25/04/2010

Another Marathon over... 5 Hours 19 Minutes and 25 seconds of sheer Pain and Ecstasy. 32 minutes faster than last year, so really chuffed. A little disappointed as my brother beat me and I didn't get my original target of between 4.5 and 5 hours.

The weather was mixed, hot, humid and wet. I found the humidity a little restrictive and the sheer volume of people was a bit of a nightmare.

Cheers
Snooky

4 Days and 20 hours to go.......

Well it's this Sunday!! (4 days 20 hours!!!) a quick update on the last week, because it's been so busy with preparation and things..I didn't get to run midweek last week because on Tuesday I had no child cover and on Thursday I had guests who didn't leave until about 9pm, by which time I was ready to pass out with hunger so a run was out of the question. Friday night I had a scare when I tweaked my knee lifting my DJ gear up some stairs at a venue, the pain was still there on Sunday and I was concerned as I started my hour long run, but all was good. What ever damage was done seems to be more twisting that straight so doesn't effect my running. It was hot Sunday but the run was comfortable and I felt good at the end of it.After the run it onto a train to sunny London for an inspiring conference (Phil Packer was amazing!), where I finally met Henry and Darren. Lovely to meet you guys. After the meeting we had some time to kill so took a stroll down the Mall.Tonight's the last fundraiser, another quiz night down the Admiral Stopford 7.30.If you haven't already sponsored me please help support my challenge by visiting my justgiving site at www.justgiving.com/MichaelSnookVLM2010.CheersSnooky

The last big run in the bank...

20 days to go.... Today was the last big run before the big day, 20 miles in 3 1/2 hours, that was an hour quicker than the same time last year, so again good progress is still being made. From here on in it's time to taper my training (yay!!!:)).

Today started as a nice steady pace in a chilly but sunny morning and for the first 8 miles or so there was nothing to really report. Then I had a bit of a row with a cyclist who shouted at me to get out of the way as he was riding along the path. I was in the wrong as although the the path was narrow it was indeed a cycle path and pavement.

Then as I passed the Marsh Mills Sainsburys the heavens opened and wind picked up right in my face. It was constant for the next two miles and then as quickly as it started it stopped and the temperature raised again. It stayed dry for the rest of the run. I needed all three Gels I had with me today as I took in a lot more hills than I have on any of my previous runs.

Anyway I feeling good, but now need to raise the money for the FSI so if you are reading this, please visit my just giving site and make a donation to help me along.

Cheers
Snooky

25 Days to go....

Hi folks, just a quick note to say I am still about and still training I didn't get out Sunday because I only had 3 hours sleep Sunday morning courtesy of the clocks moving forward, and my date with my stand at the West Country Wedding Show on the Sunday.

I got out tonight and ran at pace with no after effects, it was interesting actually as I followed someone who was a lot younger and fitter than me and then bounce past someone who was about where I was about 6 months ago.

It is time to start the fundraising in earnest now, if you not sure whether I'm making an effort that justifies a little donation to the FSI, in September last year I was just short of 3 stone heavier than I am now and ran the Bristol Half Marathon in 2 hours 43 to running the Silverstone Marathon in 2 hours and 2 minutes. The hard work for the London Marathon is the preparation and the day is the reward, so please dig deep and donate to help the small charities.

Don't forget if you're anywhere near Plymouth on Thursday night pop into the Admiral Stopford Arms on Devonport Road, Stoke and join us on our charity karaoke night. Fun starts at 8.30

Cheers
Snooky

Sport Relief, but no relief from training

1 Month and 3 Days (5 weeks) to go.... Today was Sport Relief Mile day, my daughter had signed us both up to do the 6 miles without realising how far that actually was. The Plymouth 6 miles was just 6 laps of the Hoe, Fiona managed to run the whole of the first lap and then walked the back stretch and only ran for cameras and when running across the start/finish line. I found this incredibly frustrating especially when we got overtaken by a cow twice!!! When Robin Hood came past the second time saying "keep it up, you're doing well" I wanted to scream at him "I'm a 9 minute miler, it's not my fault!"

Anyway we completed in just over the hour and I then ran home, I was so frustrated that I got home faster than I have before 6 more miles in 50 minutes, the difference being 4 of the 6 miles on this particular route are up hill.

I don't know if you can over train but I think my body is starting to tell me to ease up a bit, I got a really nasty eye infection with a ulcer on my cornea on Wednesday, which is causing a lot of pain and leaving me struggling to keep my eyes open. I am also feeling really tired and I can't see where the next break is coming from.

