ran towards the van and tapped the window with my water bottle and he was surprised to see me and I was gone, literally a second of a wave. I though I may catch up with again but I didn’t, still it kept me occupied for a few minutes. Heading back out of Esher and now down to the Portsmouth Road again and turning right a Brighton Road to run towards Tolworth again for my final few miles. As I reached the hill on Brighton Road I was knackered, really feeling worn now and hitting an overall average pace for the whole distance so far of 7’21 per mile. I was itching to get home as I carried myself down The Broadway, the goings-on’s of The Broadway made it a lot more exciting and I was distracted for the length of it. There was only about a mile and a half between me and home now and as I powered through the subway and past the station I knew it wasn’t long to go counting down the minutes in my head and hoping the Nike+ Running App would tell me its all over for another week ASAP. Five minutes from home it was all over, a huge sense of relief flew through me and I came to a complete halt, it was still about 9.8 miles away from the equivalent of the Marathon but this run was demanding with the increase in pace half way and the heat and I was happy to stretch, stroll home and chill. I got in feeling exhausted again, it took me a good few minutes to calm down really, more than normal, I even laid flat on the living room floor, something I’d only do at the end of a heavy night out. No doubt why though 1791 calories in the heat and 16.4 miles at an average of 7’21 per mile was the reason, plus all the crammed in evening runs. Fortunately, for a change Chelsea made me feel a bit better. Em still not feeling good we couldn’t make her cousins party which was a shame but she was right to not go, imagine making her own cousin ill before flying to Oz. Wouldn’t of been a good idea, so we relaxed and spent a lot of time chilling out, my calves we’re highly grateful.

 Sunday would have been the day of rest but like I said earlier it wanted to play football and this was finally our chance to play the second of the final two last games of the season, with two wins we would be champions. That didn’t go to plan, we just couldn’t hack it and get on our game today, a lack of heart I’d say, but the 2-0 loss to the team that now sit top was tough to take and that is it. A real shame but that life and lets wish the first team the best of luck in the clubs cup final in early May. Still with a 35 minute run due tomorrow im’ not going to take that run away because I definitely did the 35 minutes today playing 90 minutes and tomorrow will become my new rest day, which I now look forward to with the arrival of my replacement phone, thank god! Even though Monday is usually food shopping day, lol, great!

So I realised this week that I need to concentrate on looking after myself a lot more now when it comes to rest and especially over the next 20 days ahead. I decided I’m now going to book the Friday off before the run too just to have a completely relaxing weekend before race day, I want to be fresh and feel energetic.

I know I keep mentioning the great sponsors but over the last week it has really shot up again so thank you for so much support! We’re getting there and every-one of you that donates will be with me on my race day!

[16stonealone]

The twenty-one mile jog

There was always going to be an incline in training this week after the mock race week, it would be back to the normality of heavy runs on the week nights again and the 15 minute light runs wouldn’t be seen again now for a good three to four weeks. In fact the week 11 schedule had some daunting runs lined up for me, the only benefit was there was only 4 runs this week instead of the usual five due to the Monday being a given rest day after the mock race day last Sunday. Hitting great times in the previous couple of weeks I’d had plenty of conversations about my pace and how I shouldn’t be touching these high levels in my training and should focus on my desired pace. I’ve kind of decided to meet in the middle and have a marathon pace of anything between 7’15 and 7’25 per mile and keep it that way. Were see on the day if I can manage to keep my concentration and stay within these times. With my previous marathon time of 3:17:08 I was keen to beat this time and running at 7’25/mile would see me hit 3:14:28, strangely I know I have more to give, as I saw in the 20 miles training running at 6’59/mile but would I of been able to carry on the last 6.2 miles at that pace? I cant be certain and as much as id love to I can only see how it goes on race day but I need a steady plan to go in with if I want to succeed.

 This weeks training runs.

  With the marathon race packs and all the details about the day being delivered in the week I spent a lot of time reading through and it has got me fired up for the big day. Its not less than four weeks and it is flying round, reading about the times to meet, going to the expedition within the few days before all bring on some early stage nerves and an eagerness to complete this amazing task. This is the 36th London Marathon and in this particular event on person will be the 1,000,000th runner to cross the finish line, with the magazine title being ‘#oneinamillion’, you never know lol.

 So with Monday being a rest day it was a nice relaxed start to the week and it gave a nice rest day for me to be content with. Week 11 would be my first of four weeks without any alcoholic beverages now and my biggest problem of the week was to try and get my phone fixed via the insurance so Monday I sent it off for repair/replacement after completing the forms on the Sunday. The claim was accepted on Wednesday and they said they will get it sorted and sent out asap, however with the bank holiday weekend this meant maybe not until next week. Its one thing just getting used to not having your phone these days for communication but when it comes down to my music and my Nike tracking app for running it’s a whole different kettle of fish and it made the planning of the runs a little more tricky. Kindly, Em let me use her phone a couple of times this week and it sure came in handy, even if it meant me listening to music I hadn’t even heard before, the other two runs with no music was interesting my mind had to keep me occupied.

 So with the lovely rest of Monday, Tuesday was straight into a 64 minute run and this was my first with no music and funny enough it’s the first run I had done in the 11 weeks of training so far that I didn’t even know what I was doing in todays training. I had my training plan that was saved on my phone that didn’t exist at this point so that was ultra handy, I do have a paper copy but that was buried at home somewhere and I would need to dig it out later that night. I had seen a glance of this 64 minute run and remembered it, well I thought I did and I was really close to be fair. I ran 12 minutes easy to start with 5 minutes at threshold pace followed but 3 minutes jogging to recover and repeated this 5 times, again with at 12minutes easy again to close the run. When I later got home that night it was meant to be 6 minutes threshold with 2 minute jog x 5 but I was happy with my fairly accurate guess and wasn’t going to lose any sleep over this one. The 64 minutes totalled to 7.39 miles and I was keep to complete this run after having the extra rest too.

 The biggest miss, probably more than music was the Nike running app, pace is key and this was the way of tracking my pace and knowing when I completed runs. I would always do longer distances runs outdoors to use the app correctly and let the outside going-on’s be a bigger distraction that the treadmill and Tuesday I had an 80 minute run to complete. It was a steady paced run and with no running app I decided I had to really do it in the gym to track my progress on the treadmill. This would be a real task, the longest run I had ever done on a treadmill was 70 minutes a few weeks back and that was mind numbing enough as it is. Fortunately when I got to the gym Em and Soph were booked in for a class for an hour so I had the benefit of Ems phone for the hour and listened to a few playlists on Spotify. Covering just under 10miles in the 80 minutes I wasn’t going to mad just at a comfortable steady pace to complete the run, and even that had its problems 48 minutes in when I HAD to get off and have a toilet break after drinking plenty of water that day, nightmare, with 32 minutes to go starring at the minutes and seconds slowly ticking away was never going to take the desperate feeling away and I decided just to go and restart the treadmill again for another 32 minutes. The last 32 minutes seemed to drag but at least I was relieved and could run comfortably.

 After two heavy days of 64 and 80 minutes Thursday was now the next rest day in the programme and with it being the last working day of the week it was nice to have a rest and go straight home after work on the fake Friday. It was great to have the long bank holiday weekend off work and it helped to plan my runs to suit myself and for the first time in a little while with no drink I was that bit more flexible about when I was going to run too. Friday I had a 50 minute interval run to do so with no rush I headed to the gym in the early afternoon. 10 minutes easy, 15 minutes at marathon pace, 15 minutes faster and finishing up with another 10 minutes easy, covering 6.2 miles just under 10k. It was good to know my runs in the gym were now over for the week and this was another music-less run and this would be the last of those until Monday. After a well deserved jacuzzi and steam room after my run I went to see a good friend of the family who hasn’t been to well recently and we had a lovely catch up and even though Karen and her family are going through the toughest times of their lives they are all there to support her and help her through, giving her strength to be positive which is key in the situation they are in. Its highly motivational seeing how they are showing strength and its inspirational too. We are thinking of you all lots and are always praying for the best. The sun was shinning and the rest of the day was going to be a Good Friday chill and a trip down to Tolworth for fish and chips with Mum & John.

 Saturday was my third and final rest day of the week and we had a family fun day planned at Kempton Racecourse. Shame the weather wasn’t as bright as the previous day but Lee G had done amazing getting so many of us down there for the day, Its always great to see all the family and with so many of them its not something that can happen so often. Even cousin Caley was over from Oz and managed to get down so it was fantastic to catch up with her too. Obviously I was driving with my new drinking ban but I kept myself busy with silly bets and managed to entertain myself but watching the others knock back there doubles until it was falling over time and then we headed back home. I didn’t want to be too late as I had my longest run of the training programme to complete on Sunday.

  After watching the football Saturday night I headed to bed, and in fairness England did a god job in the end albeit a friendly. I was up for 8 and ready to leave for 9am for my best part of three hour run. It was 21 miles at an easy pace, so it wasn’t too demanding on the speed factor but more on the duration and distance. I had planned it out on the Friday evening and I was well prepared with all my bits ready, Ems phone was being borrowed for the run so I had music and the Nike app, even though it would tally up on her total rather than my own but never mind, I needed it. I decided before the run that id run at 8:20/mile for this easy run but as the run progressed I managed to narrow the time down to 8:11/mile and was pleased with how close to my original decision I had managed to stay. I really made an effort to not go mad and to take it easy as possible, it was borderline between a light run and a heavy jog, something like that lol.

  Either way burning 2313 calories was exhausting and I still had more in the tank when I finished knowing I was only 5.2 miles away from the 26.2 of a marathon was a good sign. The finishing time was 2:52:01 and I ran from home through Tolworth and towards the Portsmouth Road, heading into Kingston and up Richmond Road and into Richmond Park. Once in the park my pace dropped a touch and I was soon lifting it again as I headed anti-clockwise towards Kingston Gate, I ran a complete lap back round to Kingston Gate again before heading out of the park and towards Norbiton and running round the to the Coombe estate and down towards New Malden High Street. As I was running down towards the High Street it began absolutely chucking it down, I had about 3.25 miles to go from here and I was soaked through. A good ten minutes of heavy rain got me drenched and this made it a heavy last few miles to complete. As I approached Worcester Park roundabout on the A3 and headed Southbound towards home, the last couple of miles flew by and my pace increased that little bit more to enhance my finishing time. I was relieved when I heard the run had been completed, I was about 5 minutes walk from home, perfect way to cool down after the distance. I got home and was pleased with my effort for today.

 I took a long shower and got ready for my lovely Godson Jack’s 1st birthday party. It was a lovely day and Luke and Steph did a fantastic job hosting the party, catering for everyone and making sure Jack had a great time too! It was great to catch up with everyone and Phil is taking part in the London Marathon this year too and it gave us a great place to exchange training ideas. Its amazing how fast the last year has gone and Jack is growing so fast and for the record Luke’s cake cutting is amazing, I’m sure Steph will agree ;).

  So with a great weekend but running and socially, seeing lots of family and friends it was great knowing that Monday would be Bank Holiday too and make the most of the extra long weekend. Not to forget a week 12 a new running week would start though!

 I had some amazing new sponsors this week and I’m very grateful for all that have made the effort to sponsor me. It’s inspiring every time I get notified and it helps my drive forward towards my final goal. If you would like to sponsor jus check out the link below;

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/beng16

x

[16stonealone]

Too good to be true?

The last week ending on such a high certainly didn’t help for the beginning of this week, I had some pain In both arches of both feet and it was a frustrating way to start the week after such a great accomplishment. I wasn’t wanting to give in on my runs this week and I tried to brush the pain away. This week in training was based on a typical race week, with build up runs during the week with a practise race run on the Sunday to give the feel of what it would be like on the actual day. A great way to give me a chance to practise what to eat and how to prepare for the race day, albeit i knew it wasn’t the actual race day and the real buzz isn’t there. I was all up for pretending though and to be honest the light training runs before a race day suited me this week and made for more time to relax.

 With both my feet playing up in pain I was easily blaming the run from the day before, thinking pushing myself to such limits could only be the reason. I questioned my style of running and my trainers on Monday and didn’t come to a conclusion about either. I only had a 40 minute easy run to complete on Monday and headed to the gym after work to get it underway. Knowing that I wasn’t going to have to run at a fast pace or for a long time was probably the reason I decided on going ahead with the training run whilst still in pain. I jumped on the treadmill and the pain failed to subside but I wasn’t giving in, making it through ten minutes at a time I eventually got to about 32 minutes before thinking I can finish this run but I am just going to have to rest these feet tomorrow. I finished up the run and happily headed straight for a shower and home to rest up. I was a bit gutted knowing, well thinking I had caused this, but I’d see how both feet were after the rest. Tuesday morning waking up and still feeling in the same pain I was 100% resting Tuesday night and would only hope to feel better Wednesday to continue my mock race week. Tuesday was great to come home straight from work and just relax, its not often that this is the case and with feet up there was definitely some serious resting going on. Come Wednesday morning I had felt the benefit of the rest and was feeling more positive about the injury, im not really sure how to explain it just a bit like a shooting pain in the arched part of the foot, something in all my running years that I had never experienced before. I was keen to crack on with the weeks prep and a 45 minute interval run for Wednesday, this was the longest training run of the weekdays and only the mock race day would be longer. Starting with 10 minutes easy with 5 rounds of 3 minutes at tempo pace and 2 minutes jog, before the last 10 minutes at an easy pace to finish off. The feet held up well and a lot les pain being on the left me feeling confident for continuing my training and all had not been lost. Covering a total of 5.21 miles at an average pace of 8:38 minutes per mile.

