'Twas the night before Christmas
...and all through the house, nothing was stirring - least of all a running shoe.
I'm eventually starting to see off this cold, although I've still got a really annoying cough. It must be the worst cold I've had in about 15 years. I'm sure that running last Tuesday set it back, so I won't try anything silly this weekend - but hopefully I'll be out on the road early next week.
One more thing... another training diary by real journalists, this time for the Big Sur marathon in California. It's a couple of weeks after FLM so the training programmes will coincide.
Have a happy and peaceful Christmas.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
I'm eventually starting to see off this cold, although I've still got a really annoying cough. It must be the worst cold I've had in about 15 years. I'm sure that running last Tuesday set it back, so I won't try anything silly this weekend - but hopefully I'll be out on the road early next week.
One more thing... another training diary by real journalists, this time for the Big Sur marathon in California. It's a couple of weeks after FLM so the training programmes will coincide.
Have a happy and peaceful Christmas.
Cold
My cough and cold show no signs of abating, but I made the effort to get out last night and did about 6 miles. Once I got warmed up it was pretty good, a pleasant couple of laps of West London suburbia/parkland in damp evening air.
Today I feel worse than yesterday (cold-wise), so maybe I'll lay off until the weekend unless I start to feel better.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Today I feel worse than yesterday (cold-wise), so maybe I'll lay off until the weekend unless I start to feel better.
That was the week that wasn't
A very light week this week, but I have my excuses ready. Monday was rest day, Tues and Weds I felt like I was coming down with flu so decided to hold off, and also cancelled my Thursday lunchtime run. By Thursday I was feeling fairly normal, so Friday morning I did my run/ride/run via the train to work, and it was very good.
However, Friday afternoon was a work Christmas lunch, and for reasons best known to themselves, my colleagues turned into LOUD SHOUTY PEOPLE as soon as they entered the pub, despite it being remarkably (and pleasantly) quiet. A couple of hours later I sounded like a chainsmoking frog. I don't know whether that sensitized my throat, or a cold was coming anyway, but I've spent the rest of the weekend croaking and sniffling.
So horror of horrors, I've missed my long run this week due to a puny cold. WIMP! Still, I have a couple of hours to kill on Tuesday evening, so I might try and fit it in then if I'm feeling better.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
However, Friday afternoon was a work Christmas lunch, and for reasons best known to themselves, my colleagues turned into LOUD SHOUTY PEOPLE as soon as they entered the pub, despite it being remarkably (and pleasantly) quiet. A couple of hours later I sounded like a chainsmoking frog. I don't know whether that sensitized my throat, or a cold was coming anyway, but I've spent the rest of the weekend croaking and sniffling.
So horror of horrors, I've missed my long run this week due to a puny cold. WIMP! Still, I have a couple of hours to kill on Tuesday evening, so I might try and fit it in then if I'm feeling better.
More eBay
Now someone is auctioning a guaranteed place in the FLM. Not sure if this has been done before (or if it's allowed).
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Ready for auction
Anyone who enters the Flora London Marathon via the ballot, and doesn't get in, receives a souvenir showerproof running jacket. These are starting to appear on eBay now.
Cross? I'm furious
Today can go down as cross-training, as I took my bike on the train to work this morning and cycled 5ish miles (plus the same on the way home tonight).
I thought this would give my legs a gentle stretch and soothe my aching joints. How wrong I was! I felt worse than after my 10 mile run on Sunday. I guess my muscles are used to be used in different ways these days, and are complaining. Next time I'll stick to swimming.
Sunday, December 05, 2004
I thought this would give my legs a gentle stretch and soothe my aching joints. How wrong I was! I felt worse than after my 10 mile run on Sunday. I guess my muscles are used to be used in different ways these days, and are complaining. Next time I'll stick to swimming.
The Power of Figs®
This is my proposed new slogan for the Fig Marketing Board. I will be submitting it shortly.
I had a rather more comfortable 10 miles tonight – not exactly a walk in the park, but I wasn’t quite as drained afterwards. This is partly because I took about 3½ minutes longer than last week to complete the distance – not deliberately, but no bad thing.
And partly because of the supply of figs I took (thanks James - Sainsbury’s was too busy to bother trying to find jelly beans). They weren’t rocket fuel, but they must have had a good effect because I didn’t feel hungry like last week. Now I have to learn the skill of eating while running - frustrating when eating something nice like figs, as the best bet (to ensure continued breathing) is to get 'em down as quickly as possible.
Friday, December 03, 2004
I had a rather more comfortable 10 miles tonight – not exactly a walk in the park, but I wasn’t quite as drained afterwards. This is partly because I took about 3½ minutes longer than last week to complete the distance – not deliberately, but no bad thing.
And partly because of the supply of figs I took (thanks James - Sainsbury’s was too busy to bother trying to find jelly beans). They weren’t rocket fuel, but they must have had a good effect because I didn’t feel hungry like last week. Now I have to learn the skill of eating while running - frustrating when eating something nice like figs, as the best bet (to ensure continued breathing) is to get 'em down as quickly as possible.
Muesli 1 - Bacon Rolls 0
We may be witnessing a swing in the balance of power for this regular Friday morning fixture.
Another 5-ish miles this morning with a train ride in the middle. The second run included some beautiful scenes of late autumn leaves under sodium lamps, through quite a respectably dense mist. And the mornings are getting darker – apparently that happens at this time of year.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Another 5-ish miles this morning with a train ride in the middle. The second run included some beautiful scenes of late autumn leaves under sodium lamps, through quite a respectably dense mist. And the mornings are getting darker – apparently that happens at this time of year.
Various
The Guardian’s Alok Jha to do Regent’s Park 10K to baseline fitness before FLM training.
Lloyd Scott finishes trans-Australia penny-farthing ride.
Dan (that’s me) does a gentle 3 or so miles around, up and down Horsenden Hill at lunchtime.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Lloyd Scott finishes trans-Australia penny-farthing ride.
Dan (that’s me) does a gentle 3 or so miles around, up and down Horsenden Hill at lunchtime.
Rest day
A rest day today. I'm still feeling the effects of Sunday's 10 miles, in my calves and in my hip joints (which have been sore in the past, but not given me trouble so far since I started marathon training.) Yesterday I did a "recovery" run before work, but when I checked my records found that I'd done a PB for non-fartlek. So that was probably a bit too fast then.
