Overview

It might it be a "Simoneish" in length this blog, forgive me, but there are things I need to get off my chest.

I think I technically two-timed a girlfriend for about 20 minutes when I was about 13 or 14 and I felt terrible about it. In the 20 minutes it took me to get from new girlfriend to old (to finish with her) I was sure somebody would tell her first! My Mrs has no worries about me cheating on her because a) I find it hard enough keeping one women happy never mind two and b) it would be written all over my face! What has this got to do with running/get on with it you say!

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about a really fast 16 miler and about 15 of you put on suitably gushing comments. I had checked the route twice on "Map my Passion" before I blogged and found no fault but nagging doubts remained. Later in the week I checked it again, inch by inch and suddenly there it was! I had turned left at the wrong roundabout and cheated my run by about a mile and half. I felt terrible after all the lovely comments and felt too embarrassed to tell! I ran a couple of extra miles the next day but it doesn’t count really does it, it needs to be at the end of a long run to count? Will you ever trust me again?

I ran the same run again today, to lay the ghost to rest. My plan has me doing a 34 mile week and 17 had been completed so far leaving me 17 to do. I added a bit to make it 17.5 to cover the 1.5 miles I cheated on you last time I ran a 16 miler.

I dDropped a bollock today, well a pair actually. After 3 miles I realised I had forgotten to wear my Achilles support but luckily Karen wasn't shopping this morning and kindly met me at mile six to put that right, which is where I dropped the second bollock. A mild cloudy morning had me feeling too warm in my running vest and weather proof jacket, so I left the jacket with Karen. About 20 minutes later it was spitting, 25, it was just plain pissing down. The weatherman said it would not rain till after lunch, he lied (again).  Another 30 minutes later, I was so wet I just couldn't get any wetter and I dropped in at my mum's (mile 11) for a drink of juice and more importantly a towel down.

I managed to maintain 10 min miles all the way around despite the soaking I was getting. Somebody did shout, "Are you mad? Shorts and a vest in this weather" Well I did not feel I could argue? Somewhere between mile 16 and 17 my legs took over my brain. I was .5 of a mile from home and instead of going straight on, they turned right along County Road. I have no idea what was going on, I was knackered and wet and wanted to go home! The legs knew better and took me around a loop that extended the run to 20.28 miles in 3 hours, 19 minutes and 51 seconds. Job done, ghost laid to rest.

It is my brother Bryan's 50th birthday on Tuesday and me, mum, Neil & Bry plus partners are out for a meal tonight at Hitchcocks (veggie, as is Bry) and you can take your own booze in (hence running Saturday not Sunday!). A good night is in prospect and one I am looking forward to safe in the knowledge that my LSR is done!

Sorry for the long blog, I hope you will forgive me one day for cheating on you all?

Ruddy  

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Quick blog before I put the kids to bed. Not sure why I decided to run 1 mile reps on the treddie today, trying to increase speed I think plus I am sure I read only one mile reps will make much difference to marathon runners?

After blogging yesterday that my faster miles would be run at 8.5 min miles, an Edinburgh based Grannie who frequents these parts suggested that wasn't fast enough. Like a silly sod, I took the bait and it nearly bloody killed me!

10 min mile warm up then alternating 8 min/10 min miles finishing with a 10 min mile warm down. 5 slow, 4 fast, 9 miles in just under 82 minutes and knackered! No more suggestions McGrannie, the next one might finish me off! Maybe that is the plan so you have a chance in London?

Head screwed back on after last nights fat club nightmare but no running now till Saturdays 16 miler, although I might get out on the bike tomorrow as the weather forcast is a good one.

I have my annual Stroke MOT tomorrow at 8.20 am, lots of blood tests, blood pressure etc etc but I need to fast from 10 pm tonight for the Cholesterol test. I don't expect any problems, but it is always reassuring when the tests come back okay?

Ruddy

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It is rather pathetic that a visit to fat club can leave me down in the dumps, but what can I say...it has! Last week I was at my lowest weight, 6.5 pounds from where I want to be come race day and now after 33 miles running, 40k biking & 75 minutes gym over 5 days/sessions....I am 10 Ibs from target with only 5 weeks to sort it! Gutted. How did I put 3.5 Ibs ON?

I have had 2 rest days in the last 7 (either side of my 20 miler) but I honestly don't think I could work harder than I am. My body is telling me through the little niggles that if I push any harder something will break?

Don't tell me it is muscle which is heavier than fat, because I don't buy it. That is what other fatties say to console each other when they have put on weight? There is enough lard still hanging around this frame to add a bit of muscle and still lose weight.

I had a minor diet rebellion last night in protest (which makes matters worse of course!) but I avoided biscuits, cakes, sweets & Choccies and have my head screwed back on this morning.

I needed a bit of a lift this morning to refocus myself and tell myself that if I want certain goals, I can still achieve them in the time available (5 more weigh in's) and this blog's theme tune is "Heroes" by David Bowie. So You tube has been on and I followed up Heroes with the Lou Reed Song "Perfect Day" (The BBC advert version) and these reminded me that I can still have

A "perfect day" come 25th April and still be a "hero, just for one day".....if I want it enough.