I think I really need a boost and would love to see some money coming into my justgiving account as the big day rapidly approaches.

Cheers
Snooky

Silverstone Half Marathon Joy,,,,,

1 Month 10 days to go...

Today I ran my first competitive race of the season, the Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon, It was also the first time I was running "with" my brother prior to the London Marathon. The weather was great, a slight cloud cover and quite mild considering recent weather. We were in the pen for quite a bit of time before the start and as soon as we started my brother started off at quite a fast pace and then had to make a quick "pit stop" and I left him to it. I thought I was being a ambitious by picking up a 2 hour pace band, but I really wanted to go for a personal best today. So mile 1 and I did an 8 minute mile, so I reined it back a bit because that scared me and I worried about burning out, I managed to get a good rhythm going and keeping pace with others around me, at every mile marker I always seemed to be that 1 minute ahead of pace and very comfortable.

I had lost Paul right at the beginning, and there were a couple of times where we were running back on each other, the first time I couldn't see him and got a little worried about him, but the second time around the 7 mile mark I saw him and gave him a high five as we passed, at that point he was about 1/2 mile behind me. Between miles 10 and 11 my pace started to drop and I noticed I had lost a minute on that mile, between 11 and 12 another minute lost, after the 12 mile marker I tried to pick up the pace again and went for it. The finish was in sight as my watch clicked over the 2 hours, and as I reach the 13 mile marker the realisation hit me I was about to take 28 minutes off my personal best, I filled up and then started to struggle to breathe as I was blubbing!!! I pulled myself together as I crossed the line (2:02 on my watch, still waiting for official time) for the photo's and then started again as I collected my goodie bag. I then waited 20 minutes for my brother to limp across the line! He did well for his longest distance so far, but he is suffering now!

Bring on the London Marathon and aiming for 41/2 to 5 hours finish!

Anyway this on one very happy chappy signing off.

Cheers
Snooky

1 Month and 13 days to go...

Hi, gotta tell you about a couple of days training, far too busy to update on Tuesday.

So Tuesday night, I took my 13 year old daughter out for run with me, she is preparing for the Sport Relief 6 mile, so 30 years my junior, how did she get on? she did quite well for the first mile and half and then she stopped and walked, I managed to get her running again, but she kept stopping and struggling, I obviously didn't get as good a work out as I would have liked.

Tonight was a short steady run, in preparation for Sunday, the weather is really good again, cold but dry. This Sunday I'm running the Silverstone Half Marathon and I'm hoping to achieve a personal best this weekend. I am lighter than I have ever been since I started my running addiction, and I;m feeling really comfortable with my running at the moment too.

I have organised a couple fund raising events over the next couple of weeks. The first next week, on Thursday we're having a fun quiz night and on 1st April I will be running a karaoke night. Both events will be at the Admiral Stopford Arms, in Plymouth.

Anyway just catching up with the bosses latest tv appearance, so better go.

Cheers
Snooky

Comfortable at 13 miles...

1 months and 17 days to go until the London Marathon, only one week until Silverstone. Quite ironic, my wife is a massive F1 fan and I'm making her miss the opening race of the season to take her Silverstone the home of the British Grand Prix, to watch me run around the hallowed tarmac. Maybe one day I may be able to take her when Lewis and Jensen are at home!!

So today's run, it was shorter than the last couple so that I can have fresh legs next week. I was a pleasing run as I was really comfortable all the way around, even enough for a fast finish. It was a run of two climates, on the open country roads in the direct sunshine it was warm and calm, in the town where it was shaded, it was bitterly cold and windy.

Another uneventful run along an amazing coast road, lots more people out and about this week, but didn't bump into anyone I know. The key things from today's run was that the climb to Saltram house was definitely easier and up the Hoe was really comfortable.

I was under strict instructions to be home early today so I picked up the pace and what a day 13 miles in 2 hours and 3 minutes, the fastest yet. this bodes well for next week. Bring it on.....

Speak to you soon.

Cheers
Snooky

Hills are becoming irrelevant

1 month 20 days to the VLM 2010 or just over 7 weeks to go... tonight was a nice steady 50 minutes run. Although tonight was the same old run as the last few Thursdays, but tonight it felt fresh and the great thing was where hills on the run are normally a chore, they were ok just made me breath a bit harder, but I managed to keep the same pace.

I got out a bit earlier tonight so bumped into loads of other runners once again all going in the opposite direction.