 I was in for a real pre race treat Thursday and Friday with both days having incredibly short runs and firstly Thursday after returning home from work I managed the 20minute run out doors to mix it up a bit, it was only and easy paced run so I casually ran towards Tolworth station and back and before I knew it was done and over and again with less discomfort than the last day it gave me more rest. Friday was identical except I didn’t have to go as far, just 15 minutes easy this time, I could easily get used to these small runs. No joking aside, they are great when you need to rest or your prepping for that all important race day, but on a fitness level I find them unsatisfying and you don’t really feel as if you’ve done anything. I did run the 15 minutes in the gym Friday though and it gave me time to play around with some weights and enjoy the gym without the rush. I stayed longer with Soph and Em and we did a variety of exercises, something I wont risk nearing the actual race day but it was definitely enjoyable and made a great change. After all ten weeks of running does become a little broing and you do need a change. We had a great laugh and with all of us having quiet Friday nights in there was no harm.

  Grateful of my well-rested week and well over my foot/arch problem by now I had just the practise race day to contend with, it was a 13.1 mile half marathon race. I planned to run Saturday morning so that it gave me Saturday night and Sunday free to enjoy. I made sure Friday night I ate tons of carbs, well Em did, she heard me moaning about my need for carbs this week before then run and all of a sudden a sack of potatoes were on my plate. I was stuffed and was hoping it would give me the energy to put in a good shift fro the morning’s run. I wasn’t going to rush up Saturday, it had been a week for on early starts at work and there was no way I wanted to hear my alarm go off again and I got up at my own leisure before heading out at 10am. After last weeks ultra-successful run I felt a pressure on my shoulders to compete against my own pace and as much as I wanted to hit the same levels again I knew that particular run was a special run on a special day and everything just clicked. I wasn’t going to force myself to keep the pace but I would like to be some where in the region of it, maybe 10 seconds slower? I mapped my run Saturday morning when I woke up, I had already thought through a couple of options in my head the previous few days but hadn’t decided until that morning. I decided to run towards Epsom and back on myself towards North Cheam and making my way through Raynes Park and all the way south bound on the A3 slip road to Tolworth before heading in towards home. I started well, similar to last week and was feeling energetic with the only downside being the weights I had done the evening before had a negative impact on my breathing and with chest muscles trained I did feel tight chested and with every breath I could feel the muscles I had worked the day before and I hadn’t worked for over 3 months. I should of thought ahead and gave them time to recover but who thinks that much? Once I could feel the tightness it was too late, your brain knows and that does more damage than the physical side of it. I didn’t let it beat me up though I just had more frequent shorter breaths instead as I kept the pace well, and by half way I was averaging about 7:05 per mile consistently. Happy with the pace as it was the last few miles I seemed to push myself even harder and managed to get the average pace down to 7:01 / mile over the Half Marathon brining my total time to 1:31:59. After finish I felt totally exhausted, I felt like I had given everything I had for the last few miles and as I slowly walked the last quarter of a mile home happy to have another week complete.

 With the run complete it was great to have time to get to The Bridge and head out for the night with lots of our mates for Em’s continued birthday celebrations. This would be the last time I would be drinking before the marathon in 5 weeks and it was great to make the most of it, we had a great time but I managed to break my phone when we left after dropping it, it refused to turn on, with all my music on the phone and my Nike running app I knew the following week would be a pain, but thankfully its insured. That will also explain the lack of pictures this week, which im pretty gutted about, but hey. Sunday would be my last rest day of the week and I spent the first few hours of it with my last hangover for a while, crawling to McDonalds on Sunday morning to try to kill the headache on the way to watch the first team boys play in their semi- final. They was brilliant, totally smashed it and won 6-1 to take the club to the final in May, it was great to watch and the fully deserved the victory. I had also succeeded in victory over my sore head too and headed to my mums for the evening for a mountain of a roast dinner! Special thanks to chef John.

 10 weeks now complete and another successful week, as much as it does get tedious, were getting closer and in no time it will all be over. Focusing now more than ever!

[16stonealone]

Fast out the blocks!

So of course my failure to complete my longest run of last weeks schedule last Sunday held me to run both that run and my next big challenge, 20miles steady in the same week. These two runs alone would cover 33 miles and there would be 3 other runs to accommodate too this week, bringing my distance total for the week to the highest so far, 53.31miles. With this in mind at the beginning of the week I knew I had a task on my hands, but to my benefit the week wouldn’t be so full either. I’d worked Sunday night and we didn’t get home until 8:30am the Monday morning, much later than we had anticipated on the Sunday evening when we arrived on the job. Returning home exhausted and we literally was, we’d worked a solid 17 hours from 3:30pm the previous day I climbed straight into bed and didn’t even set an alarm, typically only managing just over 4 hours sleep I woke up dazed and feeling increasingly tired still. I wasn’t sure staying in bed was such a great idea though, I decided to get up, have some breakfast and a shower to awaken myself knowing I had a 13 miles steady run to contend with. I didn’t waste no time and just as well, I think had I had not bothered showering I would of just wrote the run of completely but I was determined to not let myself, or my sponsors down.

 I headed out feeling a little rubbish, rubbish isn’t a good word to describe how I was feeling but disorientated and half asleep still, working through the night was something I hadn’t done for a little while and it really knocked me for six. Running outside from home towards North Cheam I was keeping a good pace but at a cost, I was carrying a stitch and feeling like I quite like to stop and take a few deep breaths. I knew stopping just wouldn’t be the answer today. So a few deep breaths while running was the only option, I imagined every breath and the oxygen pumping round my body after, thinking about the benefits it would provide to the muscles and after a mile or so of this I was starting to feel the benefits of this. Even though it was most likely psychological. I headed towards Morden and back up towards Raynes Park, before heading on to New Malden, continuing to keep a great pace even though I hadn’t even want to go out and run today. I was feeling happy now even if not comfortable in my running body, I was well passed the half way point as I looped around Coombe and back into New Malden before heading to Malden Manor where Emma had left the car earlier that morning to get to work. I must of taken a road too many in my loop at Coombe and I was a least a 5 minute walk away from the car when I finished my run, I wasn’t going to complain though, happily turning my faced paced ‘steady’ run into a walk and I congratulated myself on my achievement. I was so happy to have got out there and cracked on with it, it was all worth it. I’d hit a fantastic time and of 1:35:17 for the 13 miles running at an average pace of 7’19 minutes per mile. Yet when I reached the car in my proud state I had even more of a surprise awaiting me, and this time a good bit of luck, Em had realised that I hadn’t returned from work until late and had left me a clean towel and more crucially a Lucozade sport in the front of the car. What a star I thought, I smiled and giggled to myself as I cracked the Lucozade open as if I’d crawled through the desert. As for the run though, I was happy with my time but I knew I was probably going a bit to fast for my liking and maybe not by much so not the end of the world. I was treating my Mum later that evening for a belated Mother’s Day meal after my absence on Sunday so I had a nice meal and relax to look forward to.

  The catch up with these runs is very essential, one or two days swapping around is fine but you do not want to lose control, fortunately swapping my Sunday and Monday allowed me to rest on Tuesday which was great, it gave me a chance to get back in to the normality of my working week again after the odd start. I had a great night sleep both Monday and Tuesday and by Wednesday I was now ready for 3 days of running on the bounce. Wednesday’s was a 56 minute interval run with 12 minutes easy to start 90 seconds at threshold, 30 seconds hard followed by a 2 minute jog and repeated 8 times before another 12 minute easy run to finish off. Fairly easy just a lot of chopping and changing with the speed but I was fresh from the rest the previous day and covering just under 10k. Even though Thursdays run was only 7 minutes longer I just wasn’t looking forward to it, the though of over an hour on the treadmill just seemed a bit unappealing. Luckily I finished work at a good time and it made for a little more positivity towards this one, even though I knew that finishing thins run would also be the start to my weekend with Baker & Sam’s much looked forward to wedding the next day! This was my only other interval run of the week and it had a bit more solidness to it, of course starting with the 12 mins easy but followed by three rounds of 10 minutes at a tempo pace with a 3 minute recover jog and topping off with the final 12 mins easy. Running at an average pace of 8’49 / mile it wasn’t consitantly a demanding run but definitely that much in the 10 minute tempo paced sectors. Covering 7.42 miles I was glad to finish and get home to watch Chelsea in the Champions League too, albeit they was incredibly poor and ended up losing and going out of the competition, but hey its been great to play at such a high stage for some time now, a stage that others could only dream of.

 With work complete for the week now too I could almost turn my alarm off for the weekend, almost, I had to get up Friday to do a 40 minute easy paced run. The schedule was kind because a nice easy paced run was a nice way to start off the day. I decided to run outside to save some time as we had to be en route to the wedding by 11am, there was no way I was going to be late for this one. So I headed out in some crazy fog whilst all the school kids were being dropped to school, it was quite nice being out for a slow jog in this strange weather, watching all the blocked up roads as I eased through Chessington from home towards Hook. As I approached Hook I had the delight of bumping into my God Daughter and her Mum and good friend little Nat, I got to baby sit for about 20 seconds whilst Nat had something to post. It was great to stop and say hello, something I rarely get to do mid-run as I’m normally going 100mph or a million miles away to even notice anyone. I guess that’s the beauty of the nice easy paced run, stopping was never going to hurt. I said goodbyes to the to little ones and was back on my way heading up to the ace of spades and back down the A3 to Tolworth and heading in towards home. It was great to be home, well, until me and Em realised we had about an hour to have breakfast and get ready for the big day ahead. Ha, countless times I got the look when I’d ask, “you ready yet?”, anyway, we did fine, minus me burning the bacon.

  Friday was an amazing day, everything about it went so well. It was amazing to see two very close and important friends tie the knot with all their friends and family. Baker and Sam were brilliant and they deserved such a great day too. Once the heavy fog had cleared the sun was out and the Champagne joined it too as we sipped endless glasses away on the terraced area of the Cobham manor house. I was treating myself to a great switch off from the busy last couple of weeks and the heavy running too and having run that morning meant I didn’t have to run again until Sunday now too. The day flew by with good times, plenty of food and great company as we retired to our rooms in some state in the early hours. Saturday, BANG! Here we are again downing water and searching the cupboards for the tea and biscuit tray. I woke up early, shock, and managed to fight through my hangover in the early stages whilst poor Em struggled. Lots of us stayed in the hotel and making it down for breakfast was great fun. Well done to the Baker’s, great day!

  So with the hangover sliding back in we had to get home and headed for some birthday shopping for Em, although that didn’t last to long before we found ourselves home and a pizza ordered while we chilled and watched TV. We was shattered Friday had really taken it out of us and before we knew it we was asleep, I had such a great sleep again and Sunday I was wide awake and full of life, just as well really being Em’s birthday. Em was of out for breakfast and I had 20 miles at a steady pace to play with. My final run of the week and as much as I wasn’t looking forward to it I had to be eager to go out there and get it done. You know it’s a long one and there’s only one way its going to be finished, so I got ready and left at 10am. It was so nice out again, I had planned my route that morning and I was keen to include some surprises of my own on the way. I was so sick of running to Morden on these long runs I needed a change so I headed towards Kingston, as I left I felt fast, the first mile or two I was listening out for my pace and it was coming in much faster that I wanted per mile. I decided to slow down and listen out for the next mile but this just didn’t seem to work and no matter how much I wanted to slow the link just wasn’t there and I was finding myself doing mile after mile at this steady pace around the 7 minute / mile mark. Happy with my speed, but disappointed with the fact I wasn’t sticking to my plan became quite a confusing matter and I wasn’t going to slow down now. As I reached Kingston I ran back down the river and on to the Portsmouth Road, back in to Surbiton and headed Chessington bound and reaching Malden Rushett. Hitting the half way point id now completed half the 20 mile run at this same stead pace… 7’05, 7’04, 7’03 and eventually as I continued to the 12th mile 7’02, I was running on confidence now and I was really buzzing of my achievements so far even though id gone against my plan, I just had a doubt I wouldn’t be able to finish the 20miles at this same steady pace. I ran from Malden Rushett to Epsom and known the first team boys were playing at home in East Ewell I headed like planned for the pitch, running around the ground and past the boys twice it was great to see some familiar faces during such a lonely couple of hours and I think likewise for them to see me too. By this time I had about five and a half miles to go as I joked with Hutch about him joining me for the duration, I was feeling weaker though, I’d been running for around 2 hours now and at this point decided to crack open my Lucozade Lite I had been carrying the distance with me too. The sun was beaming and although it was fresh it was lovely out, I headed towards North Cheam and cruised down Worcester Park high street weaving in and out of the business, I was 2 miles away from my completion and the pace had advanced again, even though I believed I was decreasing in pace I was now hitting 6’59 / mile and I was certain I was slowing down but I guess I wasn’t. As I approached the Malden Manor running parallel with the Hogsmill river towards home I was starting to ache, my feet and my right hip were starting become painful all of a sudden. I wondered if this was because I was nearing the end or weather I just was going to hard on myself. Either way I ran through the pain, encouraged by my performance and still distracted from my original 7’40 / mile target. I finished just before the Ewell by-pass and how glad I was to stop and come to a halt, legs like jelly d been running for 2:19:41 and had an amazing pace of 6’59 minutes per mile. Id burned over 2700 calories and was limping almost for the ten minute walk home, I’m not sure if the walk did me more damage than good. I was over the moon with my achievement. The run was meant to be 17 miles steady and last three speed up if you can, but I gathered I had done plenty of speeding up throughout and wasn’t going to do any more speeding up in the last three miles.

  I was proud and feeling a bit stupid for running to fast but proud and it set my capability levels for the future long distances runs to a whole new level and is something I will definitely be having to work on in the last 5/6 weeks leading up the London Marathon.

