This is part III of my blog documenting my struggle to get fit for the Brighton Marathon 2010
My chosen charity: Rockinghorse Appeal - Link to my Online donations page. Please sponsor. Any amount no matter how small will be wonderful. Donations can be as little as £1.
Link to my recommended Sports Therapist/Masseuse - Vicky Parramore (wonderful hands, I always feel so great after she's given me a good going over, she always seems to find the right spot)
My recommended Personal Trainer - Stuart Mansfield (He's getting me into shape, dietary advice, stretching routine and encouragement) Tel:07840 014246 or email:stumansfield@hotmail.com
I have actually completed the Marathon !!
What a great day, I managed to finish the race albeit in a lot of discomfort in 5 hours 39 mins. I thought it was very well organised and a real credit to the city. The atmosphere was tremendous and the support was brilliant.
I am really proud of my achievement and have raised nearly £500 for the Rockinghorse Children's Appeal.
Looking forward to next year !!
Day 160 - Day 197 - 6th April
The last month or so have gone pretty well, I have managed a 10, 15 and 20 mile run with only a few problems (stiff calf, knee pain, blisters, bruised toe, boredom). After seeing the Eddy Izzard documentary on his 41 marathons in 53 days all of a sudden my efforts seem a bit puny! I am now only doing short runs as per my schedule together with some Hot Yoga which I find is very good for the muscle tone and strength, balance and mind. Try Bikram Yoga in Portslade, CJ is a great teacher and gets you do the impossible.
Day 133 - Day 159 2nd Feb - 28th Feb
Very neglectful with my blog and also to a certain extent my running. Still haven't run further than 7-8 miles. Not going well, need to really be disciplined.
One thing I do know is , that I am a fair weather runner. Rain, snow, no thanks.
Try to make March a great month.
Day 132 - 1st Feb 77 days to go
Time to start pushing myself if my calf muscles aren't going to let me down. So I ran down to the park and did 5 laps (5 miles with 1/4 mile incline per lap) plus ran an extra two miles to the pub and back. Funny, I found it easier taking the 5th lap than all the others. Strong, but the right calf is still bothering me.
Day 130 - 30th Jan 79 days to go
Foolishly decide that it is time for half maraton distance today. This is 6 miles further than i have ever run. The route is my house in Shoreham, down to Carat's cafe in Southwick (on the marathon route) the to my Mum's house in Peacehaven (13.7 miles). Managed to get as far as Concorde 2 and the right calf was getting quite painful so stopped. (7 miles). I then walked to Rotting dean while testing out my calf but could not run. Beginning to wonder whether my legs are up to the job.
Day 121 - 21st Jan 88 days to go
Ran part of the course today, 6 miles between Hove Lagoon and the Brighton Pier and back. Felt really good, even managed a 100m sprint at the end. Hoping to do a 10 miler on Sunday.
Day 116 - 16th Jan 93 days to go
Took a different route today which took in a couple a stiff climbs, only about 4 miles, but I have to take in a few hilly bits in my training. Definitely my least favourite part of my training, the hill just seems to go on and on but quite a sense of achievement when I finally arrive at the top, with the bonus of a nice gentle glide down the other side.
Day 113 - 13th Jan 96 days to go
A lot of ice and snow on the pavements, so decide to run around Buckingham Park. For laps later (4 miles) feeling good, except it got a bit hard going up the incline on the 3rd and 4th times!
Day 110 - 10th Jan 99 days to go
Thought I would do some strength training by riding my bike into Hove. A big mistake, I thought all the the roads would be clear but failed to notice an icy road in Portslade. Ouch!, I fell heavily off my bike onto my side. Gave my knee, hip and shoulder quite a bump. My wife Colette has kindly massaged my aching bits with tiger balm. A bit sore, but I'll live. it shouldn't affect my training hopefully.
Day 109 - 9th Jan - 100 days to go
You may have noticed a big gap in the blog. 33 days has just flown by. I haven't blogged previously because to be totally honest I haven't done a lot of running in December. Christmas seems to start on my Birthday (16th Dec) and then go on until about the 3rd Jan. I didn't really get serious again until the 4th Jan. The snow and ice hasn't helped, so to make sure I keep up my training I use the local park. It's a good place to train because it has an incline. Each circuit is about one mile. I did four laps on the 7th and felt pretty good considering the lack of hard training for a month. Got chased by a terrier for a while which helped me get up the hill!
Day 76 - 7th Dec - 133 days to go
Off to see my Sports Therapist / Masseuse Vicky today after my run. I contacted her after my calf injury. she was very thorough and concentrated on my legs.
Day 74 - 5th Dec - 135 days to go
Again the weather is awful and missed yesterday. I know after Christmas I must not miss out on days when I feel like it. Hard run
Day 72 - 2nd Dec - 138 days to go
Routine run but no stamina, glad to get it over with
Day 70 - 30th Nov - 140 days to go
Missed yesterday because the weather was so awful. Did a Pb for my Red Lion run of 24min 18 secs for 2.3 miles. Quite pleased.
Day 67 - 27th Nov - 143 days to go
My first run for a week. The calf feels ok to run on now. Take a light jog for 2.3 miles and no reaction. relieved that taking a week off didn't affect me too much.
Day 61 - 21st Nov - 149 days to go - Disaster!
I'd thought I would run some of the Marathon route today, Hove Lagoon to the Brighton Pier and back. All going well although a little sluggish until I made the turn for home, I developed an ache in my calf which soon turn into a sharp pain so I had to abandon the run. I hobbled back to the car and got home. Having thought about it afterwards it was probably the lack of a warm-up before I started. Stuart (my personal trainer will tell me off!)