It's got to the time where I have to start thinking about why I'm doing it, thinking about the support the money I raise can help the small charities. I need to start getting some sponsorship money in. Please visit my Just Giving site or drop me an email msnook@a4e.co.uk alternatively watch this space to see where I will be running a charity quiz night (next couple of weeks) and the charity karaoke night (early April probably 1st). I will be confirming the dates and venue tomorrow.

Oh I forgot to tell you on Tuesday I lost 4.5 lb weeks last week, which is now 2 st 6.5 lb since I ran Bristol, the weight lost is coming off great. I should start the London Marathon about 1 1/2 stone lighter than last year, the difference being I intend not to put it back on after!! Hence why I have signed up for the Plymouth half and Bristol Half later in the year.

Anyway better go.

Cheers
Snooky

1 Month and 22 Days to go

A great night for running, mild, calm and quiet. Tonight's schedule was another interval training session, 15 minutes easy run warm up and then 6 x 5 minute full on sessions with 90 second breaks. This led to my normal 4.5 mile route being extended by a mile as I used the bridge for 3 of the intervals, 5 minutes each way.

Quite late out tonight so didn't really meet anyone this time. So not much to report tonight.

I'm looking to hold a couple of fundraising events, a quiz night in the next couple of weeks and a Karaoke night on Thursday before the Easter break, venues to be confirmed. If you can't make it please help by visiting my Just giving site.

Cheers
Snooky

There is a god and he loves me.....

No I haven't found religion, nor am I about to start preaching. But, with 1 month and 24 days to go to the big day I had to get on with my longest run this time around, 17 1/2 miles around Plymouth.

So when I woke this morning to the sound of gale force winds and driving rain on my bedroom window, I didn't want to even get up. However I had missed my training session on Thursday due to hosting a quiz night, so I had to get out today. As I got in my van and drove to my starting point at Sainsbury's I had my wipers on full blast. I parked up, popped into the shop to get a bottle of Lucozade Sport and when I came out the clouds had gone, the sky was blue and the sun was shining and it stayed like that for next 3 hours and 13 minutes.

The run was basically the Plymouth Half Marathon route (with all the hills) which I joined at Saltram house, running out of the back and up to Elburton before turning and heading back into Plymouth around the Hoe and then the extra bit that took the mileage up to 17 1/2 miles which was a loop out to devils point and back before rejoining the half marathon route back on the Hoe and running back through the Barbican and then back out over Laira bridge and up the climb back up to Saltram House through the park and then headed back to the van.

This week was another week of practicing fueling, I used 3 carbohydrate gels this week although the first seemed to have the best effect, giving me a real boost as I started my second hour heading into the Barbican. I struggled with the last stretch up the hill to Saltram house, I knew I had only just a couple of miles left so I didn't want to waste another gel.

Anyway another pay day has come and gone and as my training is getting tougher it would be great to start seeing my sponsorship going up. So if you have few spare quids please visit my Justgiving site and sponsor me, so we can help the smaller charities survive in these hard times.

Cheers
Snooky

Don't Panic..... I'm still here!

2 Months and 1 day to go....

Sorry I didn't blog on Sunday, but I had to write a quiz for Thursday and didn't get time to write my blog, but I am still training.

So Sunday, still ramping the miles and this week I had to run 15 miles, I had been around to Angie my Slimming World consultants house on Saturday and realised my training sessions are running exactly one week behind hers. She told me of a really good 15 mile route, so I went for it. This week was also the first week I trained using carbohydrate gels, last year I used glucose tablets.

So the run, I drove to Sainsburys at Marsh Mills and struck out straight up a steep hill to to Saltram house (all of a sudden I wasn't that impressed with the the route!!!), but once I reached the house I decided to run off the path for a bit, whatta mistaka to makea, I hit the grass and did a really good impression of Bambi on ice to the point as I tried to rejoin the path I nearly took out a whole family. Then I was on familiar territory (all be it in reverse) as I joined the route of the Plymouth Half Marathon down to Laira Bridge, around Cattedown, around the Barbican, up and over the Hoe and off down to Stonebridge passing the ferryport, around here I discovered the little messages in the pavement and they were all along my route as I ran along the South West Coast Path, this added to the enjoyment and intrigue of the route as I headed out to Devils Point the turnaround point and the point where I consumed my first ever carbohydrate gel, not knowing how it would effect me, well it was weird and amazing within a really short spell it was like I had had a leg transplant, which lasted about half way back. Enough to get me back up onto the Hoe again taking on the tourists, I even got competitive as I chased down another runner actually going the same way as me!! I caught him as we passed the infamous Capn Jaspers. I got back to Sainsburys in about 2 hours 50 minutes, which is dropping the pace to 11 minute miles.