 The great thing next was I had Emma’s birthday meal to look forward to with all the family in the afternoon, a chance to stuff our faces and finish off the cake too. We had some lovely food and Em’s didn’t do to bad with presents either.

 I guess there’s lots of learning for me to be doing in these forthcoming weeks, and there’s obviously a lot more I’m capable of that I didn’t even realise. I’m looking forward to what more I can learn and achieve.

[16stonealone]

Moving mountains!

During an incredibly busy week in my 8th week of training I found myself having to re-schedule and more around more runs that what I would usually like to. I knew it would be a heavily disrupted week but I didn’t think I’d have to move my biggest run of the week either. Being away for a couple of days had an impact on my training in the early part of the last week. Fortunately because of playing football on the Sunday the first night staying up in Rotherham I was have a rest instead of my 40 minute easy run, so that was quite relaxing and a nice way to start the week. Also with my recent track record of running away from home that was a bonus and instead I treated myself to a pizza express with the evening spending money I had received from the my new employer. The Monday was pretty much sitting around and being inducted, a lot of slide shows and signatures rather than much physical work. Just as exhausting though. So I originally I thought the second day of the induction would be a little less time consuming but that wasn’t the case and I didn’t finish up in Rotherham until 4pm and had to travel back the same evening. Any hopes of getting back to London by a reasonable time to get to the gym or even and outdoor run would be crushed and I returned home about 8:30pm just to unpack and organise my stuff for my first day on the tools the following morning. So with two days in to week 8 down I had zero runs on the board for the first time in this training programme, never a great way to start the week and with the week continuing to be filled with going-ons it left little time to waste.

  So as you can see the schedule above, I moved Tuesday run to Wednesday and after work in Wednesday I cracked straight on with my first run of the week. Hitting the gym, I had an interval run totalling to 57 minutes, a fair whack and I was feeling a bit tired after having little rest early in the week, lots of rest from running but little rest to totally relax and switch off. Who can switch off in their first week at a new company? You have to be switched on and make a good impression right? Anyway the run was made up of a 12 minute easy paced start followed by four rounds of 3 minutes at threshold pace and 90 seconds jog to follow each 3 minute stint. After the four rounds straight into a 15minute marathon paced run and finally into the last section another 12 minute easy pace closure, Running a total of 7.2 miles in the 57 minutes. It was a great feeling to get that first run of the week complete and a huge weight of my shoulders too. Runs stacking up on you can never be good, its frustrating and your added unnecessary pressure to your schedule and I would always try to avoid it as much as possible with the exception of weeks like this. It was nice to go home and have some dinner with a bit more of a routine than being away the previous few days, so good veg in a stir-fry.

 Before I knew it I had lost track of days and it was Thursday, at least I had caught up with the schedule and was set to do Thursdays run in the gym after work too. Most of the interval runs make there way from 50 to 60 odd minutes so I thought having this 70 minute steady paced run on the treadmill wouldn’t be to much of a problem. It wasn’t. It wasn’t exciting though either, I spent 75% of the running duration playing with maths on the treadmill, working out my half, quarter and even eighth way points. It was a bit boring and the distraction just wasn’t there, I think the steady runs are much better outside and I have a 80 minute midweek steady run coming up and soon and ill definitely learn from this and take my run outside. Either way this Thursday night run see me manage 8.97 miles with an average of 7:48 mins/mile, I was happy with this and even though its not as fast as other steady runs I had recently been reading that I shouldn’t be going quite so fast as what I would like to on race day in my training and that I should tone it down a touch, so this should be interesting to build this into the next few weeks of my training. I was now fully caught up with the weeks schedule and the next run was due for Saturday followed by the 13 miles on Sunday. I was always going to change this though as I had a night planned out with the boys on Saturday so I would do my Saturday run on Friday night to allow me to bring my 13 miles forward to Saturday and of course make was for Sundays hangover. Of course it didn’t work out that smooth.

 Friday was an interesting run, five blocks of ten minutes would make a 50 minute run and in the gym I was after work for the third day time this week. I would of rather had a rest day as I knew it was an intense week but it was time to get the run done before schedule to allow for some much needed social life, 10 minutes easy, followed by steady, marathon paced, hard and finally 10 easy again made up the run of believe it or not just under 10k, all the 10’s today. I had no plans for Friday night so I wasn’t too fussed about what time I got to the gym and that was just as well as I gave my Dad a helping hand after finishing work and got to the gym about 7pm. Of course a new job and I was keen to do some overtime so I said yester to a job on Saturday morning and Sunday night. Sunday night would mean double time and Monday off paid so it seemed like a no brainer. So with work Saturday morning slightly over-running I wasn’t able to squeeze in my 13 mile run before heading to The Bridge for the Chelsea game on Saturday afternoon, therefore making Saturday my rest day. Had a great afternoon up at Chelsea and straight out t meet the boys after the game in Raynes Park to head down to Guildford.  Check out the picture below… At least Pat was confident of his snapchat spelling.

  We had a great night, headed to a Caribbean style restaurant called Turtle Bay, the food was decent and the cocktails matching, there was no way it was going to end there, we headed back up to Wimbledon on the train with our Carling supplies to keep us going for the hour train. Of course we continued drinking back in Wimbledon before heading home about half 1. Spearsy, Strug and I booked an Uber and of course we wanted to do a multi drop to get us all home, we barely had a minute in the cab before the moody driver got the hump with us and we didn’t even move. Typical lol.

  Sunday there was no football and thank god, my head knew about coming in at 2am and I was feeling it, even after downing a litre of water and eating a family size bag of mixed crisps. It easily took me until midday to shake off half of the sore head and I decided there was no way I was going to run 13 miles like this. I had to change something. I for the first time swapped the big run of the week of the next days run, I knew I was working Sunday evening and through the night with Monday off so I decided on my 40 minute easy run at the gym on Sunday lunch time and even that was a struggle but it was nice and easy and laughing to myself I had managed to get round it. It actually gave me Monday daytime to complete my 13 miles too so that worked out quite handy. Id gone from being behind with runs to in-front and then by the end of the weekend behind schedule again, quite a week. The 40 minute easy paced run was meant to be a recovery run for after the 13 miles but I would just have to suffer that. I ran at a very slow pace of 9:19 mins/ mile covering 4.29 miles in total and that was definitely enough for me. All that was left to do was to work Sunday night and fingers crossed that would be a nice kind shift to me as the previous nights tequila’s were still making for some tiredness. Definitely making the most of the last few weekends with a social side to them as from the 20th March i will be tea total to fully concentrate to the runs.

I had some great sponsors last week taking my sponsor total to £330 so far and £398.75 including gift aid. A massive thank you to everyone that has donated so far and if you would like to donate please do not hesitate to contact me or click the link below.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/beng16

[16stonealone]

Early starts!

Busy would be an understatement to describe the last week, with a spectrum of events, from a 20mile run to a stag do, a three and half hour drive, to a football match. This week really was a test of scheduling a successful running week down to a tee and that wouldn’t be all, for the Friday would be my last working day at John Gallagher Glass & Glazing Ltd. The previous seven days proved to be an emotional experience and one with not much time to stop to think either.

 The weeks schedule had a daunting look towards the end of the week.

  After there being no football for me the previous Sunday I was straight into my running Monday evening after work. I certainly wasn’t feeling fabulous from the Sunday afternoon beers the day before but it was time to crack on with the first run of the week and I was more than happy to welcome a forty minute easy run to ease me in to the next chapter. It was a bright late afternoon on Monday and I thought the fresh air maybe a good way to get me into the flow for this nice run. I really did plan on taking easy ‘easy’ and running at 7’57 minutes per mile definitely backed up my theory. Hitting just over five miles kept my run local running from home and looping via Chessington back towards home. I felt like the run was a bit to easy but it was great to actually stick to an easy pace for once instead of rushing off and having to dramatically slow down like I find myself doing so often on other runs. This wasn’t such a issue though, as id have to run four days straight to free up time for the weekend so the less intense early on the better.

 We was busy at work this week too with lots of jobs to finish up before I was due to finish up on Friday so this meant for runs after work in the gym for the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. They was all interval runs and Tuesday’s session totalled to 56 minutes beginning with 12 minutes easy, 70 seconds hard followed by 2minutes jog and finishing up with another 12 minutes easy. It was great to get some sprints in and this run definitely mixed it up a bit, gets the heart racing and hopefully great for building up fitness levels. On average, time wise, this was the easiest run of the week running 6.37 miles at an average pace of 8:47/mile. Although with interval running these figures are only averages and do not have much meaning when your going sprints and jogs. The ability to workout your average pace is more handy to see how your doing over longer distances. I was jumping on the treadmill as early as possible when id get to the gym this week to try and finish at the same time as Em and Soph and whilst Em was killing time before meeting Soph she got this pre workout shot of me below.

  Wednesdays run was a bit of a confusion, take a look at the schedule above… Bear in mind that I was doing Thursdays run on Wednesday. Above you can see that it totals to 53 minutes, I spent easily 10 minutes trying to calculate how this added up to only 53. I was assuming that the 2 minute jog recovery would have been after all the threshold paced intervals. Making the run total to 63 minutes? However, following the program and also we the choice of the easier option I went for the 53 minute version and in theory just ran 12 minutes easy, 27 minutes threshold (2+3+4+5+6+7), 2 minutes jog and lastly 12 minutes easy to finish up. Very strange, but I did put in good effort for the 27 minutes and made sure it was a good workout, covering over 10k. I’m still certain writing this that there is some kind of error with this run, let me know what you think. We had some great homemade beef burgers after we got home for gym and it was a great feeling knowing there was only one more run between me and a rest day. The last evening run of the week was Thursday and this was almost like a shorter version of the day before, a 4.91 mile run, it would also be the last run on the treadmill for the week. An average speed of 7.45mph was made up of 10 minutes easy, 20 steady and 10 easy again, very simple. There wasn’t too much pressure on this run and it did leave a great mentality for Friday.

 Friday morning I was taking Paul to the airport so he could fly out to Magaluf and live it up for the weekend, only joking, well to some extent. So I was up early, 4:30 am, after getting back we had a busy day planned at work and my last, Russell would be in working with us and we had an all day job, which did take all day as well. Its always a great way to start the weekend with a non gym day. Mind you with no gym and just a night in alone it gave me plenty of time to think about my role over the last 14 months. Dad and I had shared many good times and we worked hard on a strong variety of different jobs, jobs that tested our skills and occasionally our patience too. Sometimes he would crack first and question how I would stay so calm about scenarios and other times I would think the same about him when id be frustrated with a customers lack of courtesy towards us. I think possibly when one person is angry its easy for the other to be calm and maybe it’s a natural way to try and help the situation. Ha, although id rarely calm down about the BBC radio London’s Robert Elm’s show. Anyway all in all a great experience, and you cant buy that. So whilst dwelling on my past late Friday night the phone rang, and Dad was telling me about a hire car that had been delivered to me, but accidently to his address instead of my own. How this happens im really unsure but either way the he went to go see where the car was parked as he’d only just seen the posted keys. The kind driver who delivered the car had parked it in someone’s personal space in the neighbouring block of flats where Dad lives, subsequently they by this time blocked the hire car in with there own car, whatever, we wasn’t to fussed about it at 10pm so we said id collect it tomorrow and deal with it then. Id already pre planned my Saturday morning run for this week, so I had to make some alterations to accommodate finishing up at dads to collect the car, which made sense. It made even more sense because I was getting up and out extra earlier than normal to get home and out to Baker’s stag round two in Wimbledon starting at midday. To be entirely honest I wasn’t really looking forward to the run, the route didn’t seem to bad but I just had too much to do.

 With my new route planned, I jumped early Saturday morning at 7am and was out the door by 20 past, my eagerness to get this big run done was there. I may have been not looking forward to it but it was always going to happen. I ran for my longest time as yet on this training programme, 2:30:44 at and average pace of 7’32 / mile. This is where the minutes per mile really count and the idea of this 20mile run was to do 16 miles at a steady pace and try to push on and increase pace in the last four miles. My last four miles was running from Richmond Park (Kingston Gate) to my dads which I definitely up-ed my pace but it was difficult to increase it by much due to the tiredness at this stage of the run. Prior to the increase the first 16 miles saw me leave home and  head down London Road into Morden, looping back to Raynes Park, up the A3 and into Richmond Park at Robin Hood Gate, in the park I ran anti-clockwise and almost lapped the park before coming out at Kingston for them last dreaded four. There were plenty of running and cycling events being set up in the park as I was running round, I could see people getting ready for small scale races and it was highly motivational seeing so many people around even though it was still fairly early. I have to admit by the 20th mile and when I finished up I was exhausted, I think I have enough to keep going for the 26.2 but for Saturday that was enough.

  I was content with my run time and it was a good training run. Its harder to actually increase the pace so late on in a run that I had thought. On arriving to the parked rental car I noticed it was still blocked in… great I thought, knowing I had to get going more or less straight away to get back and ready for Baker’s stag. As I unlocked the car I chucked my running bits in and a window opened in the nearby flats. A oriental man yelling at me now, turns out it was his parking space that the rental company had left this car in and that he wasn’t going to move his car blocking me in as punishment. I just didn’t know what to think, I did feel angry but I was more focussed on trying to think of a way t make this all work so that I could get on with my day. I worked out where his flat door was after he slammed the window shut and rang the bell, he answered a minute or so later with a whole ne attitude. Maybe the amount of sweat dripping of me was freaking him out a bit. He agreed that it wasn’t my fault and that it wasn’t me that was inconsiderate but jus the hire company, I agreed and was rapidly on my way before he changed his mind again. Nah, on a serious not he did apologies likewise I did to him know how frustrated I would be had it happened to me. Not that I would go to the extent of imprisoning someone vehicle. I made it to the pub to meet Baker and the boys for 11:45 so not too bad really considering the morning antics. We had a great day and 13 beer filled hours later it was definitely time to head home. Waking up Sunday to play football was a struggle, playing for the first team whilst the reserves haven’t a game until March 20th, although a 4-2 victory saw the first team mathematically keep their place in the second division for another season with games to spare. Just like normal there wasn’t too much time for me to rest in fact none, I had to get back from footy get my bagged packed before heading for some lunch with Em at Nandos before shooting up to Rotherham for 2 nights to get inducted for my new job. The three and a half hour drive was fairly tiring, I had the benefit of listening to the whole of the Capital Cup Final on the radio though, not my favourite way of keeping up to date with the score but it would do. Checked in at the hotel and just one thing left to do, and I want going to think about it too much, sleep!