9 miles at lunch, 1 mile reps on the treddie. 5 @ 10 min miles, 4 @ 8 min miles.

5 weeks Ruddy, how much do you want it? 

Ruddy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJpQJWpVJds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQFuNHCMF2Y

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Well, for all of yesterday's whining, of course it got done. I didn't map out a new run because Tina, one of the runners at the University agreed to run the first 4.5 with me before cutting for home. It was a lovely day for running, the company made it pass quickly and the other 3.5 were no problem. It was an "easy" paced run, but 76 minutes was quicker than I expected.

Really busy day today, before, during and after work. I will be shoe horning 90 minutes gym work into lunchtime as I cannot go after work today and then just a weigh in and go at fat club (not hopeful on that one).

9 miles due tomorrow. For some unknown reason I have it my head to do mile reps on the treddie?! I am thinking 1 mile @ 10 min mile followed by 1 mile @ 8.5 min miles, for 4 miles each, finishing with a slow one as a cool down? Why do I think this a good idea?  I must be mad....but I have blogged it now!

Maybe sanity will prevail tomorrow as this sounds like a tough session before I do it?

Must press on, lots to do!

Ruddy

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I was going to post a blog last night but decided to sleep on it and a wise decision it was. I was suffering from "3rd Day Syndrome" yesterday as I call it, when your post LSR aches and niggles seem worse than the day after the run? You know it well I am sure.

My LSR this week at 16 miles is 4 less than last week but the weekly mileage (34) is actually a mile more. Yes, the mid week runs are longer and as I only run twice rather than three times mid week, they are longer still! I really don't fancy it at all and I guess as we are in the final push towards the taper, the grind is taking its toll?

Yesterday, I did fancy making a decent effort but running (whilst possible) was not really an option as I allow my joints to recover properly from Saturdays 20 miler. Gym wasn't holding any great joy for me, so in the end it was an easy call - bike ride!

It was an half decent day out there, but very windy and I knew the backward half would be really hard work - it was! By the time I got home last night 32 k's had been completed with 27+ of those at lunchtime.

Whilst the bike ride has helped the muscle aches, I still have a couple of joint ones and running today still isn't that appealing........ Thankfully, (at the moment) it is a nice day out there and hopefully that will continue through to lunch and draw me to the great outdoors.............

I think I will try and find myself a new 8 mile route via map my run this morning and hopefully that might help as well?

8 today, 9 Thursday, 17 Saturday equals 34 mutter, grumble, whinge miles.

Ruddy

P.S. Can I just point out to any London Marathon first timers reading this blog, that it is worth it, honest!!

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The legs are pretty good after yesterday's 20 miler, all considered. Yes, I do have several niggles including a sore right heel from a now drained blister, my first of the campaign, but if I had to run today, give me 20 minutes to warm up and yes I could manage it. I don't think it would have done me any good, but yes I could have. That is good?

Mother's day has been a busy one. I baked Karen Croissants for breakfast, a Bacon Sarnie lunch, a roast Chicken Sunday dinner with a home made cream n Jam sponge for afters.....and that was all before I visited my own mum!..... Mum had me clearing her loft out before she gets re-roofed next week!

I have a 34 miles (16 m LSR) week ahead and as I am out Saturday night, I will run Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning this week. Monday might be a bike ride, Wednesday my big gym session and Friday...lets wait n see? 

I hope all your LSR's went as well as mine? I intend to have a blogathon tonight if allowed by the Mother of the house, so I hope to read all about them as well as whatever else you have been up to in the last week as I have that many blog alerts to catch up on........

Ruddy

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I am blogging at my mother in laws having run my local 10 mile route followed by a cup of tea and flapjack followed by 10.5 miles to Barton via the Humber Bridge. The weather was perfect, the views off the bridge stunning and the run? Knackering of course! It is all done now though and I can relax and sort mothers day this afternon.

Happy, hope you are too?

Ruddy

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My offer to pose naked on realbuzz produced exactly £0.00 in sponsorship!

I am however finally getting things moving on that front and should pass £300 today, which aint bad seeing as I only really started about 10 days ago? I have a "Homemade Bake Sale" organised at work for the 12th April. I have around 10-15 ladies who will be baking for me and I am hoping to raise £50-£75 for a couple of hours work over lunchtime. A good start but need to keep pushing and probing for more.

I have worked hard so far this week, with 2.5 hours of gym work on Monday(1) and Wednesday(1.5) plus 8 miles on Tuesday and a further 5 this lunchtime. My reward? the long shadow of a 20 miler on Saturday morning...how do you look forward to one of these?

I stayed the same at fat club last night and the ladies tried to wind me up by saying I wasn't getting enough exercise! I remain at my lightest since FLM 2007, but that other half a stone is coming off before race day!

My blog updates are still backed up, back  to last Monday, but I will read them eventually when I get to them.

Hope your all well?

Ruddy

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