So tonight, well I love Liz Yelling, how shocked was I when I checked the schedule to find out what run I was to do today and it was onlya 30 minute run, 10 mins easy run, 10 mins steady followed by 10 mins easy. There's not a great deal of difference between my easy run and steady run, especially when you know that you only have to run for 30 minutes. I just stretched out and went for it, so 30 minutes later I was back home having covered 3 miles and feeling great and very sweaty. I think the thought behind this session was boost your confidence and give a little recovery time. Because tonight I feel great and looking forward to 2 1/2 weeks time for the for the Silverstone half, followed the next Sunday with the Sports relief 6 mile which I am now running with my daughter!! I will have to go off and do another 12 miles or so afterwards as this should be the Sunday I do my longest run before starting the taper down to the marathon.

Weight loss this week by the way was another 1 1/2 lb, that's 2st 2lb so far.

Anyway it's getting late, gotta go.

Cheers
Snooky

Is Motivation mental or physical?

2 Months 6 Days to go... I wasn't at work today, I spent the day taking my son around the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth and got back home about 4ish and the sensible thing then would be to get changed and go out for run. Not me, I made a coffee and sat down and caught up on the Brits from Tuesday. So when you sit down ans chill does your body go into shut down, because when I did lift myself off the sofa and get ready to go out my legs were not impressed.

I went out about 6.30, and although I knew I was only going to run 4 1/2 miles and my mind wanted me to beat the time on Tuesday, my legs thought otherwise, I just couldn't get them moving at any sort of pace. I passed the stick insect swarms nest just as they were starting out on their runs, as usual I was going in the opposite direction. It was good to see there was equality and diversity in their nest as the last pack to leave were of the larger slower variety of the yellow coated blob insects (the particular breed I belong to).

Later I followed a ghost pack, I was gaining on them and thought I was going to overtake them when all of a sudden they just disappeared, I thought they had gone around the corner, but as I went round they were nowhere to be seen, bizarre!

As I have said in the past running are moments of freedom, freedom from phones, email and other people, just one man, his mind and tarmac. I often think about what to write here, but tonight my head was all over the place, I spotted some tailors dummy's in a front room and my mind spun of to thinking about whether we are going through another Industrial revolution or devolution. I have worked in welfare to work for just over 2 years and we have helped loads of people get in self employment. I think we are heading back to a stage of cottage industry as the large businesses go bust and more and more people set up their own small businesses.

My weekend run with my brother has been cancelled this weekend as I have taken a late booking for Saturday night and so can't make it up to Kent this weekend after all. I will still get out here and step up again for a 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Anyway best wrap up for now, speak to you Sunday.

Cheers
Snooky

Swarms of stick insects out tonight

2 Months 8 Days to go.... another damp night in Saltash, another 4 1/2 miles clocked up. My brother the other day accused me of being slow, so today I pushed myself harder than ever and really tried to stretch my stride out and pushed my lungs to bursting.

My enthusiasm was further driven by crossing paths with swarms of the now infamous yellow coated stick insects, you have to be seen to be making an effort, that's the competitive side of me. The run was uneventful but I was driven by the thought that this Sunday I could be running with my brother as I make a brief visit to Kent for the weekend.

Great music on the Ipod again finishing with Bonnie Tyler's holding out for a hero, what a tune leading to a sprint finish and edging closer to breaking the 10 minute barrier over 5 miles.

Oh yes, lost another 1 1/2 lb this week, that's 2 stone now since I started at slimming world. I'm hoping to lose another stone and half if possible by the Marathon so there will be a lot less to carry around than last year.

Anyway, better go.

Cheers
Snooky

A Hill Too Far....

2 Months and 10 Days to go... 13.1 miles today in 2 hours 20 mins (10.6 minute miles), a personal best, however it was tough, really tough, unfortunately when you increase the miles around Saltash and Plymouth, you cannot avoid the hills.

Today's run took me into Plymouth and a lap of Central Park and then down into town and up onto the Hoe and running along the front and into the Barbican around Bretonside and then back up the hills to Saltash. I struggled with the crowds around the Hoe and some people were polite and moved over and some were really ignorant and just walked at me and forced me onto the road.

It was also the first time since these training sessions started that I actually got warm from the sun, but only on the return home. Quite a few stick insects out today, they make me sick bouncing along the road with long skinny legs and no weight to carry on them. Then there's me dragging my 18 1/2 stone frame around the streets punishing my feet and legs, to be honest it is my feet that take the most of a hammering.