[16stonealone]

Honest

Well after last week, this week the pavement was definitely not my friend and as the week progressed I really struggled with my runs but still managed to complete them to a high standard. Its pretty amazing looking back so far and thinking am I really six weeks into this programme, the time is flying by and as it stands there is 62 days to go until I take on the 2016 London Marathon. I had a fun week planned away from the runs, not literally away from the runs but away and the running would follow me. Emma and I were heading to the Isle of Wight for a couple of nights with good friends of ours Nat and Pas as well their little ones and our godchildren Lily and Gabriella. We was travelling on the Thursday evening so we had four days at work this week and in my eyes four days to get four runs complete to leave me with rest days on Friday and Sunday to maximise my holiday time whilst away. Although this would still mean a 17mile run on the Saturday while we were away.

  I started the week with a nice 40 minute easy paced run on Monday, it was nice weather out, nice and bright a bit fresh but that was perfect for this short run. I decided to run outside and totalled to 5.11miles hitting 7’49mins/mile. The great thing about the shorter runs is it keeps you local and knowing you’re never too far from home helps to keep the mind at ease. Burning just under 700 calories it was a kind start to the week, very kind if I had known at the time how tough the later would be. In fact Monday night I even joined Em and Soph in the gym to get some resistance weights in too, double session on a Monday… What a start. Tuesday I hit the gym for my workout, I had an interval run to do. The un would total to 60minutes, including a 12 minute easy paced start, 4minutes at a high tempo with a 2minute jog to follow x6 and finishing with 12 easy paced minutes at the end. I covered exactly 7 miles during the session at an average speed of 7.08mph. Again quite a steady run, not too much of a push and although it was for an hour it seemed to fly by and not cause any concern. Ha, the only concern it did cause was getting back home for the football that was starting at 7:45pm. It was fine, to put all your minds at rest I was home and safely in front of the TV by 7:30.

 In the back of my mind I knew of a 65minute run planned for Wednesday. This run was a bit more demanding not because of the extra five minutes longer than the day before, but as it would be s steady run so I’d need to keep my pace throughout. I got home from work about 4pm on Wednesday and thought it would be a great opportunity to get a run outside done before it gets dark. The lighter evenings are well on their way, great news! Covering 8.73 miles I started of bright, hitting a fast pace and I wanted to slow that down to a steady, ever mile id listen out for my progress on the Nike running app and slow myself down to suit. I headed through Chessington and down towards Surbiton, passing my Dads home where I could see him in the kitchen, he couldn’t see me, and I know he didn’t see me when I asked him the next day but at the time just seeing him sent a dose of love through my body and drove me on the continue the run to a good level. Years ago when I used to live with Dad I’d run a certain 4mile route often and I wanted to incorporate that into this run. So as I headed back up towards Hook roundabout from the Thames Ditton side of Surbiton I then followed the A3 down to Tolworth and then over towards Ewell to finish up at home. A good steady run. I’d hit an overall average pace of 7’27mins/mile, this was great and a couple of seconds faster than id want to be too.

 Come Thursday I was feeling like I was ready for my rest day but knowing that after this interval run I had planned I had 2 rest days coming up and the break away it was fairly easy to talk myself round as I had planned. I’m glad I felt this way because the run was far harder than I had expected. On paper, I would of said it was the easiest run of the week, obviously don’t run on paper and this proved to me that the easiest runs once again can be the toughest. But then again, why did I think this run would be so easy? It was a hill run and even though id come across plenty of hills in the past this was the first that I was demanded to use hills as part of the training. I decided to run in the gym for this on the treadmill as it was built up of intervals. So the standard procedure of 12 minutes easy paced at beginning and end with 45 seconds up hill and a jog down hill x10. I gathered that if I was doing 45 seconds up hill id just allow for the same to go down for recovery and that way I could set out my run on the treadmill pretty well. I think looking back I was pushing myself too hard for the up hill runs, I’d completed the twelve minutes easy and was about 2 or 3 up hill runs in when I started feeling very light headed and dizzy, I was reaching the jog downhill part where id jump off the treadmill and receive a 45 second break. I jumped back on for number 4, struggling again and not feeling any better I slowed the speed down. (Mum just texted me, just read it, typing back and holding phone, managed to sneeze on laptop – Great) So anyway, much worse than the sneeze, I felt awful still, getting increasingly over heated and feeling more and more faint I decided to interrupt the run and get of the treadmill. No one knows how your feeling at the time, I just strolled over to the water fountain and sat down on the bench next to it, I gave myself plenty of time to calm down and also lots of water to re-stabilise myself. I felt a bit more like myself after a good few minutes so I decided to continue with my training run and get back on the reset treadmill to finish where I left off. I took the next 6 hill runs very easy and didn’t push myself too hard, I was over the moon to finish up and even though I had no reason to feel embarrassed or disappointed there was definitely a sense of that within me. I showered and made sure I drank plenty of water the rest of the day, that much that I was weeing all the way down to Portsmouth to get the ferry in the evening. Still I’d rather that than the pre-pass-out feeling any day. So with the ugly run behind me and headed away to meet the gang, spending fantastic times in zoo’s and eating copious amounts of chocolate for the duration of Friday mate for a great rest day.

  As Friday drew to a close I wasn’t looking forward to running Saturday morning. I wanted to get up as early as possible just to not lose too much quality time in the day with everyone so I headed out about 9am. I had mapped out a few runs for these 17 miles during the week at home, but I found it very hard not knowing the area, the roads even the weather. This was my first time to the IoW and I just didn’t know what to expect, I just knew I could run and I had to get through seventeen miles somehow. As i prepped I contemplated all different ideas, I thought even about putting off the run until the Sunday evening when I would be back home, or cutting it in half and doing half another day, but deep down I knew the best thing to do would be just to get out and crack on with it. In the training schedule its suggests trying your hydration and fuelling techniques with this run so I decided to grab a bottle of Lucozade sport for my run and that was some thing new, too many times id head out with out water on my runs and just drink when I return but I need to get in the habit of taking water too. So id planned that I’d run north from where we was staying which was about a mile from the coast at Ryde and run along the coast as far as I could go just to bag the miles and then have to run back and forth along the coast as many times as I need to, to get to 16miles and head back for the 17th mile. The day before driving around the island made me realise the lack of pavements and the intensity of the hills which helped me decided that the coastal run would be the best option. The run was going well on the early stages the weather was a bit cold but with a hat and gloves, jumper and a jacket maybe I was a bit over dressed. My hat was soaked through after 30 minutes so I whipped it off and put it in my pocket wishing id not bothered with it, even though it was so light it felt increasingly heavy, I cant wait for the warmer weather. I eventually ran out of coast as I reached the north east coast in and area called Nettlestone, as I turned back on dead ends I was forced up hills to try and fight my way further towards the east coast. Giving up on hills I decided id turn back and start collecting more miles by running back to where id started, this was really difficult as I now had the coastal wind against me and I felt tired and un energetic early on. I cracked open my drink, managing to break the lid and being left with an open bottle whilst running is not ideal, I kept it stead though and didn’t lose much. Talking of steady, the run was named ‘17miles steady paced’ so it was really important that I would keep my pace steady throughout. I was aiming for hitting 7’30 mins/mile on this run but the further I go into it, the more it was seeming very dreamy. I really struggled, I was feeling very uncomfortable and my clothes were soaked from sweat and the light sea rain as I re-reached Ryde pier I ran up and down it, suicidal, not literally but the wind obviously was increased out in the openness of the pier and as I reached land again I then had to decided where to run on from now, id just reached 10.5miles by this point. I knew I had 6.5 miles to go and I knew this would be a huge ask, I decide to run uphill and find a main A-road to run on, hoping for some pavement, as I made my way up the hill I was exhausted, I was putting myself through a really tough session and decided I was going to walk up the hill drink some drink and have a breather. I knew this wasn’t going to be something I was happy about doing and I would want this on race day in April, but the circumstances would be difference I wouldn’t be doing such an awful route and such intense hill climbs over long durations. After a few minutes I started up again, at first feeling a bit dead legged, tightness in my calves I had to power through. I gained a couple more miles on a fairly even road heading towards Fishbourne but that didn’t last long, as I turned a corner there was another surprise, another massive hill, I did a small loop of a housing estate when I reached the base of the hill and headed back down hill towards the pier for the third time. I ran past the pier and had run out of drink, I had three miles to go, I was thirsty, I was still considering finishing the run but didn’t want to really. I saw a water fountain and still grasping my bottle I was over the moon, I quickly pressed pause on the run and hit the fountain to fill up, nothing. I questioned my luck and I took the moment whilst standing still to quickly call Em and ask her to meet me in 20 minutes down by the pier, she asked me where the pier was? I’d been to the pier enough times for a life-time so explaining it to her wasn’t too hard. I explained about the water and asked her to kindly bring another drink too. Having just about 3miles to go I said goodbye and headed back towards the north east once again, I knew if I ran this way for another mile and a half and id simply turn and head back for the same distance to finish this hell of a run. These three miles surprisingly were the most pain free, maybe because I knew id be finished in 20 minutes or so, maybe because another drink was on it was and a lift and a familiar face, someone to talk to. The more excited I was about getting back had an impact on my pace and it increased for the last couple of miles albeit against the wind. I finished up with a pace of 7’36 minutes per mile, something I was very proud of after such a harsh task, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders and I sat on a wall whilst waiting for Em to arrive, I was only there seconds waiting, brilliant timing but in the short space I looked out to sea and an honest loving thought to a friend of mine. I felt emotional, but secretly, until now. It took me 2:09:13 to complete the 17 miles and I would love to say that I will never wish to run on the Isle again. Burning 2315 calories I was happy to enjoy the rest of our stay with a well deserved large fish and chips with everyone as well as a great trip to monkey haven too. The afternoon was a lot more fun than the morning lets put it that way. I put the majority of the poor run down to lack of knowledge about where I was running but I guess looking back its not the end of the world and that’s what the training is all about.

 We was heading back home late Saturday evening, so we had good time to relax after dinner in the evening and we did just that, watching the football of course. J Sunday was my last rest day of the week and even though I had football planned when it got called of due to the worst excuse ever ‘technical problems with the changing room’ at 9:30 in the morning I decided to head to The bridge for the Chelsea game, this time unusually without a ticket but Lee G sorted a ticket out for me and we had a good few beers of course. Missed 4 out of 6 goals and a couple more beers after the game rounded off a great week, maybe not a great running week, but certainly a different one!

I’d just like to mention, thank you so much for donations so far! Its kindly appreciated!

[16stonealone]

The pavement is my friend.

So after the last blog post id had an intense week, albeit socially as well as running, I was keen to make this week a lot more comfortable for myself, making sure I gave myself plenty of time to prepare and recover for my runs. In doing this I decided to try something I hadn’t before, id swap my easiest run of the week for the football match played the previous day, I mean to be honest running around for 90 minutes most likely easily accumulated to the level of the easiest run, possibly twice over? So rather than over working myself as I had done in previous weeks, it was now going to be about me a bit more, more rest and hopefully the benefits of the deserved rests would make way for positive performances with the longer runs. I had a great day last Sunday, as you probably discovered from the close to my last post, I felt relieved to have this rest day straight away and also a huge sense of guilt, where prior to this id always squeeze in the run and push myself to six workouts a week. To be honest I was still aching from the weekend’s windy activities and after finishing work a chill was on the cards, a rare early dinner and some awful TV seemed filled the evening.

 The previous days rest made a good impact on me by Tuesday, better than I had expected and when I hit the gym that evening I was full of energy and I could feel how the rest had benefited me, mentally more than physically though, and I think the purchase of some new headphones definitely had an impact too. The run itself wasn’t to hard on paper, which made me more determined to get on with my first run of the week too. The session would last 44minutes and was the first of three interval runs scheduled for this week. Starting of with 12minutes easy paced followed by 12 sets of 60 seconds hard with 90second jog, finishing of with another 12 minute easy to finish off. The hard quick runs with short recovery times were very similar to the HIIT workouts I have been doing for the best part of 2015. HIIT = High Intensity Interval Training, a great way to burn body fat by raising and dropping your heart rate. Pleased with my first effort this week I covered a distance of 5.06 miles and headed home.

 With all the positives from Tuesday, Wednesday just wasn’t to be as simple and a 57minute run stared at me. There’s a great sense of pressure throughout this training, knowing you have a task to complete each day and wanting to get it completed and out the way becomes a very common mind-set. Sometime you have an easy day at work, may finish early, you can go and get your run done but the days which drag out and leave you wishing you had organised your day better can be frustrating. Generally I go into every weekday planning to run after work, trying to avoid working Saturdays when it can be helped to make morning runs at the weekend. There’s no reason really I cant go later on a Saturday but the moment work falls in too it just adds the pressure to get more done, of course in less time. However Tuesday evening I was on the treadmill again, avoiding the dis-comforts of the poor weather, these 12minute easy starts seem to be a clear pattern in the interval runs and it was no different again today starting easy, following up with an 8minute tempo run and a 3minute jog, three sets of this with an easy 12 finish. Running over 10k, I actually ended up enjoying this, with an average pace of 8:27mins/mile for the duration of the whole run.