Anyway as I didn't get to bed until 4am this morning (awesome gig at the Senior Rates Mess at HMS Raliegh), I'm knackered, so we'll speak again on Tuesday.

Cheers
Snooky

The power of music

2 Months and 12 days to go.... Oh it was a cold moonlit night and the air was like breathing razor blades. Tonight's training run was a straight forward 50 minute steady run according to Liz Yellings training schedule. My definition of steady running is basically start running and then disengage brain, leaving the legs to just go into auto pilot and amazingly enough I completed my 41/2 mile circuit in exactly the same time as when I ran on Tuesday running intervals.

So brain disengaged from legs my mind went of wondering on its own, what to write in my blog, what was I going to have for tea etc.. Then "Turned to Stone" by ELO started playing on my Ipod all of sudden my mind had whizzed back to 1981 and I was 15 again. (only my mind unfortunately my legs remained 43!!), Isn't it funny how a song can place you at a place and time. In this case it was BFES Windsor School, Hamm, West Germany, school disco's 1981. In those days everyone sort of belonged to a group based on their taste in music, we had rockers into heavy metal etc, punks, two tone etc. Every school disco when the DJ put on turned to stone on we all got into circles of our peers and started spinning to the music deliberately bumping into each other on the dance floor. Not a place for the meek.

This got me to thinking about music and what memories it invokes, Bon Jovi, Bed of Roses places me in my first pub, and the whole pub singing to the chorus. Iron Maiden Run to the hills, to my girlfriend's (at the time!!) house playing pool, Beautiful South, Rotterdam was playing on the radio when we told my daughter was going to have to be delivered by emergency cesarean.

Anyway it's getting late, speak to you on Sunday.

Cheers
Snooky

It's getting serious now.....

2 Months 15 days to go, Good run out tonight, as I have said before Tuesdays are about building pace. I was doing interval training tonight, it's the first time I really got this intense in training. 10 minutes of easy running the 6 x 3minutes interval runs with 90 second breaks. The interval runs are pushing the limits, the first three intervals I really stretched out and got a good pace going, but by the time I got to intervals 5 and 6 I don't think there was a great difference between the breaks and intervals, but I think it was a case of the easy run pace picking up and the intervals slowing down and meeting in the middle. Although I managed to practice my sprint finish as a gritter chased me up Fore Street, I beat him to the top and avoided getting gritted as he took the left fork as I took the right.

I was out early enough to bump into two swarms of yellow coated stick insects, one swarm almost stopped me in my tracks as about 20 of them came at me head on. I spotted the three fools I mentioned previously and realised they were half as foolish as I thought because they were only joining my hill half way down.

I also had good week weight loss wise as well, another 1 1/2 lbs of making it 1 st 13 lb since I started with Slimming World, it would have been better than that if it hadn't been for December, I put 61/2 lbs back on over Dec. So another lb to the 2 stone off mark, and 2 lb to my 10% of my original body weight lost. hopefully get there this week.

Fundraising is a little slow at the moment, but looking to do an event at the end of Feb.

Gotta go now, speak to you Thursday.

Cheers
Snooky

Rain stopped play

2 Months 17 days to go.... Unfortunately my run on Thursday was cancelled due to horizontal rain, the wind was so harsh it just wouldn't have been sensible to try and run. I thought I'd make it out on Friday, unfortunately (or not) a gig came in for Friday night so that put paid to running.

So today I ran just over 11 miles, a circuit of Saltash and then into Plymouth and out again to Marsh Mills Sainsburys, where I met my family for a quick shop.

The run was comfortable and a reasonable pace, the hills were still tough but I did run non stop, even up the hill by Plymouth railway station which is particularly tough. I completed the 11.05 miles in 2 hours which if I had continued at the same pace for another 2 miles would have been a personal best for a 1/2 marathon, So I think with a month to go before the silverstone 1/2 I am confident a PB is for the taking.

Not much happening on the run to be honest, music was from Scooter, Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper.... One track in particular was quite apt was by Matt Taylor and called The Open Road.

Anyway, bit tired so better go.

Cheers
Snooky

Cure for the common cold...running

2 Months, 22 days and 10 hours... Another late run tonight again, I didn't hit the road until 8.20pm, by which time most of the yellow coated stick insects were tucked up in their beds. I got lucky though, because they were all out running in persistent drizzle bordering on proper rain. I managed to miss it all and ran in a mild pleasant evening.

I wasn't even sure if I was going to run tonight, I've got a stinking head cold, my nose was running faster than my legs ever will. But I remembered an old adage, above the neck keep training, below the neck...rest. So off I went, within 5 minutes my head was clear and since I've got back apart from the odd sneeze and sniffle I feel great.