 Thursday was a pretty simple run, I had 50 minutes lined up with a 30 minute steady run with 10 minutes easy either side, this was to be my last gym run of the week, meaning I had a rest day to follow on the Friday and a reasonably quiet weekend ahead – just what I needed and wanted to create. Killed it, great training run and a real sweat from this one, it seemed like the heating was on in the gym, and of course once my head thought that I automatically felt like an oven. It’s amazing how these kind of things work. After finishing it was great, I knew I just had one more run for the week and a nice chilled Friday night to follow just a bit of planning to do for the 15 miles on the Saturday. We was fairly late home from work but that was planned and didn’t matter as it was now the weekend, I had a mad night… one Peroni! Ems was out Friday night with her friends drinking Surbiton dry, so I was just chilling with a Pizza and Pat… (Sorry to interrupt: have to share this, I’m sitting here writing this, Ems just got up to make her lunch for work tomorrow and the asparagus she’d cooked about an hour ago has been eaten but the cats – Brilliant!) Yeah so, just chilling with Pat, he’s telling me about his interesting plans for Saturday night and why he cant have a slice of pizza as he doesn’t eat after 4pm, who needs to go out? I’ve got all the entertainment I need listening to his going-ons. I was in bed early loving life, drifted off watching some more awful TV before I was awoke by my phone at half 1, you can guess the rest, lets just say it had something to do with Uber, or maybe the lack of an Uber. :P

 Despite my part-time taxi role I had a pretty good night sleep and woke up Saturday feeling fresh and again after a rest day very well rested. I was happy with the run I had mapped out and decided to have some light breakfast and head off an hour after at 10am. It was all good until about 9:30, it just started raining and it just didn’t look that bad from inside until stepping out and it was a light but bitter rain, that seemed to give a chill with every drop. Purposely I stretched inside tried to dress accordingly as best as possible to suit the weather. The gloves being key! The hands do absolutely nothing for the whole run so before you know it they get freezing if you decide to leave them naked. The gloves on the other hand, they tend to make a good emergency tissue when needed too, double win.  On setting out, rain aside, I was really up for this run and staying in the night before had definitely benefitted me, and I was glad of this decision. It boosted how I felt about running and even as my body started to warm up I felt the rain as a cool refreshment. I headed from home towards Chessington, Surbiton, reaching Portsmouth Road to run along the river. The rain seemed to also had some positives, especially that the streets heading along the river and into Kingston were so quiet and only the nutty people would be out in it. Reaching Kingston I ran under Kingston bridge and on towards Ham before heading back in towards New Malden. It was between Ham and New Malden that my energy and exciting thoughts about future events had started to wear, I was soon up and down a couple of hills and they was starting to make me labour while still holding a very steady pace. I was reaching maybe not ‘a wall’ but some boredom, I tried to use my earlier thoughts from the beginning of the run again, making myself smile momentarily but I wasn’t in the zone to listen to myself anymore. My pace started to increase and over the last 5/6 miles as I headed to Worcester Park and Stoneleigh I made up quite some time, totally unintentionally, I just lost control of my pace, but at least it was for a better time not the opposite. On the way to Stoneleigh Broadway was a massive up-hill, more so than I had remembered planning the run and for these being the last few miles I was really feeling the torture of the long duration of the steady hill. The descent seemed no existent when I reached the top but I knew I didn’t have long to go. Approaching one curb after running across the road I jumped to the paving level and my right foot landed first and slid from under my feet, my heart sunk and I felt like I was almost horizontal when my balance kept me from falling and my left foot then kept me stable, I carried on running and my heart rate had accelerated dramatically, I was only interested in making it safely home now, but as I progressed so did my pace. I finished the 15 miles very close to home like planned averaging 7:12 mins/mile taking my total run time too 1:47:58, much better than I had set out to achieve, in fact I was happy to roll in a steady 1:55:00. Knowing that I’d got a good time was fantastic but I knew id strayed away from my plan again and there was a part of me that new the plan says ‘easy’ for a reason. All in all the a great run and I should stop worrying too much about it.

 It was now time to take the pressure off for the weekend, watching plenty of football and enjoying drinks and good food with great friends! Sunday football had by now been called off due to the rain and this left for sights of an incredibly chilled Sunday, just a car to collect from the night before. :)

We did move though, about 5:30pm to collect a well deserved Valentines Chinese, if you love Chinese, you have to try The Good Earth, it’s the one!

[16stonealone]

Busy. Weak.

After my first full month of training complete, week four was an increasingly difficult week to adapt to as the week progressed. The runs were more demanding both time and effort wise. Carrying a minor injury from Sundays football forced me to have an advanced rest day on the Monday and therefore see out the rest of the week playing catch up and not reaching another rest day until Sunday. As well as having a busy running schedule I also had plenty of things to do without my running gear on. I love being as organised as possible as you probably well know by now, so forcing myself into rest Monday left me frustrated before I had even started any running this week.

 We had a tough game last Sunday, after going 2-0 down in the first half, eventually coming back to rescue all three points made for an exhausting and energy consuming battle. As much as it caused some minor physical pain following the game, it actually had a great input mentally when I did go on to running later in the week.  After this game last Sunday we only had three more games to see out the season, sitting top of the league, I’m determined to play the last few games as this means the season should finish about two months prior to race day, all being well with another league title too.

 After a restful Monday, Tuesday I was then ready for ‘Monday’s’ planned run, 40 minutes easy, so I headed to the gym after work and set out on the treadmill. Covering 4.92 miles at an average speed of 7.45mph. This was to be the weeks easiest run and feeling well rested and full of beans I actually returned to the gym later again that evening to do some resistance weights with Soph. Maybe I was a little too energetic but having a rest on a Monday just left me with a bit of guilt.

 By Wednesday the serious business started and I hit the gym again, this time to complete a 54 minute run, an interval session comprising of 12 minutes easy paced, 4 minutes at threshold and 2 minutes jog x5, following up with another 12 minute easy pace to finish up. Mixing the run with intervals is brilliant for concentration but it was still difficult at times. Very much being 20 minutes in and already wishing I’d gone for a piddle before running after consuming 2 litres of water prior to the run. In total covering 6.29 miles and a combined average speed of 7.02mph. Two runs in now and I’m feeling slightly less energetic than I was the previous night. Although, with a 60 minute steady paced run the next day there wasn’t much point looking for easy escapes, these were big midweek runs coming up.

 The 60 minute steady was the longest ‘steady’ run to date on this training program, so it was going to be an exciting change of running style, moving away from the morn frequent easy paced runs. This also gave me a chance to see how much I can control my pace over the hour. I mapped this run out and set a pace in my mind of 7:30’ minutes / mile. During the run trying hard to stay at this pace proved difficult, just to control the pace, I found myself going to fast and determined to be in control, slowing down dramatically towards the later part of the race to see out the last few miles. Still finishing the run at an average pace of 7:19’ mins/mile, covering 8.2 miles in the 60 minutes.

 Come Friday I had dead legs and the steady paced run from the day before had taken its toll. I had to get through two more runs to see out the weeks schedule and Fridays was by going to be the easier of the two. Still demanding I chose to run in the gym with a tough 3 mile tempo run, with 12 minutes easy paced before and after, taking the total to 45mins 40seconds. The worst thing about this run wasn’t the dead legs the shook off after a few miles but the lack of headphones, keeping busy watching muted TV news channels was hardly distracting, never mind entertaining.

 As I approached the weekend this is where the real busy part of the week began. Friday night was a few chilled drinks with Strug and Steph, a Nandos, and yep, a few more drinks to finish up the night before heading home. Knowing I had work and a major 12miles to run on Saturday, so I didn’t push the boat out too much. After finishing work Saturday I had a great intentions of starting my run at midday and was pleased when I managed to start this run bang on time for a change. Mapping it on the Friday I knew it would be approximately 93 minutes if I stuck to the exact pace required for this 12mile easy paced run. I wanted to hit 7:45’ mins/mile. Heading up the A3 northbound from home all the way to Robin Hood Gate, I was flying through the first couple of miles, to fast at some points, but I soon corrected this and was hitting my target pace and keeping control of it. The weather was horrible, at least it wasn’t raining but the wind WOW! As I turned into Robin Hood Gate I headed left back towards Kingston and now with the wind blowing at me and a serious hill approaching, by this point I was half way through my run and forcing myself through what felt like runners hell. I’d honestly say it was the toughest hill and wind combo that I had ever run against and getting to the top of the hill was a huge relief. It took me a good few minutes after reaching the top to get my breathing back to normal and back on track. Over the next couple of miles I travelled round the park towards Ham and out of Richmond Park at Ham Gate, my pace was still resting firmly where I wanted it, knowing I was only a few more flat miles to my finish. Naturally my paced then increased, I lost control a bit and I was itching to finish and it could come quick enough, I did feel exhausted and I was even questioning my ability to complete a full marathon in the conditions. I think a huge amount of the was to do with being out the night before as well as the weather, drink the night before, work and general tiredness. Sometimes you cant help but have a busy week, but I wont be making it hard for myself like this to often, I need to promise myself that. Anyway more positively to my joy on completing the run I made it in a better time than I had planned, 12 miles in 1 hour 30 minutes and 54 seconds, burning 1635 calories with an average pace of 7:34’ min/mile. I finished the run about a quarter of a mile from the gym and slowly wobbled towards the gym allowing the wind to do what ever it pleased now to my walking pace. Emma was at the gym doing a HIIT session and kindly brought my gym bag, so I immediately headed for a well-earned steam and jaccuzi, whilst Em continued her workout. The post run effects soon caught up with me, sitting in the steam room feeling tired and weak, no was the time for a cold shower and getting my ass home. The sofa mad a lazy heaven for a couple of hours late afternoon, not for too long though, we was off out to meet Soph and Adam at half 7. We headed out to Honest Burger in Clapham and of course a few drinks, this time very well deserved. Em and Soph had planned to treat us to the food whilst Adam and I kept the drinks flowing as part of the deal. A great end to the running schedule for this week and returning home at 1am I would of loved to have a chilled Sunday, but with a rude alarm ringing out at 8am for football I was up downing plenty of water. So yesterday, our third last game, and we managed to battle through the wind again this time on the football pitch, we managed a 1-0 win, with the crazy conditions causing us problems. The boys all put up a great fight and we are now two wins away from securing the league title.

 The busy week wasn’t going to stop here, rushing home to get ready to get to The Bridge, obviously allowing for plenty of time for the last few beers and jagers for the weekend, with the old man, Lee G and the gang. Maybe a couple to many… ;)

[16stonealone]

Drastic measures!

Week three was certain to bring five comfortable and easy paced runs for this training week, these were all about focussing on decreasing the intensity of the runs to allow he body to adjust to the training, which is fantastic, but unfortunately only lasts a week. 

I briefly touched on Sundays activities on last weeks post and after successfully completing week two of training I was playing a cup match for my Sunday league football team last week. Heavy legs on a early Sunday morning after a weeks running schedule are always a pleasure and we couldn’t of asked more a more high endurance game when the result was 1-1 after normal time, which then extended the game by 30minutes into extra time. Unfortunately, we failed to progress into the semi-finals after going on to lose in extra time to a well orginised side. Nevertheless that was still 120 minutes of football, which come Sunday afternoon had knocked my legs for six. In my favour there was plenty of football for me to watch on the TV that afternoon, so it made for a lengthy chill. An enjoyable one too where my Chelsea side managed to get an important three points with a win away… A bit more than we could manage ourselfs earlier that day.

 Monday morning had fast approached and we had planned to go to the gym in the morning due to a meeting we had to attend that evening. Not allowing any real recovery time from Sunday’s cup game I was much obliged to an ‘easier’ week. It was a pleasure to read through the week’s runs (below) knowing that none of the five runs would cause much disruption to the week ahead. Hitting the gym it was a thirty-minute easy paced run, so on the treadmill I managed an easy 3.21 miles running at an average speed of 6.5mph was an incredibly easy start to the week. In the gym the treadmills and all the other cardio machines for this matter are set in kilometres instead of miles, I much prefer working with miles and I have to say this really throws me out when I’m setting my paces, I guess the more I do it the more accurate I will get, but as you will see with my outdoor runs later In the week, I’m hitting more towards the times I would like to be achieving. My outdoor runs are measured in miles. However feeling fresh and the Monday run behind me it wasn’t the end of the world and maybe in hindsight I deserved this easy start.

It seemed like such a mild week, minus the wind, so I thought id take advantage of this and Tuesday headed out after work for some outdoor air. I wouldn’t say angry but maybe feeling a bit like I hadn’t given as much effort as I would of liked to on the previous day also made me keen to run outside and make for some precision with my time/distance. Arguably the second hardest run of the week and sounding easy, it was a forty-minute easy paced run, just the additional ten minutes on the previous day. Setting out from home staying local within Tolworth and Chessington it was exactly what it said on the tin. The confidence from the run was instant and automatically intrigued me to run outside as much as possible the rest of the week.

 Wednesday and Friday were both set for me to complete 30 minutes easy paced runs again and Wednesday morning before a later start at work I was out and got the run out the way again running outside and hitting almost the same average minute per mile as the previous day. 7:44’ minutes-per-mile on the Wednesday and 7:41’ on the Tuesday, much better and much more accurate. Thursday saw my first full rest day since the previous Wednesday due to the football, this was very much welcomed. For my final 30minute easy paced run on Friday afternoon, despite the success of the outdoor running, knowing id be running outside on Saturday I opted for a gym treadmill run and I increased my average speed up to 11kph, which still wasn’t what I was doing outside on the previous two runs but now I know to up it even more until I’m getting it right, slowly but surely with this. Staying in Friday, I made an effort after gym to go shopping get plenty of food for an exciting breakfast for Saturday morning. Only one problem, I knew I had to run before I even set eyes on cooking the breakfast.

 It wasn’t too bad though, Friday I was tired but the sofa couldn’t of been more accommodating and with Em’s out even more so. I watched so much rubbish on TV and dipped handfuls of kettle crisps in various houmous flavours, seemed like the food I was eating was matching the TV. Feeling zero guilt about more poor diet choices, for reasons I will come back to. Alarm off, I wasn’t in a rush to get up and out the door at the crack of dawn so I was over the moon with managing to sleep until 8:30/9. That’s a serious lay in for me. Anyway after an hour or so of… yeah, I couldn’t even tell you what, I guess just getting my running things together and staring at the fridge full of food that I wasn’t going to be consuming for a couple of hours, I got myself ready to leave for my 8 mile easy paced run at about 10am. Mapping my run… that’s what I was doing in that hour too, of course. Yeah, if your out there exercising, this planning website is by far the best one I’ve every used and I would recommend it to anyone, be it walking, cycling running…

 http://gb.mapometer.com

  So heading out I ran towards Epsom on the by-pass, heading in towards North Cheam, down Worcester Park high street all the way to the A3 and down the slip road back to Tolworth and home. Nice and steady, in-fact too steady, which makes up for the ultra easy runs this week. I was running at an average pace of 7:33’ / mile and it was definitely a pleasant run, maybe the last two miles or so a little less so pleasant as it was raining and the cold wind was blowing right in my face by now, but id take that on the last couple of miles knowing that I was a shower and the purchase of a loaf of bread away from finishing the week on a high. I actually tried to slow down a bit on the last mile, I knew I was going a bit to fast but I knew I just didn’t want to be outside much longer with dark skies looming. By the time I had a shower though it was nice and bright, typical. A great finish to the week and a nice Saturday to relax, making the most of it before a couple of pints Strug and Sam later that evening. To make it clear last time I was training I was alcohol free for over three months and this time I am just as dedicated to my training physically but I am being a bit more flexible with drink until about a month before the marathon. I guess I’m the only person that will be effected by this and I rarely have a drink in the week anyway so its just a case of being sensible in the next month and half before training runs at the weekend. 

Em of course was happy when I carried this engagement present home from Sam. Cheers mate.

 So going back to the crisp situation… I didn’t make much effort of keeping an eye on my body weight throughout my last marathon training experience and by the time I reached the race day, I was feeling fine but looking back on pictures I was a gaunt looking Ben. I realise with this amount of training and without a dedicated nutrition programme that I will be bound for the same look again come April. Except this time I’ve decided to keep an eye on my body weight every two weeks. I first weighed myself on the second day of training and I was, as roughly expected, 13st 1’ (83kgs) fourteen days after that with 10 training runs and one game of football I was 11st 7’ (74.7kgs). Losing 8.3kg, well over a stone was a shock in such a short amount of time. I’m intrigued to keep an eye out on how my weight changes over the fourth-coming weeks. Also something to really consider if you are able to exercise, how much you can change in such a short space of time with a small commitment like two weeks.

 The week as a whole was a success and next week see’s me increase the intensity after this adaption week as we run closer to the big day!

 A huge thank-you to all my sponsors so far! If you are interested in sponsoring me please follow the link below… 

  http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/beng16 

:)

[16stonealone]

High hopes early on!

Id like to start this week just to enhance my thank you to Dennis Larkin, without the help of him as I mentioned last week I’d not be writing this.

Its easy to get carried away, this was a huge problem I was incurring in 2014, and even with the experience this time around, I will still fall for the same mindset. However, the mindset may be similar but the times in which I’m getting carried away in are unique. Hitting faster minutes per miles this early on in training isn’t setting in stone what I’m trying to achieve, but defiantly is a wind in the sail to a fantastic target. I’m feeling confident and capable.

It’s funny how when you start something you haven’t done consistently for a year or two how fast you can get into it again. I was expecting to have a good few weeks before I felt entirely comfortable with running over longer distances again, and its not just the legs that you need to win over. ‘Mind over matter’ is a very commonly used phrase, and it’s a must in my running training. Feeling physically fit is great, you know how far you can push your body, but when your head isn’t on the same page you can end up in a tough place. For me, distraction is key! Only today, I had a customer ask me how do I deal with the boredom of running long distance? Answering slightly embarrassed over their opinion of something I take pride in doing labeled ‘boring’ I begin to explain about how having the right mentality becomes so important. Personally, I find the beginning of any duration run the hardest, obviously the end of a marathon and longer distanced runs are physically exhausting for the body, but from my experience the mind at this stage is won over by the thought of home, crowds cheering or seeing loved ones. So if your out there giving running a go and you feel like quitting, let your mind switch off, you can get into and you can push yourself further than you can imagine. 20 minutes I’d say for me, after that I’m free in the mind to think through stresses or relive happy times, all the makings of a multi-emotional runner.

So you’ve probably figured that I have had a good steady week running from how I’ve opened up on this week’s blog. Correct. No need to hide the downside though, god I feel exhausted adjusting into these runs. Today is Monday and I was so tired last night I couldn’t even bring myself to write my second blog post! Thankfully my running isn’t as shocking. J From a training perspective I’m breaking down my weeks, trying to only look at the training week I am currently working on and not any further. Its quite daunting looking so far ahead so deciding not to was a good move. Ha, saying that even looking at the week in front of you is daunting enough but hey, planning needs to be done so this is a must.

Everyone hates a Monday, unless your sacking off work for the week to go on your 5* dream holiday. On a Monday, so far, I’m finding that the first run of the week is easy, so it should be after the weekend heavy milers, but once you’ve somewhat forgotten about them then it makes for a nice gentle start to the week. Doesn’t touch that holiday idea though. I was feeling a bit mad when I agreed with Em to go to the gym for 6:30 this morning, but to my surprise she was ready to go before me, which made for an interesting change to routine. I’ll leave that there though, as last Monday I had gone in the afternoon for a nice 35minute easy run. I thought it would be tough after the first long duration run on the Sunday but it was quite pleasant and much less demanding than the previous day. Covering 6.3km on the easy paced run I was still on my toes at 10.9kmh, gently throwing my legs and arms to see out the remainder of time of the clock. Id finished my run in time to even have a mess around with some resistance machines before heading off for a well needed re-fuel. Re-fuelling wasn’t something that existed for me when I was last running long distances, not really out of choice but lack of education about how important the right nutrients are for your body pre and post work out. Just to be clear, I’m not fuelling myself 100% correctly but I’m defiantly a lot more wiser that I need to at least eat something substantial to allow my body to benefit during running.

After finishing work on Tuesday I was a bit laid back and had only taken a glimpse of my training day, it was an interval run and I don’t think I quite read it properly until walking into the gym. It totalled to 54minutes and all of a sudden I had the best part of a hour run on my hands. Honestly, I felt tired just thinking about but there was only one way that was going to go away and that would be getting on with it. A twelve minute easy paced run would get me going followed by three minutes at threshold and a two minute jog, that sounds ok, but repeat the threshold and the jog x6, followed by another twelve minute easy jog to finish off. The last twelve minutes was a pleasure, be it a slow one. I knew by then that I need my rest day the following day having had three running days on the bounce.

Of course Wednesday flew by and Thursday I was ultra keen to get in the gym early doors, knowing I was going out later that night I hit the gym and its central heating for comfort for my next run. Similar to Tuesday this was a difficult run, yet I was more prepared this time. This 6 mile interval run was made up of 6 separate miles with 6 separate missions, a mile easy, mile steady and a mile high tempo repeating the steady and tempo followed by the finale of a mile easy. The last tempo mile was tough and demanding, I remember pushing myself knowing, like Tuesday, there was a fair few minutes of light running to follow. I did feel fresh and the rest day had defiantly been beneficial to me. The beauty of training in the morning is that it leaves you with an artificial rest evening which is a physiological advantage if your training the following evening, which I did.

Before Saturdays 10miler (above)

There was a reason for the evening session Friday, Thursday I had been out to a free bar and being January, who is going to turn down a free bar? More to the point I had to take this offer up as Friday and Saturday were going to be spent at home so it was the pleasure of an early weekend and a chance to have a drink with Em & her work mates. Great night, and we hit up at tasty fresh pizza place called Pizza Union in Kings Cross before heading home, worth a visit! So Fridays run was a 40minute interval comprising of 10mins easy, 10mins steady, 10mins hard and 10mins easy again to finish up. Tough one, and collectively a tough interval week, cleverly using minutes and miles to really push you to your limit. Although being tough, after completions it feels you with a great sense of achievement and confidence. So much so that Saturday morning I was keen to get up and after a small amount of work, head out for my big run of the week. This week was ten miles, two extra from last weeks eight so you have in your mind that in the space of 7 days your being pushed 2 miles further already. There really is no time to sit back or skip one of these runs when they are coming at you like this. I had an odd plan to try something I hadn’t before, just to mix things up a bit, save time in my weekend and get a Jacuzzi in after the long run. Deciding to run to the gym was a great idea, or shall I run home I thought? Nah, ill run there, Jacuzzi won. So I set out and according to the training it was an easy paced run, I made a real effort to not go OTT and actually pace myself at a comfortable speed, don’t think it was an easy speed but that wouldn’t be me. It was a pleasant morning and I ran through parks near mine and up towards Chessington, through Hook, Surbiton and on towards North Kingston.

 Arriving at the gym with 2.5miles to go (above)

\It was enjoyable being out, so much in fact that I managed to hold at least a five minute conversation with my mum when she rang me within the first 10 minutes of me setting out. I got to the gym with approximately 2.5 miles still to run on the treadmill, this was my odd way of mixing my run up and I wont be doing that again in a hurry, obviously stopping and pausing my run to enter the gym, to the locker and by the time id reached the treadmill my legs felt seized but having a quick stretch helped and I carried on at the same pace id been rolling through the last 7.5 miles, except it wasn’t as fun, the stopping had killed it really and the next 20 minutes was doable but boring. Glad to finish up I got my well deserved Jacuzzi though and the poor run structure I had tailored was long forgotten and the smiles of another week completed had taken over. Although I didn’t quite anticipate what Sunday, my rest day had planned for me…

[16stonealone]

Never say never...

“Never”, wasn’t my exact answer when id be asked if I was going to sign up for another marathon time and time again, but I was hardly enthusiastic, I’d avoid the question and I never answered yes. Between April 2014 and April 2015 I had no intentions of changing my mind either, however I was extremely excited to go and watch two or three friends running the 2015 London Marathon. We set out early and got to see Mark Conlan & Ben Roberts on a couple of occasions throughout the race. Seeing the effort they and all the other runners were putting in was so inspirational I had an automatic want for that feeling again, and to this event, the most popular marathon event in the world.

Making a real effort to keep an eye on the entry date for the 2016 London Marathon I was keen to apply for my place. Id thought with all the let downs before I was due a bit of ballot luck this time and I gave myself so confidence about automatic entry through the ballot. I was away in Berlin on a friends stag do when I got the email I was anticipating… Sorry you have not been successful… Blah blah blah… I suppose, being on a stag do was probably the best place to get rejected from something you had your heart set on? I didn’t dwell on it just passed the bad news home and had a fantastic weekend.

A couple of months on, with no real understanding of the charity space system and lack of motivation after the disappointing ballot result I was asked by one of my fathers friends how my running was going and was I involved in any upcoming marathons. I told him my bad news but with more of a relaxed feeling about it all by now, to my surprise he told me how he had a friend that worked for the charity Scope and how he would ask anyway just too see if there was anything they could do. I keenly agreed and we exchanged email address. Not expecting any comeback I was amazed when I got asked if id be interested in participating in the 2016 London Marathon on behalf of Scope, I was very pleased, except I wasn’t sure how real it was. How did it just come this easy, like, is that it? I signed up straight away and told my close friends and family about the turn of events before putting it to the back of my head for a couple of months knowing the planning and training would all soon come round for January.

I was on the plane to New York on the 4th Jan 2016 looking through a couple of training plans that I had printed of a couple of days before. I wasn’t really sure what I could achieve with this marathon, nor what I wanted from it. Nevertheless being competitive I obviously picked the toughest one (above), well, it the advanced programme out of the three or four options I had been reading through. Id always said, If I had taken on another marathon after Brighton 2014 it would b more of a fun run and not so competitive, I didn’t think that one through. I had also miss calculated the 16 week programme and before I had even started any training at all I had to cut the first week off. Fortunately those who know me will know that since my last major run I haven’t let myself go, still very active with running in the gym still a favourite of mine, albeit shorter distances or sprints. Emma, Sophie and I have spent the last 4 months going to the gym together and focusing highly on interval workouts and I guess neglected any duration training so when reading the plan, even for week 1/2, I knew I was in for a treat. 

I trained alone for my first session in the gym on Monday, it was a huge shock to the system, more than I had imagined it would be. I only had to complete a 35min steady run and that was something I was capable of doing six times a week a few years ago. I knew I would still be fine to do it, its just preparing yourself for it in a different way to HIIT. Still playing football on Sundays, maybe this had something to do with my Monday fatigue? With the run complete a steam room and jacuzzi was on the cards. Id missed a bit of company, something I didn’t think id be saying when it comes to me in the gym. I used to be very sole minded and was just happy to have myself and my headphones but I guess that having spent time working out with Soph and Em had left me feeling this way. Tuesday brung interval training so that wasn’t too out of the ordinary, with the exception on the forty-eight minute duration, but the difference in speed changing frequently helped keep my mind busy.