I met couple of stick insects on the way round but not too many, 3 fools ran out of the bottom of my road. I don't know what the exact gradient my road is but it's a 2nd gear one in a car and 1st gear in a loaded van!! Running down it is more foolish than running up, running up is good stamina building and if you can run up my hill you can run up any, but running down is dangerous on the knees. It was running down a hill that seems to have ended my next door neighbour's running (and he was serious!!) career during the Saltash Half Marathon last year. My training was almost brought to halt last year by running down a hill as well last year, luckily with the aid if a knee support and a packet of Ibuprofen I battled on!!

Today's run was Fartlek night again (it's Swedish for changing pace or something like that) anyway it's my favourite session as I took a leaf out Heather Mills book, well they weren't my legs because I was proper running, bouncing along the street at one helluva (Cornish term!!) pace. I had to be out for 50 minutes (I'm on week 5 of Liz Yellings Plan 2 training programme) I thought as I was Fartleking I would run my 1 hour route and hope to come in at 50 mins... I had to add an extra bit as I took 20 mins of my 1 hour route!!

Great music on the play list tonight, starting with Don't stop believing, into Don't stop me now and so on. I also found the ultimate Fartlek tune......Freebird by Lynyrd Skynrd that came on as I was on the bridge, I reckon that's the fastest I've crossed the bridge. Favourite track of the night though was Fairies wear boots by Black Sabbath, I put this one on because I love the track, but I wasn't sure it should be a great running track, but in a weird way it worked it's got a really bouncy bass line and if you run to the snare drum it does keep up your pace.

Anyway it's midnight and I had better get some rest, speak to you Thursday.

Cheers
Snooky

Isn't the Internet Amazing..

2 months and 24 days to go until the London Marathon and 6 weeks until the Silverstone Half Marathon, Each week I'm increasing the length of the runs (time wise) by 15 minutes. So today was 1 hour 45 minutes and 9.5 miles, which is still 11 minute miles. I do want to increase the pace but that's what I concentrate on mid week, Sundays is about banking the miles.

I ran an old route from last year which I hadn't tried this time around, from home to Crownhill Police Station and back plus a loop of Saltash. As I was running I normally try to get inspiration for my blog, but today was a bit short of inspiration. The biggest inspiration was that I ran up one hill that even towards the end of my training last year I usually dropped to a walk. No such problems today. It's a weird route, it feels long and like you're running a lot but probably more because a large chunk is very straight. It was actually disappointing when I got home and worked out I had only done 9.5 miles.

As you can see not a lot to report, so what a pleasant surprise when I log in to write my blog and find I have a new follower and it's not someone I know. Welcome Jennifer. Jennifer is over in the US and running in Boston. I love Boston, my brother took me over for my 40th Birthday and I had a great time, it was the first time I went in pub with smoking ban, oh how times have changed. I also would one day love to run the Boston Marathon (Boston is really flat!!!).

I'm going to follow Jennifer as well it's like virtual camaraderie, there was no honking today but a few other runners out there today, it's great when everyone acknowledges each other.

I just want to say thanks to all the people who emailed me after I sent out my email around A4e.

I now have a good running playlist, but would still welcome some more suggestions to keep a variety going. Today's started with Ace of Spades and ended with Dancing in the Dark.

Anyway gotta go, speak to you Tuesday.

Cheers
Snooky

Loneliest run so far....

2 Months 27 days to go....

A little late out tonight, I didn't hit the road until just after 8. Either there was something really good on TV tonight or I missed all the normal running crowds, in fact in the whole hour run I only saw two other runners on the route.

The weather was absolutely perfect for running, no wind and fairly mild, there was a slight misty rain towards the end of the run. It was the most comfortable run so far, I even found a really good turn of pace as I passed a big group of hoodies!!! (obviously not interested in what ever was on the tv).

Anyway feeling really good at the moment and looking forward to the Silverstone Half Marathon in 6 1/2 weeks (I miscounted the other day!), It will be a good test and also the first time my brother and I will run together in competition. It will be interesting to see how we compare, I'm nearly 6 years older, a few stone heavier, but have the experience of one Marathon and 2 halves. My training is pounding the streets 3-4 times a week clocking up the miles. Paul has a personal trainer working in a gym, doing boxing and weights with the occasional run.

That's all for now folks, speak to you soon.