After three days of solid training a welcome rest from running saw me at Chelsea Wednesday evening, although I would maybe of preferred a run than being forced to draw with West Bromwich. Thursday after work I was back on my training and forty minute steady run was my mission, I carried on working on the treadmill in the gym, I guess an easy way to stay out of the cold. According the schedule Friday was meant to be a rest day but with work and Chelsea on Saturday I got back on the running machine on Friday afternoon, fortunately finishing work early made for a nice quiet gym and a ten minute jog followed by thirty minute steady paced run and a ten minute jog to finish up defiantly didn’t seem so bad, even though it was fifty minutes… Maybe it had something to do with being Friday? Friday night was a little more intense than the run and believe it or not we had our football team Christmas party. Yes, Christmas party in mid Jan, nothing Christmas-y about it, just an excuse to finally have a team drink.  Come Saturday, having decided to swap the run had proved to be a great move!

This left me with one final run to take up on Sunday to complete my first week, and the one I had been dreading the most all week, eight miles! I gave myself a great excuse not to have to even put my trainers on for this run. We was due to play football this morning so plan A was just to play instead of running… A cheeky decision but I knew with a short eight mile distance I could get away with this exchange. Something I wont be able to do in future weeks. Of course the game got cancelled as we woke up to a thin blanket of snow covering the grass and of course we didn’t find out until we got to the ground, typical. So returning home meant one thing, the run HAD to happen. Deflated about the idea of this run now I contemplated weather to run outside or in the gym… I mapped out a couple of runs online and decide to go for the outside. Richmond Park, one of my favourite and very commonly used parks for my previous running, made it a nice setting to reminisce past visits. It was cold though and as much a I remembered my hat, my gloves I didn’t and for the next hour my hands froze, will never learn.  

It was due to be an eight-mile easy paced run and I did set out to take it somewhat easy. Starting at Kingston Gate and working anti-clockwise a full circuit of the muddy pathways. Nearly making an embarrassing slip trying to overtake dog walkers on a muddy/icy section of pathway. Overall a great run though and with a slow start my pace soon picked up and had a great consistent 3/4 miles throughout the overall eight. Running at an average pace of 7:20 minutes per mile was a little faster than what I would of liked but I’ve never been one for sticking to the book.

I’m slowing getting back onto the idea of the longer runs now and as daunting as they look on the future schedule I’m trying not to think about them too much a remember how important it is to switch off and take in the run, counting the minutes down would be hell otherwise. Come to think of it I’m unsure if running a previous marathon is an advantage or a disadvantage? Its great having the experience of all the training but maybe I know too much now of what is really ahead.

As I mentioned earlier, I am running on behalf of Scope, and as well as all the amazing work they do, I wouldn’t even be running his marathon if it wasn’t for Scope. Thank you all for the kind donations so far. Check out the link below for my donation page.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/beng16 

Obviously I had to see what run I was doing tomorrow to prepare for the gym, I’m not braving the cold for the shorter runs just yet, I’m already wishing the Winter away and looking forward to a bit of Spring sunshine to get out for road runs a bit more often. Its always nice to mix it up. :)

[16stonealone]

12 Stone Alone...

We are on the other side! :)

"After seeing Em, seconds later, the rest of my family had made it to me, as a huge emotional wave ran through my body, it was unexplainable, it seemed to eat through me from the legs through to my head and as i stumbled on even getting words out. The feeling of relief, achievement and pure pain all at once, but i had done it, all the effort, all the training and support, the 2014 Brighton Marathon, my mission, all complete!"

As the final week of training was starting i was full of confidence, full of energy and had more support than i even knew. I had a plenty of rest and great pre-race food through the week with undoubtly helped me through the finale. 

Monday was a rest day and maximising the amount of rest i was getting this week was essential and i took this incredibly seriously, i was very calm and focused knowing how important this week was, it was nearly time. Tuesday i had my first brief training session of the week it was only 10 minutes at race pace with a 5 minutes warm up and cool down either side of the race pace. Being only 10 minutes i decided to up my race pace, i didn't know what affect this would have on my race pace on the day of the race at this time, but its funny looking back to Tuesday now, this 'race pace' was identical to what my actual average race pace turned out to be! I only decided to run faster than my intended race pace just because it was 10 minutes and i knew it would be over quick, i had no intention of actually running at that speed for the event. Warming up at 6.5mph for 5 mins followed by the 7.9mph for the 10mins and the 5minute cool down at 6.5mph again. Done, Tuesday done another day closer. 

Using the gym for all my runs this week was also key for me as i wanted to chill out in the spa after most runs this week to relax me even more, so i was in the gym again on Wednesday and this time 30 minutes at a 'very, very easy' pace. So i set on treadmill running at a nice easy jog of 6mph, comfortable just thinking time really, going through the remainder of the week and collecting useless and inspiration thoughts as the time slowly returned to zero and i could chip again. 3 days to go i still confident but was starting to get some nerves thinking about my performance on the day, considering everything from my running techniques to my clothing just because it was all i was thinking about. 

Thursday i tried out some new socks, courtesy of Em' Dad, Paul, they was working fine intact so well, that i had 4 pairs to choose from and i couldn't decide so i left that decision until Sunday and that was about the biggest decision i had to make this week, with todays Thursday's run being 25 minutes at another nice easy pace, 6.5mph and it was just a steady jog.

Friday, again was rest day, it was starting to feel a bit strange not doing a 45/50 minute steady run anymore, it felt like i was coming of the training and warming down from the heavy stuff, but i suppose this is just the way it works. So i was training less and eating a hell of a lot more by now, not that the food was that interesting by now i was eating plates of pasta and rice with barely much meat or even sauce, hardly exciting. Stuffing myself and going back for more, researching online to make sure i was doing right, and the same again the next meal, bit banana's, nuts and other Marathon friendly picky snacks as the week continued. 

Saturday was a bit different from a relaxing day, id had to give up my season ticket for the game at The Bridge and drive to Brighton to collect my race pack, which had to be collected in person. Em and I set off in the morning and got down there by 1030, we was back by 1pm but it felt like i had 1000 and 1 things to do, well kinda had about three things to do, if things don't go to plan I'm easily stressed, although i think most people would be if they was due a marathon the next day, and i did find a lot of the time before my big training runs, id become quite moody, i think its knowing that you have a task to complete and you just want t get on and do it. Anyway i headed to the gym and done my last training run of the programme, 15 minutes very easy paced at 6mph. This went incredibly fast, maybe because like i just mentioned my mind was pre-occupied, i was already in a zone for the next run, this training run was over for me and id mentally passed it before i started it. Haha, post run the car broke down and we had to go and drop that off, so i think i was pushed to my limit although by the time i was home and packed and as prepared as i could be for the following day i had plenty of time and it was actually nice to chill out for the last time pre-run and watch the Chelsea game that i couldn't go to on the TV whilst i munched my way through my next mountain of penne pasta. I managed to go to bed at 830 and was goneeeee by 9, must of been tired, or maybe i just made myself tired with my run around day, either was we was to be up at 4:45am to leave. Haha and i ve just remembered as  i am writing the next paragraph, that it was also my birthday on Saturday too, this shows how focused i was about the run, i forgot my own birthday. Got so much chocolate!!!! ;)

Me and Em at the exhibition collecting the race pack and checking out the trainers. 

After waking up twice in the night i was pretty happy when i woke up again just before my alarm was due to go off, felt a bit like a kid at Christmas but without the actually excitement more fully of mental energy about how i wanted to get the race underway. John M drove my Mum, Em and I down to Brighton with other troops shortly following, including my Dad, Niki, Paul,   Auntie Sue, Liz and Amaya, Lee and Kev all following as the morning progressed. Big love to my little sister who sent her love and good luck wishes too me the last few days too. We had a right touch and managed to check into our hotel room at about 6:30am which was brilliant gave time to relax for an hour and get ready in the comfort of the room. I spent about 30 minutes alone and actually listened to some music and bounce around the room a bit, psyching myself up as if i was getting ready for a night out lol. The weather wasn't looking great but it was dry and that was the main thing. By that point there was 6 of us and we headed over too the start for about 8:50 with the start of the race beginning at 9:15. The walk to the start was a good couple of miles so this was a great little warm up, but unfortunately the smell of egg and bacon was all that filled the streets at this time of the morning whilst the thousands walked towards Preston Park. I was feeling very empty although id had breakfast at home and a couple of snacks en route, but i guessed maybe thats how i should be feeling. Approaching the park it all seemed real, yet i couldn't put the training together with the actual race, they felt like two entirely separate things, almost like id come to the wrong place, but obviously i knew i hadn't and i knew exactly what i needed to do once that gun sounded. Once we arrived in the park i had a sneaky hit and miss behind some tree as the queues for the toilets was not on my list of things to do pre-race. Had a little stretch and grabbed some water as i gave my unwanted clothes to my mum, unsure on her feelings as i removed my jumper she looked at me with a get sense of worry, but theres not much i can do now I'm heading to my starting pen, i gave high 5's to the boys and a kiss for the girls as i turned my back on them and walked off 12 stone alone. 

As i stood in the pen i was in silence whilst listening to the excited voices and conversations around me from other participants, I'm looking at what they are wearing looking at their physique, analysing what i can see whilst the man on the microphone is giving a countdown to the gun time, he repeats that Paula Ratcliffe will be 'high fiving' people running past the start line, people are encouraged with that excitement, I'm still focused and far from starstruck. Suddenly if hammered down for maybe a minute, very strange, and the dry again, just a wet surface, rain macs on and off again, bin liners being thrown off course. Bang, the race is started, i jog briefly as we approach the start line, and to a halt and back to a jog again as i crossed the line and my music started in sync with me crossing the line and my app starting to be my pace making tool and personal encouragement. The start was hugely congested and i was spending much time weaving in and out of people and trying to find some space, this is always very typical of any race and even though i did expect it i didn't quite anticipate it to last quite as long as it did. I must of progressed only a mile maybe? And there they were my supporters that id just left were already cheering me on, i had much more intention of running towards them with a high five than i did Paula, i think they are much more of an inspiration to me, not that Paula isn't a fantastic athlete. The first couple of miles passed and although it was becoming more spacious it had effected the time on my first imd miles, i was keen to make this time up and over the next few miles i sure did just that, reducing my average mile time down to about 7'42 within the next couple of miles as we headed out towards the seafront. I was still feeling very comfortable and spending a huge chunk of time thinking about where my family might be and when i might see them. I also found myself picking out certain people who were running nearby me, still sussing them out and wondering what they were capable of, its very competitive and spurs you on but i shouldn't be looking into there strategy too much, i have my own to stick to, or at least try too. 

We headed from very near the pier East towards Rottingdean, it was a slight incline and you could feel the extra effort required in every stride. I was putting so much into the inclines, remember my training in Richmond Park and thinking now i use this, now! It only happened half a dozen times in the race that i needed to remember that but it sure helped. As i got to Rottingdean i was taking in water and any energy drinks, nay sipping but jeeping it constant and making sure i was not dehydrated to the best i could. 8/9 miles in now and its all so real, more and more people fall behind or have faster bursts and you don't see them again, except this one guy i was intrigued with his constancy, similar to my own but by the 10th mile he was gone, he was out of my sight, he's green shorts no more part of my thoughts. My time was getting so much better, and i was feeling great for it as i headed back towards the pier Westbound now, i was hitting an overall average of 7'26 minutes per mile, much fast than what i had planned to run at, but i was happy and i thought if i keep this up i could maybe buy some time to take it a bit easier in the later part of the race, which seemed appealing. Now i was in for a treat i was passing the pier and heading towards mile 13 very close to the half-way point and i knew as in all my training from 5 minutes to 200 minutes, there was always a half way point and i would always say in my head, "its all down hill from here", so i did, i passed the half way point and i knew i was a healthy way through, but i did think, wow that was a lot of running in them past 13.1 miles, i still have a lot more to do and its not going to be all smiles.