Cheers
Snooky

2 Months and 29 days to go...

Hi folks, Tonight could have been a potential banana skin to my training regime as I was down in Penzance for the day and my wife was in Birmingham and not getting back until past 9pm. I didn't fancy running that late so I managed to get back from Penzance and squeeze a Fartlek session in before I had to pick up my boy from after school club.

I ran my short route (3.5 miles) and then ran to my son's afterschool club to pick him up, he decided he wanted to run home with me, bless him and off he went, he had good pace and I had got a better work out than I expected. What gave me a boost was the pride he showed as he ran alongside me. He said "look dad we're running together", "I want to run the Marathon with you one day" (He's got to wait another 12 years before he can do that). I promised him last year we would run the Saltash Fun Run this year, and we will (it's the week after the London Marathon).

Anyway best go and get some sleep, speak to you Thursday.

Don't forget keep honking!!

Cheers
Snooky

Keep honking!!

3 Months and 11 hours until the London Marathon and only 9 weeks until the Silverstone Half Marathon.

I had a look back at last years blogs to see what I was doing this time last year, exactly a year ago I was still walking, I walked 9 1/2 miles over Dartmoor and it took me about 3 hours, today I ran/jogged 8.2 miles in just under 1 1/2 hours (11 minutes miles which is under the 5 hour Marathon rate). So I'm well ahead of last years training.

Today's run was under the midday sun and although I felt cold as I left I was soon stripping off . The weather was perfect, no wind and mild. I must be running a bit faster, because I had to keep adding loops to the run (yes I remembers to start my watch this time!!) Including another hill in St Budeaux, which I have never run all the way up before (it was the last leg of my run from home from work), but this time I just ran all the way up, again it seemed to have shortened. I then decided to run my short route backwards (predominantly up hill). The Sundays runs will keep increasing week on week so it's time to start protecting those sensitive bits again. Oh yes break out the micro pore tape next week.

In a previous blog (last year) I talked about honking, both in geese and groups of runners, well I want to thank two lovely people for honking me on the way around today, Thanks Steve and Thanks Angie (my Slimming World consultant who is also running the London Marathon this year!) Both gave me a honk from their cars as they passed and it gave me real boost. So if you see me out there please give me a hoot with your horn, it does make a difference.

Music today was again courtesy of the shuffle, but today it seemed to play more rock than anything else which suited me just fine. Although after this blog I'm off to put that play list together.

Anyway signing off, speak to you Tuesday.

Cheers

Snooky

Is a swarm a collective noun?

3 Months 3 days to go and another wet and miserable evening, I am glad to report I have my running mojo back (watch out Bro'). There was no question as I donned my running tights and yellow coat, plugged myself into my Ipod (on shuffle) and stepped out into the rain.

The run was a quick one, as Tuesdays and Thursday night runs are about improving pace and therefore are relatively short runs (3-5 miles). I got out a bit earlier tonight, just after 7, I didn't see the usual swarms of yellow coats, however there were still plenty of other runners out, and the camaraderie was really good. There were a couple of small groups but not the usual swarms, which lead me to think about the definition of swarm, is it a collective noun for insects or is there a definitive number where some becomes a swarm. The free dictionary.com says:

"An aggregation of persons or animals, especially when in turmoil or moving in mass: A swarm of friends congratulated him." but still no definitive number.

Most of the other runners were from Devon, as once again I met most of them twice on the bridge, despite the weather (which bizarrely enough was harder in Devon than in Cornwall) everyone acknowledged and smiled at each other, which left me smiling all the way around.

Anyway feeling good, the plantar, knee and ankle all holding their own (I hadn't told you about the ankle because I didn't want to worry you!)

Speak to you soon.

Cheers
Snooky

Make or break day

Hi, 3 months and 5 days to go, and today was another rainy evening in Cornwall, time to make a decision about commitment. I could sit there and it's raining I'll give it a miss or get wrapped up and get out there. The other option was to join the gym, I thought about it for about half an hour, decided I could afford to join a gym right now and plugged myself into my ipod (Paolo Nutini -Sunny Side Up), donned my dayglo yellow jacket and stepped out into the rain!

Tuesday nights is Fartlek night, that's basically pace training, randomly increasing and decreasing your pace through out the run. I was late out tonight so missed the swarms of stick insects, instead I only came across an unmarked stick insect of the Devon variety. I know he was from Devon because I passed him both ways on "the Bridge".

For those who are not from these parts, a quick geography lesson, Devon and Cornwall (or England and Cornwall as the Cornish like to refer to it) are separated by the river Tamar, for which the main connection is the Tamar Bridge which connects Plymouth (Devon) and Saltash (Cornwall). Basically for runners both sides of the river the bridge is always included in their routes for two reasons 1. the psychologically running to the next county and back is a great boost, secondly and probably the most importantly it's the flattest bit of pathway in Devon & Cornwall and very conveniently is exactly half a mile from one end to another.