My consistency was on point, i was so pleased with it i was thinking about even finishing in a better time, i reached mile 14 and 15 with ease and the crowd was great cheering on everyone they could and support from people you don't know is very encouraging, its almost like they say your name or shout some thing at you and you feel like you know them, i headed a ballon that was over sailing the course barriers and i think that pretty much summed up my energy at this point although i knew i was putting a lot in still. As i got closer to mile 16 i had a great loud screaming cheer at me... It was my my dad, auntie and Liz all showing there support i waved my arm, blew them a kiss and i was tingling snide with a huge grin on my face and almost a laughter wriggled its way out of me as i was so joyous of their presence. I was so distracted that i didn't even hear the 16th mile being introduced to me on the running app as the voice described my statistics, but by the 17th i listened carefully and i was still cruising around at my average of 7'26 / mile. The cruise was finally coming to an end now though, i was heading through hove and back on ourselves back towards Brighton, by this time i had decided to take my 1st of three boost gels i had in a running belt under my top. All i had in the belt was my phone and these three gels, which i had never ever used before in my life. I didn't really know what to expect from these gels, just banking on some kind of boost and kick to keep me going. After taking my first one i was hit with an awful sick feeling, it was apple crumble flavour, lol, rank, well in gel form anyway, but i knew the idea of it being good for me was more important and i couldn't care less what it tasted like really, that was the least of my problems. I grabbed water at the next station possible washing the gel taste away but fair play it did help. As i reached the 20th mile marker i was rummaging around the belt trying to find another gel, well i had no problem finding the gel, just there was two in the pouch and i couldn't get my hand on the one i wanted whilst running at the pace, feeling less energetic and annoying myself struggling to reach the right gel i gave up and just focused on water and keeping on track. That lasted all of about 2 minutes and before i even reached the next mile i had the gel out that was on top, even though it was meant to be the one i had for the last few miles and tore the sachet and backed it! This time banoffee pie, wow, who makes these?? This one was thick, really thick, it was meant for nearing the end to give a 40% carb boost, but i wasn't going to struggle to get to there last gel wedged underneath and what would be would be. I was what i would can struggling now, i was starting to loose focus on my run, i couldn't put in as much power and effort as i had been the previous 20 miles, i was saying yes in my head and my body was screaming no. I tried my best to keep the consistency up with the mileage and keep the average mile the same as the last mile but every mile i went on i dropped another second of the average pace per mile. By this time the air was warmer and it must of been about midday too, you could feel the warmth beaming through the clouds even without no direct sun, i thought of all the things i'd been through to get here, thought about how in 30minutes or so it would all be over, I'm that close now, no giving up. We were ushered around Shoreham Port and then the route would see us head back into to Brighton. From about the 22nd mile point onwards you could see from Shoreham all the way to where the race would finish just past Brighton Palace Pier, and it felt ever bit as far as it looked. Trying to compromise with myself thinking the remainder of the West Pier get there an were almost done, well half way towards the old pier i had to take my last gel, i was seriously running out of steam and even the effort of tearing the sachet with my teeth was a huge task in itself, down went the strawberry flavour, if there was a favourite this was it purely because it was more normal tasting, anyway i kept the thoughts going in the head, kept conning myself to every big building as a landmark to reach and then give myself a new target. As i reached the West Pier the route was back onto the road and was now running against slower paced runners running the opposite direction only on their 14th mile or so... I felt for them, they had it all to come. 

As i reached the 25th mile point i was soaked, i was poring water over myself whilst running to try and freshen myself up and keep going, i knew my time was going well, i knew how far id come, it was a case of keeping it going for the next mile and bit. I thought about slowing my pace and trying to slow down a bit but you slow down and your still in the same boat, you still have the same amount of distance to cover your just going to get there slower, i didn't want that, i wanted this over. My legs felt as if i was stumbling, even though i wasn't, felt weak and i lift my head as much as i could to keep going, every time it dropped, id let it sway for a bit and throw it back up like my head was a weight. Some others were slowing, some injured and just hobbling along. I had my head down when i see marker on the floor '1000m to go', i couldn't even put that into perspective, it was just keep going, the music meant nothing in my ears it was just noise and i could hear the noise of the crowds louder than my music anyway. I knew id have support there, and i there was other people looking at me in the eye and smiling and clapping, id smile back or lift my arm to just appreciate there help. I was almost there, even my app said 26 miles complete and 0.22 to go or some thing like that, i could see the big letters spelling FINISH and i only recall seeing that once, i was so top heavy now, my time had deteriorated from that constant 7'26 average to 7'29 i think, which of course was still fantastic but i knew i was loosing my constancy. I got a congratulations from the nike running app saying id finished, but i hadn't the finish line was still a bit further along, as reached the crowd i could hear my family screaming my name and i looked to the right and see a few off them and all i could do was wave my hand in a forward pointing motion, explaining 'to the finish line'.

Crossing the line seemed so far after seeing them, even them last few metres were so tough, every stride was being forced out of me, i crossed the line and couldn't help but come to a near enough sudden halt and wobbling whilst taking enormous breaths and pointing at a fair old man who looked to be in his 70's as he held medal, i could speak to him but he placed the medal on me and i gave him a thumbs up as he congratulated me. I didn't know where to turn, i felt almost like i wanted to be sick or just lay down but there was no where just kept hobbling towards the water station a few more metres further on. Wrapped in foil now i was downing water and walking aimlessly towards no where. Not knowing where tog o next and i stopped for a moment and leaned against a fence removing my vest and putting on a free tee i was awarded with just to stay dry as my vest was cold. It was only after this i managed to get more comfortable an remove my running belt, i was soon getting cold though and was eager to find all my support. 

As i reached the end of this on way system to get out of the race course my legs were like moving concrete blocks around, they just did not want to know. I got out of the area and there was hundreds of people waiting to see there loved ones and before had a chance to walk much further Emma was straight to me with all her support and she even had a 2% beer for me, i had a cheeky sip and gave it straight back to her. After seeing Em, seconds later, the rest of my family had made it to me, as a huge emotional wave ran through my body, it was unexplainable, it seemed to eat through me from the legs through to my head and as i stumbled on even getting words out. The feeling of relief, achievement and pure pain all at once, but i had done it, all the effort, all the training and support, the 2014 Brighton Marathon, my mission, all complete! 

The feeling was great, but the pain and need for recovery was almost greater as i was greeted by all with so much praise and love. Explaining my events in the best i could, whilst they was all telling me my exact time, as they had been following online.. 3hrs 17mins 8secs... i was over the moon, it was more than id trained for and a great time to complete a full marathon in. I was worn but felt like id done so many proud, even if i couldn't show it or even admit it on the outside i was certainly feeling it on the inside. I managed to keep warm and get dressed with the help of family like a toddler almost lol. Making back towards the hotel and time for some well earned rest, as i walked back towards the hotel i could see on the big screen others finishing, and that was great, the effort from so may people is astonishing. As the day went on my legs were aching like mad, trying a steam room and sauna to easy the aches but a lovely meal and a nice few drinks defiantly helped to unwind from a very tough effort. We stayed down in Brighton last night and headed home today with the legs still aching its been rest al day but unfortunately its back to work tomorrow. 

Its been an eventful three months of tough training and of course the race day but id like to say a huge thank you to everyone that has sponsored me and donated to Cancer Research UK and the support I've had through my training to the final day, all my friends and family have been so brilliant and i hope I've made you as proud as you've made me. The total sum raised to this date is £1,042 which is fantastic, so a well deserved congratulations to yourselves, you've all played a part in my success. 

I threw some figures together out of interest to see how much work has gone into this achievement;

Official marathon chip time: 3:17:08

Training programme: 91 Days

Total runs: 67

Total distances covered: 478.98 Miles - Thats the equivalent of driving from Waterloo Station to Dundee.

Total minutes ran: 4086 Minutes

Total calories burnt: 64,759

Average distance per work out: 7.14 miles

Average minutes per work out: 61

Average calories burnt per work out: 966

Days with out an alcoholic beverage: 96 

I really hope you have enjoyed following my blog and being part of a truly amazing experience for me. 

Thanks again,

Ben

[16stonealone]

Ready!

A week to go till the 2014 Brighton Marathon, and am i ready? Yes! Im sure i could of answered this a long time ago but i feel physically and mentally ready today, itching to complete the race, even itching for it just to start so i can get underway, but with a handful more training sessions and only four more days at work i know this last week will fly by. This week i completed all my runs, head up and full of confidence, i've come so far in training for this huge event. On the Saturday 5th, the day prior to the run, and also my birthday lol Em and I will be going down to Brighton to collect my race pack, it has to be collected on the Friday or Saturday. Its an exhibition thing so at least can see whats going on for a couple of hours before heading back to prepare for Sunday. Having to leave around 5am on Sunday morning should be fun to get down there in good time and get settled before starting the marathon. We are staying down there on the Sunday night with a few of the fam, in a nice hotel with a spa, which i can't wait to abuse post race too :) Im really hoping that its a warm bright day, very much like today really, id prefer to run in the sun rather than the rain. We return home on the Monday and hopefully i won't be in too much pain. Them birthday celebrations will have to hold out till the following weekend. In fact apart from organising going out for a few beers the weekend after i haven't thought about my actual birthday very much, not really fussed at all, I'm totally focused on finishing my training and completing my mission.

You may have seen on social media this week that i reached my target of £500 sponsor's raised for Cancer Research UK, as its stands online we are now at a massive £740, 48% above target and I'm still being promised sponsors from others too, so great news with all that have been donating, without you that figure just would not of been possible. Its also a tremendous inspiration for me too knowing the support behind me too, so many thanks.

So on Monday i walked in the gym only to find my cousin on the bike doing his bit, Monday cardio. We chatted for a bit and as per usual he'd ask me how long am i doing today? Always laughing and expecting an ultra long answer in minutes or hours, i showed him 5 minutes, which was funnier than anything else, he couldn't believe it and to be honest nor could i. I still haven't understood why Monday i was running for 5 minutes only, I've checked the schedule many times and its stayed the same lol, so taking it serious i jumped on the treadmill and done my run, it could be that its quite important as a recovery run? I mean the day before i was meant to be doing a 210minute which i did on the saturday, so i am just guessing that is a recovery.  It took me by surprise how serious i took it still going to the gym to do it, not just adding five minutes on to the Tuesdays workout or just forgetting about it like a lot of people would. Although i have to admit i didn't bother showering, i was going back to work anyway, I'm sure id run further to the van in the West End when you can get a parking space near the job and the meter is running out. So a fairly nice gentle start to the week it was indeed, but i really do believe that was very important to do the run. Its about looking at the schedule and known you have completed every single task to the best of your ability, so its a mental requirement as well as physical. These are the two biggest factors of this running programme, I've seemed to mention them a lot since the beginning of training, and when there both right, the run is right. 

Tuesday was another fairly easy session, which was fine, the runs are toning down as we draw closer to the big day so i was expecting this and it suited my week very well with this 'on-call' week at work too. Just a 25 minutes jog at 6.5 mph was easy and gentle on me too, allowing that extra bit of time to take it easy in the gym too and also a sauna or jacuzzi, the whole gym experience becomes more relaxed, yet I'm still doing exactly what is required of me. With the gym part done though, i did have the work phone in the back of my mind upon the evening and when i was trying to plan my running times i had to remember i may have to change if i get a job, balancing the runs and work again for the second time in this training programme. Although by now it was Tuesday and i hadn't had a call out at night so all was going well. 

As the week progressed, so did the runs, it was now Wednesday and i going to the gym in the mornings to leave the evenings free for calls, i got the gym at 6.30am and i had a 35minutes brisk run with a warm up and cool down too. With the word 'brisk' i assumed i needed to run a little fast than normal, so i set out with a 150 second warm up at 6.5 mph followed by 35minutes at 8mph, slightly faster than my intended marathon pace, finishing of with another 150 seconds cool down to end my session for the day. The runs were not taking anything out of me at all, breathing well and just taking it all stride by stride, it was just feeling good and i was feeling fresh getting in the gym that early in the morning too. I even managed to play in goal again for the 5-a-side team, whited helped out as we was short of players, defiantly not next week though, something about diving around on that fake grass that isn't fun and does hurt.

Thursday was the most common session, the one that has crept up the most out of them all, the 45 minutes at steady pace run, and for the forth day running i was going to run it in the gym, i was up again early and breezing through. It defiantly worked, going gym early and following up with work, i think I've conquered the gym/on-call routine, last time felt like a right shambles. :p Im wondering if my running has been aided by a lot of clean eating too, and recently I've started eating more raisins, nuts and trying to consume more carbs to give myself extra energy for when I'm running. Ill defiantly try to eat a lot of past for lunch and dinner in the next coming week. Friday was a rest day which was nice, not that i felt i needed it, but that extra bit of rest will be so beneficial next week too. I knew i had runs ahead Saturday and Sunday though, even if they weren't 'monsters' like they had previously been. 

Saturday i was very busy with a full schedule of jobs at work and i only had another 25minutes to complete at an easy jogging pace again, but just finding the time to fit it in Saturday was going to be the problem, taking my running things to work and considering running between jobs where i was working in Central and West London was alway a option. After my third job i headed to the gym, not having anymore on my diary and completed the run, funny though before i even started running, in fact before i even stepped foot in the gym, yep you guessed it the work phone rung and i had my next job booked for straight after id finished this jog. 6.5 mph again, nice and easy. Finishing my day early evening was lovely and there was only one more day to think about this week :).

So i woke up this morning the clocks had gone forward too, so we had an hour stolen from sleep but i was feeling full of energy and also for the 6th connective night the work phone hadn't broken my sleep and with only tonight to go i really, really hope i haven't jinxed that, touch wood. So i set out for my biggest run of the week and back to normality with it being on a Sunday too. It was 50minutes at a steady pace, so nothing to harsh and going by previous Sundays this was nice, and so it should be its Mothers Day and my Mum's birthday, if thats any excuse. :) The runway fantastic, my legs wanted to give it more and more, i was holding back, well trying to hold back trying to slow my pace down and i was finding myself spinning up, eager to do better and thinking so much about next Sunday, the big day and how i can push myself, thinking about my time. The weather was great as well, i was so happy running, i could of ran for hours. I hope i have this feeling next week, it will do me wonders. The run was 6.68 miles in total in the 50 minutes and averaging a 7'31 average per mile, far, far to fast in comparison to my previous 'steady' runs but i just couldn't help it, i don't know weather i should be saying sorry or weather i should be happy about it. Ill go with how its making me feel. The run was only local from mine to Epsom and back really in a loop, probably very similar to other training runs I've done before, but nevertheless i have posted a couple of pictures from this morning, just below.

So as I'm writing now, i actually have a job to go to soon, just waiting on the time to be confirmed but its in north London so its a bit of a mission but never mind tonight is the last night on call and tomorrow I'm off and taking my Mum out for lunch as i couldn't see her today. As you can probably tell I'm hugely excited for next week to come by, i would like to just say thank you to all that have kept up with me with this blog, who have given me feedback and supported me its driven me on so much and also given me the inspiration to sit down and write as well as run! This is my final post before the run, so i guess i will see you on the other side. Wish me luck!

Thanks again. :)