I have to be honest it's this blog that keeps me going, but I would love to know you're out there reading, (thanks for letting me know Jessica & Henry). So far I have had Eye of the Tiger suggested for my training play list. I found a good track for Fartlek training "A simple Life" by Paolo Nutini check it out you'll see what I mean.

My brother has finally had his place in the London Marathon confirmed, so now it get's really serious!!

Anyway best go.

Cheers
Snooky

Why the FSI?

So 3 months and 7 days to go until the London Marathon, I managed to get out for another run tonight, did just over an hour. Another glorious day, but once again I had to wait until it was dark before I got a chance to get out. I only saw one other runner tonight (and pulled away from him!!).

While I'm running I tend to think about what I'm going to write in this blog, today I was thinking about why I'm doing it and more importantly why for The FSI.

Most people support a charity that they can relate to, that they have had a close relative or friend who affected by the illness or disability that the charity helps. I thought about who I should be supporting, my mum died of heart failure aged only 50, My uncle and grandfather both passed away with bowel cancer, my father has diabetes and also has had a growth removed from his bowel, I have two good friends who suffer from Crohns, My daughter needed to go into the special baby unit when she was born, plus a lots more. Even if I wanted be totally selfish I would love to run for a charity who's trying to find a cure for Psoriasis or obesity! So which one do I choose, which is more important than another? Well none are and that's why I'm supporting the FSI, a charity that supports many different charities, helping people who have that focus on one goal, one cause, helping them to make the most of the money they raise, give them the skills to manage their charity more efficiently, raise money more effectively etc. I don't have enough time and money to give to all the charities that support the people close to me, so I'm giving it to someone who does have time and drive to support them all.

Support me to support others by visiting my justgiving site.

Speak to you soon.

Cheers
Snooky

What's that coming over the hill, is it a monster?....

No.... with 3 months and 14 days 12 hours to go its a lesser spotted yellow coated blob insect, a larger cousin of the yellow coated stick insect often found swarming in packs of 15 -20 at a time on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Tonight I was running alone, I guess on Sundays most people run during the day, unfortunately I had other things to do during the day. So as the sun set over Cornwall I set off on my first longish run for about 4 weeks. Guess what... it only started to snow! It was only that dusty snow so not too bad. It was warmer tonight than Thursday so the lungs were fine, however after so many weeks of inactivity the thighs were feeling it today, but I've just got to keep it going.

Music this run was supplied by my Ipod on shuffle with a variety from 80's soul to the title track of this report which helped me get up the last hill of the circuit. Let me know what I should include in my playlist.

The target for this years marathon is to finish around 4 1/2 hours, that's an hour and 20 minutes quicker than last year, but having said that I'll be happy just to beat last year.

Anyway that' it for now, speak to you soon.

Cheers
Snooky

Back on the road again

3 months, 17 days to go

At last I have got back out and running, just a short run of 3 miles. There were loads of runners out tonight grabbing the opportunity as we experience a short break in the poor weather.

The run went ok, as I took it quite easy (first run for 4 weeks) and also the paths were still very icy in patches. especially where people obviously used hot water to clear cars. A large section of the route I had to run on the road. The foot injury seems to be holding up well, which is a relief.

I don't know where the time has gone but it's only 9 weeks until the Silverstone half marathon and 14 weeks until the London Marathon, so it full steam ahead from here on in.

If anyone wants to help with my training playlist let me know what I should be listening to. Tonight I was running to Gary Moore Blues Live, it was right for the pace I was attempting and the opening track was quite apt....."A Cold Day In Hell"!!!!

Anyway that's it from me, speak to you soon.

Cheers
Snooky

Damn this weather

I haven't had time to update this site, but here's a brief summary of the last couple of months. Training started well following the London Marathon training programme, the weight fell off and I was 5 months ahead of last year. Then a combination of a foot injury and horrendous weather means I haven't run for the last 4 weeks and gained 6lbs over December.

So Christmas and New Year festivities over the plan was to run tonight, along comes the snow! So restart delayed again. However eating plan in full swing, so hopefully the weight will start coming back off.

So here we are 3 months 19 days 11 hours to go, I am still a good 2 months ahead with my training over last year.

The fundraising is for the FSI again, please look at their website for more info. I will be warming up by running the Silverstone Half Marathon in March.

Speak to you soon, hopefully once I've got back up and running again.